The utility of the dehalogenation–deetherification sequence for the proof of structure of methoxyhalocyclohexanols and methoxyhalocyclopentanols. Synthesis of the cis- and trans-2- and -3-methoxy-cyclohexanols and -cyclopentanols
An unequivocal proof of structure for the methoxychlorocyclopentanols (I′c–IV′c) was obtained by deetherification with 68% hydrobromic acid at 65–70°, followed by hydrogenolysis with Raney nickel and hydrogen, to the 1,2- and 1,3-cyclopentanediols, in the same manner as the methoxybromocyclohexanols (I–IV) were converted into the 1,2- and 1,3-cyclohexanediols. Hydrogenolysis of the methoxybromocyclohexanols and the methoxychlorocyclopentanols provided stereospeciflc syntheses for the cis- and trans-2- and -3-methoxycy-clohexanols and -cyclopentanols in 80–97% yields. Deetherification of the latter compounds with 68% hydrobromic acid gave the corresponding 1,2- and 1,3-cyclohexanediols and 1,2-cyclopentanediols in 70–90% yields, but only 5–7% yields of the 1,3-cyclopentanediols. For the proof of structure of methoxyhalocyclanols, deetherification should therefore precede, rather than follow, dehalogenation.