One-pot anodic lactonization of Fenchone and Menthone and electrosynthesis of a new magnolione analogue

Researchers led by Professors Belen Batanero and Fructuoso Barba from Department of Organic Chemistry at University of Alcala in Spain studied how some cycloalkanones can be anodically oxidized into lactones and other interesting derivatives when placed under hydro-alcoholic medium. The authors made use of an electrochemical process to carry out their research. This methodology converts terpenoid ketones Fenchone and Menthone into the corresponding lactones when electrolysis is performed using a neutral electrolyte (NaClO_4). When alkaline Na₂CO₃ was employed as electrolyte in the Fenchone oxidation, the fragrance-analogue 2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-oxopropyl) cyclopentanone was obtained in good yield.

The electrochemical process of oxidizing cycloalkanones into lactones used by Batanero et al. (2016) can not be performed by using conventional methods. The research team was able to achieve 75% yield of the Magnolione analog when using alkaline electrolyte. This result supports, once more, the advantages of environmentally-friendly electrochemical technology in the synthesis of highly demanded organic compounds.