Cyclic fatty esters: Synthesis and characterization of methyl ω-(6-alkyl-3-cyclohexenyl) alkenoates

Diunsaturated C18 cyclic fatty acid methyl esters of known structure and configuration were synthesized as model derivatives of cyclic fatty acids formed in heat-abused vegetable oils for characterization and further biological evaluation. The Wittig reaction was used to prepare 5 pure methyl esters: (a) 12-(3-cyclohexenyl)-11-dodecenoate, (b) 11-(6-methyl-3-cyclohexenyl)-10-undecenoate, (c) 10-(6-ethyl-3-cyclohexenyl)-9-decenoate, (d) 9-(6-propyl-3-cyclohexenyl)-8-nonenoate and (e) 8-(6-butyl-3-cyclohexenyl)-7-octenoate. Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions between 1,3-butadiene and appropriate (E)-2-alkenals produced 3-cyclohexenal intermediates. The appropriate methyl ω-bromoesters and their triphenylphosphonium bromides were made and converted to their respective ylids with NaOCH3 in DMF. The appropriate 3-cyclohexenals and phospho-ylids were reacted, and the desired cyclic ester products were isolated in crude yields of 30-83% as liquids and fractionally distilled. The crude cyclic esters were purified either by preparative TLC or by saponification-esterification. Double bonds in purified cyclic esters weretrans-isomerized and hydrogenated. Each derivative was characterized by IR,(1)H-NMR,(13)C-NMR, capillary GLC and GC-MS. On the basis of these analyses, no positional isomers were detected, Z-unsaturated isomers were produced in better than 90% purity, and the alkyl and ester ring substituents were predominantlytrans to each other.