PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SCLAREOLIDE

摘要

PCT No. PCT/EP90/02166 Sec. 371 Date Jun. 22, 1992 Sec. 102(e) Date Jun. 22, 1992 PCT Filed Dec. 13, 1990 PCT Pub. No. WO91/09852 PCT Pub. Date Jul. 11, 1991.A process for the production of sclareolide from sclareol comprising the steps of A) oxidatively degrading sclareol to a reaction product which is one or both of the following compounds: <IMAGE> I <IMAGE> II using either a hypochlorite salt in the presence of a ruthenium salt or potassium permanganate, and B) oxidizing the above reaction product with a peracid or salt thereof to form sclareolide. The above process results in good yields and much shorter reaction times than prior art processes.