New oxidative cyclizations of 1,3,4,6-tetraketones. Synthesis and structure of (Z)-2-acyl-5-alkyl(aryl)-1,4-dioxaspiro[2.4]hept-5-en-7-ones

Iodosobenzene diacetate oxidation of 1,3,4,6-tetraketones 1a-c yielded (Z)-2-acyl-5-alkyl(aryl)-1,4-dioxa-spiro2.4]hept-5-en-7-ones (4a-c) in addition to 2-acyl-6-alkyl(aryl)-3-hydroxy-4-pyrones (3a-c). The structure of new spiro-heterocycles 4 was inferred from chemical and spectroscopic data, and the stereochemistry was fully defined by a single-crystal X-ray analysis. Alternative cyclization pathways can be rationalized as proceeding through carbocation intermediates derived from both forms of the ring-chain tautomerism of 1,3,4,6-tetraketones 1.