Hydroformylation of Safrole: The Mechanism of Ring Closure and Formation of Tetralin Derivate

Abstract

5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2,3-methylenedioxy naphthalene is formed from safrole through γ-(3,4-methylenedioxy phenyl)-butiraldehyde as an intermediate under hydroformilation conditions in the presence of Co2(CO)8 as catalyst. Ring closure is regarded as an intermolecular electrophillic substitution catalyzed by HCo(CO)4.