4-Methyltetrahydropyran (4-MeTHP): Application as an Organic Reaction Solvent

Abstract

4-Methyltetrahydropyran (4-MeTHP) is a hydrophobic cyclic ether with potential for industrial applications. We herein report, for the first time, a comprehensive study on the performance of 4-MeTHP as an organic reaction solvent. Its broad application to organic reactions includes radical, Grignard, Wittig, organometallic, halogen-metal exchange, reduction, oxidation, epoxidation, amidation, esterification, metathesis, and other miscellaneous organic reactions. This breadth suggests 4-MeTHP can serve as a substitute for conventional ethers and harmful halogenated solvents. However, 4-MeTHP was found incompatible with strong Lewis acids, and the C−O bond was readily cleaved by treatment with BBr3. Moreover, the radical-based degradation pathways of 4-MeTHP, THP and 2-MeTHF were elucidated on the basis of GC-MS analyses. The data reported herein is anticipated to be useful for a broad range of synthetic chemists, especially industrial process chemists, when selecting the reaction solvent with green chemistry perspectives.