STEREOCHEMISTRY OF THE HYDROGENATION OF ETHYL 2-METHYL-1-CYCLOHEXENYL ETHER. AN EXAMPLE OF STEREOSPECIFIC CIS ADDITION OF HYDROGEN
The hydrogenation of ethyl 2-methyl-1-cyclohexenyl ether with platinum metal catalysts yields saturated cis-ether with high stereospecificity in ethanol. Formation of the trans-ether during the course of hydrogenation arises through isomerization to ethyl 6-methyl-1-cyclohexenyl ether which yields both cis- and trans-ethers on hydrogenation.