Cycloheptanone

Chemical properties

clear colorless to yellow liquid

The Uses of Cycloheptanone

Cycloheptanone is used as a precursor for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. A spasmolytic agent and vasodilator is produced from this chemical. They are also used in certain stereospecific enzymatic reactions.

Synthesis Reference(s)

Canadian Journal of Chemistry, 47, p. 145, 1969 DOI: 10.1139/v69-016
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 98, p. 6717, 1976 DOI: 10.1021/ja00437a059

Synthesis

Cycloheptanone is produced by cyclization and decarboxylation of suberic acid (1,8-octanedioic acid) or suberic acid esters in the gas phase at 400 – 450℃ over alumina doped with zinc oxide or cerium oxide.

Purification Methods

Shake suberone with aqueous KMnO4 to remove material absorbing around 230-240nm, then dry it with Linde type 13X molecular sieves and fractionally distil it through a glass helix packed column. [Blicke et al. J Am Chem Soc 74 2924 1952, Dauben et al. Org Synth Coll Vol IV 221, 229 1963, Beilstein 7 H 13, 7 I 9, 7 II 14, 7 III 46, 7 IV 39.]