Synthesis of disubstituted 1,2-dioxolanes, 1,2-dioxanes, and 1,2-dioxepanes

A route to cyclic peroxides containing 1,2-dioxolane, 1,2-dioxane or 1,2-dioxepane rings is described. These compounds present simpler structures related to the bicyclic core of stolonoxides, metabolites with marked cytotoxicity against several mammalian tumor cell lines, isolated from the marine tunicate Stolonica socialis. The key synthetic step consists in the intramolecular Michael addition of a secondary hydroperoxide group to an α,β-unsaturated ester.