Selective pyrolysis of bifunctional compounds: gas-phase elimination of carbonate–ester functionalities

Compounds containing both carbonate and ester functionalities were synthesized and then subjected to online-GC gas-phase pyrolysis. The carbonate groups were cleaved selectively in all elimination reactions. The end products of the reaction were found to be affected by the nature of the substrate. The presence of hydrogen and carbonyl substituents on the carbon β to the carbonate group resulted in further product decomposition through a concerted six-membered transition state. Results from flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) and analysis of the GC data indicate that the cleavage of the carbonate group is fast, and that the slower secondary decomposition reactions are independent of the presence of the carbonate group. Spectroscopic analyses of the products are reported.