Patent Publication Number: US-4317942-A

Title: Odoriferous 2-alkoxyethyl-cycloalkyl-ethers

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to 2-alkoxyethyl-cycloalkyl-ethers which have valuable odoriferous properties. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide new compounds having odoriferous properties. Upon further study of the specification and appended claims, further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     These objects have been attained by providing aliphatic ethers of the formula ##STR2## wherein R is a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon residue of 1-3 carbon atoms and 
     n is an integer of 5 to 11. These are novel odoriferous substances (e.g., scenting agents, perfumes) having a woodsy scent and good fixative properties. 
     DETAILED DISCUSSION 
     The ethers of this invention are ordinarily prepared by etherification of the corresponding 2-hydroxyethyl-cycloalkyl-ethers. In this process, the conventional etherification methods can be utilized. See, for example Houben-Weyl, &#34;Methoden der organischen Chemie&#34; (Methods of Organic Chemistry) VI/3,  Oxygen Compounds I, Part 3 pp. 10-137 (1965), whose disclosure is incorporated by reference herein. 
     The crude ethers so obtained are normally purified by fractional distillation. Removal of the final traces of nonetherified alcohols can also be accomplished by other separating processes, e.g. extraction or absorption processes. 
     The starting material 2-hydroxyethyl-cycloalkyl-ethers can be prepared, in principle, by ethoxylation of the corresponding conventional cycloalkanols with ethylene oxide or with ethylene carbonate under reaction conditions conventional for such ethoxylations. To increase the acidity of the secondary hydroxy group, it is recommended, in accordance with the process of German Patent No. 974,767, to add boron trifluoride. One drawback of this process is that the degree of ethoxylation will be greater than 1, thereby simultaneously forming polyethylene oxide. 
     In contrast, the production of the 2-hydroxyethyl-cycloalkyl-ethers by hydrogenation of the dioxolanes prepared from the cycloalkanones and ethylene glycol is substantially more selective, as described in British Pat. No. 1,125,730. 
     Among the ethers of this invention, the compounds wherein n=5, 7 and 11, and R=CH 3  and C 2  H 5  have the greatest importance, the compounds with R=CH 3  being preferred. Other possible R groups include propyl, isopropyl, allyl, propargyl, etc. 
     Typical ethers of this invention include, for example, 2-methoxyethyl-cyclohexyl-ether, 2-ethoxyethyl-cyclohexyl-ether, 2-methoxyethyl-cyclooctyl-ether, 2-ethoxyethyl-cyclooctyl-ether, 2-methoxyethyl-cyclododecyl-ether, 2-ethoxyethyl-cyclododecyl-ether, etc. 
     The ethers of this invention can be blended with other compounds and materials, primarily with other odoriferous substances, in a great variety of quantitative ratios, to be determined in accordance with the finally desired odor, e.g., via routine preliminary tests, to obtain novel substance combinations and/or novel scenting agent compositions. In this connection, the proportion of the claimed ethers is generally up to 60% by weight, preferably 1-50% by weight. 
     Such odoriferous substance compositions include perfumes per se. The compounds of this invention can be used also for the perfuming of cosmetic agents, such as, for example, creams, toilet soaps, and lotions. In addition, they can be utilized to improve the scent of industrial products, such as, for instance, detergents, cleaning agents, disinfectants, textile assistants, etc., which otherwise possess an offensive odor. 
     The following examples explain the subject matter of the present invention in greater detail, without, however, restricting the invention, since the remaining aliphatic ethers can be prepared in a corresponding way and likewise exhibit the typical woodsy scent. 
     Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. The following preferred specific embodiments are, therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever. In the following examples, all temperatures are set forth uncorrected in degrees Celsius; unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages are by weight. 
    
    
     EXAMPLE 1 
     2-Methoxyethyl-cyclododecyl-Ether 
     25 g of sodium amide was introduced into 150 ml of xylene and heated to boiling under agitation. Within one hour, 114 g (0.5 mol) of 2-hydroxyethyl-cyclododecyl-ether, dissolved in 750 ml of xylene, was allowed to drip into the boiling suspension. To complete the alcoholate formation, the mixture was heated under reflux for another two hours. Thereafter 44 g (0.35 mol) of dimethyl sulfate was added dropwise and the reaction mixture heated under reflux for another four hours. Then, the reaction mixture was poured into a mixture of ice and 35 g of sodium hydroxide. The organic phase was washed with water, dried over Na 2  SO 4 , and then fractionated. 
     
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Boiling point   105° C. at 0.05 mbar                               
Yield           84% crude ether, 66% pure                                 
                product                                                   
Index of refraction                                                       
n.sub.20.sup.D  1.4713                                                    
IR              1100 cm.sup.-1                                            
NMR (CCl.sub.4) δ 3.40 (S) (--O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O),          
                δ 3.25 (S) (--O--CH.sub.3)                          
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     EXAMPLE 2 
     2-Ethoxyethyl-cyclododecyl-Ether 
     The 2-ethoxyethyl-cyclododecyl-ether was prepared in correspondence with the description of Example 1 from 114 g (0.5 mol) of 2-hydroxyethyl-cyclododecyl-ether and 54 g (0.35 mol) of diethyl sulfate. 
     
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Boiling point   109° C. at 0.05 mbar                               
Yield           89% crude ether, 72% pure product                         
Index of refraction                                                       
n.sub.20.sup.D  1.4688                                                    
NMR (CCl.sub.4) δ 3.38 (Q) (--O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.3),              
                δ 3.40 (S) (--O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O)           
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     EXAMPLE 3 
     2-Methoxyethyl-cyclooctyl-Ether 
     According to the disclosure in Example 1, the 2-methoxyethyl-cyclooctyl-ether was obtained by reacting 86 g (0.5 mol) of 2-Hydroxyethyl-cyclooctyl-ether with 44 g (0.35 mol) of dimethyl sulfate. 
     
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Boiling point 58° C.at 0.1 mbar                                    
Yield         86% crude ether, 69% pure product                           
Index of                                                                  
refraction n.sub.20.sup.D                                                 
              1.4617                                                      
IR            1100 cm.sup.-1                                              
NMR (CCl.sub.4)                                                           
              δ 3.42 (S) (--O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O),            
              δ 3.25 (S) (--O--CH.sub.3)                            
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     EXAMPLE 4 
     2-Ethoxyethyl-cyclooctyl-Ether 
     The 2-ethoxyethyl-cyclooctyl-ether was produced in correspondence with the description in Example 1 by reacting 86 g (0.5 mol) of 2-hydroxyethyl-cyclooctyl-ether with 54 g (0.35 mol) of diethyl sulfate. 
     
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Boiling point   84° C. at 0.5 mbar                                 
Yield           94% crude ether, 75% pure product                         
Index of refraction                                                       
n.sub.20.sup.D  1.4583                                                    
IR              1100 cm.sup.-1                                            
NMR (CCl.sub.4) δ 3.42 (S) (--O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O),          
                δ 3.39 (Q) (--O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.3)               
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     EXAMPLE 5 
     2-Methoxyethyl-cyclohexyl-Ether 
     According to the procedure set forth in Example 1 the 2-methoxyethyl-cyclohexyl-ether was produced from 72 g (0.5 mol) of 2-hydroxyethyl-cyclohexyl-ether and 44 g (0.35 mol) of dimethyl sulfate. 
     
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Boiling point   46° C. at 0.4 mbar                                 
Yield           88% crude ether, 76% pure                                 
                product                                                   
Index of refraction                                                       
n.sub.20.sup.D  1.4428                                                    
IR              1100 cm.sup.-1                                            
NMR (CCl.sub.4) δ 3.42 (S) (--O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O),          
                δ 3.25 (S) (--O--CH.sub.3)                          
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     EXAMPLE 6 
     2-Ethoxyethyl-cyclohexyl-Ether 
     The 2-ethoxyethyl-cyclohexyl-ether was prepared in correspondence with the description of Example 1 from 72 g (0.5 mol) of 2-hydroxyethyl-cyclohexyl-ether and 54 g (0.35 mol) of diethyl sulfate. 
     
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Boiling  point  46° at 0.1 mbar                                    
Yield           87% crude ether, 71% pure product                         
Index of refraction                                                       
n.sub.20.sup.D  1.4422                                                    
IR              1100 cm.sup.-1                                            
NMR (CCl.sub.4) 3.43 (S) (--O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O),                  
                3.41 (Q) (--O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.3)                       
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     The following examples relate to odoriferous substance composition which contain compounds of this invention. 
     EXAMPLE 7 (Woodsy Note) 
     
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                   Parts by Weight                                        
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2-Methoxyethyl-cyclododecyl-ether                                         
                     250                                                  
Sandalwood oil       350                                                  
Bergamot oil         100                                                  
Vetiver oil          50                                                   
Amyl salicylate      80                                                   
Coumarin             50                                                   
Rose oil             50                                                   
Heliotropin          50                                                   
Xylene musk          20                                                   
                     1,000                                                
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     EXAMPLE 8 (Woodsy Note) 
     
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                   Parts by Weight                                        
______________________________________                                    
2-Ethoxyethyl-cyclododecyl-ether                                          
                     500                                                  
Sandalwood oil       100                                                  
Vetiveryl acetate    100                                                  
Oryclon (Haarmann + Reimer)                                               
                     100                                                  
Coumarin             50                                                   
Guaiyl acetate       50                                                   
2-Phenylethanol      50                                                   
Isoraldein 70 (L. Givaudan)                                               
                     50                                                   
                     1,000                                                
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     EXAMPLE 9 (Phantasy Perfume) 
     
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                   Parts by Weight                                        
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2-Ethoxyethyl-cyclooctyl-ether                                            
                     350                                                  
Anisaldehyde         150                                                  
Lavender oil         100                                                  
Geranium oil         100                                                  
Cedar leaf oil       100                                                  
Butyl phenylacetate  50                                                   
Hydroxycitronellal   50                                                   
Methyl naphthyl ketone                                                    
                     50                                                   
Benzyl acetate       35                                                   
Xylene musk          15                                                   
                     1,000                                                
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     In the odoriferous substance compositions disclosed by way of example, it is also possible to use, instead of the aforementioned 2-alkoxyethyl-cycloalkyl-ethers, the other compounds of this invention, although in such a case there will be shifts in the scent nuances. 
     The preceding examples can be repeated with similar success by substituting the generically and specifically described reactants and/or operating conditions of this invention for those used in the preceding examples. 
     From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.