SmI2-INDUCED HIGHLY REGIOSELECTIVE REDUCTION OF α,β-EPOXY ESTERS AND γ,δ-EPOXY-α,β-UNSATURATED ESTERS. AN EFFICIENT ROUTE TO OPTICALLY ACTIVE β-HYDROXY AND δ-HYDROXY ESTERS

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)96532-8

α,β-Epoxy esters were rapidly reduced at room temperature to yield β-hydroxy esters with retention of the configurations at the β-carbon atoms by using SmI2-THF-HMPA system in the presence of N,N-dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE).The conditions were successfully applied to the synthesis of vinylogous δ-hydroxy esters.