Enantioselective synthesis of (R)- and (S)-2-alkyl-1,4-butanediols via enantiomerically pure 3-alkyl-5-(menthyloxy)butyrolactones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(96)00310-3

A general and practical synthesis of optically pure (R)- and (S)-2-ethyl, 2-propyl and 2-isopropyl-1,4-butanediols, 9a-c, has been accomplished from optically pure 5-(menthyloxy)butenolides in five steps in good yields.