Lithium aluminum hydride-aluminum hydride reduction of sultones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00314a022

Lithium aluminum hydride-aluminum hydride reduction of secondary and tertiary (C-O) substituted γ-sultones or α-alkyl-β'-hydroxy γ-sultones yields mercapto alcohols and mercapto diols, respectively, in fair to good yield.These products result from S-O cleavage of the sultone ring.Primary sultones and α-dialkyl-β'-hydroxy γ-sultones give predominantly C-O cleavage to form sulfonic acid derivatives. β-Sultones are much less reactive toward the mixed hydride, and refluxing in dioxane is required for their reduction.