A HIGHLY EFFICIENT DEOXYDATION OF α-OXYGENATED ESTERS VIA SmI2-INDUCED ELECTRON TRANSFER PROCESS

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)99165-2

A variety of α-oxygenated esters, such as α-acetoxy, α-methoxy-, α-OTPH, and α-hydroxy esters were easily reduced at room temperature to give the corresponding saturated esters in good to excellent yields with the aid of an efficient electron transfer system, SmI2-THF-HMPA.The method was succesfully applied to the direct conversion of (R,R)-tartrates to (R)-malates.