A. Gopalan, R. Lucero, H. Jacobs
Jun 1, 1991
Citations
0
Influential Citations
11
Citations
Journal
Synthetic Communications
Abstract
Abstract A number of γ and δ ketonitriles have been synthesized and their reduction with bakers yeast carefully studied. Both 4-oxopentanenitrile and 5-oxohexanenitrile are reduced in moderate yields to the corresponding (S) alcohols of high ee while other substrates gave products of varying optical purities. These alcohols are useful intermediates for the preparation of chiral lactones, including the synthetically important (S)(−)-4-methylbutyrolactone and (S)-(−)-5-hexanolide.