The stereochemistry of organometallic compounds. Part VIII. Stereochemistry of reduction of some tricarbonyl(arylcycloalkanone)-chromiums

Abstract

The reduction of tricarbonyl(indan-1-one and tetral-1-one)chromiums with lithium aluminium hydride in ether and with sodium borohydride in pyridine gives almost exclusively (97%) the cis-tricarbonyl(arylcycloalkanol)chromium. Reduction of tricarbonyl(tetral-2-one)chromium gives up to 7% of the trans-alcohol. Steric rather than electronic factors are considered to be responsible for this stereoselectivity.