Synthesis of 4-Substituted Hexahydro-2(3H)-benzofuranones by Addition of Hydrides or Trimethylaluminium to 2-Ethoxycarbonylmethyl-cyclohexanones

Abstract

The addition of complex hydride and trimethyl aluminium to 3-substituted and 3,3-disubstituted-2-carboxymethylcyclohexanones to produce cyclohexanols which could be cyclized to the corresponding benzofuranones was investigated; the stereochemistry of the addition was strongly influenced by the nature and size of the added nucleofiles and by the cyclohexanone-substituent.