A variety of 3-alkylidene-1,4-diols have been conveniently prepared, in two steps, by conjugate addition of a nitroalkane to the appropriate enedione derivatives under basic conditions (DBU), followed by chemoselective reduction (LiAlH4/Et2O) of the carbonyl functionalities of the Michael adduct, obtained after elimination of nitrous acid. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
A New Two-Step Synthesis of 2-Alkylated 1,4-Diketones and α-Alkylated γ-Keto Esters