Synthesis of<i>S</i>-Methyl 2-Hydroxyalkanethioates, 2-Hydroxyalkanoic Acids and Related Compounds via the Addition Reaction of Tris(methylthio)methanide Ion to Alkanals
In connection with the studies on biological activities on myrmicacin and related compounds, the synthetic method for 2-hydroxyalkanoic acids and the corresponding 1,2-diols was studied. The addition reaction of tris(methylthio)methyllithium to the aldehydes (propanal–dodecanal) gave the corresponding 1,1,1-tris(methylthio)-2-alkanols 1a–j. Treatment of 1 with mercury(II) chloride–mercury(II) oxide