Stereospecific and Stereoselective Reactions. V. Alkylation of Active Methylene Compounds by the Use of Alcohols, Diethyl Azodicarboxylate, and Triphenylphosphine
alcohols and ethyl cyanoacetate (6) to give alkylated products in 30–80% yields. When ethylacetoacetate, 1,3-cyclopentanedione, or 1,3-cyclohexanedione was used in place of 6, the corresponding O-alkylated products were obtained. The reaction of either (S)-(−)-ethyl lactate or (S)-(−)-ethyl 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionate with 1, 2, and 6, followed by hydrolysis resulted in the formation of (S)-(−)-methylsuccinic