Lithium borohydride → 5-Benzyloxy-1,3-pentanediol

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of methyl 3-(S)-hydroxy-5-benzyloxypentanoate (38, Kitamura, M.; Ohkuma, T.; Inoue, S.; Sayo, N.; Kumobayashi, H.; Akutagawa, S.; Ohta, T.; Takaya, H.; Noyori, R., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1988, 110 629-631) (183 mmol) in anhydrous THF (1 l) is added lithium borohydride (7.7 g, excess) at 0° C. over 15 min. The reaction mixture is stirred at RT for 30 minutes, and then refluxed for 6 hours. The mixture is then cooled to 0° C., diluted with water (60 ml), and stirred overnight at RT. A white precipitate is removed by filtration, the solvent removed in vacuum, and the residue distilled under vacuum to yield 5-benzyloxy-1,3-pentanediol 39.

Provenance & Evidence