Ethyl Acetate → 1-(Hydroxymethyl)-cyclopentanecarboxylic acid methyl ester

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Reaction Steps

To a solution of methyl 1-formylcyclopentanecarboxylate (954 mg, 6.11 mmol, Synthesis 1997, 32-34) in ethanol (10 mL) was added sodium tetrahydroborate (104 mg, 2.75 mmol) at ambient temperature. After being stirred for 30 min, the mixture was concentrated in vacuo to give an oil. The residual oil was dissolved with ethyl acetate, and the solution was washed with brine. The extract was dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to afford 806 mg (83%) of the title compound as a colorless oil. The crude product was used in the next step without further purification.

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