Tetrahydrofuran → 4,5-Dihydroxy-pentanoic Acid Ethyl Ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of ethyl pent-4-enoate (11.7 g, 91.3 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (420 mL) and water (40 mL) is treated with osmium tetroxide (1.0 g, 4.2 mmol) and 4-methylmorpholine N-oxide (32.5 mL, 50% in water) at room temperature and stired for 3 h, at which time no more starting material is detectable by TLC (SiO2, 2% methanol/dichloromethane, Rf=0.40). The mixture is concentrated in vacuo and the residue chromatographed on SiO2 (2% methanol/ethyl acetate) to afford the title compound 14.37 g (96%) as a colorless oil.

Provenance & Evidence