Stereoselective Synthesis of 8-Trialkylstannylmenthols

Abstract

Trialkyltin menthones of type 2 are obtained selectively by 1,4-addition of trialkylstannyl lithium to (-)-pulegone. Reduction of 2 with borane in THF using as catalyst the reagent prepared from borane and (S)-valinol gave a mixture of the corresponding trialkyltin alcohols 3 (Me: 84%; n-Bu: 90,6%) and 4 (Me: 16% and n-Bu: 9,4%).