Alkylation of ethyl 2-methylbutyrate with excess n-butyl bromide and sodium hydride in diglyme gave relatively good yields (38%) of ethyl 2-methyl-2-ethylhexanoate. To investigate the possibility of asymmetric induction in this alkylation reaction the isobornyl and menthyl esters of 2-methylbutyric acid were treated with n-butyl bromide-sodium hydride and the products were reduced with lithium aluminum hydride. The samples of 2-methyl-2- ...
