In 1983 we reported on the reduction, nucleophilic addition, and ene reactions (eq 1) of a- keto esters derived from 8-phenylmenthol (l)'(Figure 1). Unfortunately, the report of an ene reaction between the pyruvate ester and 1-hexene in the presence of SnC1, was in error as in fact the main products from that reaction appear to be those resulting from aldol reaction- condensation of the pyruvate with itself. Use of other Lewis acids (EtA1C12, AlC13, BF3)
