Reductive decyanation of. beta.,. gamma.-epoxy nitriles. New synthesis of. beta.-isopropylidene alcohols

JA Marshall, CP Hagan, GA Flynn

Index: Marshall,J.A. et al. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1975 , vol. 40, # 8 p. 1162 - 1166

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Citation Number: 14

Abstract

In the course of studies aimed at the synthesis of natural sesquiterpenoids we discovered that/?, y-epoxy nitriles underwent reductive decyanation-elimination to allylic alcohols upon treatment with sodium in liquid ammonia.'The epoxy nitriles could be prepared quite easily from ketones by a sequence involving (a) condensation with diethyl sodiocyanomethylphosphate,(b) geminal alkylation with methyl iodide, and (c) ...