Abstract
Abstract In connection with the studies on biological activities on myrmicacin and related compounds, the synthetic method for 2-hydroxyalkanoic acids and the corresponding 1,2-diols was studied. The addition reaction of tris(methylthio)methyllithium to the aldehydes (propanal–dodecanal) gave the corresponding 1,1,1-tris(methylthio)-2-alkanols 1a–j. Treatment of 1 with mercury(II) chloride–mercury(II) oxide in water–acetone afforded S-methyl 2-hydroxyalkanethioates 2a–j, and in methanol methyl 2-hydroxyalkanoates 3c–j were obtained. Reduction of the thioates 2 with lithium aluminium hydride gave 1,2-diols 4c–j and saponification produced the corresponding 2-hydroxyalkanoic acids 5c–j.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
