Lactones, reaction with aluminum borohydride

The importance of reactions with complex, metal hydrides in carbohydrate chemistry is well documented by a vast number of publications that deal mainly with reduction of carbonyl groups, N- and O-acyl functions, lactones, azides, and epoxides, as well as with reactions of sulfonic esters. With rare exceptions, lithium aluminum hydride and lithium, sodium, or potassium borohydride are the... 

The neutralization values were influenced by reduction with strong reducing agents, lithium aluminum hydride, sodium borohydride, and amalgamated zinc plus hydrochloric acid (35, 46). For the most part, the consumption of NajCOj and of NaOEt decreased in equivalent amounts. This is further confirmation of the assumption that lactones of the fluorescein type or of the lactol type are present. The reaction with sodium ethoxide was shown to be no true neutralization, that is, exchange of H+for Na+, at all, but an addition reaction w ith the formation of the sodium salt of a semi-acetal or ketal ... 

If other reactive moieties are present a cyclopropanecarbonyl compound can be converted to the corresponding cyclopropylalkane using various conditions. Thus, 3,4-benzotricy-clo[4.3.1.0 ]dec-3-en-2-one yielded 3,4-benzotricyclo[4.3.1.0 ]dec-3-ene in excellent yield on treatment with sodium in liquid ammonia. di-l-Methylcyclopropane-l,2-dicarboxylic anhydride underwent a similar reaction to afford isomeric lactones on treatment with lithium aluminum hydride or sodium borohydride in tetrahydrofuran. On the other hand, ionic hydrogenation (triethylsilane in trifluoroacetic acid and water) of cyclopropyl phenyl ketone gave a complex reaction mixture and very little benzylcyclopropane. ... 

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