Reagents for the stereoselective generation of the chiral sidechain carbinol unit (C-15) in prostaglandin synthesis

摘要

A process for reducing trans-1-(2-carboxymethyl-3-hydroxy-5-acyloxycyclopentyl)-1-octen-3-one- gamma -lactone to the corresponding 3-ol which makes use of trihydrocarbylborohydride reagents, some of which are new, e.g. lithium 2-thexyl-8-methyl-2-borabicyclo[3,3,1]nonylhydride. A new process for producing this and other lithium thexyl-dihydrocarbylborohydrides which comprises contacting a thexyl-dihydrocarbylborane with an organo-lithium compound having a beta -hydrogen atom.