A New Synthesis of α-Methylene Carbinols

Abstract

The synthetic utility of α-methylene carbinols has prompted considerable recent preparative interest. However, many of the reported methods¹ lack scope and require reagents or reaction conditions which are incompatible with sensitive functional groups. We report below two closely related methods for the synthesis of α-methylene carbinols which are based on the reductive elimination of β,γ-epoxysulfones. Both methods give the desired products in moderate overall yield in a four-step sequence which is mild and experimentally facile.