Abstract
The cyclic thionocarbonates of aromatic 2,3-dihydroxy esters, which have an electron-withdrawing group, undergo deoxygenation with magnesium in methanol to form α-keto esters or α-hydroxy esters, depending on the type of electron-withdrawing group.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors are grateful to Dr. Y. H. Joo, Miss S. M. Ahn, and Prof. S-K. Kang, Sung Kyun Kwan University, for valuable discussions during the preparation of this manuscript.