Reductive Ring‐Opening Reaction of 2,3‐Epoxy‐1,4‐butanediones with SbCl₃‐Bu₄NI in the Presence of Na₂S₂O₃·5H₂O

Abstract

1,4‐Disubstituted 2,3‐epoxy‐1,4‐butanediones were converted to 1,4‐disubstituted 2‐hydroxy‐1,4‐butanediones with SbCl₃‐Bu₄NI in the presence of Na₂S₂O₃ · 5H₂O. The ring opening of terminal epoxides can also be accomplished to afford the corresponding haloalcohol with SbCl₃ and tetrabutylammonium halides, Bu₄NX (X=Cl, Br, I) under the same reaction conditions.

Keywords:

• Antimony(III) chloride
• 2,3‐epoxy‐1,4‐butanedione
• haloalcohol, tetrabutylammonium halide