Abstract
Two new efficient routes for the synthesis of pentaerythritol monobenzyl ether are described. In one route, the known mono‐O‐benzylidenepentaerythritol (5) is selectively benzylated via its dibutylstannylene acetal and then the benzylidene acetal is hydrolized. In the other route, compound 5 is reduced directly to the monobenzyl ether using EtAlCl2‐Et3SiH.
Acknowledgments
We thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for support and the Atlantic Region Magnetic Resonance Centre for NMR time.