Abstract
The influence of the steric bulk and chelation potential of the “blocking group” on the unexpectedly low diastereoselectivity observed during the α-benzylation of carboxylic ester enolates of 3,3-(2,3-butanedioxy)-2-exo-bornanol is examined.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank AECI Ltd. and the National Research Foundation (NRF) for a bursar (to M.D.E.), and the NRF and Rhodes University for generous financial support.