title: Organocatalytic alpha-hydroxymethylation of cyclopentanone with aqueous formaldehyde: easy access to chiral delta-lactones.
abstract: Optically active lactones are important synthons in perfume and aroma manufacturing. Therefore, developments of efficient asymmetric syntheses are desired. Organocatalytic asymmetric alpha-hydroxymethylations of cyclopentanone with aqueous formaldehyde have been developed, to furnish the corresponding alpha-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopentanone with high enantioselectivity. Further chemical transformation of alpha-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopentanone gave the key intermediate for jasmine lactone, which is widely found in fruits and flowers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Science, Faculty of Engineering, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mase
authors.forename: Azusa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takabe