A Convenient Synthesis of (S)-2-Methyl and (2S)-2,3-Dimethyl Butyl Phenylsulfones from (S)-(-)-3-Methyl-γ-butyrolactone

Abstract

Suitably functionalized alkylphenylsulfones have been used as building blocks for the synthesis of several modified side-chains steroids¹. We describe here the synthesis of (S)-2-methyl and (2S)-2,3-dimethyl butyl phenylsulfones (4a) and (6), which can be used for the construction of the side chain of a few marine sterols² or brassinosteroids³ as well.