Synthesis of 4-substituted hexahydro-2(3H)-benzofuranones by addition of hydrides or trimethylaluminium to 2-ethoxycarbonylmethylcyclohexanones

The addition of complex hydride and trimethyl aluminium to 3-substituted an d 3,3-disubstituted-2-carboxymethylcyclohexanones to produce cyclohexanols which could be cyclized to the corresponding benzofuranones was investigate d; the stereochemistry of the addition was strongly influenced by the natur e and size of the added nucleofiles and by the cyclohexanone-substituent.