Reaction of Zinc and Sodium Enolates of 3-Alkyl-6-aryl-5,5-dimethyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydropyrane-2,4-diones with Acyl Chlorides or Benzyl Bromides

Zinc enolates of 3-alkyl-6-aryl-5,5-dimethyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydropyrane-2,4-diones react with acyl chlorides to form O-acylation products, 4-acyloxy-3-alkyl-6-aryl-5,5-dimethyl-5,6-dihydropyrane-2-ones. Sodium enolates of these pyranediones react in DMSO with substituted benzyl bromides to give mainly C-alkylation products, 3-alkyl-6-aryl-3-(4-R-benzyl)-5,5-dimethyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydropyrane-2,4-diones, as single geometric isomers. In some cases, O-alkylation products, 4-alkoxy-3-alkyl-6-aryl-5,5-dimethyl-5,6-dihydropyrane-2-ones, are formed as by-products (10-15%).