4-(Trinitromethyl)tetrahydro-2-furanol and 4-(fluorodinitromethyl)tetrahydro-2-furanol via lactone reduction with borane. The preparation of cis/trans-2-polynitroalkoxy-4-polynitromethyltetrahydrofurans

Normally borane reduces lactones too rapidly to allow the isolation of intermediates but 4-(trinitromethyl)-tetrahydro-2-furanol and 4-(fluorodinitromethyl)tetrahydro-2-furanol are isolated in 72 and 36% yield from the reduction of 4-hydroxy-3-(trinitromethyl)butyric acid, γ-lactone and 4-hydroxy-3-(fluorodinitromethyl)-butyric acid, γ-lactone with borane-tetrahydrofuran complex. The preparation of 2-polynitroalkoxy-4-polynitromethyltetrahydrofurans from the 2-furanols is described.