Stereochemistry of the Reactions of Cyclic Ketones with Lithium Aluminum Hydride and Methyllithium. IV. The Stereochemistry of the Reactions in 2,2-Dimethyl-4-t-Butylcyclohexanone Systems

Previous publication showed that the stereochemistry of lithium aluminum hydride reduction of cyclic ketones can be evaluated by the use of an empirical equation, . This paper reports further test of this relationship in the new system of 2,2-dimethyl-4-t-butyl-cyclohexanone. Lithium aluminum hydride reduction of this ketone yields 95.6% trans-alcohol (lit., 95.9%) corresponding to D?(D?G*)_H of 1.67 Kcal/mol. With methyllithium, the ketone formed 77.5% of trans-alcohol (D?(D?G*)_D?fs = 0.67 Kcal/mol). These data give a calculated D?G* = 0.74 Kcal/mol which agrees well with the literature value of 0.87 or 0.28 Kcal/mol. Structural assignments of 2,2-dimethyl-4-t-butylyclohexanone, 1,2,2-trimethyl-cis- and trans-4-t-butylcyclohexanols by pmr spectroscopic method are also given.