Sotolon (3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-2(5H)-furanone) has been synthezised both in racemic and enantioenriched forms by a short sequence involving intramolecular tandem isomerization-aldolisation and tandem izomerization/Mannich reactions as key steps. Optically active Sotolon has been obtained by using (S)-N-tert-butane sulfinimine as a chiral starting material. |