SYNTHESIS OF INTERMEDIATES FOR THE LACTONE MOIETY OF MEVINIC ACIDS VIA TELLURIUM CHEMISTRY

Treatment of p-toluenesulfonates of epoxides of specific primary allylic alcohols with telluride ion, prepared in situ by reduction of relatively nontoxic elemental tellurium, installs the two key secondary alcohol functions that occur in the lactone part of the cholesterol-lowering drugs, compactin, mevinolin, and lovastatin. Since the epoxides of the primary allylic alcohol starting materials can be synthesized in optically active form by the Sharpless-Katsuki asymmetric epoxidation (SAE) process, the stereospecific telluride transposition can give optically active secondary allylic alcohols configured for maximum inhibition of cholesterol function.