Stereoselective Synthesis of Optically Active Di- and Trisubstituted Oxetanones as Chiral Dopants to Induce Ferroelectricity in Liquid Crystals

Abstract

Optically active 3-hydroxybutyric and 3-hydroxyhexanoic acids were transformed into 3,4-disubstituted and 3,3,4-trisubstituted 2-oxetanones using two different approaches. Diastereoselective alkylation was performed either on dioxanone enolates or on lithoxy-lithium enolates. Some recently published unexpected results of alkylation of substituted dioxanones were used for the synthesis of a trisubstituted oxetanone.