SYNTHESIS-STUTTGART, sa.10, ss.1500-1502, 2003 (SCI-Expanded)
gala-Quercitol was synthesized from 1,4-cyclohexadiene in seven steps and overall yield of 68%. Reaction of 5,6-dibromo-2,2-dimethylhexahydro-1,3-benzodioxole, synthesized from 1,4-cyclohexadiene in three steps, with excess NaOMe gave (3aalpha,5alpha,7aalpha)-5-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-3a,4,5,7a-tetrahydro-1,3-benzodioxole. cis-Hydroxylation of the benzodioxole followed by acetylation with AcCl gave 5-O-methyl-gala-quercitol tetraacetate from which gala-quercitol was obtained by hydrolysis and demethylation with aq HBr (47%).