Studies on the Reduction of Terpenes with Sodium in Aqueous-ammonia

Part I. Synthesis of (-)-Menthol from (-)-Menthone

Abstract

On reduction of (-)-menthone by various methods, generally, a mixture of (-)-menthol and (+)-neomenthol has been obtained. In the present work, it is found that (-)-menthol can be prepared almost quantitatively from (-)-menthone by treatment with sodium in aqueous-ammonia.