Studies on the Reduction of Terpenes with Sodium in Aqueous Ammonia

Part VII. On the Reduction of (+)-Menthone Enol Acetate

Abstract

(+)-Menthone enol acetate was prepared from (-)-menthone. It was found that this compound can be reduced to menthols, 79% of (-)-menthol and 21% of (+)-isomenthol, through menthylacetate, or enolic menthone (menthone), by the treatment with sodium in aqueous ammonia, i.e., a novel method of reduction employed in this series.