THE PREPARATION OF TWO NOVEL HOMOALLYLIC ALCOHOLS VIA THE REACTION OF EPOXIDE WITH PHOSPHONIUM YLIDE

Two novel homoallylic alcohols, E-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)- 1-phenyl-3-buten-1-01 and E-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-buten-1-01, were synthesised by the reaction of methelentriphenylphosphonium ylide with epoxide. The reaction first gave an initial betaine which upon treatment with butyl lithium gave a new ylide. When this new ylide reacted with the proper aldehyde, gave the corresponding homoallylic alcohol. Preliminary biological screening showed that the former alcohol possesses a significant estrogenic activity in rats. The latter alcohol was found to have partial antiestrogenic activity.