Catalytic hydrogenation of 3:4‐epoxido‐4‐methyl‐2‐pentanone

Abstract Catalytic hydrogenation of 3:4‐epoxido‐4‐methyl‐2‐pentanone with Raney nickel in iso propanol attacks the epoxide ring before the carbonyI group: The two isomeric forms of 4‐methylpentane‐2 : 3‐diol have been obtained together with methyI iso butyI ketone, a product of the combined hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis of the starting material.