The diastereoisomers of 4-ethyl-1-methyl-4-nitrocyclohexa-2, 5-dienyl acetate (1) and 1- ethyl-4-methyl-4-nitrocyclohexa-2, 5-dienyl acetate (2) are stereospecifically reduced to the corresponding nitrocyclohexadienols with aluminum hydride. Each dienol is stereospecifically methylated to the corresponding methyl ether with methyl iodide, silver oxide, and potassium hydroxide. Acid-catalysed solvolysis of the acetates 1 and 2 results ...
