The AlH2Cl hydrogenolysis of ether solutions of 2-alkoxytetrahydrofurans in which the alkoxy group is either CH3O, C2H5O, i-C3H7O, or t-C4H9O, gives only those products resulting from ring C—O bond cleavage. However, substituents at C-5 of 2-methoxytetrahydrofuran exert a strong effect on the ratio of ring to exo C—O bond cleavage. Thus, alkyl (electron donor) groups at C-5 promote an increase in the amount of exo cleavage, the proportion increasing from 62.5 to 100% as the C-5 alkyl group is changed from CH3 to t-C4H9. In contrast, electron withdrawing substituents, CH3OCH2— and C6H5, at C-5 favor ring cleavage to the extent of 93 and 84% respectively.The results are interpreted in terms of the influence that these substituents exert through their electronic properties on the relative ease of attainment of the transition state leading to either ring C—O or exo C—O bond cleavage. However, evidence is provided to show that the bulk steric effect of these substituents also controls, though to a minor extent, the proportion of ring to exo cleavage.
