Reduction of Five-Membered .ALPHA.,.BETA.-Unsaturated Lactones and Related Compounds with the Ni2+/BH4- System

The reductions of an α, β-unsaturated lactone (5) and lactam (7) with the Ni2+/BH-4 system resulted in the formation of cis-hydrogenated products (8a and 9a) with high stereoselectivity. The cis products (8a and 9a) were easily isomerized to the corresponding trans isomers (8b and 9b, respectively) by refluxing with sodium methoxide in anhydrous methanol. Isotope labeling studies with methyl cinnamate as the substrate indicated that the reduction with this reducing system poceeds stepwise via a carbon-nickel intermediate.