Beschreibung:
Dimethyl-L-tartrate 1 is converted into 2,3-O-n-heptylidene-decylidene dimethyl-L-tartrates 2 which are reduced with ethyldiboranes alone and then in the presence of 9-methylsulfonyloxy- 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (MSBBN ) to yield 2-O -alkyl-L -threitols 4, after deprotection. The amphiphilic compounds 4 are thermotropic mesogens which display the smectic A liquid crystalline phase on melting.