A new and stereospecific synthesis of an inositol analogue: bis-homoinositol

The photooxygenation of trans-8-(acetyloxy)bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-2,4-dien-7-yl acetate afforded the bicyclic endoperoxide. Reduction of the endoperoxide with thiourea followed by acetylation gave the corresponding tetraacetate. The KMnO4 oxidation of the tetraacetate followed by acetylation gave dihydroxytetraacetate Ammonolysis of tetraacetate afforded the bis-homoinositol, bicyclo[4.2.0]octane-2,3,4,5,7,8-hexol.