The invention provides methods of synthesizing compounds in an asymmetric or enantioenriched fashion, wherein the compounds are useful intermediates in the synthesis of viral protease inhibitors.

Suggested are 1,2-alkanediols of formula (I) HOCH.sub.2—CH(OH)—R.sup.1 in which R.sup.1 stands for an alkyl radical having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, said diols being substantially free of lactones and/or peroxides.

Suggested are 1,2-alkanediols of formula (I) HOCH.sub.2—CH(OH)—R.sup.1 in which R.sup.1 stands for an alkyl radical having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, said diols being substantially free of lactones and/or peroxides.

The present invention relates to the use of esters and/or ethers of 3-methyl-pentane-diol and unsaturated derivates thereof as aroma chemicals, to aroma chemical compositions comprising at least one ester of 3-methyl-pentan-diol and/or unsaturated derivates thereof and/or at least one ether of 3-methyl-pentan-diol and/or unsaturated derivates thereof and to a method for preparing an aroma chemical composition, in particular a fragranced composition, specifically a fragranced ready-to-use composition, which comprises incorporating at least one ester of 3-methyl-pentane-diol and/or one or more unsaturated derivates thereof and/or at least one ether 3-methyl-pentane-diol and/or one or more unsaturated derivates thereof into a composition, in particular into a ready-to-use composition. The present invention further relates to specific ethers of 3-methyl-pentane-diol and unsaturated derivates thereof and to specific esters of 3-methyl-pentane-diol, to specific mixtures of such compounds and to unsaturated derivates thereof and a method for their preparation.

The present invention relates to the use of esters and/or ethers of 3-methyl-pentane-diol and unsaturated derivates thereof as aroma chemicals, to aroma chemical compositions comprising at least one ester of 3-methyl-pentan-diol and/or unsaturated derivates thereof and/or at least one ether of 3-methyl-pentan-diol and/or unsaturated derivates thereof and to a method for preparing an aroma chemical composition, in particular a fragranced composition, specifically a fragranced ready-to-use composition, which comprises incorporating at least one ester of 3-methyl-pentane-diol and/or one or more unsaturated derivates thereof and/or at least one ether 3-methyl-pentane-diol and/or one or more unsaturated derivates thereof into a composition, in particular into a ready-to-use composition. The present invention further relates to specific ethers of 3-methyl-pentane-diol and unsaturated derivates thereof and to specific esters of 3-methyl-pentane-diol, to specific mixtures of such compounds and to unsaturated derivates thereof and a method for their preparation.

Suggested are 1,2-alkanediols of formula (I) HOCH.sub.2CH(OH)R.sup.1 in which R.sup.1 stands for an alkyl radical having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, said diols being substantially free of lactones and/or peroxides.

Suggested are 1,2-alkanediols of formula (I) HOCH.sub.2CH(OH)R.sup.1 in which R.sup.1 stands for an alkyl radical having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, said diols being substantially free of lactones and/or peroxides.

The present invention relates to the use of a compound of the general formula (I) wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl or (C=0)R.sup.3, R.sup.2 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl or (C=0)R.sup.4, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, independently of one another, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, a stereoisomer thereof or a mixture of stereoisomers thereof, as an aroma chemical, to aroma chemical compositions comprising at least one compound of the general formula (I), a stereoisomer thereof or a mixture of stereoisomers thereof, and to a method for preparing a fragranced ready-to-use composition, which comprises incorporating at least one compound of the general formula (I), a stereoisomer thereof or a mixture of stereoisomers thereof, into a ready-to-use composition. The present invention further relates to specific ethers and specific esters of the compounds of the general formula (I) and a method for their preparation.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to the use of a compound of the general formula (I) wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl or (C=0)R.sup.3, R.sup.2 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl or (C=0)R.sup.4, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, independently of one another, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, a stereoisomer thereof or a mixture of stereoisomers thereof, as an aroma chemical, to aroma chemical compositions comprising at least one compound of the general formula (I), a stereoisomer thereof or a mixture of stereoisomers thereof, and to a method for preparing a fragranced ready-to-use composition, which comprises incorporating at least one compound of the general formula (I), a stereoisomer thereof or a mixture of stereoisomers thereof, into a ready-to-use composition. The present invention further relates to specific ethers and specific esters of the compounds of the general formula (I) and a method for their preparation.

##STR00001##

The invention provides methods of synthesizing compounds in an asymmetric or enantioenriched fashion, wherein the compounds are useful intermediates in the synthesis of viral protease inhibitors.