A convenienr synthesis of (S)-2-methyl and (S)-2,3-dimethyl butyl phenylsulfones fro (S)-(-)-3-methyl-gamma-butyrolactone

Suitably functionalized alkylphenylsulfones have been used as building blocks for the synthesis of several modified side-chains steroids1. We describe here the synthesis of (S)-2-methyl and (2S)-2,3-dimethyl butyl phenylsulfones (4a) and (6), which can be used for the construction of the side chain of a few marine sterols2 or brassinosteroids3 as well.