Synthesis and Alcoholysis of <i>α</i>-Alkylated Cyclopentane and Cyclohexane Fused Succinic Racemic Anhydrides in the Presence of Chiral Bases

Bicyclic succinic anhydrides alkylated at the <i>α</i>-position have been prepared and submitted to alcoholysis in the presence of alkaloid bases. Anhydrides with a cyclopentane fused ring, open only from the less hindered side, generating monoesters of >80 % ee, whereas cyclohexane fused anhydrides undergo parallel kinetic resolution, producing both regioisomeric monoesters