δ-Fluoro and δ,δ-difluorohomoallylic alcohol derivatives can be efficiently prepared by LiAlH4 reduction of the δ,δ-difluoroallylic alcohols and the γ-chlorodifluoromethylallylic alcohols, respectively, through regioselective SN2′ reaction, in which the free hydroxyl group is essential for the reaction to proceed.
Cu(I)-mediated alkyl-transfer reaction of trialkylaluminum (R3Al) with (E)- or (Z)-4,4-difluoro-5-hydroxyallylic alcohol derivatives proceeded in an SN'-type manner to give the corresponding 2-alkylated (Z)-4-fluoro-5-hydroxyhomoallylic alcohol derivatives with 2,5-syn- or 2,5-anti selectivity, respectively. Oxidation of the primary hydroxyl group of the product to carboxylic acid was easily achieved without epimerization at the chiral centers. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.