Asymmetric Synthesis of Functionalized Secondary Alcohols by Catalytic Ring-Cleavage Reactions of Cyclic Acetals Derived from (<i>R</i>)-1,3-Butanediol
t-BuS, EtS, EtO, Ph) (1.1-1.5 molar amount), chiral cyclicacetals 6 derivedfrom (R)-1,3-butanediol and aldehydes undergo an efficient ring-cleavage reaction with the inversion of the stereochemistry at the acetal carbon to give the anti isomer of the corresponding products with high stereoselectivity. The reaction is applicable to acetalsderivedfrom aromatic, aliphatic, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes