Lithium tri-s-butylborohydride and lithiumaluminumhydride were found to be efficient reducingagents for the stereoselective preparation of syn-glycerol derivatives from (R)-4-acyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolanes. The scope and limitation of the stereoselective L-Selectride reduction of (R)-4-acyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolanes were also described.
Highly Diastereoselective Addition of Methyllithium to Chiral α,β-Dialkoxy Ketones and Its Application to the Stereocontrolled Asymmetric Synthesis of Highly Substituted Tetrahydrofurans
The nucleophilic addition of methyllithium to chiral α,β-dialkoxy 1,3-dithian-2-yl ketones in ether gave the corresponding Cram type of anti isomers in excellent diastereoselectivity. The method was applied to the stereocontrolled synthesis of optically active and highly substitutedtetrahydrofurans.
Stereocontrolled 1,4-Asymmetric Reduction of Cyclic Hemiketals. Synthesis of Both<i>anti</i>and<i>syn</i>-1,4-Diols, and Their Transformations into<i>trans</i>-and<i>cis</i>-2,5-Disubstituted Tetrahydrofurans
Reduction of dithioacetal-functionalized cyclic hemiketals with LiAlH4 in THF and NaBH4 in ethanol gave the corresponding anti- and syn-1,4-diols with excellent Stereoselectivity, respectively. The anti- and syn-1,4-diols were easily transformed into trans- and cis-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans with complete stereospecificity by the one-step cyclodehydration with p-TsCl in pyridine, respectively