Zinc-Mediated Hydroxyallylation of Aldehydes with Cyclopropanols: Direct Access to Vicinal anti-sec,tert-Diols via Enolized Homoenolate

Abstract

Direct and diastereoselective synthesis of vicinal anti-sec,tert-diols has been achieved by zinc-mediated α-hydroxyallylation of aldehydes with cyclopropanols. The reaction features the action of the zinc-enolized homoenolate as a γ-oxyallyl nucleophile toward the carbonyl electrophile. The diastereoselectivity of the present reaction is ascribed to the strong preference for a chelated (Z)-configuration of the enolized homoenolate as well as the bicyclic chairlike transition state it forms with the aldehyde, where the aldehyde substituent prefers to occupy the pseudoaxial position.

Publication
Sekiguchi, Y.; Yoshikai, N. Org. Lett. 2022, 24, 960-965.