Remarkable stereocontrol in the synthesis of 1,2,3,5-tetrasubstituted tetrahydropyrans via an asymmetric heterocycloaddition of a ketone-derived enol ether

Abstract

The synthesis of chiral 1,2,3,5-substituted tetrahydropyrans has been realized via an asymmetric hetero Diels–Alder (HDA) reaction. The key step that involved a trisubstituted chiral enol ether derived from ( R)-mandelic acid as the dienophile promoted the creation of three stereogenic centers with a remarkable and unprecedented endo and facial stereocontrol. The hydrogenation of the heteroadduct 2 was optimized by using Pd on charcoal and diisopropylethylamine, leading to a unique isomer. The chiral inductor was cleanly and stereoselectively removed via an acetal reduction, which demonstrated the potential of this methodology for the efficient construction of key intermediate of biologically active molecules.