A number of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-1-(S)-(substituted phenyl)-D-ribitol
s bearing aromatic OH, NH2, NO2, CO2H and halogeno moieties, and a 3-p
yridyl analogue have been synthesized. The key step is the condensatio
n of aryllithium or aryl Grignard reagents with the imine 3; derived f
rom the protected 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-ribitol 4. (C) 1997 Elsevier
Science Ltd.