The carbohydrate derivatives 1-5 were evaluated as chiral auxiliaries
in the Diels-Alder reaction of its acrylate derivatives 6a-e with cycl
opentadiene promoted by Lewis acids. Although excellent endo:exo ratio
s (98:2) were obtained in many cases, the rr-facial selectivities were
from low to moderate (up to 60% d.e.). An effect of noncoordinating s
olvents reversing the stereoselectivities of adducts obtained from acr
ylates 6a,b was also found. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.