Development of Ferrier(II) carbocyclization catalyzed by Pd(II) and its application to the synthesis of bioactive substances

Highly functionalized cyclohexanes are useful intermediates for the synthes is of natural products and their derivatives having 6-membered ring systems . Among the preparation of chiral substituted cyclohexanes, Hg(II) salts me diated conversion of aldohexoses into cyclohexanones [Ferrier (II) carbocyc lization] has become one of the most efficient and intriguing process. This article summarizes our recent works concerning the development of the cata lytic Ferrier(II) carbocyclization mediated by Pd(II) salts and the applica tion of this reaction to the total syntheses: i) beta-glucosidase inhibitor , cyclophellitol, ii) all diastereoisomers of inositol and D-myo-inositol p hosphates. It should be emphasized that PdCl2-mediated transformation enabl ed us to prepare such expensive inositol derivatives efficiently.