Controlling stereoselectivity with the aid of a reagent-directing group: Hydroformylation, cuprate addition, and domino reaction sequences

The specific introduction of an appropriately designed reagent-directing gr oup into an organic substrate allows the more efficient use of substrate di rection to allow high levels of acyclic stereocontrol in both rhodium-catal yzed hydroformylation and cuprate addition to enoates. This provides access to major building blocks of the polyketide class of natural products. Inco rporation of these directed reactions into sequential transformations holds promise for new particularly efficient synthetic methods.