Aldol condensation reactions of tricarbonyliron complexes. Easy access to diastereomerically pure 1,2,3-trisubstituted 1,3-diols from alpha-substituted dienone complexes

Tricarbonyliron complexes of alpha-substituted dienones are well suited sta rting compounds for the synthesis of diastereomerically pure 1,2,3-trisubst ituted 1,3-diols of known configuration, among them 1,2,3-triols. This is a chieved by aldol condensation with an aldehyde, a reaction which gives one distinctly major isolated ketol, under Mukayiama conditions, followed by to tally stereoselective reduction. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.