title: Efficient desymmetrization of "pseudo"-C2-symmetric substrates: illustration in the synthesis of a disubstituted butenolide from arabitol.
abstract: A short synthesis of the homochiral disubstituted butenolide 1 is described in four steps from arabitol. The key steps are the selective kinetic protection of arabitol and the cyclization of 11 to form the butenolide ring. This last transformation represents a rare example of a fully stereoselective cyclitive desymmetrization process of a "pseudo"-C2-symmetric substrate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Southampton University, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom. bruno.linclau@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Linclau
authors.forename: A James
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Boydell
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Horan
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacquet