Synthesis of 4a-carba-alpha-D-lyxofuranose from 2,3-O-isopropylidene-L-erythruronolactone via Tebbe-mediated cascade reaction.

A new, efficient and highly diastereoselective approach for the synthesis of 1,2,3,5-tetraacetylcarba-alpha-D-lyxofuranose from D-ribose is reported via one-pot conversion of to using Tebbe reagent which involves a cascade reaction sequence of methylenation, cleavage of isopropyl group, carbocyclization and again methylenation.