Stereoselective Mukaiyama-Michael/Michael/Aldol Domino Cyclization as the Key Step in the Synthesis of Pentasubstituted Arenes: An Efficient Access to Highly Active Inhibitors of Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP).

Seemingly heartbreaking for a stereochemist, the one-step selective construction of a stereopentad and its prompt destruction by aromatization has been proven to be an efficient strategy for the synthesis of fivefold substituted, pharmacologically highly active arenes (see scheme).

Stereoselective synthesis of 1,1-dialkyl-1-methoxymethyl glucosides (acetal-glucosides).

The synthesis is described of highly acid-sensitive, 1,1-dialkyl-1-methoxymethyl glucosides (acetal-glucosides) as potential anti-cancer prodrugs. Reaction of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-O-trimethylsilyl-beta-D-glucopyranose (4) severally with various aliphatic and alicyclic ketones and methyl trimethylsilyl ether, in the presence of catalytic amounts of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, afforded the corresponding acetylated acetal-beta-glucosides, e.g., acetone gave 1-methoxy-1-methylethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7a). Likewise the alpha-anomer (8a) of 7a was obtained from the alpha-anomer of 4. Deacetylation of the tetra-acetates then gave the acetal-alpha- and -beta-glucosides.