A chemoenzymatic synthesis of sialic acid from inexpensive N-acetyl-D-glucosamine is described. In a three-step Wittig–protection–ozonolysis strategy manno-configured aldehydes are obtained. Treatment with oxaloacetate in the presence of macrophomate synthase affords the signature α-keto-γ-hydroxy acid moiety with high diastereoselectivity.
Chemical Communications
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