Synthesis of chiral propargyl alcohols following the base-induced elimination protocol: application in the total synthesis of natural products

Abstract

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure propargyl alcohols is one of the most important tools in organic synthesis. Base-induced elimination of β-alkoxy chlorides could offer enantiomerically pure propargyl alcohols corresponding to their precursor. This protocol has been serving organic synthesis methods for three decades and has shown its enormous utility in the synthesis of a variety of natural products and small molecules. In this review, for the first time we compile the applications of the “base-induced elimination of β-alkoxy chlorides” protocol (BIEP) in the total synthesis of natural products. Furthermore, we discuss the scope and how this protocol could be a promising tool to generate propargyl alcohols.