Towards the synthesis of the side chains of brassinolides: diastereodivergent alkoxyaldehyde–ene reaction and nickel-catalysed transformation of vinyl sulfide
Abstract
Chelation(SnCl4)-controlled carbonyl–ene reaction of 2-benzyloxypropionaldehyde with vinyl sulfides is shown to provide a stereodivergent route to chelation-erythro and -threo diastereoisomers of steroid (brassinolide) side chains via the nickel-catalysed coupling reaction of the vinyl sulfide products.