Chirospecific synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-arabinitol and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-L-xylitol via one-pot cyclisation

Abstract

The multi-protected compounds 4 and 5 were treated with 20% iodine in methanol to give 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-arabinitol 1 and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-L-xylitol 2 directly. Iodine was an efficient catalyst for deprotection of O-isopropylidene, O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl), N-(9-phenylfluoren-9-yl) and N-benzyloxycarbonyl groups, resulting in intramolecular cyclisation.