Asymmetric Syntheses Based on Hexahydro-4,4,7-Trimethyl-1,3-Benzoxathians

Abstract

Earlier work concerned with a highly stereoselective asymmetric synthesis based on a 1,3-oxathiane as the ciral auxiliary reagent is reviewed and recent applications to the synthesis of the four stereoisomers of malyngolide, of (R)-(+)-γ-caprolactone (a pheromone of the Trogoderma glabrum beetle) and of (S)-(+)-mevalolactone are presented. The mechanism underlying this asymmetric synthesis is discussed briefly.