Catalytic Asymmetric β-Oxygen Elimination

A catalytic enantioselective β-O-elimination reaction is reported in the form of a zirconium-catalyzed asymmetric opening of meso-ketene acetals. Furthermore, a regiodivergent β-O-elimination is demonstrated. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions, at low catalyst loadings, and produces chiral monoprotected 1,2-diol building blocks in good yield and enantiomeric excess. The combination with a Mitsunobu reaction then gives access to all 1,2-diol stereoisomers and trans-1,2-aminoalcohols in high enantiomeric purity. A stereochemical analysis supported by DFT calculations reveals that a high selectivity in the hydrozirconation step is also important for achieving high enantioselectivity, although it does not constitute the asymmetric step. This insight is crucial for the future development of related asymmetric β-elimination reactions.