Highly stereoselective titanium-mediated aldol reactions from chiral α-silyloxy ketones. A reliable tool for the synthesis of natural products

Chiral α-silyloxy ketones participate in highly stereoselective TiCl4-mediated aldol reactions that afford diastereomerically pure syn-syn adducts in high yield irrespective of the R1 and R2 substituents flanking the carbonyl or the silicon protecting group. Further manipulation of the resulting aldol adducts provide in a straightforward manner highly functionalized fragments that facilitate the synthesis of natural products.