Synthesis of a simple chiral auxiliary derived from levoglucosenone and its application in a Diels-Alder reaction

The synthesis of a chiral alcohol derived from levoglucosenone has been studied. The alcohol was employed as chiral template in an asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of the corresponding acrylic ester derivative with cyclopentadiene, and was shown to be an efficient asymmetric inductor. The oxidation reaction detected during the hydrogenation of a secondary allylic alcohol intermediate with Pd/C was also investigated.