myo-Inositol 1,3-acetals as early intermediates during the synthesis of cyclitol derivatives

•Inositol 1,3-acetals are obtained by reductive cleavage of myo-inositol orthoesters.•Inositol 1,3-acetals are synthons for naturally occurring cyclitol derivatives.•Conformation of 1,3-acetals could open new avenues for the synthesis of cyclitols.

Synthetic sequences starting from commercially available myo-inositol necessarily involve protection–deprotection strategies of its six hydroxyl groups. Several strategies have been developed/attempted over the last several decades leading to the synthesis of naturally occurring phosphoinositols, their analogs, and cyclitol derivatives. Of late, myo-inositol 1,3-acetals, which can be obtained by the reductive cleavage of myo-inositol orthoesters have emerged as early intermediates for the synthesis of phosphorylated and other inositol derivatives. This mini-review is an attempt to illustrate the economy and convenience of using myo-inositol 1,3-acetals as early intermediates during syntheses from myo-inositol.

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