Stereoselective hydrogenation of conjugate diene directed by hydroxy group and asymmetric synthesis of deoxypolypropionate units

Optically active cyclic compounds carrying a conjugate diene and two hydroxy groups were prepared through the intramolecular Büchner reaction with a chiral tether and succeeding stereoselective conversion. Hydrogenation of the diene in the first step was not regioselective but resulted in three regioisomeric monoenes. Nevertheless, the final saturated product carrying two stereogenic centers could be obtained in 98% stereochemical purity on further hydrogenation under optimized conditions. The high stereoselectivity throughout the multiple pathways is attributable to the effective direction by the hydroxy group. Ring cleavage of the produced stereochemically pure seven-membered ring compounds successfully resulted in synthetic intermediates for deoxypolypropionates.