New approach to (−)-polyoxamic acid and 3,4-diepipolyoxamic acid from d-lyxono-1,4-lactone

The non-natural enantiomer of polyoxamic acid (1) and 3,4-diepipolyoxamic acid (2) was synthesized in four steps from d-lyxono-1,4-lactone (4). Regioselective bromination of unprotected d-lyxono-1,4-lactone with HBr/AcOH led to 2-bromo-2-deoxy-d-xylono-1,4-lactone (5). This intermediate was treated with NaN3 to give 2-azido-2-deoxy-d-lyxono and xylono-1,4-lactones. Saponification of the obtained 2-azido derivatives gave the corresponding 2-azido-2-deoxyaldonic acids salt which, after neutralization followed by reduction, led to the expected compounds: (−)-polyoxamic acid (3) and 3,4-diepipolyoxamic acid (2) in 38% and 29% overall yields.