Aldol condensation reactions of tricarbonyliron complexes. Easy access to diastereomerically pure 1,2,3-trisubstituted 1,3-diols from α-substituted dienone complexes

Tricarbonyliron complexes of α-substituted dienones are well suited starting compounds for the synthesis of diastereomerically pure 1,2,3-trisubstituted 1,3-diols of known configuration, among them 1,2,3-triols. This is achieved by aldol condensation with an aldehyde, a reaction which gives one distinctly major isolated ketol, under Mukayiama conditions, followed by totally stereoselective reduction.