Enantiopure hydroxylactones from d-xylose. A novel approach to the enantiodivergent synthesis of (+)- and (−)-muricatacin suitable for the preparation of 7-oxa analogues

A new route towards enantiopure hydroxylactones 3 and ent-3, the final chiral precursors in an enantiodivergent synthesis of (+)- and (−)-muricatacin, has been developed starting from d-xylose.