Efficient stereodivergent synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-iminohexitols from an (S)-glyceraldimine

A stereodivergent synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-mannitol I and d-allitol III from an (S)-glyceraldimine, which is easily prepared from d-mannitol, has been achieved with overall yields of 62% and 49%, respectively. The synthesis is based on the addition of vinylmagnesium bromide to N-benzylimine 1, derived from readily available (R)-2,3-O-isopropylideneglyceraldehyde, followed by N-allylation or N-acryloylation, ring-closing metathesis and asymmetric dihydroxylation.