Asymmetric construction of α,α–disubstituted cyclobutanones–enantioselective total synthesis of (–)-frontalin

Abstract

Novel access to the chiral, α,α-disubstituted ketone 2-hydroxymethyl-2-methylcyclobutanone was developed, leading to an enantioselective total synthesis of (–)-frontalin, an aggregating pheromone of bark beetles.