Asymmetric synthesis of (–)-actinonin and (–)-epi-actinonin

Abstract

The highly asymmetric induction imparted by the iron chiral auxiliary [(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)(PPh3)] is exploited in the preparation of homochiral (R)- and (S)-α-pentylsuccinates. Their application in the synthesis of (–)-actinonin and (–)-epi-actinonin is described.