Catalytic Asymmetric Bromoetherification and Desymmetrization of Olefinic 1,3-Diols with <i>C</i>₂-Symmetric Sulfides

Abstract

An enantioselective and highly diastereoselective bromoetherification and desymmetrization of olefinic 1,3-diols has been developed using a C2-symmetric cyclic sulfide catalyst. This methodology has been successfully applied to the synthesis of the key intermediate of an orally active antifungal drug posaconazole (Noxafil).