Enantiomerically pure ketals in synthesis. Diastereoselective formation of β-keto and β-hydroxy ketals

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)79468-8

Enantiomerically pure acylketene acetals were employed to generate a homochiral β-keto ketal through a highly diastereoselective lithium enolate quench. The β-keto ketal, which was also prepared through a desymmetrization ketalization reaction on a meso dione, was employed in the synthesis of the isomers of the insect pheromone sitophilure.