Stereoselective synthesis of all stereoisomeric 2-amino3-hydroxy-4-phenylbuntanolides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)00544-3

Diastereoselective methylation of the ketone 5a leads to the anti-derivative 4a; the other diastereoisomer 4b may be obtained by a deprotonation/reprotonation sequence. Each of the methylated products may be reduced stereoselectively in either sense by appropriate choice of reagent, providing a route to all stereoisomers of the title 2-amino-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanolides 10a-d.