Organoaluminum-promoted cycloaddition of trialkylsilylketene with aldehydes: A new, stereoselectie approach to cis-2-oxetanones and 2(Z)-alkenoic acids

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4020(95)00142-U

The exceptionally bulky methylaluminum bis(4-bromo-2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxide) (MABR) can be successfully utilized as a highly efficient Lewis acid for achieving high stereoselectivity in the cycloaddition of trialkylsilylketene with aldehydes. This method serves as a highly effective route to the synthesis of cis-2-oxetanones from saturated aldehydes, and the synthesis of 2(Z)-alkenoic acids from aromatic and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes.