Asymmetric Synthesis of a Key Synthetic Precursor for (+)-Strigol and Sorgolactone

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)81337-5

En-route to non-racemic iodomethyl butyrolactone 23g a number of stereoselective 1,4-additions and reductions have been studied.The only satisfactory approach involved baker's yeast reduction (21c->23c) as key step.