10.1021/jo0104328
The study investigates the significant effect of aluminum reagents, particularly (C6F5O)3Al, on the rearrangement of epoxy acylates via stable cation intermediates, leading to the development of new methods for constructing chiral benzylic, vinylic, and acetylenic quaternary carbon centers. The research focused on the importance of the ionic nature of the O-metal bond in epoxide intermediates and applied this method to the asymmetric total synthesis of (S)-(+)-sporochnol A. Key chemicals used in the study include various epoxy acylates, aluminum reagents such as (C6F5O)3Al, MABR, and EtAlCl2, as well as other Lewis acids and organic acids for comparative analysis. These chemicals served to facilitate the rearrangement reactions, stabilize cation intermediates, and ultimately led to the synthesis of optically active carbonyl compounds and the natural product (S)-(+)-sporochnol A.