Stereoselective titanium-mediated aldol reactions of (S)-2-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-3-pentanone

Titanium-mediated aldol reactions based on (S)-2-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-3-pentanone, a lactate-derived chiral ketone, provide the corresponding 2,4-syn-4,5-syn adducts in high yields and diastereomeric ratios with a wide array of achiral and chiral aldehydes. Furthermore, spectroscopic studies of intermediates involved in the process have permitted to propose a mechanism that accounts for the experimental results.