Traceless solid-phase synthesis of hydroxylated cyclopentenones

Intramolecular nitrone-alkene cycloadditions on solid phase can be performed using polymer-bound hydroxylamine. Condensation of this reagent with sugar derived 4-pentenals followed by N-O cleavage, quaternization of the amine thus produced, and finally oxidative elimination of the amino group detaches the chiral hydroxylated cyclopentenones from the polymer. The natural antibiotic pentenomycin I was prepared in this way.