Syn-selective vinylogous Kobayashi aldol reaction

The Kobayashi aldol reaction has become a prominent transformation in polyketide syntheses. This methodology takes advantage of the directing effects of the Evans auxiliary and allows the stereoselective incorporation of a four carbon segment with two additional methyl branches establishing an anti-relationship between the two newly formed chiral centers. So far this transformation was restricted to anti-aldol products. We present here a modified protocol that provides the corresponding aldol product with high syn-selectivity.