Regioselective cleavage of the bis-benzylidene acetal of d-mannitol under oxidative and reductive conditions: a new approach to C2-symmetric chiral ligands

A highly regioselective oxidative cleavage of 1,3:4,6-di-O-benzylidene-d-mannitol was carried out using NBS and the resultant product was readily converted to the C₂-symmetric chiral ligand, (R,R)-3,4-dihydroxy-1,5-hexadiene. On the other hand, reductive cleavage of 1,3:4,6-di-O-benzylidene-d-mannitol was achieved in a highly regioselective manner using BF₃·OEt₂ and Et₃SiH to give a highly functionalized benzyl ether, which was converted to a synthetically useful C₂-symmetric bis-amino alcohol derivative.