Diastereo- and enantioselective reduction of α,β-diketodithiane with the baker's yeast

The Baker's yeast reduction of 1-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)-1,2-propanedione gave highly enantio-and diastereoselectively (S)-(+)-(1-1,3-dithian-2-yl)-2-hydroxy-1-propanone or (1S,23-(+)-(1)-(1,3-dithian-2-yl-1,2-propanediol, depending on the reaction time. The hydroxy ketone was reduced with diisobutylaluminum hydride to give (1R,2S)-1-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)-1,2-propanediol with high diastereoselectivity. The former (1S,2S)-diol was converted into L-digitoxose.