<i>trans</i>-2-Tritylcyclohexanol as a Chiral Auxiliary in Permanganate-Mediated Oxidative Cyclization of 2‑Methylenehept-5-enoates: Application to the Synthesis of <i>trans</i>-(+)-Linalool Oxide

The permanganate-mediated oxidative cyclization of a series of 2-methylenehept-5-eneoates bearing different chiral auxiliaries was investigated, leading to the discovery of trans-2-tritylcyclohexanol (TTC) as a highly effective chiral controller for the formation of the 2,5-substituted THF diol product with high diastereoselectivity (dr ∼97:3). Chiral resolution of (±)-TTC, prepared in one step from cyclohexene oxide, afforded (−)-(1S,2R)-TTC (er >99:1), which was applied to the synthesis of (+)-trans-(2S,5S)-linalool oxide.