Construction of Cyclopentanol Derivatives via Three-Component Coupling of Silyl Glyoxylates, Acetylides, and Nitroalkenes

The three-component coupling of Mg acetylides, silyl glyoxylates, and nitroalkenes results in a highly diastereoselective Kuwajima–Reich/vinylogous Michael cascade that provides tetrasubstituted silyloxyallene products. The regio- and diastereoselectivity were studied using DFT calculations. These silyloxyallenes were converted to cyclopentenols and cyclopentitols via a unique Lewis acid assisted Henry cyclization. The alkene functionality present in the cyclopentanol products can be elaborated using diastereoselective ketohydroxylation reactions.