Asymmetric synthesis of deoxypolypropionate units via stereoselective hydrogenation of optically active cycloheptatriene.

Optically active polypropionate units were synthesized in 9-11 steps from 3,5-dimethylphenol. The sequence consists of the Buchner reaction controlled by a chiral 2,4-pentanediol tether and diastereoselective hydrogenation over Raney nickel. [reaction: see text]