A modular approach to polyketide building blocks: cycloadditions of nitrile oxides and homoallylic alcohols.

A general approach to the diastereoselective synthesis of Delta(2)-isoxazolines via magnesium-mediated, hydroxyl-directed diastereoselective nitrile oxide cycloadditions of homoallylic alcohols and monoprotected homoallylic diols is disclosed. A broad spectrum of aliphatic and aromatic nitrile oxides and a variety of homoallylic alcohols participate in the cycloaddition, thus expanding the scope of polyketide building blocks that can be accessed using this strategy.