Enantioselective reductive coupling of alkynes and alpha-keto aldehydes via rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation: an approach to bryostatin substructures.

Hydrogen-mediated reductive coupling of glyoxal 2 and 1,3-enyne 3 provides alpha-hydroxy ketone 4 in 70% yield and 91% enantiomeric excess. Notably, the benzylic ether and diene side chain of 4 remain intact under the conditions of hydrogen-mediated coupling. In four steps, alpha-hydroxy ketone 4 is converted to pyrans 8 and 9, which embody key structural features of the bryostatin recognition domain.