Stereoselective alkylation of tartrate derivatives. A concise route to (+)-O-methylpiscidic acid and natural analogues.

The lithium enolate of (2S,3S,5S,6S)-dimethoxy-2,3-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane-5,6-dithiocarboxylate undergoes stereoselective mono- and/or dialkylations to afford two new stereogenic centers. The alkylation products obtained possessed a cis stereochemistry, which was confirmed by the synthesis of natural 4'-O-methylpiscidic acid dimethyl ester .