(R)- and (S)-4-TIPS-3-butyn-2-ol. Useful precursors of chiral allenylzinc and indium reagents.

A convenient route to the enantiomers of 4-TIPS-3-butyn-2-ol of >95% enantiomeric purity by reduction of the ynone precursor 4 with the Noyori N-tosyl-1,2-diphenylethylenediamineruthenium cymene catalyst is described. The mesylate derivative of the (S) enantiomer (1c) is converted in situ to an allenylzinc or indium reagent in the presence of a catalyst derived from Pd(OAc)2 and Ph3P and either Et2Zn or InI. A second in situ addition of these reagents to aldehydes leads to anti homopropargylic alcohol adducts. The additions proceed in generally high (60-90%) yield with modest to excellent diastereoselectivity and high enantioselectivity. Only slight mismatching (<5%) is observed with chiral alpha-methyl and alpha-silyloxy aldehydes. Additions to alpha-substituted enals are highly diastereoselective, while beta,beta-disubstituted enals afford ca. 2:1 mixtures of anti and syn adducts.