Rhodium-Catalyzed Desymmetrization by Hydroformylation of Cyclopentenes: Synthesis of Chiral Carbocyclic Nucleosides.

Excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee) and diastereoselectivities (up to >99:1 d.r.) have been achieved in the desymmetrization of cyclopentenes by catalytic hydroformylation. This novel methodology provides an efficient and concise synthetic route to chiral cyclopentane carboxaldehydes. The key intermediate, (1S,3S)-(3-hydroxymethyl)cyclopentanol, for the synthesis of carbocyclic-ddA was obtained in three steps.