Hydroxyl-directed cyclizations of 1,6-enynes.

The palladium-catalyzed, hydroxyl-directed cyclization reactions of 1,6-enynes provide a highly diastereoselective process for the syntheses of stereochemically defined cyclopentanes. Consistently high levels of cis-selectivity are possible using homopropargyl alcohols in contrast to the corresponding propargyl alcohols. Hydroborylative enyne cyclizations coupled with this directing group effect provide a useful method for the syntheses of multifaceted compounds bearing all carbon quaternary centers.