Redox-Neutral 1,3-Diol Synthesis by Base-Promoted Diastereoselective Alcohol-Aldolization.

In order to prepare more efficiently key 1,3-diol fragments, we have devised a base-promoted redox-neutral condensation of ketones with alcohols. This diastereoselective alcohol-aldolization enables bypassing the classical oxidation and reduction steps necessary for the preparation of this crucial backbone by an overall redox-neutral formal borrowing hydrogen process. The starting alcohols constitute both the precursors of the in situ generated reactive aldehydes and the hydride source necessary for the chemoselective reduction of the aldol adduct intermediates.