An ate-mediated allylic substitution (AMAS) of vinylboronates is utilized in the divergent
syntheses of the sugars methyl axenoside and methyl 3-epi-axenoside. Other key steps of the synthesis involve the dihydroxylation of the resulting
allylic alcohol and selective oxidation of the resultant diol. Benefits of this methodology
are also discussed.
Key words
asymmetric synthesis - boron - homogeneous catalysis - natural products - total synthesis