Highly diastereoselective enolate addition of O-protected alpha-hydroxyacetate to (S(R))-tert-butanesulfinylimines: synthesis of taxol side chain.

The taxol side chain (S(R),2R,3S)-N-tert-butanesulfinyl-O-Boc-3-phenylisoserine benzyl ester 4c was synthesized through a lithium enolate addition of O-Boc-alpha-hydroxyacetate benzyl ester 5c to benzylidene (S(R))-tert-butanesulfinamide 6a in excellent yield and diastereoselectivity. By similar approach, a series of enantiopure 3-substituted isoserine benzyl esters 4 useful for the semi-syntheses of taxol derivatives were also prepared in high to excellent yields and diastereoselectivities. The diastereoselective addition mechanism was discussed on the basis of the experimental observation.