Synthesis of 3'-deoxyribolactones using a hydrolysis-induced lactonization cascade reaction of epoxy cyanohydrins

The synthesis of 3′-deoxyribolactones was accomplished in a few steps from the commercially available 3-decyn-1-ol in 44 % overall yield. The key transformation comprises a one-pot four-reaction hydrolysis-induced lactonization cascade. The strategy was employed to efficiently access optically active 5′-chloro-3′-deoxyribolactones. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)