Enantioselective formation of functionalized 1,3-disubstituted allenes: synthesis of .alpha.-allenic .omega.-carbomethoxy alcohols of high optical purity

We have described a highly enantioselective synthesis of the title allenic alcohols in multigram quantities. Either enantiomer is now available in >94% ee through a single intermediate of known absolute configuration. A 13 C NMR based analytical method capable of differentiating diastereoisomers of the corresponding Mosher esters has been demonstrated