Narasaka-Prasad reduction

Fig. 10.21. Diastereoselective reduction of /3-hydroxyketones to syn-configured 1,3-diols (Narasaka-Prasad reduction).

A more general approach to get access to 1,3-syn-diols is the yn-selective Narasaka-Prasad reduction [77]. It utilizes the chelating capabilities of boron reagents and delivers the hydride externally, usually from NaBH (Scheme 2.144). Both a chair-like transition state and a boat transition state explain the observed yn-selective reduction. The mcommg... 

Three years after Narasaka and Pai s disclosure, Prasad et al. developed a modified procedure to improve syn -diastereoselecti vi ty in the reduction of certain (3-hydroxy ketones6 (Scheme 4.Id). When methoxydiethylborane, in lieu of tributylborane, reacts with p-hydroxy ketones at —70 C in anhydrous methanol, the complex 5BEt2 is formed. Subsequent treatment of the complex with sodium borohydride and quenching the reaction mixture with acetic acid affords yyn-diols in excellent levels of diastereoselectivity regardless of the structure of p-hydroxy ketones. Another practical advantage of Prasad et al. s modification may be an enhanced safety feature, as methoxydiethylborane is generally less hazardous to handle than triethylborane.6... 

Deschenaux and Jacot-Guillarmod synthesised the Bartlett intermediate 124 with a chiral pool source and the Narasaka 1,3-diol synthesis for the C-6 to C-8 relationship (Scheme 16) (27). Methyl (-)-(3) )-3-hydroxybutanoate 115 (e.e. >99%) was converted to the p-ketoester 116. Reduction of the p-ketoalcohol using the Prasad version of the Narasaka method (23) with diethylmethoxyborane and sodium borohydride giving the diol 117. The acetonide 118 was homologated by way of the... 

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