Construction of cyclopentanol derivatives via three-component coupling of silyl glyoxylates, acetylides, and nitroalkenes.

The three-component coupling of Mg acetylides, silyl glyoxylates, and nitroalkenes results in a highly diastereoselective Kuwajima-Reich/vinylogous Michael cascade that provides tetrasubstituted silyloxyallene products. The regio- and diastereoselectivity were studied using DFT calculations. These silyloxyallenes were converted to cyclopentenols and cyclopentitols via a unique Lewis acid assisted Henry cyclization. The alkene functionality present in the cyclopentanol products can be elaborated using diastereoselective ketohydroxylation reactions.