Double stereodifferentiation in asymmetric dihydroxylation:: application to the first diastereoselective synthesis of L-xylo-[2R,3S,4S]-C18-phytosphingosine

The first diastereoselective synthesis of L-xylo-(2R,3S 4S)-C-18-phytosphingosine (1) has been achieved by double stereodifferentiation of enantiomerically enriched terminal olefin 14 using (DHQD(2))-PHAL ligand in an asymmetric dihydroxylation with a diastereomeric ratio of 83:17. This phytosphingosine was fully characterized by the physical and spectral data of the corresponding tetraacetate 21. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.