Synthesis of chiral allenes from ynamides through a highly stereoselective Saucy-Marbet rearrangement

A highly stereoselective Saucy-Marbet rearrangement using chiral ynamides and propargyl alcohols is described here. This rearrangement can be catalyzed by para-nitrobenzenesulfonic acid and leads to high diastereoselectivities for a range of different chiral propargyl alcohols and ynamides in a stereochemically intriguing matched, mismatched or indifferent manner. The stereoselective Saucy-Marbet rearrangement of ynamides provides an excellent entry to highly substituted chiral homo allenyl alcohols. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.