Conversion of D-glucose to cyclitol with hydroxymethyl substituent via intramolecular silyl nitronate cycloaddition reaction: application to total synthesis of (+)-cyclophellitol.

[reaction: see text] A diastereoisomeric mixture of 1-nitro-6-heptene-2,3,4,5-tetraol derivative (A) was prepared by Henry reaction between d-glucose-based aldehyde and nitromethane. Only the (2S)-isomer of A led to cyclitol (B) via nitronate-olefin cycloaddition on treatment with TMS-Cl and Et(3)N in the presence of catalytic DMAP followed by acid treatment. (+)-Cyclophellitol (1) was synthesized from B in eight steps.