A systematic investigation of the reduction and Grignard reagents addition to 1,4-diketones derived from tartaric acid was carried out. It was found that the reduction proceeded with high selectivity using K-Selectride as the reducing agent; while Grignard reagent addition was highly dependent on structure of the dione as well as on the Grignard reagent. The resultant 1,4-diols represent a series of novel TADDOL analogues.
asymmetric synthesis - TADDOL - stereoselective addition