Stereocontrolled total synthesis of iminosugar 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-iditol.

The first stereocontrolled total synthesis of iminosugar 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-iditol is described. The key step in our approach was the double diastereoselection in the asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) of suitable optically active olefin, the chiral vinyl azido alcohol 9. Performing the AD using the most common Cinchona alkaloids as ligands enabled us to identify the ligand of choice for the stereodivergent synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-iditol and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-galactitol. These type of iminosugars, both natural and unnatural, are intensively studied for their promising chemotherapeutic properties against viral infections, diabetes, cancer, and tuberculosis.