Strained Silacycles in Organic Synthesis: The Tandem Aldol−Allylation Reaction

Abstract
Allyl(crotyl)enolsilanes, when constrained in a five-membered ring with a 1,2-diol, react with aldehydes in a tandem aldol−allylation reaction to give polyketide fragments. These experimentally trivial and efficient reactions establish two new carbon−carbon bonds and up to four new stereocenters. The silane reagents, which owe their reactivity to strain release Lewis acidity, are easily prepared and stable to storage.