Stereoselectivity in nucleophilic additions to 3-azidoalkanals

The stereoselectivity of nucleophilic additions to 3-azidoalkanals was investigated. Non-chelating, BF(3)·OEt(2)-mediated Sakurai addition to 3-azidoalkanals afforded 1,3-anti products, whereas use of a chelating Lewis acid, TiCl(4), resulted in 1,3-syn products with moderate selectivity. A boat-like chelation structure of the 3-azidoalkanal with the Lewis acid is proposed to be consistent with the 1,3-syn selectivity of the reactions. Mukaiyama aldol addition to 3-azidohexanal generated 1,3-anti products regardless of the chelating ability of the Lewis acid.