(R)-2,3-Cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde, a novel template for facile and simple entry into chiral hydroxy γ-lactones: synthesis of (−)-muricatacin

(R)-2,3-Cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde 1 has been used in a simple and efficient synthesis of (−)-muricatacin 10. The required chiron, syn-alkanetriol 2a was prepared by the reduction of a ketone 3 derived from 1.