Stereoselective total synthesis of 4-((3S,5R)-3,5-dihydroxynonadecyl)phenol

A stereoselective total synthesis of 4-((3S,5R)-3,5-dihydroxynonadecyl)phenol has been accomplished in two different synthetic approaches. In the first approach, Prins cyclization has been successfully utilized to produce the anti-1,3-diol unit, which was further converted into a required syn-1,3-diol through Mitsunobu reaction. The side chain was constructed through cross metathesis and hydrogenation sequence. In the second approach, the chiral syn-1,3-diol was prepared by a sequence of reactions such as alkylation of 1,3-dithane with (R)-epichlorohydrin, ring opening of the epoxide with vinylmagnesium bromide, and 1,3-syn-reduction of the β-hydroxyketone with NaBH4 in the presence of diethylmethoxyborane.