Synthetic transformations utilizing chromium(II) or chromium(III) reagents, mainly CÐC-coupling reactions, are discussed. Chromium reagents find increasing application in complex total syntheses where other organometallics are difficult to apply. They are easy to prepare and exhibit extraordinary chemoselectivity and high diastereoselectivity. In this article emphasis is laid on recent results in synthetic procedures, on little known general aspects of (organo)chromium chemistry, and on areas not reviewed before. The most important recent advances include reactions catalytic in chromium ions, anti -selective Reformatsky-type aldol reactions with excellent asymmetric induction, domino radical/carbanion reactions, asymmetric chromium(III) catalyzed epoxide openings and homogeneous alkene polymerization catalysts. Some progress is also made in ligand controlled enantioselective reactions with Cr(II) reagents, but satisfying solutions remain a major challenge in the field.

A series of 16 different 3-acyloxy methyl ketones, the acyloin acetates and butyrates (±)-5, was synthesised by a straightforward new method through alkylation of tert-butyl 2-acyloxyacetoacetates 3, followed by chemoselective dealkoxycarbonylation of the tert-butyloxycarbonyl group in the presence of other ester groups. Subsequent hydrolysis of (±)-5 can be achieved with base to give racemic acyloins 6, or with lipase catalysis to afford the corresponding non-racemic acyloins (S)-6. The remaining (R)-acyloin esters 5 can be ra-

A highly convergent and stereocontrolled synthesis of epothilone D (4) is reported. Key features are a cheap and Z-selective synthesis of the northern half based on nerol and acetoacetate and chromium(II)-mediated Reformatsky reactions as a powerful tool for chemoselective asymmetric carbon-carbon bond formations, including an unusual stereospecific macroaldolization.

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