A one-step access to dithioacetal-α,α-diglycosides is reported. The synthetic strategy is based on the thioacetalization of aldehydes or ketones via highly stereoselective ring-opening of 1,6 anhydrosugars with bis(trimethylsilyl)sulfide.

The-CHF2 moiety has shown a growing interest in pharmaceutical and agrochemical applications over the last few years. Its introduction is therefore a current research topic for organic chemists. Several groups have reported the synthesis of difluoromethylated compounds. However, the more challenging enantioselective introduction of the difluoromethyl group has been scarcely described yet. We recently developed a new strategy, based on the use of an enantiopure difluoromethyl sulfoxide used as chiral and traceless auxiliary, for the synthesis of highly enantioenriched αdifluoromethyl alcohols. 8 The first method developed in our laboratory aims to access highly stereoenriched α,α-difluoro-β-hydroxysulfoxides through the condensation of the enantiopure difluoromethyl sulfoxide on carbonyl derivatives. It is noteworthy that highly diastereo-and enantioenriched α,α-difluoro-β-hydroxysulfoxides can also be accessed after the diastereoselective reduction of highly enantioenriched α,α-difluoro-β-ketosulfoxides. Finally, the expected difluoromethyl-substituted alcohols can be obtained after removal of the chiral auxiliary with complete retention of stereoenrichment at carbon.