Decarboxylative Cascade Reactions of Dihydroxyfumaric Acid: A Preparative Approach to the Glyoxylate Scenario

An operationally simple protocol is reported to generate an α-hydroxyacyl anion by the decarboxylation of dihydroxyfumaric acid. To date, the "missing" utilization of the hydroxyacyl anion in highly chemo- and stereoselective cascade reactions enables short and direct construction of carbohydrates.