Functionalised butanediacetal-protected 1,2-diols as suitable partners for Pd-catalysed cross-coupling reactions

A new method for the synthesis of dienes and enynes containing chiral 1,2-diols is described. The strategy is based on the Pd-catalysed cross-coupling reactions of a series of vinyl and alkynyl asymmetric butanediacetal-protected building blocks. After the coupling, removal of the protecting group leads to the desired functionalised dienes and enynes.