Abstract
The enolate of CpMo(CO) 2 (syn-η 3 -1-C 3 H 4 COCH 3 ) generated with lithium diisopropylamide in THF undergoes diastereoselective aldol reaction with benzaldehyde; the alcohol thus formed has been utilized for stereoselective synthesis of 1.5-diphenyl-2-vinyl-pentan-1,3,5-triol and 2-vinyl-3-hydroxyl-5-phenyl-tetrahydrofuran. © 1990.