Convenient synthesis of D- and L-xylo-1,2,3,4-alkane tetrols from a D-gluco-configured common building block.

D-gluco-configured building block derived from D-(+)-gluconolactone has served as a common chiral template for the synthesis of enantiopure D- and L-xylo-configured 1,2,3,4-alkane tetrols. This has enabled synthesis of medicinally important guggultetrols and their enantiomers from a common starting point. Wittig and Grignard reactions are the key steps used for the incorporation of lipophilic chain.