The reported enantioselective synthesis for the preparation of (+)-(2R,3R)-2-(4-
hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-1,4-benzodioxane-6-carbaldehyde, precursor
for the stereoselective synthesis of bioactive flavanolignans, could not be reproduced.
Thus, the target molecule was prepared via the synthesis and separation of diastereomeric
O-glucosides. TDDFT-ECD calculations and the 1,4-benzodioxane helicity rule were utilized
to determine the absolute configuration. ECD calculations also confirmed that the 1Lb
Cotton effect is governed by the helicity of the heteroring, while the higher-energy ECD
transitions reflect mainly the orientation of the equatorial C-2 aryl group.