A chemo-and regioselective cross-coupling reaction of the functionalized aryl triflate 5 with octylmagnesium bromide catalyzed by cheap, nontoxic, and environmentally benign Fe (acac) 3 sets the basis for a practical and scaleable synthesis of the octylbenzene derivative 6, which serves as a key building block for the preparation of FTY720 (1). This 2-amino-1, 3- propanediol derivative shows highly promising immunosuppressive properties and is ...