To enhance the diastereoselectivity of the hydrogen transfer reaction of acyclic substrates bearing 1, 2-or 1, 3-diols, the feasibility of a strategy employing bifunctional protecting groups has been demonstrated. This strategy is based upon the “exocyclic effect” or the significant improvement of anti-selectivity exhibited by the reductions of substrates in which the two substituents (R1 and Y) at the stereogenic center α to the radical center are linked ...
