The asymmetric synthesis of the anti-Alzheimer agent (R)-arundic acid has been performed via a diastereoselective photodeconjugation reaction as the key-step. The synthetic approach involves a readily available chiral auxiliary, diacetone-d-glucose, and allows access to either enantiomer as illustrated by the synthesis of (S)-arundic acid. Both enantiomers were obtained in 88% ee using the same chiral auxiliary.
