Highly functionalised cyclobutanols via samarium(II) iodide-induced pinacol cyclisations of carbohydrate-derived 1,4-diketones

[Display omitted] d-Ribofuranose and d-arabinofuranose derivatives were converted in a few steps into their 1,4-diketone derivatives, which were pinacol cyclised under the action of SmI 2 to form the corresponding chiral cyclobutanediol products. These products can potentially be applied to the synthesis of anti-viral agents, some of whose structures incorporate chiral cyclobutanediol moieties.