The super silyl group governs high diastereoselectivity and yields for a sequential aldol-polyhalomethyllithium addition reaction. This uniquesilyl group is necessary to obtain the diastereoselectivities associated with this sequential reaction, capable of generating two new stereocenters.
-Polyhalomethylcarbinols are generated with the simple and inexpensive dihalomethanes and trihalomethanes.