Absolute configurations of some tartaric acid derivatives determined by a key–lock complexation method
Abstract
Absolute configurations of the enantiomers of threo-2-methyltartaric acid and 2,3-dimethyltartaric acid have been determined from stereoselective differences observed in the extent of binding at a chiral vanadyl(IV) site; the method can also rapidly distinguish between erythro and threo isomers and is applicable to other substituted tartaric acids.