Enantioselective synthesis of (S)- and (R)-6-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-1,3-dioxin-4-ones: the versatile building blocks of four- and six-carbon backbones

Abstract

The Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation of 2,2-dimethyl-6-(3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-1,3-dioxin-4-one using titanium tetraisopropoxide–diisopropyl tartrate followed by catalytic hydrogenation affords the title compounds as enantiomerically pure compounds, which act as versatile four- and six-carbon building blocks.