Synthesis of (R)- and (S)-acetoin (3-hydroxybutan-2-one)
Abstract
Two synthetic routes to the enantiomers of acetoin (2) of high optical purity have been devised. One starting from (S)-3-methylbut-3-en-2-ol (9) led to (S)-(+)-acetoin (13). The other, starting from (2R,3R)-butane-2,3-diol gave (R)-(–)-acetoin (16).