Methanol → (2R,3R)-3-(Benzyloxy)butane-1,2-diol

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of (2S,3R)-3-(benzyloxy)-2-hydroxybutanoic acid (the product of step i) (0.79 g) and trimethyl borate (0.67 mL) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (4 mL) at 0° C. was added dropwise borane-dimethyl sulfide complex (3 mL, 2M in tetrahydrofuran). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight, then further borane-dimethyl sulfide complex (3 mL, 2M in tetrahydrofuran) was added at 0° C. and the reaction mixture stirred at room temperature for a further 2 d. The mixture was cooled to 0° C. and methanol (10 mL) slowly added. When effervescence had ceased, the volatiles were evaporated, further methanol added and the mixture concentrated again to give the subtitle compound as a yellow oil which was used without further purification. Yield: 0.68 g.

Provenance & Evidence