Regiocontrolled formation of iodohydrins and epoxides from Vic-diols

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(95)01658-9

A novel method for the stereoselective preparation of iodohydrins and epoxides from stereogenic vicinal diols is described. This new high-yield methodology consists of the conversion of thionocarbonates such as 12 to the primary iodo derivative 14 with complete regiocontrol. Deprotection of ther secondary alcohol derivative in 14 gives the corresponding synthetically versatile iodohydrin 16, which is converted to epoxide 17. This methodology has been applied to complex tetraols 29 and 34. In the case of diols the transformation is conveniently carried out in high yield as a one-pot reaction.