Synthetic route to optically-pure metabolites of butadiene, and their chiral GC separation

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(96)01799-6

The four possible stereoisomers of 3,4-epoxybutane-1,2-diol were stereospecifically synthesized in excellent yields, and fully characterized, as part of a study on the stereochemical aspects of butadiene metabolism and toxicity. GC methodology was developed whereby baseline separation of the enantiomeric pairs was achieved.