A series of novel enantiomerically pure diols were synthesized from D-erythorbic acid in three steps, and the absolute configuration of one of them 4a has been confirmed by X-ray analysis.
Compounds 4 and 5 which were new selectively protected and multifunctional chiral C 4 building blocks were prepared conveniently from commercially available D erythorbic acid in no more than three steps with satisfied yields. Since compound 4 and compound 5 are densely functionalized and rich in stereochemistry, they are useful chiral building blocks in asymmetric synthesis.
