Facile synthesis and unusual methanesulfonylation reaction of (2R,3R)-1,4-dimethoxy-1,1,4,4-tetrasubstituted-2,3-butanediols

A facile method for the synthesis of (2R,3R)-1,4-dimethoxy-1,1,4,4- tetrasubstituted-2,3-butanediols involving oxidative cleavage of benzylidene acetal as a key step is described. These sterically hindered diols unusually formed cyclic sulfites as the major product under methanesulfonylation reaction conditions. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.