Stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-diols

Many polyketide-derived natural products contain a synor anti-1,3-diol unit. No general and simple approach exists for the flexible synthesis of polyols and other polyketide-derived structural units, therefore a multitude of methods for the stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-diols has been developed. Asymmetric homogeneous and heterogeneous hydrogenation and diastereoselective reduction, chain elongation, enzymatic and nonenzymatic desymmetrization, or dynamic kinetic resolution are some of these methods. The development of different methods to synthesize these 1,3-diols stereoselectively is important, as often small structural changes in a molecule result in low yields or low stereoselectivity with a known method. This review article highlights some of the recent developments in this field.