SYNTHESIS AND REACTIONS OF 3-HYDROXY-2-NOSYLOXY ESTERS PRODUCED BY THE STEREOSELECTIVE REDUCTION OF 2-NOSYLOXY-3-KETO ESTERS

The reduction of 2-nosyloxy-3-keto esters is an effective method for the preparation of 3-hydroxy-2-nosyloxy esters. The reduction is stereoselective for the syn isomer. The anti isomer can be produced as the major product by the addition of p-nitrobenzenesulfonyl peroxide to ketene bis-silyl acetal derivatives of 3-hydroxy esters. The diastereomers are separable chromatographically and can be converted stereospecifically to glycidic esters and 2-azido-3-hydroxy esters. As such they appear to have excellent potential as versatile synthetic intermediates for the synthesis of 1,2,3-trifunctional substances.