ENZYME CATALYZED REACTIONS .10. SYNTHESIS OF O-PROTECTED (R)-2-HYDROXY ALDEHYDES AND THEIR HYDROCYANATION

The synthesis of O-silyl- and O-benzyl-protected (R)-2-hydroxy aldehydes (R)-6 from (R)-2-hydroxy carboxylic acids (R)-1 is described. While attempts for their diastereoselective hydrocyanation with hydrocyanic acid and (R)-oxynitrilase as catalyst have not been successful, the cyano silylation with trimethylsilyl cyanide occurred diastereoselectively with a ratio of 81:19 preferring the threo form without racemization at C-2 of the 2-hydroxy aldehyde.