Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Oxidative Desymmetrization of 2-Substituted 1,2,3-Triols.

Asymmetric oxidative desymmetrization of 2-substituted glycerols has been achieved by using a new chiral bisoxazoline ligand/copper catalyst system with 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and MeOH. The present transformation smoothly proceeds with readily accessible 2-(hetero)aryl- and alkyl-substituted glycerols and provides straightforward access toward various glycerate derivatives in good to high yields with high enantioselectivities. The synthetic utility of the present protocol was demonstrated by the transformation of the optically active glycerol into a glyceraldehyde derivative.