Asymmetric dihydroxylation of allylic phosphine oxides

Abstract

Diphenylphosphinoyl diols have been produced by asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) of allylic phosphine oxides and have been shown to be useful synthetic intermediates. The results of this study are discussed in terms of the model which has been proposed by Sharpless to explain the enantioselectivity of his AD reaction. The dihydroxylation results are thus of both mechanistic and synthetic value.