Copper(II)-Catalyzed Desymmetrization of 2-Substituted Glycerols

Significance

The authors describe a very efficient method for the preparation of enantioenriched tertiary alcohols by desymmetrizing benzoylation. This methodology is one of the few successful examples of formation of quaternary stereocenters, bonded directly to a heteroatom, introduced via a desymmetrization procedure. Under these conditions products are obtained in high yields and with excellent levels of enantioselectivity. It is also noteworthy that such chiral tertiary alcohols present the key structural feature of many valuable natural products.