A Simple Procedure for the Preparation of Chiral ‘Tris(hydroxymethyl)methane’ Derivatives

The aldol adducts 1a – 13a of R , R ‐2( tert butyl)‐6‐methyl‐1,3‐dioxan‐4‐one (from 3‐hydroxybutanoic acid) to aldehydes, single diastereoisomers obtained as described previously, are acetylated or benzoylated to the corresponding esters 1b – 5b and 6c – 13c , respectively, which in turn are reduced with LiAlH 4 to the title compounds 14 – 24 . The enantiomerically pure triols thus available may be useful as chiral building blocks, as auxiliaries for enantioselective reactions, and as center pieces for chiral dendrimers.