One-pot synthesis of vicinal aminoalkanols from sugar aldehydes

A novel synthetic method of carbohydrate derived vicinal aminoalcohols, from sugar aldehydes and bromonitroalkanes, has been developed. It involves an indium-catalyzed one-pot Henry reaction and nitro group reduction, and proceeds with a remarkably high anti-selectivity. The reaction of the intermediate aminoalcohols with alkylating agents furnished the corresponding carbohydrate-based tertiary aminoalcohols with excellent stereoselectivity. This very simple methodology allows easy access to families of N,N-dialkylated vicinal aminoalkanols, useful intermediates in the synthesis of derivatives of biological interest and sugar-based stereodifferentiating agents for asymmetric catalysis.