The asymmetric synthesis of β-aryl-α-hydroxy esters from β-aryl-α,β-dihydroxy esters

α,β-Dihydroxy-β-aryl esters obtained via Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) of substituted cinnamate esters are reduced by sequential reaction with trimethyl orthoacetate and acetyl bromide followed by catalytic hydrogenolysis in methanol to give enantiomerically enriched β-aryl-α-hydroxy esters.