Asymmetric Desymmetrization of 2-Substituted 1,3-Propanediols via Catalytic Enantioselective Ring-Cleavage Reaction of Cyclic Acetal Derivatives

Non-enzymatic desymmetrization of 2-substituted 1,3-propanediols leading to the enantiomerically enriched 3-benzyloxy-1propanols was achieved by using oxazaborolidinone-catalyzed enantioselective ring-cleavage reaction of the cyclic acetal derivatives with dimethylsilyl ketene S,O-acetal as a key reaction.