Diastereoselective synthesis of 3-amino-1,2-diols by reductive alkylation of 2,3-dialkoxynitriles

The addition of Grignard reagents to acetonide protected syn 2,3-dihydroxynitriles, followed by reduction of the resulting magnesioimines, affords all syn 1,3-disubstituted 3-amino-1,2-diols in high enantiomeric purities.