Diastereoselective Darzens reactions of α-chloroesters, amides and nitriles with aromatic aldehydes under phase-transfer catalyzed conditions

The development of the highly diastereoselective catalytic synthesis of glycidic acid derivatives via Darzens reaction is described. The reaction of α-chloroesters and amides with aromatic aldehydes smoothly proceeds in the presence of a quaternary ammonium salt as a phase-transfer catalyst to give the corresponding cis and trans desired products in satisfactory yields, respectively.