An asymmetric dihydroxylation route to (2S,3S)-3-hydroxypipecolic acid

A concise enantioselective synthesis of (2S,3S)-3-hydroxypipecolic acid 1 starting from 1,4-butanediol using Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and the regioselective nucleophilic opening of a cyclic sulfate as the key steps is described.