A convenient general method for the synthesis of hydroxy diacids

Abstract Olefinic aldehydes and epoxides with terminal double bonds react with Grignard reagents, and the acetates made from the resulting alcohols undergo double bond cleavage on treatment with RuCl 3 · x H 2 O in the presence of NaIO 4 to give acetoxy diacids. Hydrolysis with LiOH then affords hydroxy diacids.