Study of the Stereoselectivity of the Nucleophilic Epoxidation of 3-Hydroxy-2-methylene Esters.

Abstract The diastereoselectivity of the nucleophilic epoxidation of 3-hydroxy-2-methylene esters has been studied. The 3-hydroxy-2-methylene esters were obtained through a Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction. The resulting epoxyesters were treated with thiophenol for transformation into 2,3-dihydroxy-2-((phenylthio)methyl), which upon treatment with triphosgene afforded the corresponding cyclic carbonates.