A New Convenient Synthesis of 1-(3-Hydroxy-4-Methoxyphenyl)Ethane-1,2-Diol (iso-Mhpg) and its Enantiomers

Abstract

A safe and efficient process has been developed for the multigram synthesis of 1-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)ethane-1,2-diol (iso-MHPG) 2, via osmium-catalysed dihydroxylation of 3-benzyloxy-4-methoxystyrene 5, and subsequent debenzylation. The methodology has been extended to an asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers.