Two enantioselective syntheses of the diol precursor of the biologically most active isomer of an insect growth regulator

Abstract The diol precursor (R)- 3 of the insect growth regulator 2 was synthesized enantioselectively by two different routes: a) via enantioselective hydrogenation of the α-hydroxy-ketone 4 , catalyzed by a Ru-BINAP-catalyst and b) via resolution of the enantiomers of glycerol using (−)-camphor-10-sulfonamide 7 as chiral auxiliary.