Diastereoselective Epoxidation of Allylic Diols Derived from Baylis—Hillman Adducts.

The results of a highly diastereoselective epoxidation of allylic diols derived from Baylis-Hillman adducts are reported. The formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond seems to be responsible for the high anti diastereoselection obtained in this epoxidation reaction. The results are complementary to those obtained in the direct epoxidation of Baylis-Hillman adducts, in which an elevated syn diastereoselectivity was observed.