A Useful Synthetic Equivalent of a Hydroxyacetone Enolate

Abstract

Indium promoted allyiation of carbonyl compounds with 4-(bromomethyl)-1,3-dioxol-2-one diastereoselectively affords and-alpha,beta-dihydroxyketones, protected as enol carbonates. These initial products can be deprotected to free dihydroxyketones or transformed under mild conditions Into the corresponding cyclic carbonates, which constitutes a useful approach to hydroxyacetone aldois.