The reaction of chiral (2
R,1'
S)- or (2
S,1'
S)-2-(1-a
minoalkyl)epoxi
des
1 or
2 with CO
2, generate
d fro
maci
dic treat
ment of an aqueous solution of NaHCO
3 at roo
m te
mperature, efficiently affor
de
d enantiopurecyclic carbonates
3 or
4, respectively, with total selectivity. Co
mpoun
ds
3 an
d 4 were rea
dily transfor
me
dinto the correspon
ding
diols
7 an
d 8 by reaction with LiAlH
4 or by basic hy
drolysis. When co
mpoun
ds
3 or
4 were allowe
d to react with
methyllithiu
m at -78 C,
O1-acetylalkane-1,2-
diols
9 an
d 10 wereobtaine
d with total or high selectivity.