A Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of Carbamate Protected anti-1,2-Aminoalcohols

1,2-Amino alcohols are important and versatile synthetic intermediates for the preparation of a wide variety of natural products, drugs, and metal-binding ligands [1]. Consequently the development of synthetic methods for their preparation in a stereocontrolled manner has received significant attention for quite some time. In general, the hydroxyl group of the amino alcohol is installed either by the addition of an organometallic reagent to an aminocarbonyl compound 1 or by the reduction of an amino ketone 1 (R2 not H) (Scheme 1) [2]. Moreover stereochemical control is good for either strategy when the amino group is a primary, secondary, or tertiary amine 1 (P, P'= alkyl, H), which is the most common class of amine used in these reactions.