The addition of water or alcohol to 3-halopyruvamides having a special
interest in enzymology, permitted us to isolate stable alpha-diols an
d hemiketals. until then detected only by spectroscopic means. The rea
ction is not diastereoselective. but selective precipitation of only o
ne diastereoisomer shifts the equilibrium between the two isomers. Iso
lated compounds were Fully characterised and results discussed. (C) 19
97 Elsevier Science Ltd.