A highly stereoselective procedure for the preparation of a variety of
syn 2-amino alcohol derivatives from enantiopure E-gamma-hydroxy-alph
a,beta-unsaturated phenyl sulfones is described. The method is based o
n an intramolecular carbamate cyclization, followed by functionalizati
on at alpha-position by reaction of the sulfonyl carbanion with electr
ophiles, and subsequent elimination of the sulfonyl group.