A two step route to alpha-chloro-ulosonic eaters from lactones involvi
ng the reaction of dichloroolefins with m-chloroperbenzoic acid in dic
hloromethane is described. Subsequent substitution of chlorine by the
azide ion yields the corresponding anomeric azido-esters, which may be
useful intermediates for the preparation of ''anomeric amino-acids''
and related compounds. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reser
ved.