Total synthesis of (+)-(2S,3R)-piscidic acid via catalytic asymmetric dihydroxylation of a trisubstituted olefin

(+)-(2S,3R)-Piscidic acid was efficiently synthesized with high optical pur ity (90% e.e.) via Sharpless catalytic asymmetric dihydroxylation of a tris ubstituted olefin in only 6 steps from commercially available 4-hydroxyphen yl-pyruvic acid as the starting material. The reaction proceeded with high optical purity by using the chiral ligands, dihydroquinidine 2,5-diphenyl-4 ,6-pyrimidinediyl diether or dihydroquinidine 1,4-anthraquinonediyl diether .