Investigation of steric and functionality limits in the enzymatic dihydroxylation of benzoate esters. Versatile intermediates for the synthesis of pseudo-sugars, amino cyclitols, and bicyclic ring systems
comparison with a standard prepared from (1S-cis)-3-bromo-3,5-cyclohexadiene-1,2-diol, whose absolute configuration is well established. The free diols were found to be quite stable compared to other cis-dihydrodiols of this type, however, their acetonides underwent a dimerizationvia a regio- and stereoselective Diels–Alder cycloaddition. The diol derived fromethylbenzoate was subjected to a stereo- and