Single Route to Chiral <i>s</i><i>yn</i>- and <i>a</i><i>nti</i>-2-Amino-1,2-diphenylethanols via a New Stereodivergent Opening of <i>trans</i>-1,2-Diphenyloxirane
Oxiranyl ringopening of trans-stilbene oxide gave rise to anti- or syn-2-bromo-1,2-diphenylethanols, using either MgBr(2).Et(2)O or MgBr(2).Et(2)O, NaBr, and KBr with Amberlyst 15, respectively. Starting from optically pure (R,R)-trans-stilbeneoxide, (1R,2R)- and (1R,2S)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanols were obtained in high yield and ee.