Asymmetric synthesis of 1-aryl-1,2-ethanediols from arylacetylenes by palladium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation as a key step.

Double hydrosilylation of arylacetylenes with trichlorosilane catalyzed first by platinum and second by a chiral monophosphine-palladium complex generated the corresponding 1,2-bis(silyl)-1-arylethanes, the oxidation of which with hydrogen peroxide gave 1-aryl-1,2-diols of high enantiomeric purity (94-98% ee) in high yields.