The use of pH to influence regio- and chemoselectivity in the asymmetric aminohydroxylation of styrenes.

[reaction: see text] The pH-controlled Sharpless asymmetric aminohydroxylation (AA) of styrenes provides 1-aryl-2-amino ethanols (regioisomer B) with high enantio-, chemo-, and regioselectivity. As existing AA protocols typically give regioisomer A as the major reaction product when using carbamate nitrogen sources, this method is a convenient alternative for the selective production of regioisomer B.