Dinuclear zinc-catalyzed asymmetric desymmetrization of acyclic 2-substituted-1,3-propanediols: a powerful entry into chiral building blocks.

The asymmetric acylation of meso-2-substituted-1,3-propanediols by using an amphoteric chiral dinuclear zinc catalyst is described. It is has been demonstrated that both 2-alkyl- and 2-aryl-1,3-propanediols can be desymmetrized in high yields and enantioselectivities by using the same family of ligands. Given that both antipodes of the chiral catalyst are available, both enantiomers of the desymmetrized product can be obtained from the same starting material. The synthetic utility of the desymmetrized products has been demonstrated by the synthesis of several chiral building blocks with high enantiomeric purities.