Ir-catalyzed oxidative desymmetrization of meso-diols.

The catalytic oxidative desymmetrization of meso-diols was realized using a chiral iridium catalyst. In particular, the reaction is effective for the cyclic diols to give the corresponding hydroxy ketones in high chemical yields with high ee's. With this reaction as a key step, a short-step synthesis of common intermediate of ottelione and scyphostatin was achieved.