Lactide Contraction—A Method for the Synthesis of α,α′‐Dihydroxy Ketones from α‐Hydroxy Carboxylic Acids

Abstract

Hydroxy ketones and dihydroxy ketones (4), R4 = alkyl, H, are versatile synthons. Key step in their formation from α-hydroxy carboxylic acids and β-bromo acyl cholorides via (1) is the contraction (2) → (3).