Using Garner’s aldehyde as a substrate, one-pot MAC hydroxyhomologation reactions proceeded in good yields and with anti selectivity for the first time (dr up to 9:1). The products were used to prepare a panel of protected derivatives of erythro-β-hydroxyaspartic acid and erythro-β-hydroxyasparagine as single enantiomers in a few steps.

A number of cyclic derivatives of 3-amino-2,4-dihydroxybutanoic acid are known in the literature but they are often prepared from other cyclic precursors. This study showed that the title compound too may serve as a convenient substrate for cyclization reactions. Using orthogonally-protected linear derivatives, regioselective cyclizations were performed, leading to original and highly-functionalized γ-lactones, oxazolidinones, oxazolines and aziridines. In these reactions a key role was played by the C3 nitrogen group function, while the C2 alcohol function showed no propensity for participation in cyclization reactions.