Preparation of 2-C- Hydroxymethyl aldoses

While 2-C-(hydroxymethyl)aldoses of the C-2, C-3 erythro configuration are easily accessible via aldolization of their 2,3-0-alkylidene derivatives with formaldehyde, there is no simple and general method available for the synthesis of their C-2 epimers. The application of the Bflik reaction to 2-ketoses, however, has offered a much more universal method for their synthesis regardless of their stereochemistry. 

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