Chiral C3 epoxides and halohydrins: Their preparation and synthetic application

Abstract

Epichlorohydrin, 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol and glycidol are versatile chiral C3 syntons in organic synthesis. For the production of these, more efficient and more practical methods are required and many studies have been reported. In this review, biological and synthetic preparations of their synthons and microbial dehalogenation of halohydrins connected with the biological methods are described. Several of their synthetic applications are also introduced.