title: Synthesis and crystallographic analysis of meso-2,3-difluoro-1,4-butanediol and meso-1,4-dibenzyloxy-2,3-difluorobutane.
abstract: A large-scale synthesis of meso-2,3-difluoro-1,4-butanediol in 5 steps from (Z)-but-2-enediol is described. Crystallographic analysis of the diol and the corresponding benzyl ether reveals an anti conformation of the vicinal difluoride moiety. Monosilylation of the diol is high-yielding but all attempts to achieve chain extension through addition of alkyl Grignard and acetylide nucleophiles failed.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK. bruno.linclau@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Linclau
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nonnenmacher
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tizzard