One-Pot Synthesis of Trichloromethyl Carbinols from Primary Alcohols

Versatile trichloromethyl carbinols can be prepared in one pot from primary alcohols by treatment with Dess-Martin periodinane (DMP) in CHCl3 followed by introduction of commercially available 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD). A modification of the method was used to convert chiral primary alcohol (R)-(-)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol to the corresponding trichloromethyl carbinol with complete stereochemical fidelity, despite the reactant proceeding through a base-sensitive aldehyde intermediate.