Applications of Optically Active Aryl Cyanohydrins in the Synthesis of α-Hydroxy Aldehydes, α-Hydroxy Ketones and β-Hydroxy Amines

Cyanohydrins, prepared in high optical purity from aryl aldehydes, have been converted into a- hydroxy aldehydes, ß- hydroxy ketones and ß- hydroxy amines without any racemization and frequently with good stereoselectivity for the erythro-diastereoisomer (>90%) at the newly introduced stereogenic centre.