Enantioselective synthesis of β-hydroxyisobutyric acid: a useful synthon in the synthesis of polypropionate-type natural products

The aldol reaction of formaldehyde with the dicyclopentylborinyl enolate derived from $\text{S}$-(or $\text{R}$-) 1-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-l-cyclohexylbutan-2-one, followed by desilylation and sodium meta-periodate oxidation, provides $\text{R}$-(or $\text{S}$-) β-hydroxyisobutyric acid.