Efficient stereoselective synthesis of a 1-hydroxymethyl-2-methylglycidol derivative

A highly stereoselective synthesis of (2R,3S)-3,4-epoxy-3-methyl-1-(triphenylmethyl)oxybutan-2-ol 3, which is a substructure found in some naturally-occurring bioactive compounds, was achieved starting from commercially available 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol 4 in three steps, using two applications of the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation as the key stereochemistry establishing reactions.