Process for preparing dihydroxy esters and their derivatives and these compounds per se

摘要

A process is provided for the preparation of a compound of formula (5)
wherein R represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group and X represents a hydrocarbyl linking group. The process comprises either the stereoselective reduction of the keto group in a dihydroxy keto precursor followed by selective esterification of a primary hydroxy, or selective esterification of a primary hydroxy of a dihydroxy keto precursor followed by stereoselective reduction of the keto group.