Abstract: Enantiomerically pure cis-glycols, derived through the microbial metabolism of hydrocarbons, represent a valuable chiral pool for the synthesis of cis β-amino alcohols. One generally applicable route to these important chiral intermediates is described. Reaction of the metabolically formed diol with α-acetoxyisobutyryl chloride affords regio-and stereoselectively a single trans-1, 2-chlorohydrin acetate isomer. Displacement of chloride ...