Treatment of R'CHO with Li [R3BCH CH2] gives an adduct which is believed to be R2BCHR-CH2-CH (OLi) R'(2) or its borate form (3). Oxidation of the adducts with alkaline hydrogen peroxide gives ca. 1: 1 mixture of diastereomeric 1, 3-alkanediols in good yields. On the other hand, the reaction of BrMg [R3BCH CH2] with R'CHO affords less satisfactory results. Successive treatment of 2 (R= n-Bu, R'= H) with PCl5 and alkaline H2O2 gives ...
