l-Threonine-catalysed asymmetric α-hydroxymethylation of cyclohexanone: application to the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds and natural products

l-Threonine has been found to be an efficient catalyst for the asymmetric α-hydroxymethylation of cyclohexanone with formalin. Reducing the amount of water in the reaction by the addition of magnesium sulfate as a dehydrating additive significantly improves the yield. Applications of (S)-2-hydroxymethyl cyclohexanone and the chiral building blocks derived therefrom for the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds and natural products have been explored.