Dichlorotin oxide-catalyzed new direct functionalization of olefins: synthesis of trans β-azidohydrins and 1,2-diols

We have succeeded in developing direct syntheses of trans β-azidohydrins and trans 1,2-diol derivatives from olefins catalyzed by dichlorotin oxide. The regioselectivity of these reactions with tri-substituted olefins is high (10:1 in the synthesis of 1,2-diol derivatives) to excellent (>99:1 in the synthesis of azidohydrins). It has been found that these reactions do not proceed via epoxides.