A straightforward and general access to α-phthalimido-α′-substituted propan-2-ones

The regioselective ring opening of the commercially available N-(2,3-epoxypropyl)phthalimide with different nucleophiles, to obtain the corresponding phthalimidopropan-2-ols (including a challenging fluorohydrin) followed by the Dess–Martin periodinane oxidation, constitutes a general and widely applicable protocol for the preparation of differently functionalized α-phthalimido-α′-substituted propan-2-ones. The incorporation of the substituent in the α′ position takes place in an early stage of the process, thus furnishing a divergent and valuable approach.