The synthesis of the 2,3-difluorobutan-1,4-diol diastereomers.

The diastereoselective synthesis of fluorinated building blocks that contain chiral fluorine substituents is of interest. Here we describe optimisation efforts in the synthesis of anti -2,3-difluorobutane-1,4-diol, as well as the synthesis of the corresponding syn -diastereomer. Both targets were synthesised using an epoxide opening strategy.