1,2-Diols can be prepared by direct hydroxylation of an alkene with OsO4 followed by reduction with NaHSO3 (Section 7.8). THe reaction takes place readily and occurs with syn stereochemistry. We'll see in the next chapter that 1,2-diols can also be prepared by acid-catalyzed hydrrolysis of epoxides-compounds with a three-membered, oxygencontaining ring. Epoxide opening is complementary to direct hydroxylation because it occurs with anti stereochemistry
Problem 17.6 predict the products of the following reactions: