Stereoselective synthesis of several azido/amino- and diazido/diamino-myo-inositols and their phosphates from p-benzoquinone.

A practical route is described for the preparation of azido-myo-inositols, amino-myo-inositols and azido-conduritol B derivatives. Starting from p-benzoquinone, optically pure compounds in both forms can be prepared via enzymatic resolution of a derived diacetoxy conduritol B derivative. Selective introduction of nitrogen-containing functional groups in four of the six possible positions in the cyclitol moiety is followed by further functionalization to yield the target compounds.