Facile methods are described for accessing four diastereomerically pure products from the commercial mixture of limonene oxide. The use of either an aqueous mercury(II)-mediated or H+-catalysed hydration, afforded a kinetic separation of (+)-limonene oxide (cis- or trans-isomer could be respectively recovered) from the commercially available diastereomeric mixture in good recovery yields and high diastereoselectivity (>98% de). The hydrolysed limonene oxide products, either trans-diequatorial or trans-diaxial diols, are also formed in good conversion yields and high diastereoselectivity (>98% de).
kinetic separation - diastereomer resolution - limonene oxide - mercury - diols
