Selective hydrolysis of anti-1,3-diol-acetonides for the differentiation of 1,3-anti and 1,3-syn diols

A mild and general method for the selective cleavage of anti-1,3-acetonides has been developed for the differentiation of 1,3-anti and 1,3-syn diols in long chain polyolic fragments. The diluted acidic conditions applied to these systems are compatible with other common protecting groups such as silyl ethers and benzyloxymethyl ethers.