cis-1,2-Dihydrocatechols in chemical synthesis: first synthesis of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) from a non-carbohydrate source

Abstract

The cis-1,2-dihydrocatechol (2), which is obtained in enantiopure form by microbial oxidation of chlorobenzene, has been converted, via 3,5-O-benzylidene-L-gulono-1,4-lactone (8), into L-ascorbic acid (1).