Woodward Cis‐Hydroxylation

Abstract

The modification of the Prévost reaction to form cis ‐glycols by the treatment of olefins with iodine and silver acetate in wet acetic acid is generally known as the Woodward cis ‐hydroxylation. This reaction is usually carried out in two steps and has been compared with Woodward cis ‐hydroxylation. A more competitive reaction, the Sharpless dihydroxylation, has also been explored since it also produces cis ‐glycols. The Prévost reaction has limited applications in organic synthesis.