Ammonium-directed dihydroxylation: metal-free synthesis of the diastereoisomers of 3-aminocyclohexane-1,2-diol

The ammonium-directed, metal-free oxidation of 3-(N,N-dibenzylamino)cyclohex-1-ene with mCPBA in the presence of either trichloroacetic acid or tosic acid has been used as the key step to facilitate the synthesis of all the diastereoisomers of 3-aminocyclohexane-1,2-diol, in >98% de in each case.