Desymmetrization of myo-inositol

Chemistry and biology of phosphoinositols have been intensely investigated areas of research over the last 4-5 decades due to their involvement in cellular signal transduction pathways. Efficient laboratory synthesis of enantiomeric derivatives of inositols was a central issue since they were required for the delineation of the myo-inositol cycle as well as for the total synthesis of polyol based natural products and their derivatives. This essentially meant the development of competent methods for the desymmetrization of myo-inositol leading to the preparation of enantiomeric O-substituted derivatives of myo-inositol. This was approached by: the classical resolution methods involving separable diastereomers, the chiral pool synthesis, enzyme catalysis, asymmetric catalysis and preferential crystallization of enantiomers in a racemic conglomerate. This review summarizes results obtained in author's laboratory, as well as those reported in the literature on attempts at desymmetrization of myo-inositol.