General procedure for the synthesis of methyl (R)-2,3-dihydroxypropionate from methyl (R)-(+)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-carboxylate:
1. dissolve methyl (R)-(+)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-carboxylate (1 g, 6.24 mmol) in a mixed solvent of acetic acid (14 ml) and water (6 ml).
2. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours.
3. After completion of the reaction, the solvent was removed by evaporation under reduced pressure.
4. The resulting residue was distilled three times azeotropically with toluene to completely remove water and residual acetic acid.
5. Methyl (R)-2,3-dihydroxypropionate (610.6 mg, 81% yield) was finally obtained.
Product characterization data: 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400MHz) δ 4.29 (dd, 1H, J = 3.8, 3.3Hz), 3.91 (dd, 1H, J = 11.7, 3.3Hz), 3.85 (dd, 1H, J = 11.7, 3.8Hz), 3.84 (s, 3H).
