New chlorodiols (±)-3 and (±)-5 are densely functionalized and versatile synthons. They are converted in one step on a gram scale into 2-chlorolactones (±)-6 and (±)-7 and into 4-hydroxy glycidate esters (±)-9 and (±)-10. The 4-hydroxy glycidate esters (±)-9 and (±)-10 are converted stereospecifically and regiospecifically into oxazolines (±)-13 and (±)-14 and into cyclic carbamates (±)-18–(±)-20. The 4-hydroxy glycidate ester (±)-10 undergoes stereocontrolled and regiocontrolled epoxide opening by sodium azide to form the 2-azido-3,4-dihydroxy alkanoate (±)-21. Finally, chlorodiol (±)-5 reacts stereospecifically with silver triflate to form the 2,3-dihydroxyfuranone (±)-26.

5-(Z)-Alkylidene-2-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones (rhodanine derivatives) were prepared by reaction of in situ generated dithiocarbamates with recently reported racemic α-chloro-β,γ-alkenoate esters. This multicomponent sequential transformation performed in one reaction flask represents a general route to this medicinally valuable class of sulfur/nitrogen heterocycles. Using this convergent procedure, we prepared an analogue of the drug epalrestat, an aldose reductase inhibitory rhodanine.