What is "taddol"

In organic chemistry, TADDOL is an acronym for α,α,α',α'-tetraaryl-2,2-disubstituted 1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dimethanol. Despite their complicated full name, these compounds are easily accessed and are often used in as chiral auxiliaries.

TADDOLs consist of a dioxolane ring substituted with two mutually transoid diarylhydroxymethyl (ArCOH) groups. They are derived from d,l- tartaric acid, an inexpensive C-symmetric molecule. Condensation of dimethyl ester of d,l-tartaric acid with acetone gives the acetonide, a particular kind of dioxalane. The ester groups are susceptible to reaction with aryl Grignard reagents, leading after hydrolysis to the diol.