General synthesis of inositols by hydrolysis of conduritol epoxides obtained biocatalytically from halogenobenzenes: (+)-D-chiro-inositol, allo-inositol, muco-inositol and neo-inositol

Four of the nine isomeric inositols have been prepared by hydrolytic opening of epoxides derived from 3-halogenocyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,2-diol by further oxidation with potassium permanganate or by reduction of chiro-3-inosose (2L-2,3,6/4,5-pentahydroxycyclohexanone).