Parallel kinetic resolution of racemic oxazolidinones using quasi-enantiomeric active esters

Efficient Synthesis of β-Aryl-γ-lactams and Their Resolution with (S)-Naproxen: Preparation of (R)- and (S)-Baclofen

An efficient synthesis of enantiomerically-pure β-aryl-γ-lactams is described. The principal feature of this synthesis is the practical resolution of β-aryl-γ-lactams with (S)-Naproxen. The procedure is based on the Michael addition of nitromethane to benzylidenemalonates, which was easily obtained, followed by the reduction of the γ-nitroester in the presence of Raney nickel and the subsequent saponification/decarboxylation reaction. The utility of this methodology was highlighted by the preparation of enantiomerically-pure (R)- and (S)-Baclofen hydrochloride.

Enantioselective α-arylation of carbonyls via Cu(I)-bisoxazoline catalysis

The enantioselective α-arylation of both lactones and acyl oxazolidones has been accomplished using a combination of diaryliodonium salts and copper catalysis. These mild catalytic conditions provide a new strategy for the enantioselective construction and retention of enolizable α-carbonyl benzylic stereocenters, a valuable synthon for the production of medicinal agents.

Enantioselective synthesis of α-methyl carboxylic acids from readily available starting materials via chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution

An enantioselective method for the synthesis of α-methyl carboxylic acids starting from trans-cinnamaldehyde, a readily available and inexpensive compound, has been developed. Allylic alcohol 1 was obtained via a standard Grignard addition to trans-cinnamaldehyde. Dynamic kinetic resolution was applied to allylic alcohol 1 utilizing a ruthenium catalyst and either an (R)-selective lipase or an (S)-selective protease to provide the corresponding allylic esters in high yield and high ee. A copper-catalyzed allylic substitution was then applied to provide the corresponding alkenes with inversion of stereochemistry. Subsequent C-C double bond cleavage afforded pharmaceutically important α-methyl substituted carboxylic acids in high ee and overall yields of up to 76%.

Catalytic parallel kinetic resolution under homogeneous conditions

Two complementary chiral catalysts, the phosphine 8d and the DMAP-derived ent-23b, are used simultaneously to selectively activate a mixture of two different achiral anhydrides as acyl donors under homogeneous conditions. The resulting activated intermediates 25 and 26 react with the racemic benzylic alcohol 5 to form enantioenriched esters (R)-24 and (S)-17 by fully catalytic parallel kinetic resolution (PKR). The aroyl ester (R)-24 is obtained with near-ideal enantioselectivity for the PKR process, but (S)-17 is contaminated by ca. 8% of the minor enantiomer (R)-17 resulting from a second pathway via formation of mixed anhydride 27 and its activation by 8d.