N. Kolla, Chandrashekar R. Elati, M. Arunagiri
May 4, 2007
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0
Influential Citations
15
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Journal
Organic Process Research & Development
Abstract
An efficient and alternative synthesis of enantiomerically pure (3S)-4-benzyl-3-(4-fluorophenyl)morpholin-2-one (S)-(+)-2), a key intermediate in the synthesis aprepitant (1), is described. The key resolution of N-benzylglycinamide, (±)-9, is achieved via diastereomeric salt crystallization using (+)-di-p-toluoyltartaric acid (DPTTA) as the resolving agent to furnish (S)-(+)-9. Alkylation of (S)-(+)-9 with 2-bromoethanol followed by stereocontrolled cyclization of obtained (S)-(+)-10 afforded the desired enantiomer (S)-(+)-2 with good yields and enantiopurity (>98%). The reaction conditions were optimized to make the process robust in order to implement at the commercial scale.