M. Ostermeier, B. Brunner, C. Korff
Sep 1, 2003
Citations
0
Influential Citations
26
Citations
Journal
European Journal of Organic Chemistry
Abstract
Asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation of 2-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethyl)acrylic acid (5) to give (2S)-4-methoxy-2-methyl-4-oxobutanoic acid [(S)-6] was studied. An enantiomeric excess of 99.7% ee was achieved with a catalyst formed in situ from [Rh(COD)2]BF4 and the chiral phosphite L2 in 1,2-dichloroethane as solvent. In addition, enzyme-catalyzed semi-saponification of dimethyl 2-methylsuccinate was investigated. Mono ester (S)-6 was transformed into a few compounds which can serve as C5-building blocks in natural product syntheses. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003)