Multigram lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acylation in the synthesis of the four stereoisomers of a new biologically active α-aryl-4-piperidinemethanol derivative

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0957-4166(00)80531-5

The four stereoisomers of the novel non-narcotic analgesic 1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]-4-[(4-fluorophenyl)hydroxymethyl ]-piperidine 1 were synthesized in a convergent manner from chiral precursors 2 and 3. Optical resolution via enantioselective acylation in organic media, catalyzed by a lipase from Pseudomonas sp., was utilized in the preparation of 2 and 3 on a multigram scale with high enantiomeric purity (>97% ee).