Non-enzymatic diastereoselective asymmetric desymmetrization of 2-benzylserinols giving optically active 4-benzyl-4-hydroxymethyl-2- oxazolidinones: Asymmetric syntheses of α-(hydroxymethyl)phenylalanine, N-Boc-α-methylphenylalanine, cericlamine and BIRT-377

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.tet.2012.06.090

A reaction of (S)-2-benzyl-2-(α-methylbenzyl)amino-1,3-propanediol (S)-4a and 2-chloroethyl chloroformate, and the subsequent addition of DBU gave (4R,αS)-4-benzyl-4-hydroxymethyl-3-(α-methylbenzyl)-2-oxazolidinone (4R)-5a (92% de) via a diastereoselective asymmetric desymmetrization process. Debenzylation of (4R)-5a using trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and anisole in MeNO₂ gave (R)-4-benzyl-4-hydroxymethyl-2-oxazolidinone (R)-15a, which was converted into (R)-(α-hydroxymethyl)phenylalanine (7) in two steps. N-Boc-α-methylphenylalanine (8), cericlami0ne (9) and BIRT-377 (10) were also synthesized using these asymmetric desymmetrization and debenzylation.