A practical synthesis of optically active (R)-2-propyloctanoic acid: Therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.73.423

(R)-2-Propyloctanoic acid has been developed as a novel therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease. A large-scale synthesis of this candidate was achieved by using Oppolzer's camphorsultam as a chiral auxiliary under improved conditions. It was essential for the successful synthesis of this compound to utilize a new removal method for the chiral source with a combination of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide. The present process afforded the desired product in high yield with high optical purity.