Resolution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon dihydrodiols via diastereomeric formaldehyde acetals

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0957-4166(97)00464-3

Diastereomeric formaldehyde acetals, formed from the reaction of racemic benzo[a]pyrene dihydrodiol and (-)-chloromethylmenthyl ether, are novel intermediates for effecting the convenient resolution of these metabolites by HPLC. This resolution technique seems generally applicable since the dihydrodiols of benzo[c]phenanthrene can also be readily resolved through this methodology. Key differences in the proton NMR spectra of the diastereomeric dihydrodiol menthyloxymethyl ethers have been identified which could be used for absolute stereochemical assignments.