Improved Formal Preparation of Enantiomerically Pure anti-Benzopyrene Diol Epoxide.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)76952-8

We report an improved, economical formal route to enantiomerically pure anti-benzopyrene diol epoxide (BPDE).A trimethylaluminum catalyzed regio- and stereoselective opening of racemic 7,8-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzopyrene with Mosher's acid delivers benzylic esters exclusively.This step is a significant improvement over the lack of regioselectivity of standard procedures.We also show that modification of the subsequent chemical steps further shortens the preparation of enantiomerically pure anti-BPDE.