New enantioselective synthesis of 4-hydroxy-2-oxopyrrolidine-N-acetamide (oxiracetam) from malic acid

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0957-4166(92)80020-W

The enantioselective synthesis of oxiracetam has been accomplished from readily available optically active D(+) and L(-) malic acids. the key step of the described method involves the selective reduction of a chiral cyclic diimide; in this way, both enantiomers of 4-hydroxy-2-oxopyrrolidine-N-acetamides were prepared.