Chiral building blocks: Enantioselective syntheses of benzyloxymethyl phenyl propionic acids

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/90600449

The synthesis of (2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-(2-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)- propionic acid, (2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-(2-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)propionic acid and (2S)-2-benzyl-oxymethyl-3-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)propionic acid has been achieved by TiCl₄ mediated alkylation of the corresponding (4R)-4-benzyl-3-[3-(2-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl-, 2-fluoro-4-methylphenyl-, 2,4-dimethylphenyl-)propionyl]-2-oxazolidinones, followed by hydrolysis of the chiral auxiliary. The stereochemistry of the alkylation reaction was confirmed by an X-ray crystal structure of (4R)-4-benzyl-3-[(2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-(2- fluoro-4-methylphenyl)propionyl]-2-oxazolidinone.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/90600449

Molecules 2004, 9, 449–458
molecules
ISSN 1420-3049
http://www.mdpi.org
Chiral Building Blocks: Enantioselective Syntheses of
Benzyloxymethyl Phenyl Propionic Acids
1
1
1
1
Jack G. Parsons , Danuta Stachurska-Buczek , Neil Choi , Peter G. Griffiths , Daniel A.
1
1
1
1
1
Huggins , Beata M. Krywult , Sharon T. Marino , Thao Nguyen , Craig S. Sheehan ,
Ian W. James 1, Andrew M. Bray 1,*, Jonathan M. White 2 and Rustum S. Boyce 3.
1
Mimotopes Pty Ltd. 11 Duerdin Street, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia. Tel. (+61) 3 9565-1111,
Fax (+61) 3 9565-1199.
School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
Chiron Corporation, 4560 Horton St, Emeryville, California 94608, USA.
2
3
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; e-mail: andrew_bray@mimotopes.com.
Received: 14 May 2004 / Accepted: 27 May 2004 / Published: 31 May 2004
Abstract: The synthesis of (2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-(2-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-
propionic acid, (2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-(2-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)propionic acid and
(2S)-2-benzyl-oxymethyl-3-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)propionic acid has been achieved by TiCl4
mediated alkylation of the corresponding (4R)-4-benzyl-3-[3-(2-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl-,
2-fluoro-4-methylphenyl-, 2,4- dimethylphenyl-)propionyl]-2-oxazolidinones, followed by
hydrolysis of the chiral auxiliary. The stereochemistry of the alkylation reaction was
confirmed by an X-ray crystal structure of (4R)-4-benzyl-3-[(2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-(2-
fluoro-4-methylphenyl)propionyl]-2-oxazolidinone.
Keywords: TiCl4, stereoselective, alkylation, benzyloxymethylphenylpropionic acids.

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Introduction
There is a growing demand from the pharmaceutical industry for single enantiomer compounds and
it has been predicted that the sale of single enantiomer therapeutics will grow from US$6.63 billion in
2000 to US$16 billion by 2007 [1]. The pharmaceutical industry has a rising demand for chiral
intermediates and research reagents because of the continuing imperative to improve drug efficacy.
This in turn impacts on researchers involved in synthesis of preclinical drug candidates and the
continuing demand by these researchers for effective methods for the synthesis of homochiral building
blocks.
Results and Discussion
As part of a collaborative medicinal chemistry effort, we needed to develop an enantioselective
synthesis of (2S)-2-(hydroxymethylphenyl) propionic acids for use as chiral building blocks. It was
envisaged that an auxiliary-directed stereoselective alkylation of a phenylpropionamide should afford
the target compounds after auxiliary removal. The synthesis of the starting phenylpropionic acids is
detailed in Schemes 1 and 2. 3-(2-Fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid (5) and 3-(2,4-dimethyl-
phenyl)propionic acid (6) were synthesised from the corresponding benzaldehydes 1 and 2 via
Horner/Emmons reaction. Hydrogenation of the resulting α,β-unsaturated esters 3 and 4 followed by
hydrolysis afforded the phenylpropionic acids 5 and 6 in high yield. The synthesis of 3-(2-fluoro-4-
methylphenyl) propionic acid (9) shown in Scheme 2 began from 2-fluoro-4-methylaniline (7) as the
benzaldehyde was not commercially available. Diazonium salt formation from the aniline followed by
an in situ Heck type coupling with Pd(dba)2 and methyl acrylate afforded the α,β−unsaturated ester 8
in high yield. Hydrogenation and hydrolysis gave the required acid 9.
Scheme 1
R1
R1
R1
ii,iii
i
CHO
CO2H
CO2Me
R2
R2
R2
1 R1 = F, R2= OMe
2 R1=Me, R2=Me
3 R1 = F, R2= OMe
4 R1=Me, R2=Me
5 R1 = F, R2= OMe
6 R1=Me, R2=Me
Reagents and Conditions: (i) Methyl diethylphosphonoacetate, NaH, DMF;
(ii) 10% Pd on C, H2; (iii) NaOH.

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Scheme 2
F
F
F
CO2H
CO2Me
NH2
i
ii, iii
Me
Me
Me
8
9
7
Reagents and Conditions: (i) NaNO2, H2SO4, Pd(dba)2, methyl acrylate;
(ii) 10% Pd on C, H2; (iii) NaOH.
Our research plan was to couple a chiral auxiliary onto the required phenylpropionic acid and to
direct alkylation from one face of the enolate. We initially used pseudoephedrine as a chiral auxiliary
as Myers had reported excellent enantiomeric excesses for the alkylation of pseudoephedrine
glycinamide [2]. Adapting this method, we successfully coupled 3-(2-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)
propionic acid (9) to (S,S)-(+)-pseudoephedrine (10) in the presence of EDC, DIEA to give amide 11
(Scheme 3). Alkylation of 11 with LDA and methoxymethyl chloride (MOMCl) or benzyloxymethyl
chloride (BOMCl) gave a mixture of products with low conversion to the desired material. Further
work on 11 was abandoned in favour of the approach outlined in Scheme 4.
Scheme 3
F
Me
O
F
Me
i
CO2H
+
N
NHMe
Me OH
Me
OH
Me
6
11
10
ii, iii
6 and products
Reagents and Conditions: (i) HOBt.H2O, EDC, NMM, THF;
(ii) LiCl, LDA, MOMCl, -78°C; (iii) 3N HCl reflux.
In 1990, Evans first reported the use of TiCl4 as a pre-complexation agent with a series of 3-
acylated-2-oxazolidinones [3]. After deprotonation with an amine base, alkylation proceeded almost
exclusively from one face of the enolate-titanium complex. Recently, Rawlings and co-workers
reported a completely diastereoselective benzyloxymethylation of (4R)-4-isopropyl-3-(3-phenyl-
propionyl)-2-oxazolidinone as a key step in the asymmetric synthesis of A factor [4]. The deployment
of BOMCl in this case had the advantage of allowing for reductive removal of the benzyl protecting
group after subsequent synthetic operations. Using this procedure we were able to access compounds

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15–17 via benzyloxymethylation of a series of 4-benzyl-3-[3-(2,4-disubstituted-phenyl)-propionyl]-2-
oxazolidinones 12–14 with complete diastereoselectivity (Scheme 4).
An X-ray crystal structure of (4R)-4-benzyl-3-[(2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-(2-fluoro-4-methyl-
phenyl)propionyl]-2-oxazolidinone (17) revealed that alkylation had indeed occurred from the least
hindered face of the enolate delivering the required S stereochemistry at C2 (Figure 1). Furthermore,
the respective minor diastereomers were not observed by 1H-NMR, HPLC nor LC/MS. Removal of the
auxiliary, to give 18–20, was achieved using LiOH·H2O and 35% aqueous hydrogen peroxide in
degassed tetrahydrofuran/water in good yield [4,5]. It should be noted that when 1.0 equivalent of
LiOH·H2O was used we observed an impurity resulting from attack of the lithium peroxide anion onto
the oxazolidinone carbonyl. This by-product was eliminated when 0.9 equivalent of LiOH·H2O was
used.
Scheme 4
R1
O
O
, ii
i
iii
N
O
5, 6, 9
R2
Ph
12 R1= F, R2 = OMe
13 R1, R2 = Me
14 R1 = F, R2 = Me
R1
R1
O
O
CO2H
iv
N
O
R2
O
R2
O
Ph
Ph
Ph
15 R1= F, R2 = OMe
18 R1= F, R2 = OMe
19 R1, R2 = Me
16 R1, R2 = Me
17 R1 = F, R2 = Me
20 R1 = F, R2 = Me
Reagents and Conditions: (i) SOCl2, DMF; (ii) n-BuLi, (4R)-4-benzyl-2-
oxazolidinone; (iii) TiCl4, DIEA, BOMCl; (iv) LiOH·H2O, 35% aq H2O2,
THF/H2O.

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Figure 1. X-ray crystal structure of 17 [6].
Conclusions
The TiCl4 mediated benzyloxymethylation of a series of N-acyloxazolidinones proceeded with
exclusive diastereoselectivity to provide a useful entry to chiral 2-benzyloxymethylphenylpropionic
acids. Homochiral products 18 – 20 are representative target building blocks.
Experimental
General
1H-NMR (400 MHz) and 13C-NMR (100 MHz) were recorded on a VarianUNITY INOVA
spectrometer in d-CHCl3 solutions. LCMS were run on an Applied Biosystems/MDS Sciex API-2000
LC/MS/MS system. HPLC analysis was performed on a Millenium 100 HPLC System and retention
times (tR) are reported at 214 nm. X-ray crystallography was carried out on a Bruker Smart Apex X-
ray diffractometer. The images were generated using Mercury 1.2.1 from pdb files. Analytical thin
layer chromatograms were visualised under UV or with 20% w/v solution of phosphomolybdic acid in
ethanol. Flash chromatography was performed with Merck silica gel No. 9385. Anhydrous solvents
were purchased from Aldrich Chemical Co. in Sure/SealTM bottles. The chiral auxiliary was also
purchased from Aldrich.

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Representative procedure for the synthesis of 3-arylacrylic acid methyl esters: preparation of 3-(2-
fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl) acrylic acid methyl ester (3)
To a suspension of sodium hydride (3.46g, 86.9 mmol, 60% wt in oil, petrol washed) in anhydrous
N,N-dimethylformamide (35 mL) at 0°C was added neat methyl diethylphosphonoacetate (16.0 mL,
86.9 mmol) over a 20 min period. The resulting pale solution was warmed to room temperature over
15 min then re-cooled to 0°C. A solution of 2-fluoro-4-methoxybenzaldehyde 1 (12.18 g, 79.0 mmol)
in anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide (25 mL) was added via cannula to the reaction. The resulting
orange solution was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 20 h. The reaction was cooled in an
ice/water bath and quenched with water (200 mL). A white solid precipitated out of solution and was
collected by filtration. The product was washed with water (x4) and dried at the pump to afford 3-(2-
fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl) acrylic acid methyl ester (3, 12.45 g, 75%) as a white solid, mp 46-48°C;
1H-NMR δ: 3.77 (s, 3H), 3.78 (s, 3H), 6.37 (d, J = 16.4 Hz, 1H), 6.60 (dd, J = 12.8, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 6.67
13
(dd, J = 8.8, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.40 (t, J = 8.4Hz, 1H), 7.71 (d, J = 16.4 Hz, 1H); C-NMR δ: 51.2, 55.3,
101.5 (d, J2CF = 25.8 Hz), 110.5, 114.7 (d, J3CF = 12.2 Hz), 117.3, 129.5, 136.9, 162.1 (d, J1CF = 252.2
Hz), 162.3 (d, J3CF = 11.4 Hz), 167.2.
In situ diazotisation-Heck type coupling: synthesis of 3-(2-fluoro-4-methylphenyl) acrylic acid methyl
ester (8)
2-Fluoro-4-methylaniline (7, 5.0 g, 7.99 mmol) was dissolved in acetic acid (40 mL), cooled to
15° C and treated with the dropwise addition of concentrated sulfuric acid (4.26 mL). A solution of
sodium nitrite (3.03 g, 44.0 mmol) in water (7.5 mL) was then added dropwise to the reaction mixture
while keeping the reaction temperature below 15° C. The reaction was warmed to 45° C and the
resulting red solution was treated with Pd(dba)2 (207 mg, 0.36 mmol), followed by the dropwise
addition of methyl acrylate (3.96 mL, 8.79 mmol). The reaction temperature was increased to 70° C
after the addition was complete. After stirring at room temperature overnight the reaction was
quenched with ice and extracted into ether three times. The combined organic layers were washed with
ice cold water three times, saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered
and concentrated to give 3-(2-fluoro-4-methylphenyl) acrylic acid methyl ester (8) as a brown oil (6.10
1
g, 85% yield); H-NMR δ: 2.33 (s, 3H), 3.77 (s, 3H), 6.49 (d, J = 16.0 Hz, 1H), 6.91 (d, J = 11.6 Hz,
13
1H), 6.95 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.40 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.78 (d, J = 16.0 Hz, 1H); C-NMR δ: 23.7,
34.4, 55.5, 101.7 (d, J2CF = 25.1 Hz), 109.7, 118.8 (d, J3CF = 16.0 Hz), 130.7, 130.8, 159.5, 161.6 (d,
J
1CF = 243.8 Hz), 179.0.

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Representative procedure for the syntheses of 3-arylpropionic acids: synthesis of 3-(2-fluoro-4-
methoxyphenyl)propionic acid (5)
Methyl ester 3 (12.0 g, 57.1 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (150 mL), then 10% Pd on C (700
mg) was added and the mixture was hydrogenated for 20 h. The reaction was evacuated, filtered and
concentrated to afford the saturated ester (11.0g, 91%). The reduced ester was heated to reflux in 2N
aqueous sodium hydroxide (150 mL) for 3 h. The reaction was cooled and extracted with ethyl acetate
(x2). The aqueous layer was acidified with concentrated hydrochloric acid and the resulting white solid
was collected by filtration, washing with water. The product was dried at the pump to give 3-(2-fluoro-
1
4-methoxyphenyl)propionic acid (5, 8.2 g, 80%), mp 86-87°C; H-NMR: δ 2.65 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 2H),
13
2.91 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 2H), 3.77 (s, 3H), 6.57-6.63 (m, 2H), 7.10 (t, J = 8.4 Hz, 1H); C-NMR δ: 23.7,
34.4, 55.5, 101.7 (d, J2CF = 25.1 Hz), 109.7, 118.8 (d, J3CF = 16Hz), 130.7, 130.8, 159.5, 161.6 (d, J1CF
243.8 Hz), 179.0.
=
Representative procedure for the synthesis of acyloxazolidinones [7]: preparation of (4R)-4-benzyl-3-
[3-(2-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)propionyl]-2-oxazolidinone (12)
Acid 5 (3.99 g, 20.1 mmol) was heated to reflux in thionyl chloride (30 mL) and 2 drops of N,N-
dimethylformamide for 1 h. The reaction was cooled and volatiles were removed in vacuo. In a
separate flask, (4R)-(+)-4-benzyl-2-oxazolidinone (3.57 g, 20.1 mmol) was dissolved in
tetrahydrofuran (30 mL) and 1,10-phenanthroline (40 mg) was added as indicator. The solution was
cooled to -78°C and n-butyllithium (9.0 mL, 2.23 M solution in hexanes) was added until a brown
colour persisted. A solution of the above prepared acid chloride in tetrahydrofuran (10 mL) was added
via a cannula to the reaction. After addition was complete, the reaction was warmed to 0°C for 30 min.
The reaction was quenched with saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate and the aqueous layer
was extracted into dichloromethane (x3). The combined organic layers were dried over anhydrous
sodium sulfate, filtered, concentrated and recrystallized from ethyl acetate (15 mL)/petroleum ether
(20 mL) to afford (4R)-4-benzyl-3-[3-(2-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-propionyl]-2-oxazolidinone (12,
5.06 g, 70%) as a white powder, mp 67-69°C; [α]D = - 29.4° (c = 0.11, CHCl3); 1H-NMR δ: 2.75 (dd, J
= 17.4, 9.2 Hz, 1H), 2.97 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 3.12-3.27 (m, 3H), 3.72 (s, 3H), 4.10-4.13 (m, 2H), 4.61-
13
4.65 (m, 1H), 6.56-6.63 (m, 2H), 7.12-7.30 (m, 6H); C-NMR δ 22.8, 35.7, 37.5, 54.8, 55.2, 65.9,
101.3 (d, J2CF = 25.9 Hz), 109.5, 118.8 (d, J3CF = 15.9 Hz), 127.0, 128.6, 129.1, 130.7, 130.8, 135.1,
153.1, 159.2, 159.3, 161.3 (d, J1CF = 243.8 Hz), 171.9; Anal. Calcd. C20H20FNO4 requires C, 67.22; H,
5.64; N, 3.92. Found C, 67.23; H, 5.55; N, 4.06%.
Characterization data for (4R)-4-benzyl-3-[3-(2-fluoro-2,4-dimethylphenyl)propionyl]-2-oxazoli-
dinone (13): HPLC tR = 10.94 min (73%); LCMS tR = 10.25 min (m/z 338.0 [M+H]+); 1H-NMR δ: 2.28
(s, 3H), 2.33 (s, 3H), 2.74-2.80 (m, 1H), 2.95-3.00 (m, 2H), 3.16-3.29 (m, 3H), 4.13-4.15 (m, 2H),
13
4.64-4.68 (m, 1H), 6.93-6.98 (m, 2H), 7.09-7.11 (m, 1H), 7.17-7.19 (m, 2H), 7.26-7.36 (m, 3H); C-

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NMR δ: 19.45, 21.11, 36.14, 38.09, 55.36, 66.40, 126.92, 127.92, 129.06, 129.16, 129.65, 131.34,
135.51, 135.66, 136.09, 136.16, 153.61, 172.85.
Characterization data for (4R)-4-benzyl-3-[3-(2-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)propionyl]-2-oxazolidinone
(14): HPLC tR = 10.42 min (67%); 1H-NMR δ: 2.29 (s, 3H), 2.61-2.77 (m, 1H), 2.91 (t, J = 7.7Hz, 1H),
2.99 (t, J = 7.5 Hz, 1H), 3.10-3.30 (m, 3H), 4.10-4.18 (m, 2H), 4.62-4.67 (m, 1H), 6.80-6.86 (m, 2H),
7.03-7.32 (m, 6H).
Synthesis of (4R)-4-benzyl-3-[(2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-(2-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)propionyl]-2-
oxazolidinone (15)
A solution of 12 in anhydrous dichloromethane (75 mL) was cooled to between –5° and 0°C and
treated with neat TiCl4 (1.19 mL, 10.9 mmol). After stirring for 10 min, diisopropylethylamine (2.04
mL, 11.72 mmol) was added dropwise and the resulting blood-red solution was stirred at 0°C for 1 h.
Benzyloxychloromethyl ether (2.56 mL, 18.4 mmol) was added dropwise and the reaction was warmed
to room temperature for 2 h. The reaction was quenched with saturated aqueous ammonium chloride
then extracted into dichloromethane (x3). The combined organic layers were dried with anhydrous
sodium sulfate, filtered, concentrated and purified by flash chromatography eluting with 80%
dichloromethane/petrol to afford (4R)-4-benzyl-3-[(2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-(2-fluoro-4-methoxy-
phenyl)propionyl]-2-oxazolidinone (15, 3.22 g, 81%); HPLC tR = 11.32 min (82%); LCMS tR = 10.81
1
min (m/z 478.4 [M+H]+); H-NMR δ: 2.61-2.68 (m, 1H), 2.87-2.93 (m, 2H), 3.14-3.22 (m, 1H), 3.62-
3.66 (m, 1H), 3.73 (s, 3H), 3.99-4.06 (m, 2H), 4.53-4.86 (m, 5H), 6.52-6.57 (m, 1H), 7.13-7.33 (m,
12H); 13C-NMR δ 27.3, 37.7, 44.1, 55.2, 55.5, 65.9, 70.2, 73.1, 101.4 (d, J2CF = 25.8 Hz), 109.7, 117.0
(d, J3CF = 15.9 Hz), 127.2, 127.6, 127.7, 128.3, 128.8, 129.4, 131.68, 131.74, 135.3, 138.1, 153.0,
159.6, 161.7 (d, J1CF = 243.0 Hz), 173.8.
Characterization data for (4R)-4-benzyl-3-[(2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-(2-fluoro-2,4-dimethylphenyl)-
propionyl]-2-oxazolidinone (16): HPLC tR = 12.13 min (70%); LCMS tR = 11.35 min (m/z 458.4
1
[M+H]+); H-NMR δ: 2.30 (s, 3H), 2.37 (s, 3H), 2.68-2.74 (m, 1H), 2.96-2.98 (m, 2H), 3.20 (dd, J =
3.1, 13.5 Hz, 1H), 3.70-3.74 (m, 1H), 3.79-3.84 (m, 2H), 3.91-4.00 (m, 2H), 4.52-4.56 (m, 1H), 4.59
(d, J = 2.0 Hz, 1H), 4.64-4.70 (m, 2H), 4.82 (s, 1H), 6.92-6.99 (m, 2H), 7.06-7.08 (m, 1H), 7.19-7.22
(m, 2H), 7.26-7.32 (m, 3H), 7.34-7.39 (m, 5H).
Characterization data for (4R)-4-benzyl-3-[(2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-(2-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)-
propionyl]-2-oxazolidinone (17): HPLC tR = 11.84 min (81%); LCMS tR = 10.77 min (m/z 462.3
1
[M+H]+); H-NMR δ: 2.29 (s, 3H), 2.67 (dd, J = 13.6, 9.6Hz, 1H), 2.92-3.02 (m, 2H), 3.20 (dd, J =
13.6, 3.2Hz, 1H), 3.67 (dd, J = 9.6Hz, J = 5.2Hz, 1H), 3.81 (dd, J = 9.2, 7.2 Hz, 1H), 4.01-4.09 (m,
2H), 4.40-4.50 (m, 1H), 4.54 (s, 2H), 4.59-4.63 (m, 1H), 6.79-6.84 (m, 2H), 7.07 (t, J = 7.6Hz, 1H),
13
7.16-7.18 (m, 2H), 7.23-7.29 (m, 4H), 7.31-7.32 (m, 4H); C-NMR δ: 21.0, 27.6, 37.8, 44.0, 55.3,

Molecules 2004, 9
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65.9, 70.3, 73.2, 115.8 (d, J2CF = 21.3Hz), 124.6, 127.2, 127.6, 127.7, 128.3, 128.9, 129.5, 130.1, 131.1,
135.3, 138.1, 161.1 (d, J1CF = 243.0 Hz ), 173.8.
Representative procedure for the synthesis of (2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-phenylpropionic acids:
synthesis of (2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-(2-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)propionic acid (18)
35% Aqueous hydrogen peroxide (3.7 mL, 38 mmol) was added under nitrogen to a solution of 15
(2.50 g, 5.24 mmol) in a degassed mixture of tetrahydrofuran (50 mL) and water (13 mL). After 5 min,
lithium hydroxide monohydrate (198 mg, 4.72 mmol) was added and the reaction was stirred at room
temperature for 17 h. Tetrahydrofuran was removed in vacuo and the residue was diluted with water
(50 mL) and additional lithium hydroxide monohydrate (50 mg) was added to keep the solution basic.
The aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (x 3). The aqueous phase was then acidified to pH
2 with concentrated hydrochloric acid and the solution was extracted into dichloromethane (x 3). The
combined organic layers were washed with water (x 2), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered
and concentrated to give (2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-(2-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)propionic acid (18, 1.3
g, 78%) as a clear colourless oil; [α]D = +7.8° (c 0.42, CHCl3); HPLC tR = 9.11 min (92%); LCMS tR =
8.51 min (m/z 301.1 [M+H-H2O] +, 319.4 [M+H]+); 1H-NMR δ: 2.82-3.02 (m, 3H), 3.62 (d, J =5.6 Hz,
2H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 4.52 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 6.59 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 2H), 7.07 (t, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H), 7.25-
7.33 (m, 5H); 13C-NMR δ: 27.2, 46.2, 55.4, 69.5, 73.1, 101.5 (d, J2CF = 25.8 Hz), 109.7, 117.1 (d, J3CF
=
15.9 Hz), 127.6, 128.3, 131.50, 131.56, 137.7, 159.6, 159.7, 161.6 (d, J1CF = 243.8 Hz), 179.0.
Characterization data for (2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)propionic acid (19): HPLC tR
1
= 9.88 min (93%); LCMS tR = 9.39 min (m/z 299.4 [M+H]+); H-NMR δ: 2.28 (s, 6H), 2.83-2.94 (m,
1H), 2.95-3.08 (m, 2H), 3.62-3.67 (m, 2H), 4.52 (s, 2H), 6.89-6.92 (m, 1H), 6.96-7.01 (m, 2H), 7.27-
13
7.35 (m, 5H); C-NMR δ: 19.45, 21.23, 31.42, 46.71, 69.94, 73.46, 126.87, 127.89, 128.61, 129.75,
131.49, 133.85, 136.29, 136.34, 138.06, 180.03.
Characterization data for (2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-3-(2-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)propionic acid (20):
HPLC tR = 9.77 min (85%); LCMS tR = 8.89 min (m/z 303.1 [M+H]+); 1H-NMR δ: 2.28 (s, 3H), 2.80-
3.00 (m, 3H), 3.61 (d, J = 5.2Hz, 2H), 4.48 (d, J = 2.8Hz, 2H), 6.78 (d, J = 2.8Hz, 1H), 6.81 (s, 1H),
7.02 (t, J = 8.4Hz, 1H), 7.12-7.14 (m, 1H), 7.22-7.32 (m, 4H); 13C-NMR δ 21.1, 27.8, 41.6, 46.5, 54.1,
69.9, 73.4, 116.1 (d, J2CF = 21.3Hz), 122.5 (d, J2CF = 15.2Hz), 124.9, 127.5, 127.9, 128.6, 129.2, 131.3
(d, J3CF = 5.3Hz), 136.1, 138.1, 138.9 (d, J3CF = 7.5Hz), 161.3 (d, J1CF = 243.8Hz), 178.9
References and Notes
1. Stinson, S. C. Chem. & Eng. News, 2001, May14, p. 45.
2. Myers, A. G.; Gleason, J. L. Org. Synth. 1998, 76, 57.

Molecules 2004, 9
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3. Evans, D.A.; Urpi, F.; Somers, T. C; Clark, S.; Bilodeau, M. T., J. Am. Chem. Soc, 1990, 112,
8215.
4. Crawforth, J. M.; Fawcett, J.; Rawlings, B. J., J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans 1, 1998, 1721.
5. Evans, D. A.; Britton, T. C; Ellman, J. A., Tetrahedron Lett., 1987, 6141.
6. Lists of atomic coordinates, displacement parameters, structure factors and complete geometry of
17 have been deposited with the CCDC (deposition number 239767). Copies may be obtained
through the Managing Editor, Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC), 12 Union Road,
Cambridge, CB2 1EZ, England.
7. Following the procedure developed by Evans, D. A.; Britton, T. C.; Dorow, R. L.; Dellaria Jr , J. F.
Tetrahedron, 1988, 44, 5525.
Sample Availability: Available from the authors.
2004 by MDPI (http://www.mdpi.org). Reproduction is permitted for noncommercial purposes.