Enantioselective synthesis of the PPARα agonist (R)-K-13675 via (S)-2-hydroxybutyrolactone

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-2008-1032123

Enantioselective synthesis of enantiomerically pure PPARα agonist (R)-K-13675 can be achieved starting from (S)-2-hydroxybutyrolactone. An important intermediate, 2-(aryloxy)butyrolactone, was prepared by reaction of the phenol with (S)-2-hydroxybutyrolactone in excellent yield without loss of enantiomeric purity using the Mitsunobu reaction, followed by conversion into the 2-(aryloxy)butanoic acid via the 2-(aryloxy)-4-iodobutanoate by cleavage of the lactone on exposure to iodotrimethylsilane, followed by hydrogenolysis and hydrolysis. Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart.