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Title: Catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of methyl 7-hydroxy-5E-heptenoate

Journal Article · · J. Org. Chem. USSR (Engl. Transl.); (United States)
OSTI ID:5949522

The principal chiral synthon in the synthesis of optically active leucotriene A/sub 4/ is methyl 5S,6S-epoxy-7-hydroxyheptanoate (II), the simplest method for the production of which is asymmetric epoxidation of allyl alcohols by tert-butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of equimolar amounts of titanium tetraisopropoxide and optically active tertaric ester (1-3). However, in the case of methyl 7-hydroxy-5E-heptenoate (I) the good solubility of the epoxy alcohol (II) in water hinders its isolation from the reaction mixture. A method of catalytic asymmetric epoxidation has now been developed which makes it possible to simplify the isolation of the reaction product significantly. The authors have found that the catalytic oxidation can be used successfully for the synthesis of the above-mentioned alcohol (II) and makes it possible to obtain it with high enantiomeric purity. The reaction is monitored by TLC. They modified the procedure for the isolation of the epoxy alcohol (II).

Research Organization:
Institute of Organic Chemistry, Kiev (USSR)
OSTI ID:
5949522
Journal Information:
J. Org. Chem. USSR (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Vol. 23:11; Other Information: Translated from Zh. Org. Khim.; 23: No. 11, 2470-2471 (Nov 1987)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English