Asymmetric syntheses of (+)-diltiazem hydrochloride

Abstract

Efficient enantioselective syntheses of the important cardiac drug (+)-cis-(2S,3S)-diltiazem from (E)-methyl 4-methoxyphenylpropenoate via either the (2R,3S)- or (2S,3R)-enantiomers of threo-methyl 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydroxypropanoate are described.