Efficient and scalable process for the synthesis of antihypercholesterolemic drug ezetimibe

Abstract

An efficient and scalable process for the synthesis of antihypercholesterolemic drug ezetimibe through chiral Evans auxiliary (S)-4-phenyl-2-oxazolidinone is described. The key steps in this process are the condensation of (S)-3-(5-(4-fluorophenyl)-5,5-dimethoxypentanoyl)-4-phenyloxazolidin-2-one and N-(4-((tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)benzylidene)-4-fluoroaniline, and the stereoselective reduction of ezetimibe-ketone with NaBH4/I2, which is first applied in the synthesis of ezetimibe. The process is concise, mild, easy to operate, and highly stereoselective (99.6% of de value of ezetimibe). In addition, three diastereomers of ezetimibe are synthesized and served as the references in quality control of the product.