Asymmetric Reduction of Aromatic Ketones. II. An Enantioselective Synthesis of Methyl(2R,3S)-3-(4-Methoxypehnyl)glycidate.

Abstract

Asymmetric reduction of some 3-keto esters (6, 8, and 11) to 3-hydroxy esters (7, 9, and 12) with various chiral reducing agents was investigated. The products (9 and 12) were converted to methyl (2R, 3S)-3-(4-methoxy-phenyl)glycidate (2R, 3S-3), a key intermediate in the practical enantioselective synthesis of dilitazem (1).