A Practical Synthesis of (<i>R</i>)-(−)-Phenylephrine Hydrochloride

Abstract

( R )-(−)-Phenylephrine hydrochloride is a clinically potent adrenergic agent and β-receptor sympathomimetic drug, exclusively marketed in the optically active form. An asymmetric synthesis has been developed with high enantiomeric excess based on hydrolytic kinetic resolution of a styrene oxide derivative using ( R,R )-SalenCo III OAc complex.