Tetrahedron: Asymmetry

Microbial oxidation/amidation of benzhydrylsulfanyl acetic acid. Synthesis of (+)-modafinil

HF Olivo, A Osorio-Lozada, TL Peeples

Index: Olivo, Horacio F.; Osorio-Lozada, Antonio; Peeples, Tonya L. Tetrahedron Asymmetry, 2005 , vol. 16, # 21 p. 3507 - 3511

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Citation Number: 31

Abstract

A highly enantioselective oxidation of benzhydrylsulfanyl acetic acid to the corresponding (S)-sulfinyl carboxylic acid was achieved employing the fungus Beauveria bassiana in very good yield. This product was amidated using the bacteria Bacillus subtilis to afford (S)- modafinil in good yield.