Organic Letters 2013-03-15

Kinetic resolution of racemic 2-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactones by asymmetric esterification using diphenylacetic acid with pivalic anhydride and a chiral acyl-transfer catalyst.

Kenya Nakata, Kouya Gotoh, Keisuke Ono, Kengo Futami, Isamu Shiina

Index: Org. Lett. 15(6) , 1170-3, (2013)

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Abstract

Various optically active 2-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone derivatives are produced via the kinetic resolution of racemic 2-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactones with diphenylacetic acid using pivalic anhydride and (R)-benzotetramisole ((R)-BTM), a chiral acyl-transfer catalyst. Importantly, the substrate scope of this novel protocol is fairly broad (12 examples, s-value; up to over 1000). In addition, we succeeded in disclosing the reaction mechanism to afford high enantioselectivity using theoretical calculations and expounded on the substituent effects at the C-3 positions in 2-hydroxylactones.