Asymmetric synthesis of ACE inhibitor-Benazepril HCl via a bioreductive reaction

Abstract

An enantioselective synthesis of the potent angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (2 S, 3′ S)-2-(1-carboxymethyl-2-oxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1 H-benzo[ b]azepin-3-ylamino)-4-phenylbutyric acid ethyl ester hydrochloride, Benazepril HCl 4, has been achieved through an asymmetric reduction of 4-(2-nitrophenyl)-2,4-dioxobutyric acid ethyl ester 6b employing baker's yeast as the reductive catalyst.