Chloramphenicol base chemistry. Part 10 : Asymmetric synthesis of α-hydroxy chiral alcohols via intramolecular Michael additions of γ-hydroxy-α, β-unsaturated enones with chloramphenicol base derived bifunctional urea organocatalysts

Abstract

We have developed the chloramphenicol base urea-catalyzed intramolecular Michael addition of γ-hydroxy-α, β-unsaturated enones. The oxidation of the resulting products provided facile access to the corresponding α-hydroxy chiral alcohols with good efficiency and enantioselectivity, with the reaction displaying broad substrate scope. The utility of this methodology was further demonstrated by the synthesis of (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoate, which is a key building block for the construction of the ACE inhibitor benazepril hydrochloride.