2-Pyrrolidone → Levetiracetam

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of pyrrolidine-2-one (85 mg, 1 mmol) in 6 ml of toluene is added sodium methoxide (0. 19 ml of a 30% solution in MeOH, 1 mmol, 1 equiv.). The mixture is heated to 40° C. and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure. The solid residue is taken up in 3 ml of tetrahydrofuran, cooled to 0° C. and (R)-2-bromobutyramide (IId) (optical purity >98%) (166 mg, 1 mmol, 1 equiv.) is added. The mixture is stirred for 1 h at 0° C. and further 16 h at room temperature. The mixture is then concentrated to dryness under reduce pressure.

Provenance & Evidence