Methyl phenylglyoxalate → Methyl (R)-(-)-mandelate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Five percent Ir/C (38.4 mg, 0.01 mmole), methyl benzoyl formate (164.2 mg, 1.0 mmole), (−) cinchonidine (3.8 mg, 0.013 mmole) and toluene (5 ml) were mixed in an autoclave and were agitated for five hours at room temperature under hydrogen at a pressure of 50 atmospheres. The cross-linked Ir/C cluster composition was removedby filtration after the reaction. The filtrate was concentrated, and the residue was purified using PTLC to obtain (R)-methyl mandelate (145.4 mg, 87.5% yield). The asymmetric yield was 2.0% ee.

Provenance & Evidence