Lithium Hydroxide → (S)-2-(2-Methoxyphenyl)propanoic acid

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Reaction Steps

1.52 g of lithium hydroxide are added to a solution, cooled to +5° C., of 4.1 g of (4S,5S)-4-methyl-5-phenyl-3-[(S)-2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-propionyl]-2-oxazolidinone in 60 cm3 of tetrahydrofuran and 30 cm3 of water. The reaction mixture is stirred for 3 hours at this temperature and then, after re-equilibrating to room temperature, ethyl acetate is added, the mixture is decanted and the aqueous phase is acidified with a 1N aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid, extracted with ethyl acetate and the organic phase is dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure (2.7 kPa). The solid obtained is recrystallized from hexane, drained and dried. 0.4 g of (S)-2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-propionic acid is obtained in the form of white crystals; melting point 102° C. [α]D20 =+84.6° (c=1; CHCl3).

Provenance & Evidence