Acetic Acid → methyl[3-((2R)-2-{[(1R)-1-phenyl-ethyl]-amino}-propyl)-phenyl]-acetate hydrochloride

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of methyl [3-(2-oxopropyl)phenyl]acetate (Preparation 24) (8.50 g, 41.2 mmol), (R)-α-methyl benzylamine (4.8 mL, 37.2 mmol), sodium triacetoxyborohydride (11.6 g, 56 mmol) and acetic acid (2.2 mL, 38 mmol) in dichloromethane (400 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 48 hours. The reaction mixture was quenched by addition of saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (200 mL) and allowed to stir until effervescence ceased. The organic phase was separated and the aqueous phase extracted with dichloromethane (100 mL). The combined organic extracts were dried (magnesium sulfate) and reduced in vacuo. Purification by flash column chromatography eluting with dichloromethane:methanol: ammonia (99:1:0.1 to 95:5:0.5 by volume) gave a 4:1 mixture of diastereomers (R,R major) as a pale yellow oil (8.71 g). Treatment with hydrogen chloride (40 mL of a 1M solution in methanol, 40 mmol) followed by three successive crystallisations (diisopropylether/ methanol) gave the title compound as a white crystalline solid (5.68 g).

Provenance & Evidence