Triethylamine → (R)-1-Phenylethanamine (S)-2-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)butanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of (R)-alpha-methylbenzylamine (106 g) and triethylamine (89 g) in toluene (100 ml) was added to a suspension of (RS)-alpha-ethyl-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidineacetic acid (300 g, 1.75 mol) in toluene (1 L). The mixture was heated until complete dissolution, cooled to room temperature and stirred for 3 hours. The solids were filtered and rinsed with toluene (300 ml) to give 250 g of (s)-alpha-ethyl-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidineacetic acid (R)-alpha-methylbenzylamine salt. The solids were crystallized from toluene and 205 g (yield 41%) of (S)-alpha-ethyl-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidineacetic acid (R)-alpha-methylbenzylamine salt was obtained. The isolated solid was treated with hydrochloric acid solution and the enantiomerically pure (S)-alpha-ethyl-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidineacetic acid could be isolated in 90% yield.

Provenance & Evidence