Separation of diastereoisomers

摘要

Process for modifying the relative ratios of the components of a liquid starting mixture of specific diastereoisomers, containing at least two asymmetric carbon atoms comprising contacting said liquid mixture with a Lewis acid compound capable of co-ordinating a compound having at least two Lewis basic functionalities and subjecting the resulting mixture to conditions such that a reaction product, having a molar ratio between its diastereoisomeric components different from the corresponding molar ratio in the said liquid starting mixture, becomes separated from the said liquid mixture, said process being carried out using an amount of said Lewis acid not enough to co-ordinate the total amount of the diastereoisomeric components of the liquid starting mixture. This method shows an excellent balance of efficiency and easiness of procedure that cannot be reached with the physical methods of diastereoisomers separation known in the art.