METHOD FOR THE ASYMMETRICAL SYNTHESIS OF S-ACYLATED DERIVATIVES OF 2-MERCAPTOMETHYL 3-PHENYL PROPANOIC ACID, AND USE THEREOF FOR SYNTHESISING N-(MERCAPTOACYL) AMINO ACID DERIVATIVES

摘要

A method for the asymmetrical synthesis of S-acylated derivatives of 2-mercaptomethyl 3-phenyl propanoic acid of formula (I) is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of (a) preparing diol (VI) by reducing a malonic ester (V) in the presence of a hydride; (b) preparing respective monoacetates (VII R) or (VII S); (c) oxidising the monoacetates to give acids (IX S) or (IX R); (d) saponifying compounds (IX S) or (IX R) to form hydroxyacids (X S) or (X R); and (e) thioacylating hydroxyacids (X S) or (X R) with a mercaptoacid R1SH (XI) using a Mitsunobu reaction to give the desired acids (I R) or (I S), respectively. The method is useful for synthesising N-(mercaptoacyl) amino acids of formula (II).