Synthesis of forphenicinol and forphenicine.

Abstract
Forphenicinol, L-2-(3-hydroxy-4-hydroxymethylphenyl)glycine, was synthesized by 2 methods starting from dimethyl hydroxyterephthalate or DL-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)glycine. Forphenicine, L-2-(4-formyl-3-hydroxyphenyl)glycine, was prepared from L-forphenicinol by oxidation, establishing the configuration of forphenicine to be L. D-Forphenicinol was determined to be biologically inactive.