Abstract
A highly enantioselective methodology for the synthesis of the GABAB receptor agonist (R)-(-)-baclofen is described. This synthesis begins with p-chlorophenethyl alcohol and involves a catalytic carbon-hydrogen insertion reaction of a chiral dirhodium(II) carboxamidate with the corresponding diazoacetate (81% yield, 95% ee). Subsequent steps convert the intermediate γ-lactone to (R)- (-)-baclofen in a 60% overall yield. The amount of catalyst required for the C–H insertion transformation is only 0.5 mol%. Chirality 14:169–172, 2002.

This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit: