Synthèse d'homologues de la (–)--(1R,2S)-norephedrine

Synthesis of (–)-(1R,2S)-Norephedrine Homologues The amino function of esters of some simple natural amino acids I is blocked in the form of a cyanoenamine by means of 2-oxocyclopentanecarbonitrile, so that the corresponding cyanoenamino esters II are obtained. The reaction of a disubstituted lithium amide with II leeds to the cyanoenamino-amides VI . The amide function present in VI is then transformed into an aromatic ketone by means of phenyllithium, to give the (benzoylalkyl)aminocyclopentenecarbonitriles VII . Reduction of Compounds VII with NaBH₄ in EtOH ?80° affects only the keto function and leads to the (α-hydroxybenzyl)alkyl]amino-cyclopentenecarbonitriles VIII . The amino function is then deprotected by acid hydrolysis to give the amino-alcohols IX with yields close to 50%; in every amino-alcohol IX , the erythro isomer, homologous to natural (–)-(1R,2S)-norephedrine is the more abundant or the single product. All the polyfunctional compounds prepared conserve optical activity; it has been demonstrated that the amino-alcohols IX are pure enantiomers and that no racemisation lakes place at any step of their synthesis.