Synthesis of (R)- and (S)-5-(Hydroxymethyl)-3-isopropyloxazolidin-2-one,intermediates in the preparation of optically active β-blockers

The (R)- and (S)-5-(hydroxymethyl)-3-isopropyloxazolidin-2-ones, ((R)- and (S)- 2 , resp.), pivotal intermediates in the preparation of optically active β-blockers, were synthesized using (R,E)-2-hydroxypent-3-enenitrile ( 1 ) as the chiral starting material. In the synthesis of (R)- 2 , a known cyclization/inversion step was applied.