Utility of the Cleavage of Nitrosamides for the Preparation of Chiral Acids after Chromatographic Separation of their Diastereomeric Amides

Abstract

A method for optical resolution of chiral acids is described. It consists of the conversion of racemic acids to diastereomeric amides, their chromatographic separation and subsequent deamidation via the nitrosamide route. Reaction conditions for cleavage of amide derivatives of phenylalanine and methylbenzylamine are given. No or only negligible racemization of carboxylic acids, chiral in α-position takes place under those conditions. The extent of Ε,Ζ-isomerization of double bonds is very small, as is the extent of double bond migration from the Δ3-position into conjugation with the carboxyl function. Enantiomerically pure R- or S[2-3H]2-methylbutanoic acid and (-)methyl-3(p-chlorophenyl)-2-chloropropionate (Bidisin®) were prepared by this procedure.