Highly enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction of thiophenes with glyoxylates: formal synthesis of duloxetine

Org Lett. 2009 Oct 15;11(20):4636-9. doi: 10.1021/ol901906r.

Abstract

An efficient Friedel-Crafts reaction of a series of 2-substituted thiophenes with alkyl glyoxylates has been developed using a catalytic amount of an easy accessible 6,6'-dibromo-BINOL/Ti(IV) complex. A variety of hydroxy(thiophene-2-yl)acetates can be synthesized in high enantioselectivites (92-98% ee) and good yields. This is the first report on the efficient asymmetric F-C reaction of thiophenes with alkyl glyoxylates. Starting from simple thiophene and n-butyl glyoxylate, we demonstrated the formal synthesis of duloxetine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetates / chemistry
  • Duloxetine Hydrochloride
  • Glyoxylates / chemistry*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Thiophenes / chemical synthesis*
  • Thiophenes / chemistry*

Substances

  • Acetates
  • Glyoxylates
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Thiophenes
  • Duloxetine Hydrochloride