Synthesis 2008(3): 383-386  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1032022
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

An Enantioselective Formal Synthesis of (+)-(R)-α-Lipoic Acid by an l-Proline-Catalyzed Aldol Reaction

Shilei Zhanga, Xiaobei Chenb, Jiangang Zhangb, Wei Wang*a,c, Wenhu Duan*a,b
a Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. of China
b Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, P. R. of China
c Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
Fax: +1(505)2772609; e-Mail: wwang@unm.edu;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 12 September 2007
Publication Date:
10 January 2008 (online)

Abstract

An efficient, highly stereocontrolled formal synthesis of (+)-(R)-α-lipoic acid was achieved, which utilizes an l-proline-catalyzed highly enantio- and diastereoselective cross-aldol reaction as the key step.