Synthesis 2015; 47(11): 1557-1559
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1380511
psp
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Synthesis of (R)-Lactic Acid and (2R,5R)-2-tert-Butyl-5-methyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-one

Authors

  • R. Alan Aitken*

    EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, UK   Email: raa@st-and.ac.uk
  • Anna Meehan

    EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, UK   Email: raa@st-and.ac.uk
  • Lynn A. Power

    EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, UK   Email: raa@st-and.ac.uk
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 23 February 2015

Accepted after revision: 07 March 2015

Publication Date:
02 April 2015 (online)


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Abstract

A convenient procedure for the synthesis of very expensive (R)-lactic acid from relatively inexpensive (R)-alanine is described. Its subsequent conversion into a chiral dioxolanone can be carried out by using an inexpensive pivalaldehyde–tert-butanol mixture.