Katsutoshi Sakata

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of a tri-substituted cyclopropyl chiral synthon: a practical method for preparation of chiral 1-alkoxycarbonyl-2-oxo-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane

Abstract An efficient method for the preparation of optically active enantiomers of 1-ethoxycarbonyl-2-oxo-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 1 has been developed. Treatment of 1 with lipase Amano PS gave (1S,5R)-1-carboxy-2-oxo-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 4a which was converted to (1S,5R)-1-ethoxycarbonyl-2-oxo-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 1a with high enantiomeric purity (98.0% ee, 75% yield), while the (1R,5S)-lactone ester 1b remained intact. A simple procedure for the recovery of 4a from the reaction mixture was also established.