A novel, conceptually distinct synthesis of a key precursor to sacubitril, an antihypertensive
drug, is presented. The well-demonstrated hetero-Diels–Alder addition of in situ generated nitrosoalkenes to electron-rich enol ethers was engaged to establish the
required functionalities with controllable relative stereochemistry. An asymmetric
variant of the enol ether enabled access to the target molecule in enantiopure form.
Key words
sacubitril - hetero-Diels–Alder reaction - nitrosoalkenes - oxazinanes - chiral auxiliary