Synthesis 2006(1): 115-122  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-921746
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Azetidin-2,3-dione Synthon for Stereoselective Synthesis of cis- and trans-C-3-Alkyl/Aryl Azetidin-2-ones

Dharmendra Kumar Tiwari, Vikas K. Gumaste, Abdul Rakeeb A. S. Deshmukh*
Division of Organic Chemistry (Synthesis), National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411 008, India
Fax: +91(20)25893153; Fax: +91(20)25893355; e-Mail: aras.deshmukh@ncl.res.in;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 28 June 2005
Publication Date:
16 December 2005 (online)

Abstract

1,4-Bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)azetidin-2,3-dione has been prepared and used as a synthon for the stereoselective synthesis of C-3-alkyl/aryl azetidin-2-ones. Some of these are well known for their cholesterol absorption inhibitor activity. A regioselective Grignard reaction at a keto-group followed by highly stereoselective removal of the hydroxyl group via reductive removal of the xanthate ester is a key step in this synthesis. Base-induced isomerization of cis-azetidin-2-ones to the thermodynamically stable trans-isomer was also studied.