A facile approach towards enantiomerically pure masked β-amino alcohols

Abstract

β-Amino alcohols are bioactive molecules, used also as catalysts in asymmetric C–C bond formation. While asymmetric synthesis has been the preferred route for their preparation, there was always been a need to develop a facile methodology involving environmentally friendly transformations. Masked amines in the form of phthalimide alcohols, prepared via a fast coupling reaction in an ionic liquid as a reusable reaction media together with reduction and an efficient biocatalytic resolution, offer a green methodology for enantiomerically pure products (ee > 99%, 50 g L⁻¹).