American Home Products Corporation

Henry G Schouten

George C Buzby, Jr

Disclosed herein is a process for the preparation of optically active compounds of the formula: ##STR1## in which R is a lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, benzyloxy, phenyl, o-nitrophenyl, p-nitrophenyl, or p-tolyl group, or salts or esters thereof, which process comprises the following steps:

Resolution of 3-benzoylthio-2-methyl-propanoic acid with

Alkoxymethyl protecting groups for organic hydroxyl substituents may be introduced into the desired compounds by acetal exchange between an alkylal and an alcohol in the presence of phosphorus oxychloride and dimethylformamide.

Preparation of alkoxy methyl ethers

Disclosed herein is an efficient and selective reduction of indole-2-carboxylic acids or esters to indoline-2-carboxylic acids using lithium, sodium, or potassium in liquid ammonia. The preferred process uses lithium in liquid ammonia with small amounts of a weak proton donor such as aniline added to the reaction mixture.

Growing community of inventors

West Chester, PA, United States of America

Henry G Schouten