Highly stereoselective alkylation of (S)-proline-based chiral auxiliaries

Alkylation of the enolates of the propanoylamides of two chiral auxiliaries (S)-(-)-2-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-ol 1a and (S)-(-)-2-(2-methoxypropan-2-yl)pyrrolidine 1b, derived from (S)-proline, with benzyl bromide and n-butyl iodide has been studied. The auxiliaries 1a and 1b induced opposite selectivity that is (R)- and (S)-configuration, respectively, at the newly created stereogenic centre. The diastereoselectivities and conversion yields in these alkylations were moderate to excellent. When Cp2ZrCl2 was used as an enolate coordinating agent, benzylation of propanoylated 1b gave an excellent diastereomeric ratio of 99:1. The benzylated diastereomeric products from either propanoylated 1a or 1b were easily separated by liquid chromatography. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.