Stereoselective photochemical 1,3-dioxolane addition to 5-alkoxymethyl-2(5H)-furanone:: Synthesis of bis-tetrahydrofuranyl ligand for HIV protease inhibitor UEC-94017 (TMC-114)

A convenient synthesis of (3R,3aS,6aR)-3-hydroxyhexahydrofuro[2,3-b]furan, a high-affinity nonpeptidal ligand for HIV protease inhibitor UIC-94017, is described. This inhibitor is undergoing advanced clinical trials. The synthesis utilizes a novel stereoselective photochemical 1,3-dioxolane addition to 5(S)-benzyloxymethyl-2(5H)-furanone as the key step. The requisite furanone derivative was prepared in high enantiomeric excess by an immobilized lipase-catalyzed selective acylation of (+/-)-1-(benzyloxy)-3-buten-2-ol and a ring-closing olefin metathesis with Grubbs' catalyst. Optically active bis-THF was converted to protease inhibitor 2 (UIC-94017).