Efficient kinetic resolution of a racemic 7-membered biaryl lactone: enantioselective synthesis of 2,2′-dihydroxymethyl-1,1′-binaphthyl

A novel pathway to enantiomerically pure 2,2'-dihydroxymethyl-1,1'-binaphthyl is described, through kinetic resolution of its racemic 7-membered biaryl lactone precursor. Oxazaborolidine-assisted borane reduction of this lactone proceeds with very high enantioselectivity (k(rel)=50). For optimum results on a preparative scale, a 'three fractions strategy' is suggested, which combines kinetic resolution and fractional crystallization and leads to both atropisomers in high enantiomeric excess. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.