Asymmetric phase-transfer catalyzed glycolate alkylation, investigation of the scope, and application to the synthesis of (-)-ragaglitazar.

[Reaction: see text]. Asymmetric glycolate alkylation using a protected acetophenone surrogate under solid-liquid phase-transfer conditions is a new approach to the synthesis of 2-hydroxy esters and acids. Diphenylmethyloxy-2,5-dimethoxyacetophenone 1 with a trifluorobenzyl cinchonidinium bromide catalyst 9 (10 mol %) and cesium hydroxide provided S-alkylation products 2 at -35 degrees C in high yield (80-99%) and with excellent enantioselectivities using a wide range of electrophiles (80-90% ee). Alkylated products were elaborated to useful alpha-hydroxy intermediates 3 using bis-TMS peroxide Baeyer-Villiger conditions and selective transesterification reactions. The ester products have been enantioenriched by simple recrystallization from ether to give a single isomer (99% ee). A tight ion-pair model is proposed for the observed S-stereoinduction that includes van der Waals contacts between the extended enolate and the isoquinoline of the catalyst. To demonstrate the utility of the new methodology, the anti-diabetes drug (-)-ragaglitazar 24 was synthesized in six steps from a key 2-alkoxy-3-p-phenoxypropionic acid 26 that was made using PTC glycolate alkylation.