Bakers' yeast oxidation of methyl para-tolylsuifide: Synthesis of a chiral intermediate in the preparation of the mevinic acid-type hypocholestemic agents
作者:Jenny Tang、Ian Brackenridge、Stanley M. Roberts、Jean Beecher、Andrew J. Willetts
DOI:10.1016/0040-4020(95)00819-t
日期:1995.11
The use of (R)-methyl para-tolylsulfoxide as a chiral auxiliary in a novel synthesis of a key intermediate en route to mevinic acid-type hypocholestemic agents is described. The synthesis is short and simple consisting of eight steps to yield enantiomerically pure beta-silyloxy-delta-lactone. The chiral sulfoxide used in the synthesis was obtained via a straightforward biooxidation of methyl paratolylsulfide using bakers' yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC 73). The biotransformation involves the use of whole cells and affords the sulfoxide in good yield and with high stereoselectivity.