The enantiomers of the inhalation anesthetic agent, isoflurane (1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether), are prepared by a synthesis starting from 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol. (R)-(+)-Dehydroabietylamine is used as the resolving agent for the racemic acid intermediate 1. The optical purities of both (S)-(+)- and (R)-(-)-isofluranes are determined to be >99% ee (enantiomeric excess) by chiral capillary gas chromatography.
The enantiomers of the inhalation anesthetic agent, isoflurane (1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether), are prepared by a synthesis starting from 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol. (R)-(+)-Dehydroabietylamine is used as the resolving agent for the racemic acid intermediate 1. The optical purities of both (S)-(+)- and (R)-(-)-isofluranes are determined to be >99% ee (enantiomeric excess) by chiral capillary gas chromatography.