A Convenient Synthesis of R-(-)-Carnitine from R-(-)-Epichlorohydrin.

Abstract A convenient four-step synthesis of R -(−)-carnitine ( 1 ) is described from the reaction of R -(−)-epichlorohydrin ( 2 ) with vinylmagnesium bromide followed by formation of the ammonium salt 4 with trimethylamine and finally ozonolysis of the corresponding ammonium hydroxide 5 .