A Modification of the Asymmetric Dihydroxylation Approach to the Synthesis of (S)-2-Arylpropanoic Acids.

Abstract Catalytic hydrogenolysis of (S)-2-phenyl-1,2-propanediol (2), prepared by an asymmetric dihydroxylation of α-methylstyrene (1) with AD-mix-α, over Pearlman's catalyst gave (S)-2-phenyl-1-propanol (3). This method was applied to the synthesis of optically active 2-arylpropanoic acid anti-inflammatory agents, (S)-ibuprofen (8) and (S)-naproxen (13).