Application of asymmetric alkylation of malonic diester with phase-transfer catalysis: synthesis of LFA-1 antagonist BIRT-377

Abstract An efficient asymmetric synthesis of LFA-1 antagonist BIRT-377 using enantioselective phase-transfer catalytic alkylation has been developed. The alkylation of α-monosubstituted tert -butyl methyl malonate was catalyzed by a quaternary ammonium salt derived from a cinchona alkaloid to obtain the product with a quaternary stereogenic carbon in high yield and with high enantioselectivity. The chiral α,α-disubstituted product thus obtained was transformed into BIRT-377 through alternating chemoselective deprotection of the two ester groups followed by Curtius rearrangement.