An alternative synthesis of Tamiflu®: a synthetic challenge and the identification of a ruthenium-catalyzed dihydroxylation route

Synthetic studies of Tamiflu® and the identification of a ruthenium-catalyzed dihydroxylation route are disclosed. This newly developed synthetic process circumvents the need for a Mitsunobu inversion step and the use of explosive reagents. This route, therefore, compares favorably to the previously developed synthetic process.

Ruthenium-catalyzed dihydroxylation successfully circumvented the need of Mitsunobu inversion of α-alcohol in our previously reported synthesis of Tamiflu®.