Efficient synthesis of optically active 1-(2-carboxymethyl-6-ethylphenyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid: a novel atropisomeric 1-arylpyrrole derivative

An efficient synthesis and resolution of (±)-1-(2-carboxymethyl-6-ethylphenyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid has been developed for the preparation of novel optically active atropisomers. The ee values were measured by a 1H NMR spectroscopic method using quinidine as the chiral complexing agent. Absolute configurations of the separated enantiomers were determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements of both the disodium salt and the (R)-1-phenylethylamine salt of the enantiomerically pure dicarboxylic acid, separately. The analysis of the CD spectra with the aid of TD-DFT quantum chemical calculations confirmed the assignment of configurations.

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(R)-1-(2-carboxymethyl-6-ethylphenyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acidC15H15NO4ee = >99 %[α]D=-85.5[α]D=-85.5 (c 1, ethanol)Source of chirality: resolutionAbsolute configuration: (R)