ASYMMETRIC SYNTHESIS OF LINEZOLID THROUGH CATALYZED HENRY REACTION

Linezolid 1 is an antibacterial oxazolidinone approved by FDA in 2000 for the treatment of fastidious bacterial infections.1 The asymmetric synthesis of Linezolid-like molecules make use of the chiral pool approach, through the so-called Manninen reaction.2 This strategy requires the use of BuLi, low temperature and a long elaboration of the acetamide chain. Curiously, the only catalyzed approach toward the asymmetrical synthesis of Linezolid was just recently reported, and belongs to the use of proline-derived catalysts in aldol reactions as the key step.3 This procedure is quite interesting except for the low yield. Here we report a new synthesis of Linezolid, based on a Cu(II)-catalyzed asymmetric Henry reaction. The target compound was obtained in good overall yield, and enantiomeric excess.