title: Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of levodropropizine.
abstract: Levodropropizine, an antitussive drug, was prepared in high enantiomeric excess in three steps, starting from dichloroacetone (2). Monosubstitution of 2 with sodium benzoate and subsequent baker's yeast reduction stereoselectively afforded the corresponding chlorohydrin in 73% ee, which was converted to levodropropizine and enantiomerically enriched up to 95% ee by fractional crystallisation.
mesh_terms: D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D003460:Crystallization; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D000996:Antitussive Agents; D011409:Propylene Glycols; C035916:dipropizine