[Preparation of optically active succinic acid derivatives. III. Regioselective condensation reactions of optically active 2-substituted succinic acids with diimidazolide].

We investigated the large scale synthesis of monocalcium bis [(2S)-2-benzyl-3-(cis-hexahydroisoindolin-2-ylcarbonyl) propionate] dihydrate (KAD-1229), which has a potent hypoglycemic effect, in a single reaction vessel. (2S)-2-Benzyl-3-(cis-hexahydroisoindolin-2-ylcarbonyl) propionic acid (7) was directly obtainable from (S)-2-benzylsuccinic acid (2) and cis-hexahydroisoindoline (4), without the isolation of intermediates by the method using thionyldiimidazole (9) and/or diimidazolide of the acid 2. Sequential reaction of imidazole with thionyl chloride, 2, and 4, followed by acid catalyzed hydrolysis gave amidecarboxylic acid 7 in 86% overall yield. The acid 7 was treated with 2 N NaOH, followed by the treatment with calcium chloride to give KAD-1229 in 91% yield.