NZ208839A - The preparation of #a#-cyanomethyl alcohol derivatives and their application as intermediate compounds - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number £08839 'Wrn^r 2 088 3 9 © Priority Date(s): ^2-7-53, <3# --1-SU- Complete Specification Filed: .... i..... ciass: ccjfrzcpJ.t-p.s. <T£ 7 A ? £ f/£S; Publication Date: P.O. Journal, Mo: 2 9 APR 1988 7 307 GwSs <foocW| Cpl£213/6$; Cc>7to333/2fa CoJ8f3/pg- C&7&S3/00 ■ ^o7i>'3^7/>VVro7^y^V^°3 85813 Co7Z>/75"/D^ NO DRAWINGS x— NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No.: Date: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PROCESS "9JWI98« ■ t.y © o hereby declare the invention for which X / we pray that a patent may be granted to sie/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and .by the following statement:- - 1 - (followed by Page la) X/We, ICI AUSTRALIA LIMITED, a company incorporated under the laws of the State of Victoria, Manufacturers and Merchants, of 1 Nicholson Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia jr 2088 - ice AnyniTTiP<-T-i c cynthocio of g Dubctitutcd- g w-cyanomothy 1 Aloohola This invention relates to a process for the asymmetric synthesis of a -substituted- a -cyanomethyl 5 alcohols and the use of such alcohols as intermediates in the preparation of chiral esters and chiral ethanol-amines and in particular chiral pyrethroids and chiral arylethanolamines.

It is known in the art that in pyrethroids of 10 general formula 0 CN I* t J-C-O-CH-R1, * for a given pyrethrin acid or pyrethroid acid moiety J CO- and a given pyrethroid alcohol moiety Rl-CH(CN)0-, there is a wide variation in pesticidal activity between 15 the two pyrethroid isomers prepared from the two alcohol enantioners (* indicates a chiral centre). Therefore, there is considerable interest in the art in the development of methods for preparing the individual pyrethroid alcohol enantiomers and their 20 use in the preparation of the more pesticidally active ,/ 'T . ^ - 2 - pyrethroid isomer.

A preferred method for preparing the individual pyrethroid alcohol enantiomers would be a synthesis which gave an enantiomer in substantially pure form. 5 However, hitherto there has been no publication of an asymmetric synthesis of individual pyrethroid alcohol enantiomers. All methods for the preparation of individual pyrethroid alcohol enantiomers which have been described hitherto have involved the resolution 10 of the racemic mixture of alcohols or derivatives thereof. For example, in United Kingdom Patent Application No 2 013 670A there is disclosed a process for the preparation of the pyrethroid alcohol (S)- a -^ cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol. The preparation involves a resolution process in which the racemic alcohol is reacted with an optically active lactone to give a mixture of the two diastereomeric ethers of the alcohol enantiomers, the diastereomeric ethers are separated by chromatography over silica gel and the 20 ether of the (S)-alcohol is hydrolysed under acid conditions to give (S)- a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol which is purified by chromatography over silica gel. Clearly this is a long and costly process which, although suitable for small scale laboratory 25 preparations, would prove difficult to adapt for large scale commercial manufacture.

It is known in the art that the naturally occurring physiologically active arylethanolamine norepinephrine (noradrenaline) is in the laevorotatory 30 optically active form which has the absolute configuration (R) at the chiral centre. Many synthetic arylethanolamines have been prepared which are physio-o logically active by virtue of binding at norepinephrine receptor sites but to date all of their syntheses have involved the preparation of the racemic arylethanolamines . ? 0 88 In view of the difficulty in resolving the racemic mixtures of the sympathomimetic arylethanol-amines, the commercially available pharmaceutical preparations containing these compounds have to date 5 generally contained the racemic arylethanolamine. However, it has been found that S-isomer or dextrorotatory optical isomer of these compounds may have some undesired effects. Therefore, clearly it would be advantageous to be able to synthesise the R-isomer 10 of these arylethanolamines to give products more like the naturally occurring norepinephrine and hence products having a more selective action, a greater therapeutic ratio and more cost-effectiveness.

^ In a recent paper Ohu, I to and Inoue (Makromol.

Chem. 183, 579-586 (1982) disclosed a process for the asymmetric synthesis of cyanohydrins using synthetic dipeptides. In this paper there is described the reaction of benzaldehyde with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a synthetic dipeptide to give a -cyano-20 benzyl alcohol. The paper reports that in the early stage of the reaction the addition was highly stereo-specific but the product isolated comprised a mixture of enantiomers with an enantiomeric excess only of the order of 0.1 to 10.1%. The conclusion drawn in 25 the paper was that the catalyst racemized the product and that the process would be suitable for asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis "if a procedure is established to separate the product rapidly from the catalyst before the catalysed racemization takes place" . 30 It has now been found that a -substituted a - cyanomethyl alcohol enantiomers can be prepared in a highly stereospecific reaction by the asymmetric addition of hydrogen cyanide to aldehydes in the presence of a cyclic dipeptide catalyst without rapid 35 separation of the product from the catalyst and that the product a -substituted- a -cyanomethyl alcohols ^ n* o / ' •• H !(' x % comprise either substantially one enantiomer or a high proportion (typically 75 to 100%; ie 50 to 100% enantiomeric excess) of one enantiomer which may be used in the preparation of pyrethroid enantiomers and aryl-5 ethanolamine enantiomers.

Accordingly the invention provides a process for the preparation of an a -substituted- a -cyanomethyl alcohol enantiomer of formula I CN I Ri-CH-OH I * wherein the group Rl is an alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heteroaryl group; which process comprises reacting an aldehyde of formula II Ri-CHO II with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a cyclic dipeptide enantiomer, and wherein said reaction is carried out at a temperature below ambient temperature.

It is to be understood that in the context of this specification the term "enantiomer" is used to 20 refer to a product comprising substantially one enantiomer or a product comprising a high proportion, typically 75% or more and preferably more than 90%, of one enantiomer. & 208839 O Suitable values for r! include groups of the formulae: i r4-a o iii iv v .11 (CH2>q ,12 r'16 r17 vi vii viii r20r21c=c(r19) ix 3i; i- Mi >2 "/ JjP £0SS<3& r22ch2-c=c- XI wherein: r2 and r3 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, to Cg alkyl and to Cg haloalkyl, or 5 and R3 jointly form a trimethylene or tetramethylene bridging group; A is selected from oxygen, sulfur, -CO- and -CH2-; £P) R4 is selected from hydrogen, C^ to Cg alkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl, C2 to Cg alkynyl, phenyl, furyl, thienyl 10 and the groups phenyl, furyl and thienyl wherein each group is substituted by halogen, Cj to Cg alkyl, C^ to Cg alkoxy or C2 to Cg alkenyl; D is selected from oxygen and sulfur; R-* and R® are independently selected from C^ to Cg 15 alkyl; R7 , R8 , R9 and R10 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, and Cj to Cg alkyl; r!1 and R12 are independently selected from hydrogen, Ci to Cg alkyl and halogen, or R^ and R^2 jointly 20 form a methylenedioxy bridging group; E is selected from oxygen, sulfur and -CH2-; q is an integer selected from 1 and 2; r13 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C^ to Cg alkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl, C2 to Cg 25 alkynyl, thienyloxy, thenyl, furylmethyl and the groups R24R25C=C(R23)0- and R24R25C=C(R23)- in which R23 is selected from hydrogen and C^ to Cg alkyl and R24 and R2^ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, C]_ to Cg alkyl and C^ to Cg haloalkyl; R14, R15, R16, R17 and R18 are independently select^d-^ \ NT Q from the group consisting of hydrogen, Cj to Cg^^kyl, '/O, v\ halogen and C2 to Cg alkenyl; 1 c\ R^-9 is selected from hydrogen, chlorine and C^ to alkyl; ^ R20 and R21 are independently selected from hydrogen;1 ! -I . r; ,/ 2 088 3 9 fluorine, chlorine, bromine, Cj to Cg alkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl, C2 to Cg alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, furylmethyl and thienylmethyl; and R22 is selected from phenyl, phenoxy and the groups 5 phenyl and phenoxy wherein each group is substituted by halogen, nitro, cyano, C^ to Cg alkyl, C^ to Cg halo-alkyl or C^ to Cg alkoxy.

Preferred values for R* include groups of formulae III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X and XI 10 wherein: r2 and R3 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, Cj to Cg alkyl and Cj to Cg haloalkyl, or R and R3 jointly form a trimethylene or tetramethylene ^ bridging group; A is selected from oxygen, sulfur, -CO- and -CH2-; R^ is selected from hydrogen, C^ to Cg alkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl, C2 to Cg alkynyl, phenyl, furyl, thienyl and the groups phenyl, furyl and thienyl wherein each group is substituted by halogen, C^ to Cg alkyl, C^ 20 to Cg alkoxy or C2 to Cg alkenyl; D is selected from oxygen and sulfur; R^ and R® are independently selected from C^ to Cg alkyl; R7, r8, R9 and r!0 are independently selected from 25 hydrogen, halogen, and C^ to Cg alkyl; rH and r!2 are independently selected from hydrogen, Ci to Cg alkyl and halogen, or R^ and R^^ jointly form a methylenedioxy bridging group; E is selected from oxygen, sulfur and -CH2-? q is an integer selected from 1 and 2; Rl3, R14 r r15, r16, r17 an(j R18 are independently selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen; halogen; nitro; Cj to Cg alkyl; C^ to Cg haloalkyl; Cj to Cg hydroxyalkyl; C2 to Cg alkenyl; C2 to Cg alkynyl; C^ 35 to Cg alkoxy; Cj to Cg alkylthio; (C^ to Cg alkoxy) carbonyl; benzyloxy, substituted benzyloxy; acyloxy; ■m ; •: * . s o hydroxy; tri(Ci to Cg alkylJsilyloxy; (C^ to Cg alkoxy) C} to Cg alkoxy;C^ to Cg alkoxy-Cj to Cg alkoxy-methoxy; amino; N-(Cj to Cg alkyl)amino; N,N-di(Ci to Cg alkyl)amino; N-(Cj to Cg alkanoyl)amino; N-(Cj to 5 Cg alkylsulfonyl)-amino; N-(benzenesulfonyl)amino; N-(substituted benzene-sulfonyl)amino; ureido; N-[tri(Ci to Cg alkyl)silyl]amino; sulfamoyl; N-(Ci to Cg alkyl) sul famoyl; N,N-di(C]_ to Cg alkyl)-sulfamoyl; carbamoyl; N-(Ci to Cg alkyl)carbamoyl; N,N-di(Ci to 10 Cg alkyl)carbamoyl; C^ to Cg alkylsulfinyl; C^ to Cg alkylsulfonyl; thienyloxy; thenyl; furylmethyl; or two adjacent substituents are selected from the linking group buta-1,3-dienylene; and the groups r24r25c=c(r23)o- and r24r25c=c(r23)_ in which r23 is selected from hydrogen and C^ to C^ alkyl and R^^ and r25 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, C^ to Cg alkyl and Cj to Cg haloalkyl; R*9 is selected from hydrogen, chlorine and C^ to Cg alkyl; R20 and r21 are independently selected from hydrogen, 20 fluorine, chlorine, bromine, C} to Cg alkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl, C2 to Cg alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, furylmethyl and thienylmethyl; and R22 is selected from phenyl, phenoxy and the groups phenyl and phenoxy wherein each group is substituted 25 by halogen, nitro, cyano, C^ to Cg alkyl, Cj to Cg halo-alkyl or Cj to Cg alkoxy.

When Rl is a group of formula Vllb and one or more of Rl3, R*4, r!5, R^6 and r!7 are selected from acyl, suitable acyl groups include C2 to Cg alkanoyl, 30 benzoyl and substituted benzoyl.

When r! is a group of formula Vllb and one or more of r!3, r!4 , rl5f r16 an(j r17 are selected from substituted benzyloxy, substituted benzoyl or N-(sub-stituted benzenesulfonyl)amino, suitable benzene ring 35 substituents include one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, cyano, Ci to Cg alkyl, C} to Cg haloalkyl, Cj to Cg alkoxy and Ci to Cg alkylthio.

More preferred values for Rl include groups of formulae III, VII, VIII and IX above and in particular groups of formulae wherein: in formula Villa, R^7 is selected from hydrogen and halogen; in formula Vllb, R^ 3, r!4 , R*5, R1^ and R^7 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, nitro, hydroxy, Cj to Cg alkyl, C^ to Cg haloalkyl, Cj to Cg hydroxyalkyl, C^ to Cg alkoxy, (Ci to Cg alkoxy)Ci to Cg alkoxy, amino, N-(C2 to Cg alkanoyl)amino, N-(C^ to Cg alkylsulfonyl) amino, sulfamoyl, ureido, benzyloxy, benzoyloxy, or two adjacent substituents are selected from the linking group buta-1,3-dienylene; and in formula Vila, R23 is hydrogen and R24 and R25 are independently selected from hydrogen and halogen.

Even more preferred values for Rl include groups of formulae Ilia, Vila, vllb and Villa wherein; m A 2088 39 in formula Villa, R^7 is selected from hydrogen and fluorine; in formula Vllb, r14f r15, r16 and R^7 are independently selected from the group consisting of 5 hydrogen, halogen, methyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxymethyl, methoxy, 1-(ethoxy)ethoxy, nitro, amino, acetamido, methanesulfonylamino, sulfamoyl, ureido, benzyloxy, benzoyloxy, or two adjacent substituents are selected from the linking group buta-1,3-dienylene; in formula Vila, r23 is hydrogen and R24 and R2^ are independently selected from hydrogen and halogen.

Specific examples of the compounds of formula I which may be prepared according to the process of ^ the present invention include both the (R)- and (S)- enantiomers of the compounds illustrated in Tables 1 and 2 below.

G a. > * ? \ J TABLE 1 O o ipo no 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 TABLE 2 ■OH 2 088 3 9 Substituents R13 r14 R15 R1_6 R!7 H H H H H H HO H H H H HO HO H H H HO H HO H H HOCH2 HO H H H CH2S02NH HO H H H H HO H H H2NCONH HO H H H H CI H2N CI H CI H H H H H CH3O HO CH3O H H H2NS02 CH3 H H H H N02 H H H CH3O H H H H H CH3O H H H H CF3 H H H -CH=CH-CH=CH- H H H CI H H H H CH3CO H H H H N02 H H H H a a H H H a H H H H H CI H H H H b H H H c c H H H d d H H H CH3O CH3O H H CH^ H H H H n> J w Code: a - C6H5CH2O b - CH3CONH c - C6H5COO d - CH3CH2OCH(CH3)o 5 One particularly preferred compound which may be made is high yield and high enantiomeric excess according to the process of the present invention is the (S)-isomer of compound No 1, that is (S)- a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol. 10 One particularly preferred group of compounds which may be made according to the process of the present invention are the (R)-isomers of compounds of formula I in which r! has the formula Vllb R14, R13 VIIb rl6 wherein; from one to three of the substituents R*3, R*4, r15, 20 r!6 and R^7 are selected from the group consisting of methoxy, methyl, halogen, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoro-methyl, acetyloxy and benzyloxy, or two adjacent substituents are selected from the linking group buta-1,3-dienylene; and 25 the remaining substituents are hydrogen.

In the preparation, according to the process of the present invention, of compounds of formula I in which R^ is a group of formula VII, VIII or IX wherein one or more of R^3, R^4, r1^, r16 or r17 is a 30 basic or acidic substituent, for example hydroxy or amino, or a substituent with a strong electronic effect, for example nitro or sulfamoyl, such substituents may adversely affect the rate and/or stereospecificity of the reaction. However, compounds of formula I 35 containing such substituents may be readily prepared according to the process of the present invention by ,/ masking or protecting such interferring substituents utilizing masking or protecting groups of the type well known in the art. The process of the present invention may be effected on the compound of formula 5 II having masking or protecting groups and the protecting groups removed from the product to afford the desired compound of formula I.

Suitable masking or protecting groups: for hydroxy include C2 to Cg carboxyl esters, benzoyl 10 and substituted benzoyl esters, C^ to Cg alkyl ethers, benzyl and substituted benzyl ethers, trialkylsilyl ethers, and acetals or ketals formed with C^ to Cg aldehydes or C3 to Cg ketones and Cj to Cg alcohols; for amino and N-(Ci to Cg alkyl)amino, include C2 to 15 Cg alkanoyl amides, benzoyl and substituted benzoyl amides, C^ to Cg alkyl sulfonyl amides, benzenesulfonyl and substituted benzenesulfonyl amides and trialkylsilyl amides; for carboxy include C^ to Cg alkyl esters and benzyl 20 and substituted benzyl esters; for nitro include amides, sulfonamides and silyl amides as indicated above for amino; for sulfamoyl, N-(C^ to Cg alkyl)sulfamoyl and N,N-di (Ci to Cg alkyl)sulfamoyl include thioethers which 25 may be oxidized and reacted with the appropriate amine; and for carbamoyl, N-(Ci to Cg alkyl)carbamoyl and N,N-di (C^ to Cg alkyl)carbamoyl, include esters, as indicated above for carboxy, which may be reacted with the appropriate amine.

It is to be understood that the process of the present invention includes within its scope the preparation of compounds of formula I having masked or protected substituents by reaction of corresponding compounds of formula II having masked or protected 35 substituents and release of the desired compound of formula I if desired by removal of the masking or © 2088 3 Q protecting group.

Suitable cyclic dipeptide enantiomers which may be used as catalysts in the process of the present invention include diketopiperazines of the formula R2B O XII N C ^ c r26hc chr27 y.- \ 7 ^ C N h » 0 R29 which may be prepared by coupling two a -amino acids of formula XIII and XIV wherein R2® and R29 are hydrogen or by coupling two a -amino acid derivatives of formula XIII and XIV wherein R28 and R29 are 10 substituents other than hydrogen.

R26CH(NHR28)COOH R27CH(NHR29)COOH XIII XIV Suitable amino acids include alanine, cysteine, histidine, homoserine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, norleucine, norvaline, ornithine, 15 phenylalanine, serine, thyronine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine and the N-alkyl, N-alkenyl and N-acyl derivatives thereof. Preferably one of the amino acids in the diketopiperazine of formula XII is chosen from histidine, tryptophan or a derivative thereof. Prefer-20 ably the other amino acid in the diketopiperazine of formula XII is one which has a large or bulky a -substituent. Examples of such amino acids include histidine, phenylalanine, thyronine, tyrosine, tryptophan and derivatives thereof.

Examples of diketo-piperazine derivatives include compounds of formula XII wherein R2® and R27 /' <§ i O 2088 39 are independently selected from phenyl, benzyl, 4-hydroxybenzyl, 4-benzyloxybenzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl, 4-phenyl, 4-methyl, 4-imidazolylmethyl and 3-indolyl-methyl, and r28 and r29 are independently selected 5 from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl and acyl. Such compounds include, for example: ( R)-3-benzyl-(R)-6-( 4-imidazolylmethyl )-2,5-piperazinedione (cyclic (R)-phenylalanyl-(R)-histidine; C.( R)-Phe-(R)-His); (S)-3-benzyl-(S)-6-( 4-imidazolylmethyl)-2,5-piperazinedione (cyclic (S)-10 phenylalanyl-(S)-histidine; C.(S)-Phe-(S)-His); (S)-3-benzyl-(R)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2,5-p iperazined ione (cyclic (S)-phenylalanyl-(R)-histidine; C.(S)-Phe-(R)-His); (R)-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-(R)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl )-2,5-piperazinedione (cyclic ( R) -tyrosyl-(R)-15 histidine; C. ( R)-Tyr-(R)-His); (R)-3-(4-benzyloxy-benzyl)-(R)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2,5-piperazine-dione (cyclic 0-benzyl-(R)-tyrosyl-(R)-histidine; C.O-BZ-(R)-Tyr-(R)—His); (R)—3—(4-methoxybenzyl) - (R) -6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2 ,5-piperazinedione (cyclic 0-20 methyl-(R)-tyrosyl-( R)-histidine; C.O-Me-(R)-Tyr-(R)-His); (R)-4-phenyl-(R)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl) - 2,5-piperazinedione (cyclic ( R) -phenylglycyl-(R)-histidine; C. ( R)-Phegly-(R)-His) ; (R)-4-methyl-(R)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2 ,5-piperazinedione (cyclic (R)-25 alanyl-(R)-histidine; C.(R)-Ala-(R)-His); (S),(S)-3,6-bis(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2 ,5-piperazinedione(cyclic (S)-histidyl-(S)-histidine; C.(S)-His-(S)-His); and (R),(R)-3,6-bis(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2,5-piperazinedione (cyclic (R)-histidyl-(R)-histidine; C.(R)-His-(R)-His). 30 Preferred cyclic dipeptide enantiomers for use in the process of the present invention include (R)-3-benzyl-(R)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2,5-piperazinedione (C.(R)-Phe-(R)-His) and (S)-3-benzyl-(S)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl )-2,5-piperazinedione (C.(S)-Phe-(S)-His). 35 Certain of the cyclic dipeptides which may be used as catalysts in the process of the present invention are novel compounds. For example, certain cyclic dipeptides in which (R)-histidine is one of the amino acid residues and which have been found to be particularly suitable for the preparation of the (S)-isomers of a -substituted- a -cyanomethyl alcohols according to the process of the present invention are novel compounds.

Accordingly in a further embodiment the invention provides a cyclic dipeptide enantiomer comprising (R)-histidine or a derivative thereof as one of the amino acid residues.

The cyclic dipeptide enantiomers of this embodiment of the present invention are diketopiperazines which may be depicted by the following formula XXXVI R28 0 N — C / CH2 —■chr27 V— 1/ xxxvi II I 0 R29 and which may be prepared by the coupling of the amino acid (R)-histidine, or a derivative thereof, of formula XXXVII Or (R) CH2-CH(NHR28)C00H XXXVII R55 and an amino acid, or a derivative thereof, of formula XXXVIII R27—CH(NHR28)COOH XXXVIII * 2088 Suitable (R)-histidines of formula II include (R)-histidine and the N-alkyl, N-alkenyl and N-acyl derivatives thereof. That is, for example, compounds of formula II wherein r28 and r55 are independently 5 selected from hydrogen, C} to Cg alkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl, C2 to Cg alkanoyl and benzoyl. Preferably the amino acid of formula II is (R)-histidine.

Suitable amino acids of formula III include alanine, cysteine, histidine, homoserine, isoleucine, 10 leucine, lysine, methionine, norleucine, norvaline, ornithine, phenylalanine, serine, thyronine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine and the N-alkyl, N-alkenyl and N-acyl derivatives thereof. Preferably the amino acid of formula III is one which has a large or bulky a -15 substituent. Such amino acids include, for example, histidine, phenylalanine, thyronine, tyrosine, tryptophan and derivatives thereof. Phenylalanine is a preferred amino acid of formula XXXVIII.

It is preferred that the amino acids comprising 20 the cyclic dipeptide enantiomer of this embodiment of the present invention have the same stereochemistry. Therefore, the preferred cyclic dipeptide enantiomers comprise (R)-histidine and another (R)-amino acid. A more preferred cyclic dipeptide enantiomer comprises 25 (R)-histidine and (R)-phenylalanine, that is, the compound of formula I in which r27 js benzyl, r28, R29 and R^5 are each hydrogen and the asymmetric centre alpha to r27 has the (R)-configuration.

The cyclic dipeptide enantiomers of formulae 30 XII and XXXVI may be prepared by standard methods known to those skilled in the art. For example, the cyclic dipeptide enantiomers of the invention may be made by classical solution synthesis by the coupling of suitably protected (R)-histidine with another 35 suitably protected amino acid. The cyclic dipeptide enantiomer (R)-3-benzyl-(R)-6(4-imidazolylmethyl) 2,5- & 7 ? e :-y piperazinedione may be prepared, for example, by coupling N-benzyloxycarbonyl-(R)-phenylalanine and (R)-histidine methyl ester in the presence of dicycl-hexylcarbodiimide and benzotriazole to give N-5 benzyloxycarbonyl-( R) -phenylalanyl-(R)-hist idine methyl ester, removal of the N-benzyloxycarbonyl protecting group by hydrogenation and cyclization.

The cyclic dipeptide enantiomers of formulae XII and XXXVI are, in general, crystalline solids and 10 if they are crystallized from a solvent comprising water and/or an alcohol they may be in the form of hydrates or alcoholates and/or they may contain water ^ or alcohol of crystallization. w In the process of the present invention the reaction between the aldehyde of formula II and hydrogen cyanide, in the presence of a cyclic dipeptide enantiomer catalyst, is preferably carried out in the presence of a solvent. The nature of the solvent is not narrowly critical but preferably it is a solvent 20 in which the aldehyde of formula II and hydrogen cyanide are soluble. The cyclic dipeptide enantiomer catalyst may be soluble in the solvent, homogeneous catalysis, insoluble in the solvent, heterogeneous catalysis, or adsorb the solvent swelling up to form 25 a gel. Preferred solvents include inert hydrocarbons, halocarbons and halohydrocarbons which are solvents for the aldehyde of formula II and hydrogen cyanide and which are adsorbed by the catalyst to give a gel. Preferred solvents include the aromatic hydrocarbons 30 such as, for example benzene, toluene and the xylenes.

One of the distinct advantages of the process of the present invention is that the cyclic dipeptide ^0 enantiomers of formulae XII and XXXVI may be recovered from the reaction mixture and reused. The cyclic 35 dipeptide enantiomers may be recovered by treating the reaction mixture, or the residue after removal of lfef: • 2088 the solvent from the reaction mixture, with a solvent, for example diethyl ether, in which the reaction product is soluble but in which the cyclic dipeptide enantiomer catalyst is insoluble. The catalyst may 5 then be recovered by filtration, recrystallised from water or an aqueous solvent, and dried.

The amount of the cyclic dipeptide enantiomer used as a catalyst in the process of the present invention is not narrowly critical but preferably 10 falls within the range of from 10~1 to 10"^ moles per mole of the aldehyde of formula II.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the degree —. of hydration in the cyclic dipeptide enantiomers of formulae XII and XXXVI is important to the effective-15 ness of the catalyst in the process of the present invention. Preferably the catalyst has a degree of hydration which enables it to swell in the solvent being used as reaction medium to form a gel. Catalysts which have too little or too much water of hydration 20 apparently fail to swell in the reaction medium and do not efficiently catalyse the asymmetric addition of hydrogen cyanide to the aldehydes of formula II. In practice, it has been found preferable if the catalyst contains between 0.5 and 1.5 moles, and more 25 preferably 1 mole, of water of hydration or crystallization per mole of cyclic dipeptide enantiomer.

Also surprisingly, it has been found that the cyclic dipeptide enantiomers of formulae XII and XXXVI improve in stereospecificity of addition of 30 hydrogen cyanide to aldehydes of formula II after their first use. Therefore preferably, the cyclic dipeptide enantiomers of formula XII and XXXVI have first been used, recovered, recrystallized and dried to the preferred hydration level before use in the 35 process of the present invention to prepare a -substituted- a -cyanomethyl alcohol enantiomers of u 7-' f :> ft formula I.

In the process of the present invention the reaction between the aldehyde of formula II and hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a cyclic dipeptide 5 enantiomer catalyst is carried out at a temperature below ambient temperature in order to obtain the desired stereospecificity of addition. Preferably the temperature is below 10°C and more preferably at or below 0°C.

The reaction time required for the process of 10 the present invention depends to a large extent on the specific aldehyde of formula II, the specific catalyst and the solvent used. However, in general a —~ reaction time of between 1 and 100 hours is suitable and a reaction time of between 10 and 30 hours is pre-15 ferred.

In the process of the present invention it has been found that cyclic dipeptide enantiomers made from (R)-amino acids catalyse the formation of (S)-a -substituted- a -cyanomethyl alcohol derivatives 20 when the cyano group has a higher priority (according to the Cahn-lngold-Prelog Rules c.f. R S Cahn, C K Ingold and V Prelog Angew Chem Int Ed (1966) 5^, 385 or Comprehensive Organic Chemistry Vol 1 pp 16-18, Ed. Barton & Ollis, Pergamon Press 1979, ISBN O-08-25 021313-8) than the a -substitutent or conversely the stereochemically equivalent (R)-configuration when the cyano group has a lower priority than the a -substituent. Conversely, it has been found that the cyclic dipeptide enantiomers made from (S)-amino 30 acids catalyse the formation of (R)- a -substituted-a -cyanomethyl alcohol derivatives when the cyano group has higher Cahn-lngold-Prelog priority than the a -substituent or conversely the stereochemically equivalent (S)-configuration when the cyano group has 35 a lower priority than the a -substituent. Therefore, the process of the present invention is eminently suitable for the preparation of either (R)- or (S)— 1' '■ A.. v - 22 ~ a -substituted- a -cyanomethyl alcohol derivatives of formula I.

Certain of the compounds of formula I prepared according to the process of the present invention are novel compounds. Therefore, in yet a further embodiment the invention provides a compound of formula I wherein Rl is a group of formula Vllb wherein R*3 , R^4f r15, r!6 and R*7 are as hereinbefore defined with the proviso that at least one of R^3, r^-4, rl^f r16 ancj r!7 is a substituent other than hydrogen.

Certain of the compounds of formula I are useful intermediates for the preparation of a range of pyrethroid pesticides of formula XV 0 CN » » j-c-o-ch-ri xv o It wherein J-C-0 is a pyrethrin acid moiety or a pyrethroid acid moiety.

Suitable J include groups of the formulae: w v-c- * R33 \ -\ c ch c—ch— G *32/ V y V \31 \31 xvi xvii xviii q —c / \ X h0c c 2 \„31 XIX 7 Or 208839 wherein: V represents a substituted aromatic group or an unsaturated alicyclic group or an alkenyl group or an arylaniino group and is selected from the group consisting of the formulae .35 r36 .37 .35 xx XXI xxii ,37 .38 xxiii (ch xxiv Q ~39 xxv .42 R41 i \ / c — c / \ xxvi .40 xxvii o ^ a J w wherein: r35 and R3*> are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, Cj to Cg alkyl, C^ to Cg haloalkyl, (C} to Cg alkoxy)Ci to Cg alkyl, C2 to Cg 5 alkenyl, C2 to Cg haloalkenyl, C2 to Cg alkynyl, C2 to Cg haloalkynyl, C^ to Cg alkoxy, C^ to Cg alkylthio, Ci to Cg alkylsulfinyl, acyl, acyloxy, (C^ to Cg -n alkoxy)carbonyl, (C2 to Cg alkenyloxy)carbonyl, (C2 ' "5c or to Cg alkynyloxy)carbonyl, or RJJ and R may jointly 10 form a methylenedioxy, tetramethylene or trimethylene group; R37 and R38 are independently selected from hydrogen, — halogen, cyano, nitro, Ci to Cg alkyl, C^ to Cg ^ haloalkyl, (C^ to Cg alkoxy)Cj to Cg alkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl, C2 to Cg haloalkenyl, C2 to Cg alkynyl, C2 to Cg haloalkynyl, C^ to Cg alkoxy, C^ to Cg alkylthio, Ci to Cg alkylsulfinyl, acyl, acyloxy, (C^ to Cg alkoxy)carbonyl, (C2 to Cg alkenyloxy)carbonyl, and (C2 to Cg alkynyloxy)carbonyl; T is selected from oxygen and sulfur; R39 is selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro and Ci to Cg alkyl; m and n are independently selected from the integers 1 to 3; the dotted line in formula XXV represents a double bond present at a position either conjugated with or non-conjugated with the ketone group (C=0); r40, r4 1 an(j r42 are independently selected from hydrogen, Cj to Cg alkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl, C2 to Cg 30 alkynyl, halogen, acyl and acyloxy; R^3 is selected from hydrogen and C^ to C^ alkyl; W is selected from Cj to Cg alkyl, C^ to Cg haloalkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl, C2 to Cg haloalkenyl, C2 to Cg alkynyl, C2 to Cg haloalkynyl, Ci to Cg alkoxy, cyano 35 and C3 to C7 cycloalkyl; G is selected from hydrogen and fluorine; 0 2088 3 Y is selected from the groups r45r46c=cr44_ and r45r46r48c-cr44r47_ wherein: is selected from hydrogen and to Cg alkyl; is selected from hydrogen, halogen, Cj to Cg 5 alkyl and Cj to Cg haloalkyl; is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C^ to Cg alkyl, Ci to Cg haloalkyl, (C^ to Cg alkoxy)Ci to Cg alkyl, (C2 to Cg alkenyloxy )C^ to Cg alkyl, (C2 to Cg alkynyloxy)Cj to Cg alkyl, (C^ to Cg alkoxy)carbonyl, 10 acyl, phenyl, phenyl substituted by halogen, nitro, cyano, C^ to Cg alkyl, Cj to Cg haloalkyl, C^ to Cg alkoxy or C^ to Cg haloalkoxy, a substituent of the formula r50r51c=Cr49- wherein r49, r50 and R^l are individually selected from hydrogen and C^ to Cg 15 alkyl, and a substituent of the formula r52on=CH- wherein R is selected from hydrogen, C^ to Cg alkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl and C2 to Cg alkynyl; or r45 and r46 jointly form a cyclic group of formula xxviii xxviii wherein U is selected from the group -CH2-, 0 0 0 0 " M »f || -0-C-, -S-C-, -NH-C-, -C- and p is an integer selected from 2 to 5; and r47 and r48 are independently selected from hydrogen 25 and halogen; if-V, . ^ {• ? >< *«. f *•> -v > . 26 - r32 is selected from hydrogen and Cj to Cg alkyl; r30 and R^l are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen and C^ to Cg alkyl or R3^ and R3* jointly form an ethylene, trimethylene, tetramethylene or pentamethylene bridging group; R33 and R3^ are independently selected from hydrogen, Ci to Cg alkyl, halogen, phenyl, phenyl substituted by halogen, nitro, cyano, C^ to Cg alkyl, C^ to Cg haloalkyl or C^ to Cg alkoxy, or R33 and R^ jointly form a bridging group selected from ethylene, trimethylene, tetramethylene, pentamethylene and groups of the formulae 0 c XXIX XXX XXXII XXXIII m e Q is selected from to Cg alkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl, C2 to Cg alkynyl and the group wherein: C Q R is selected from hydrogen, C^ to C3 alkoxy, C^ to C3 alkylthio, C^ to C2 alkyl, nitro, fluoro, chloro, bromo and amino; R54 is selected from hydrogen and methyl; or r53 and R^4 jointly form a methylenedioxy bridging 10 group.

Examples of specific groups of formula J include those groups illustrated in Table 3 below: _ 28 _ table 3 > 2 0 88 3 9 - 29 ~ TABLE 3 - continued TABLE 3 - continued h,C ch / \ (ch3)2c=ch-ch ch- ch3 ch3 V / \ h5c2-ch=ch-ch ch- h - c ch / \ Br2c=ch-ch ch- f3c h.c ch, 3 \ / 3 c \ / \ c=ch—ch ch- / Br H^C CH, c1f-c 2\ C X \ c=ch-ch ch- h3C ch ch \ / 3 \ c=ch-ch ch- / / W2 :%^H2 c12c=ch-ch ch- h3c0-c=0 h ^c ch. 3 \/ 3 c12c=ch-ch ch- F3C CI h -,c ch- 3 \ / 3 v c c=ch-ch ch- h3c ch3 F3CV V \ / \ c=ch-ch ch- F3c/ c2h5 °-o h2c c-cl \ CI CI CI H C \/ \/ \ ^c ch- h3c © - 31 " 208839 TABLE 3 - continued 4) h-c ch ~ 3 \ / 3 / \ c ch- // c h.c ch, \/ ych< ch- JZH ch (ch3}2 c (ch3) / .ch ch- h3c ch o ch, X / 3 \ /\ ^c=ch-ch ch- ch tl n I O ch. ch- c12c=ch-ch ch X \ ch- C/*JSH2 ch s / \ cho2 f ch- c/2-£H2 ch., ch, ;< h / 2| jc=ch C^dH2 ch ch- 2 0 88 ~ 32 ~ Pyrethroids of formula XV may be prepared from the compounds of formula I by esterification.

Accordingly in a further aspect, the invention provides a process for the preparation of a compound of formula XV which process comprises the esterification of an a -substituted- a -cyanomethyl alcohol enantiomer of formula I prepared as hereinbefore described, or a derivative thereof, with a pyrethrin acid or pyrethroid acid of formula XXXV 0 J-C-OH XXXV wherein J is as hereinbefore defined, or a derivative thereof.

Preferably the a -substituted- a -cyanomethyl alcohol enantiomer of formula I prepared as hereinbefore described is selected from the group consisting of the enantiomers of: a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol, a -cyano-4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol, 3-(2,2-dichlorovinyloxy)- a -cyanobenzyl alcohol, a -cyano-pentafluorobenzyl alcohol, a -cyano- a -(6-phenoxypyrid-2-yl)methyl alcohol and o -cyano- a -(5-benzyIfur-2-yl)methyl alcohol, that is compounds no 1, 2, 4, 5, 3 and 6 respectively.

The esterification may involve the reaction of a pyrethrin acid, pyrethroid acid or derivative thereof, such as the corresponding acid halide, with an a -substituted- a -cyanomethyl alcohol enantiomer, with retention of configuration of the pyrethroid alcohol enantiomer, for example as shown below 2088 39 o CN O CN ii J-C-Z + R1—CH-OH J-C-O-CH-R1 + HZ (S) (S) Alternatively, the esterification may involve the reaction of a pyrethrin acid, pyrethroid acid or derivative thereof, such as the corresponding alkali metal salt, with an a -substituted- a -cyanomethyl alcohol derivative, for example a tosyl, mesyl or benzenesulfonyl derivative, with inversion of configuration of the pyrethroid alcohol enantiomer, for example as shown below O CN 0 CN " , , • hi, J-C-CTM+ + RlCH-L J-C-O-CH-R1 + M+L~ (R) (S) Specific examples of pyrethroids of formula XV which may be prepared from a -substituted- a -cyanomethyl alcohols of formula I prepared according to the process of the present invention include those compounds illustrated in Table 4 below. table 4 ci-hO— ch -3 ch \ / ch CN h3c ch-co2-ch ch. ch30 \ / ch cn " ^ ch-c02-ch 6 * ch3 ch3 cn cl2c=ch-ch^- ch-co2-ch CN ch3 ch3 / \ ci ch ch-co--ch \ / c=c / \ cf, h (ch3)2c=ch-ch ch, ch. ^ / 3 c cn ch-co2-ch <f \ 208839 - 35 -TABLE 4 - continued H_C CH, 3 \ / 3 H-.C N/ 3 \ /cn / ch-co2-ch h3c H-C CH, 3 3 C12C=CH-CH c ^ \ cn ch-c02-ch 0-CH=CCl.

H,C CH \ / 3 ci /f W CH cn ch-co^-ch . . ^ // v 0- ch2 h3c ci2c=ch-ch ch0 \ X 3 c ' \ ch-c02-ch ^5^ 4^ 2088 - 36 ~ TABLE 4 - continued O o ci H,C CH _ 3 \ / 3 ( \ ch cn ch-co -CH-ZIQ »» o H3C CH. ci2c=ch-ch / \ ch-co ci- ?2h5 c-co--ch i ^ i f cn °-^o h,c vch- 3 \ / 3 ci- h-.c ch, 3 \ / 3 ch c-c00-ch « ^ i ci y.ce3 . . r) - 37 ~ TABLE 4 - continued H,C CH , 3 \ / F P /c\ jhL C1-C=CH-CH CH-CO--CH (' x) F - K F F H ,C CH, 3 V 3 / \ C12C=CH-CH CH-C02-CH CN ^-\ -ch-q—0-^q h ,c ch, 3V 3 / \ CN Br2C=CH-CH CH-C02-CH // \ ch\ /ch3 ^ch cn . vjn v_in , f2cho—^ y— ch-co2-ch——o —\_y H C CH 3 xx 3 C BrCl2C-CHBr-CH X \ CH-C02- ch t ci * 3 ch.

F,C- s/ • J CH Jf \ KH-CH-COp-Cr CN CH- °-0 Certain of the compounds of formula I are useful intermediates for the preparation of arylethanolamine enantiomers of formula XXXIX oh R1-CH-CH2-NR56R57 XXXIX * wherein: one of r56 and r^7 is selected from hydrogen and the other is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C^ to Cg alkyl and substituted Cj to Cg alkyl, or R56 and R57 together form a C4 to Cg alkylene linking group.

Among the preferred arylethanolamine enantiomers of formula XXXIX are those prepared from the novel compounds of formula I in which R^ is a group of formula Vllb wherein R*3, rl4f rIS, r16 and R^7 are as hereinbefore defined with the proviso that at least one of R^3, r!4, R^^, R^ and R^7 is a substituent other than hydrogen.

Examples of suitable values for R5^ and R^7 include: hydrogen; Cj to Cg alkyl, and in particular, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl and tertiary butyl; and Ci to Cg substituted with phenyl and phenyl substituted . V. vrr-*---; ■■.| .. - 38 ~ TABLE 4 - continued O o "038 39 39 U5 with methyl, methoxy or hydroxy, with benzo-1,3-dioxanyl, or with octahydrodimethyldioxopurinyl, and in particular, 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-yl, 2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)ethyl, l-(benzo-l,3-dioxan-5-yl)-prop-5 2-yl, 1-(benzo-1,3-dioxan-5-yl)but-3-yl and 3 —[3 — (1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9-octahydro-7,9-dimethyl-2,8-dioxopurinyl )propyl] ; or r56 and R^7 together form a c4 to Cg alkylene linking group, and in particular, pentamethylene.

Arylethanolamine enantiomers of formula XXXIX may be prepared from the compounds of formula I by reduction and, optionally, N-alkylation. Accordingly in a still further embodiment the invention provides a process for the preparation of a compound of formula 15 XXXIX which process comprises the reduction of the nitrile group of an a -substituted- a -cyanomethyl alcohol enantiomer of formula I and, optionally, N-alkylation. group may be reduced directly to an amino group and the amino group directly alkylated or reacted with an aldehyde or a ketone to form an imine and the imine either reduced or alkylated as required to give a compound of formula XXXIX in which R^7 is hydrogen, 25 as shown below wherein R^L an alkylating agent and r58r59c=q is an alkyl aldehyde or a dialkyl ketone.

In the above process, the nitrile or cyano Step 1 oh Reduction oh i R1-CH-CH2-NH2 i R1—CH-CN (a) * V Step 2 i) oh i r1-ch-ch2-nh2 + r56l Alkylatior^ (b) oh i r1-ch-ch2-nhr56 oh * Imine formation^ ii) R1-CH-CH2-NH2 + R58R59CO (c) oh i R1-CH-CH2-N=CR58R59 ?H Reduction 0H r1-CH-CH2-N=CR58R59 (d) R1-CH-CH2-NHR56 * * . Alkylation °H iii) R1-CH-CH2-N=CR58R59 (e) R1-C-CH2-NHR56 * * The reduction of the nitrile group to an amino group shown in step 1 (reaction a) above and the reduction of the imine group to an amino group shown in Step 2 ii) (reaction d) above may be carried out using any of the procedures known in the art for the reduction of nitrile groups to amino groups and which will not racemize the chiral centre. Suitable reducing agents may be selected from sodium borohydrate z -■■-j <0 optionally complexed with cobalt chloride, borane-tetrahydrofuran complex, lithium aluminium hydride, borane - dimethyl sulfide complex, sulfurated sodium borohydride, aluminium hydride in tetrahydrofuran, 5 noble metal catalyst such as platinum or palladium optionally supported on carbon and Raney nickel.

The alkylation of the amino group shown in Step 2 i) (reaction b) may be carried out using any of the procedures known in the art for the N-alkylation 10 of amines and which will not raceraize the chiral centre. Suitable alkylating agents may be selected from compounds of formula R^l in which L is a leaving group such as, for example, chloro, bromo or iodo.

The formation of the imine shown in Step 2 ii) 15 (reaction c) may be carried out using any of the procedures known in the art for the condensation of aldehydes or ketones with primary amines to form imines and which will not racemize the chiral centre. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art 20 that the imine formation shown in Step 2 ii) (reaction c) and reduction shown in Step 2 ii) (reaction d) may be combined in a one step reductive alkylation process.

The alkylation of the imine shown in Step 2 iii) (reaction e) may be carried out using any of the 25 procedures known in the art for the alkylation of imines and which will not racemize the chiral centre. Suitable alkylating agents may be chosen from alkyl Grignard reagents, alkyl cuprates and metal alkyls such as lithium alkyls, sodium alkyls and potassium 30 alkyls.

In an alternative to reactions described above, the above process may be effected by reacting the nitrile or cyano group with an alcohol under Ritter reaction conditions known in the art to give an N-35 alkyl amide. The N-alkyl amide may then be reduced directly or converted to a thioamide and the thioamide to give a compound of formula XXXIX in which r57 is hydrogen, as shown below.

OH oh • Ritter reaction^ , R1—C-CN + r56qH (f) Ri-C-C-NHR56 OH OH , Reduction^, , R1-C-C-NHR56 (g) R1-C-CH,-NHR56 * " * o Specific examples of arylethanolamine enantiomers of formula XXXIX which may be prepared from a -substituted- a -cyanomethyl alcohol enantioners of formula I prepared according to the process of the present invention include those compounds illustrated in Table 5 below. o TABLE 5 2088 Substituents r13 r14 rls r16 r56 r" H HO H H H H H HO H H CH3 H H HO H H c2h5 H H HO HO H H H H HO HO H CH3 H H HO HO H c2h5 H H HO HO H CH(CH3)2 H H HO HO H -CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2- H HO HO H a H H HO H HO -CH(CH3)2 H H HO H HO -C(CH3)3 H H HO H HO b H H HO H HO c H H HOCH2 HO H -C(CH3)3 H H ch3so2nh HO H -CH(CH3)2 H H H HO H H H H H HO H CH3 H H H HO h - (CH2)3ch3 H h2nconh HO H H -C(CH3)3 H H ci h2n ci -C(CH3)3 H CI H H H -CH(CH3)2 H H ch3o HO ch3o -ch3 H o H H2NS02 h3c H d H H H NO2 H -CH(CH3)2 H H -CH=CH- -CH=CH- H -CH(CH^)o H Code: - 44 ~ a - -CH (CH3) CH2 —/7~% o b - -CH(CH3)CH2 / V 0H o c - H3C-n n-CH3 d - -CH2CH2CH2— N y -ch2ch2o—^ ^ ch3o 7 Certain of the arylethanolamine enantiomers of formula XXXIX are believed to be novel compounds per se. Accordingly in further aspects the invention provides novel enantiomers of formula XXXIX prepared from enantiomers of formula I prepared according to the process of the present invention.

G - 46 - co /*■ - - ■ ^ ^ i }> The invention is now illustrated by, but in no way limited to, the following Examples.

Example 1 Preparation of (R)-3-Benzyl-(R)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl) 2,5-piperazinedione (i) (R)-phenylalanine (9.24 g; 0.056 mol) was dissolved in aqueous sodium hydroxide (28 cm3 of 2 M) and the solution was cooled to °C. Benzylchloroformate (8.8 cm3); 0.06 mol) and aqueous sodium hydroxide (15.3 cm3) were simultaneously added dropwise to the stirred solution over a period of 1 hour. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2.5 hours and then extracted with diethyl ether (100 cm3). The aqueous layer was separated and the pH adjusted to 2.0 by the dropwise addition of aqueous 2 M sulfuric acid. The acidified aqueous solution was extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x50 cm3) and the combined organic extracts were dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent evaporated. The solid residue was recrystallised from an ethyl acetate/hexane solvent mixture to give N-benzyloxycarbonyl-(R)-phenylalanine (14.09 g; 84%) as a crystalline solid mp 86-87° ([ a ]d= -60.4°; C=0.00562 g/cm3; CHCI3) . (ii) (R)-Histidine monohydrochloride monohydrate (5 g; 23.8 mmol) was suspended in methanol (150 cm3) and hydrogen chloride gas was bubbled through the stirred suspension over a period of 2 hours. The solution was heated under reflux for a period of one hour and then diethyl ether (150 cm3) was added to the I 2088 3 solution. The precipitated solid was collected by filtration, washed with diethyl ether and dried to give (R)-histidine methyl ester dihydrochloride (5.6 g; 97%) as a solid mp 208-210°C 5 (t a ]D= -7°; C=0.0025 g/cm3; H20. (iii) A mixture of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-(R)-phenyl- alanine (2.67 g; 8.96 mmol), dicyclohexylcarbo-diimide (1.84 g; 8.93 mmole), 1-hydroxybenzo-triazole (1.20 g; 8.9 mmol) and acetonitrile 10 (60 cm3) was stirred at a temperature of 0°C for a period of one hour. Triethylamine (1.8 g; 2.5 cm3; 18 mmole) was added to a suspension of (R)-histidine methyl ester dihydrochloride (2.17 g; 9 mmol) in acetonitrile (50 cm3) and 15 the suspension was stirred for a period of three hours at room temperature. The (R)-histidine methyl ester mixture was added to the N-benzyloxycarbonyl-(R)-phenylalanine mixture and the resultant mixture was stirred at 20 room temperature for a period of four hours.

The precipitated solid was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in chloroform (70 cm3) and the solution was washed with saturated 25 aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (40 cm3) and then with water (40 cm3). The organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent evaporated. The residue was recrystallized from a dichloromethane/petroleum 30 ether (bp 40-60°C) solvent mixture to give N- benzyloxycarbonyl-(R)-phenylalanyl-(R)-histidine methyl ester (3.0 g; 74%) as a crystalline solid mp 114-116°C ([ a ]d= + 12.7° c=0.0024 g/cm3 ; CHCl-j ) . w (iv) N-Benzyloxycarbonyl-(R)-phenylalanyl-(R)- histidine methyl ester (2.95 g; 6.55 mmol) was Ii <e» ,r\ dissolved in methanol (60 cm3), palladium - black catalyst (200 mg) was added and the solution was hydrogenated for a period of 6 hours. The catalyst was removed by filtration and the 5 methanolic filtrate was heated under reflux for a period of 2 days. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was recrystallized from water to give (R)-3-benzyl-( R)-6-(4-imidaz olylmethyl)-2,5-piperazinedione (1.12 g; 60%) 10 as a crystalline solid mp 259-263° (decomp.) (I a ]D= + 74.7°; C=0.0174 g/cm3; CH-jCOOH) .

Example 2 Preparation of (R)-3-Benzyl-(R)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)- 2,5-piperazinedione (i) (R)-Phenylalanine (1.65 g; 10 mmol) was dissolved in aqueous sodium hydroxide (5 cm3; 10 mmol of 2 M) and the solution was cooled to 0°C in an ice-bath. Benzyloxycarbonyl chloride (1.9 g; 11 mmol) and aqueous sodium hydroxide 20 (6 cm3; 12 mmol of 2 M) were simultaneously added to the stirred solution over a period of 15 minutes. The mixture was stirred at 0°C for a period of one hour and then at room temperature for a period of 2.5 hours. The 25 mixture was extracted with diethyl ether and the aqueous layer was separated and adjusted to pH 2.0 by the dropwise addition of concenrtrated hydrochloric acid. The acidified aqueous mixture was extracted with chloroform 30 and the organic extract was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent evaporated. The solid residue was recrystallized from a chloroform/petroleum ether solvent mixture to - 49 " ft give N-benzyloxycarbonyl-( R)-phenylalanine (2.69 g; 90% as a crystalline solid mp 87-89°C ([ a ]D= -5.0 C=0.01428 g/cm3; C2H5OH). (ii) A solution of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (2.1 g; 5 10 mmol) in ethyl acetate (10 cm3) was added dropwise to a stirred ice-cold mixture of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-(R)-phenylalanine (3.0 g; 10 mmol), 4-nitrophenol (1.7 g; 12 mmol) and ethyl acetate (30 cm3). The mixture was ^ 10 stirred at a temperature of 0°C for a period of 30 minutes and then at room temperature for a period of 2.5 hours. The precipitated solid was filtered off and the filtrate was concentrated to give a crystalline product which was 15 recrystallized from ethanol to give N- benzyloxycarbonyl-(R)-phenylalanine 4-nitrophenyl ester (1.91 g; 45% as a white solid mp 120-123°C (/ a /D= + 8.0; c=0.01627 g/cm3; CHC13). (iii) A mixture of (R)-histidine monohydrochloride 20 monohydrate (4.97 g; 24 mmole) and methanol (50 cm3) was stirred and heated under reflux for a period of one hour while dry hydrogen chloride gas was bubbled through the mixture. The mixture was then cooled in ice and the 25 crystalline product was collected by filtration, washed with diethyl ether and dried to give (R)-histidine methyl ester dihydrochloride (5.35 g; 93%) as a solid mp 208°C (decomp) ([ a ]D= -9.6; C=0.01114 g/cm3 H20). 30 (iv) (R)-Histidine methyl ester dihydrochloride (0.97 g; 4 mmol) was suspended in a mixture of acetonitrile (10 ml) and triethylamine (1.12 ml; 8 mmol) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for a period of 5 hours. A q suspension of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-(R)-phenyl alanine 4-nitrophenyl ester (1.68 g; 4 mmol) O \ 1 in acetonitrile (10 ml) was added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for a period of 2 days. The solvent was evaporated and the solid was washed with diethyl ether 5 and then dissolved in chloroform and the chloro form solution was washed twice with aqueous 10% ammonium hydroxide solution and then twice with water and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated and the 10 residue was recrystallised from a dichloro- methane/petroleum ether solvent mixture to give N-benzyloxycarbonyl-(R)-phenylalanyl-(R)-histidine methyl ester (1.27 g; 71%) as a crystalline solid mp 113-116°C ([ a Jd= -13.2; 15 C=0.00624 g/cm3; MeOH). (v) N-Benzyloxycarbonyl-(R)-phenylalanyl-(R)- histidine methyl ester (1.2 g; 2.7 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (50 cm3), freshly prepared palladium - black catalyst (300 mg) 20 was added and the mixture was hydrogenated for a period of 7 hours. The catalyst was removed by filtration and the filtrate was heated under reflux for a period of 66 hours. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was 25 recrystallized from water and the product dried overnight over phosphorus pentoxide to give (R)-3-benzyl-(R)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2,5-piperazinedione (0.72 g; 96%) as a crystalline solid mp 276-278°C ([ a ]d= + ^ 30 72.4; C=0.003 g/cm3; CH-jCOOH) .

Q Examples 3 to 9 The cyclic dipeptide enantiomers described in Table 6 below were prepared following essentially the same procedure as the described in Example 1 or Example 2 1 I 2088 3 9 above.

TABLE 6 H N - C ^ T-<i C- N H Example No R [ a Id in ch3cooh (Cone, in g/cm^) mp °C 3 c6h5ch2 + 35° 230-232 (0.0092) (decomp) 4 4-hoc5h4ch2 +48° 268-270 (0.0081) 4-c6h5ch2oc6h4ch2 +59° 192-195 (0.016) 6 4-ch3oc6h4ch2 +85° 238-240 (0.0014) 7* 3-fc6h4ch2 +55° 270-285 (0.0026) 8 C6H5 + 31° 265-270 (0.008) (decomp) 9 ch3 + 38° 249-250 (0.014) * (R,S)-3-fluorophenylalanyl-(R)-histidine ^ ■ j A. ■fife I €9) , o " 2088 3 Example 10 Preparation of (R)- g -Cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl Alcohol A mixture of (S)-3-benzyl-(S)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl )-2,5-piperazinedione (0.06 g; 0.2 mmole) and 5 benzene (4.0 cm^) was cooled under nitrogen in an ice bath. 3-Phenoxybenzaldehyde (2.0 ml; 12 mmole) and then hydrogen cyanide (0.8 cm^; 20 mmole) were rapidly i f added to the cooled, stirred mixture. The mixture A was stirred for 19 hours by which time it had become ! 10 clear. n ! The excess hydrogen cyanide and the benzene >;J were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure to >{ give an oil. Diethyl ether (20 cm-5) was added to the oil and the precipitated (S)-3-benzyl-(S)-6-(4-imidaz-15 olylmethyl)-2,5-piperazinedione was collected by filtration and washed thoroughly with diethyl ether (20 cm^). The combined filtrate and washings were concentrated under reduced pressure to remove the solvent and give a pale yellow oil.

The oil was analysed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and found to contain 83 mole percent a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol and 17 mole percent unreacted 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde. The optical rotation of the mixture ([ a ]34 = + i2.0; 3.54 g/dl; 25 benzene), which, based on the optical rotation of (S)- a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol * ([ a = 16.5; 0.008 g/cm^; benzene), after correction for the mole fraction of a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol in the product mixture, indicates that (R)- a -cyano-3-30 phenoxybenzyl alcohol had been formed in 73% enantiomeric excess.

Q * Reported in United Kingdom Patent Application No 2 013 670A tc 9) . \j > Example 11 Preparation of (R)- a -Cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl Alcohol The procedure described in Example 1 was repeated using a reaction time of 26 hours.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis of the product showed a 71 mole percent conversion and the optical rotation of the product ([ a ]= + 11.7; 0.0342 g/cm3; benzene) showed, after correction, that (R)- a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol had been formed in 71% enantiomeric excess.

Example 12 Preparation of (R)- g -Cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl Alcohol The (S)-3-benzyl-(S)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2,5-piperazinedione collected by filtration from the 15 reactions described in Examples 1 and 2 was recrystallized from water and partially dried under vacuum until crusty and granular.

The procedure described in Example 1 was repeated using (S)-3-benzyl-(S)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-20 2,5-piperazinedione recovered as described above and a reaction time of 16 hours.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis of the product showed an 86 mole% conversion and the optical rotation of the product ([ a ]= + 25 12.0; 0.02966 g/cm^; benzene) showed, after correction, that (R)- a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol had been formed in 75% enantiomeric excess.

Q Example 13 Preparation of (R)- a -Cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl Alcohol The procedure described in Example 1 was repeated using (S)-3-benzyl-(S)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-5 2,5-piperazinedione recovered as described in Example 3, toluene as solvent, a reaction temperature of -10°C and a reaction time of 17.5 hours.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis of the product showed an 88 mole % conversion 10 and the optical rotation of the product ([ a ]D^4 = + 16.4; 3.593 g/dl; benzene) showed, after correction, that (R)- a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol had been formed in 99% enantiomeric excess.

Example 14 Preparation of (S)- a -Cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl Alcohol A mixture of freshly prepared (R)-3-benzyl-(R)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2,5-piperazinedione (0.64 g; 2.1 mmol) and toluene (40 ml) was cooled under nitrogen to a temperature of -10°C. 3-Phenoxybenzaldehyde 20 (2.1 cm3; 126 mmol) and then hydrogen cyanide (6 cm^• 150 mmol) were rapidly added to the cooled, stirred mixture. The mixture was stirred for 18.5 hours at -10°C by which time it had become clear.

The excess hydrogen cyanide and the benzene 25 were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure to give an oil. Diethyl ether (50 cm3) was added to the oil and the precipitated (R)-3-benzyl-(R)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2,5-piperazinedione was collected ^ by filtration and washed thoroughly with diethyl ether (50 cm3). The combined filtrate and washings were concentrated under reduced pressure to remove the - 55 ~ 2 0«B 7 9 solvent and give a pale yellow oil.

The oil was analysed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and found to contain 93 mole percent a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol and 7 mole 5 percent unreacted 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde. The optical rotation of the mixture ([ a 1 = 11.6°; 6.921 kg/m3; benzene), which, based on the optical rotation of (S)- o -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol * ([ a ] = -16.5; 0.008 g/cm^; benzene), after correction for the ^ 10 mole fraction of o -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol in the product mixture, indicated that (S)- a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol had been formed in 70% enantiomeric excess.

* Reported in United Kingdom Patent Application No 15 2 013 67OA Examples 15 to 17 The procedure described in Example 14 above was repeated using recovered and recrystallised (see Example 12) (R)-3-benzyl-(R)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2,5-piperazine-20 dione and the results are reported in Table 7 below.

TABLE 7 O Example Reaction Yield [ a Jd (cone. Enantiomeric No Time % in g/cm^ Excess hours solvent) 19 84 -16.5 100a (0.0354/ C6H6) 16 19 84 -17.9 108a (0.0362/C6H6) 90b TABLE 7 - continued ~r — /£■- '.vj 16 17 19 16 84 -23.4 (0.0159/CC14) 89 -26.1 ( 0.0192/CCl^) 89c 99i 89c Code: a - Enantiomeric excess based on the optical rotation reported in United Kingdom Patent Application 2 013 67OA. b - Enantiomer excess based on the optical rotation reported in Tetrahedron Letters ( 1984 ), 2b_, 591. c - Calculated by converting the product alcohol into a pair of diastereo-isomers by ester ification with 10 an optically active acid of known optical purity, measuring the proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of the product and integrating the benzylic proton (ie the proton at the chiral centre) which has a different chemical shift for the two 15 different diastereo-isomers.

Example 18 Preparation of (S)- a -Cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (IR/S-cis-3-(2-2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-l-enyl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropanecarboxylate (IR/S, 2R/S; 1 g *S-cyhalothrin) o A solution of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (0.13 g; 0.6 mmole) in dichloromethane (2 cm^) was added to a stirred solution of (IR/S)-cis-3-(Z-2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-l-enyl)-2,2-dimethyIcyclopropane-carboxylie acid (0.145 g; 0.6 mmole) and (S)- a -cyano-3-phenoxy-25 benzyl alcohol (0.12 gj 0.5 mmole) in dry dichloro- i 2088 3 9 methane (3 cm^). The mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature, the dicyclohexylurea was filtered off and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was flash chromatographed over 5 silica gel (eluant benzene) and the first 40 cm3 of eluant was collected and the solvent removed by crystallization under reduced pressure to give IR/S, 3R/S; 1 a *S-cyhalothrin 0.24 g as a golden oil. Optical rotation and/or proton nuclear magnetic 10 resonance data is reported in Table 8 below.

Examples 19 to 24 The following pyrethroids were prepared from the corresponding pyrethroid acid and (S)- a cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol following essentially the same 15 procedure as that described in Example 18.

Example 19 - (S)- a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (1R)-cis-3-( Z-2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-l-enyl)-2,2-dimethyl-carboxylate (1R, 3R/S; 1 a *S-cyhalothrin).

Example 20 - (S)- a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (1R)-cis-3-20 ( 2,2-dibromoethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate (deltamethrin).

Example 21 - (S)- a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (IR/S)-cis-3-(2,20dichloroethenyl)-2 ,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate (IR/S; 1 a *S-cis-cypermethrin).

Example 22 - (S)- a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (IR/S)-trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2 ,2-dimethylcyclopropane-carboxylate (IR/S; 1 a *S-trans-cypermethrin). o Example 23 - (S)- a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (IR/S)-cis-/trans—3-[E/Z-2-chloro-2-(4-chloropheny1)ethenyl]-2,2- dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate (1 a *S-flumethrin).

Example 24 - (S)- a -cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (2R/S)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methylbutanoate (2R/S; 1 a *S-fenvalerate).

Optical rotation and/or proton nuclear magnetic resonance data is reported in Table 8 below.

TABLLE 8 Physical Data on Synthetic Pyrethroids Prepared from (S)- a -Cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl Alcohol Example Appearance [ g ]D in Chemical Shift No Melting chci3 (ppm in CDCI3) Point °C (conc in g/cm3 ) 18 Oil +10.1 1.21-1.33 (6H,m); 1.98- (0.0093) 2.25 (2H,m); 6.32, 6.38 (1H, 2xs) *; 6.84 (lH,d, J=9.1Hz ) ; 6.98-7.48 (9H, 19 55-56 +35.7 (0.006) 1.21 (3H,s); 1.29 (3H,s) 1.98-2.28 (2H,m); 6.38 (1H,s); 6.83 (1H,d,J= 8.8Hz); 6.97-7.45 (9H,m) 100-101 +16.9 1.19 (3H,s); 1.24 (3H,s) (0.0066) 1.84-2.16 (2H,m); 6.37 (1H,s); 6.69 (lH,d,J= 8Hz); 6.97-7.46 (9H,m) +18.7 1.21 (3H,d); 1.29 (3H,s) (0.0064) 1.84-2.34 (2H,m); 6.32, 6.36 (1H, 2xs)*; 6.17 (1H, d of d, J=8.5, 1.2 Hz); 6.98-7.45 (9H,m) 2088 TABLE 8 - contined 22 Oil +4.8 1.18, 1.22, 1.23, 1.33, (0.0066) (6H, 4xs); 1.65 (1H, d of d); 2.30 (lH,m); 6.37, 6.39 (1H,2xs)*; 5.60(lH,d of d, J=8.2 , 2.0Hz); 6.98-7.56 (9H, m) 23 Oil +3.0 1.13-1.39 (6H,m); 1.56- (0.007) 2.59 (2H,m); 6.34-6.60 (lH,m); 5.66-5.87 (1H, m); 6.97-7.40 (13H,m) 24 Oil -1.4 0.71 (3H,d of d); 1.00 (0.0051) (3H,m); 2.34 (lH,m); 3.22 (2H,d, J=10.2Hz); 6.3,6.34 (1H,2xs)*, 6.97-7 .74 (13H,m).

* Multiplicity due to presence of diastereo-isomers.

Example 25 Preparation of (R)- a -Cyano- g (2-naphthyl)methyl Alcohol A mixture of (S)-3-benzyl-(S)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl )-2,5-piperazinedione (0.3 g; 0.1 mmole) and toluene (5 cm3) was cooled under nitrogen to a temperature of -10°C. 2-Naphthaldehyde (0.80 g; 5 mmole) and then hydrogen cyanide (1.0 cm^; 25 mmole) were rapidly added and the mixture was stirred at a temperature of -10°C for a period of 16 hours. Diethyl ether (25 cm^) was added to the mixture to dissolve the cream coloured solid which had precipitated and to ii " 60 " m • 208839 precipitate the dipeptide catalyst. The catalyst was removed by filtration and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give (R)- a -cyano- a -(2-naphthyl)methyl alcohol as a cream solid; mp (crude) 5 103-107°C; [ a ]q = + 16.0 at a concentration of 0.00844 g/cm3 in CHCI3.

Examples 26 to 37 The following arylaldehydes were reacted with y hydrogen cyanide either in the presence of (S)-3-benzyl-10 (S )-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2r5-piperazinedione (code S,S) or (R)-3-benzyl-(R)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2,5-piperazinedione (code R,R) to produce the corresponding enantiomeric or enantiomer enriched a -aryl- a -cyano-^ methyl alcohol following essentially the same procedure as that described in Example 25.

TABLE 9 Example No Aldehyde Catalyst 26 3-methoxybenzaldehyde S,S 27 4-methoxybenzaldehyde S,S 28 4-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde S,S 29 2-methylbenzaldehyde R, R 2-naphthaldehyde R,R 31 3-chlorobenzaldehyde R, R 32 3-acetyloxybenzaldehyde S,S 33 3-nitrobenzaldehyde S,S 34 3-benzyloxybenzaldehyde R, R 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde S,S 36 4-chlorobenzaldehyde S,S 37 3,4-bis[l-(ethoxy)ethoxy]benzaldehyde S,S The results are reported in Table 10 below in which the Compound No refers to the a -aryl- a -cyano- / 1 ^ ■ -f.—. methyl alcohols listed in Table 2.

TABLE 10 Example Product Reaction Reaction Y ield i 0 ] D No Compound Time Temp % (conc in No Hours °C g/cm^) 26 21 16.5 -10 98 + 25.5 ( 0 .0241)a 27 22 26 -10 75 + 25 .9 (0.0271)b 28 23 16 -10 100 + 6.7 (0.0337)a 29 19 -10 72 -12.7 (0 .0157 )a 24 16 -10 100 -23 .5 (0.0048 )a 31 21 -10 75 -17 .7 (0.034)a 32 26 17 -10 90 +19.8C (0.0 20)a 33 27 17 -10 95 +7.1 (0.024)a 34 29 21 -10 64 -7.2 (0.0124)b 9 16<* -10 50 + 12 .9 (0 .0174 )e 36 17 -10 96 + 15 .9 ( 0 .01545)e 37 33 17 -10 33 + 6.1 (0.01345)a Code: a - [ o ]d measured in chci3 b - [ a ]d measured in C6Hg c - Enantiomeric excess 74% (determined as described in Code c of Table 7. d - Reaction run in a solvent mixture of 7 parts toluene to 3 parts tetrahydrofuran. e - t a ] £) measured in ch3oh Example 38 Preparation of (R)-2-Amino-l-(2-naphthyl)ethanol A solution of (R)- o -cyano- o -(2-naphthyl)-methyl alcohol (0.37 g; 2 mmole; prepared as described in Example 25) in anhydrous diethyl ether (3 cm^) was 10 added dropwise to a stirred suspension of lithium aluminium hydride (0.17 g; 4.5 mmole) in anhydrous diethyl ether (10 cm3). The mixture was heated under reflux for a period of 2 hours then cooled in an ice bath and water (1 cm3)r 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide 15 (2 cm3) and further water (2 cm3) were cautiously added, The organic layer was separated and the inorganic residue was washed several times with diethyl ether. The organic layer and etherial washings were combined, washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate 20 and the solvent was removed by evaporation under reduced pressure to give (R)-2-amino-l-(2-naphthyl)-ethanol as a white solid (0.33 g; 87%); mp (crude) 115-118°C; [ a ]D (crude) = -23.0° (C. = 0.00322 g/cm3 in EtOH) .

Example 39 Preparation of (R)-2-(N-Isopropylamino)-1-(2-naphthyl)-ethanol Q A mixture of (R)-2-amino-l-(2-naphthyl)ethanol (0.08 g; 0.4 mmole; prepared as described in Example 38 above), acetone (10 cm^) and ethanol (10 cm3) was

Claims (23)

- 63 - 2 088 hydrogenated at room temperature and pressure for a period of 16 hours in the presence of platinum oxide. The platinum oxide catalyst was removed by filtration and the filtrate evaporated under reduced pressure to give a white solid. The residue was treated with aqueous 1M sodium hydroxide solution and the resulting mixture was extracted with diethyl ether. The organic extract was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to give a white waxy solid. The solid was recrystallized from ethyl acetate to give (R)-2-(N-isopropylamino)-1-(2-naphthyl)ethanol as a white powder (0.09 g; 92%); mp 93-95°C; I a ]D= -45.0° (C.=0.00302 g/cm3 in CHC13). wmats/we claim tS: - 64 -

1. A process for the preparation of an a-substit- uted-a.-cyanomethyl alcohol enantiomer of formula I 208839 CN rl-ch—oh wherein the group is an alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heteroaryl group; which process comprise~s~ reacting an aldehyde of formula II " ' R1—CHO II wherein the group R1 is as defined above with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a cyclic dipeptide enantiomer, and wherein said reaction is carried out at a temperature below ambient temperature.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein R* is selected from the groups consisting of: III IV (CH,) 14 13 18 , vi vii viii IX r20r21c=c<r19)- vitfebissa- - 65 - o a q c '< . r22ch2-c=c- xi wherein: r2 and r3 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, to Cg alkyl and C^ to Cg haloalkyl, or r2 and r3 jointly form a trimethylene or tetramethylene bridging group; A is selected from oxygen, sulfur, -CO- and -CH2-; R^ is selected from hydrogen, C^ to Cg alkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl, C2 to Cg alkynyl, phenyl, furyl, thienyl and the groups phenyl, furyl and thienyl wherein each group is substituted by halogen, Ci..to Cg alkyl, Cj to Cg alkoxy or C2 to Cg alkenyl; D is selected from oxygen and sulfur; R^ and R^ are independently selected from C^ to Cg alkyl; r7 t r8 f r9 and RlO are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, and C^ to Cg alkyl; rH and r!2 are independently selected from hydrogen, Ci to Cg alkyl and halogen, or R^* and R*2 jointly form a methylenedioxy bridging group; E is selected from oxygen, sulfur and -CH2-; q is an integer selected from 1 and 2; R13, R14, R15, R16, R17 and R*8 are independently selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen; halogen; nitro; Cj to Cg alkyl; Cj to Cg haloalkyl; C^ to Cg hydroxyalky1; C2 to Cg alkenyl; C2 to Cg alkynyl; Ci to Cg alkoxy; Ci to Cg alkylthio; (C^ to Cg alkoxy)- carbonyl; benzyloxy, substituted benzyloxy; acyloxy; hydroxy; tri(Ci to Cg alkyl)silyloxy; (C^ to Cg alkoxy)- to Cg alkoxy;C^ to Cg alkoxy-Cj to Cg alkcJXy-methoxy; amino; N-(C^ to Cg alkyl)amino; N,N-di(Ci to Cg alkyl)amino; N-(C^ to Cg alkanoyl)amino; N-(C^ to Cg alkylsulf onyl)-amino; N-(benzenesul f ony 1) am^c^'N-c^ (substituted benzenesulfonyl )ami no; ureido; N-[tri((^.Y' to Cg alkyl) silyl] amino; sulfamoyl; N-(Ci to ,6^ Q„<» -92 - 66 - 208839 alkyl) sulfamoyl; N,N-di(C^ to Cg alkyl )sulfamoyl ; carbamoyl; N-(Ci to Cg alkyl)carbamoyl; N,N-di(Ci to Cg alkyl)carbamoyl; Ci to Cg alkylsulfinyl; C^ to Cg alkylsulfonyl; thienyloxy; thenyl; furylmethyl; or two adjacent substituents are selected from the linking group buta-1,3-dienylene; and the groups r24r25c=c(r23)o- and r24r25C=C(R23)- in which r23 is selected from hydrogen and Cj to Cg alkyl and R24 and r25 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, Cj to Cg alkyl and C^ to Cg haloalkyl; R-*-9 is selected from hydrogen, chlorine and C^ to Cg" alkyl; r20 and r21 are independently selected from hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, C^ to Cg alkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl, C2 to Cg alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, furylmethyl and thienylmethyl; and r22 is selected from phenyl, phenoxy and the groups phenyl and phenoxy wherein each group is substituted by halogen, nitro, cyano, C^ to Cg alkyl, cf to Cg halo-alkyl or Cj to Cg alkoxy.

3. A process according to claim 2 wherein in the groups of formulae iii, iv, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x and xi: r2 and R3 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, Cj to Cg alkyl and C^ to Cg haloalkyl, or R^ and R3 jointly form a trimethylene or tetramethylene bridging group; A is selected from oxygen, sulfur, -CO- and -CH2~; R4 is selected from hydrogen, C2 to Cg alkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl, C2 to Cg alkynyl, phenyl, furyl, thienyl and the "groups phenyl, furyl and thienyl wherein each group is substituted by halogen, C^ to Cg alkyl, C^ to Cg alkoxy or C2 to Cg alkenyl; D is selected from oxygen and sulfur; R-> and R® are independently selected from C^ to Cg alkyl; feb 1988^1 Y - 67- SOg R7, R8, R9 and R10 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, and to Cg alkyl; rH and R^-2 are independently selected from hydrogen, to Cg alkyl and halogen, or and R^-2 jointly form a methylenedioxy bridging group; E is selected from oxygen, sulfur and -CH2-; q is an integer selected from 1 and 2; r13 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, Cj to C5 alkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl, C2 to Cg alkynyl, thienyloxy, thenyl, furylmethyl and the groups R24r25c=C(R23)0- and R24R25C=C<R23)- in which R23 is selected from hydrogen and Cj to Cg alkyl and R24 and R2^ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, C^ to Cg alkyl and Cj to Cg haloalkyl; r14 f r15 r r16, r17 and r!8 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C^ to Cg alkyl, halogen and C2 to Cg alkenyl; r!9 is selected from hydrogen, chlorine and C^ to Cg a 1 ky 1; R20 and R21 are independently selected from hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, C^ to Cg alkyl, C2 to Cg alkenyl, C2 to Cg alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, furylmethyl and thienylmethyl; and R22 is selected from phenyl, phenoxy and the groups phenyl and phenoxy wherein each group is substituted by halogen, nitro, cyano, C^ to Cg alkyl, C^ to Cg halo-alkyl or Cj to Cg alkoxy.

4. A process according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein R^ is selected from groups of the formulae Ilia Vila y7 y - - - 68 ~ 208839 ocxr, vi"a a„d qt'xx IXa wherein: .. in formula Villa, R17 is selected from hydrogen and halogen; in formula Vllb, R13 , R14, R15, R16 and R17 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, nitro, hydroxy, to c5 alkyl, C]; to Cg haloalkyl, C^ to Cg hydroxyalkyl, C^ to Cg alkoxy, (Ci to Cg alkoxy)Ci to Cg alkoxy, amino, N-(C2 to Cg alkanoyl)amino, N-(Ci to Cg alkylsulfonyl )aminb, sulfamoyl, ureido, benzyloxy, benzoyloxy, or two adjacent substituents are selected from the linking group buta-1,3-dienylene; and in formula Vila, R23 is hydrogen and R24 and R25 are independently selected from hydrogen and halogen.

5. A process according to claim 4 wherein: in formula Villa, R17 is selected from hydrogen and fluorine; in formula Vllb, R*3, R*4, R15, R16 and R17 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, methyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxymethyl methoxy," 1-(ethoxy) ethoxy , nitro, amino, acetamido, methanesulfonylamino, sulfamoyl, ureido, benzyloxy, benzoyloxy, or two adjacent substituents are selected from the linking group buta-1,3-dienylene; and in formula Vila, R23 is hydrogen and R24 and R2^ are independently selected from hydrogen and halogen. * - 69 " ' £08S;;y

6. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 5 inclusive for the preparation of a compound selected from (s)-«-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol and (R)-a--cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol.

7. A process according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 and 5 inclusive for the preparation of a compound of formula I wherein is a group of formula Vllb ^ RlX! r15\ v VIIb v, • ' Rl6 R*7 wherein; R from one to three of the substituents r^3, r14/ r15, r16 and R^7 are selected from the group consisting of ■*—^ methoxy, methyl, halogen, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoro- methyl, acetyloxy and benzyloxy, or two adjacent substituents are selected from the linking group buta-1,3-dienylene; and the remaining substituents are hydrogen.

8. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 7 inclusive wherein said cyclic dipeptide enantiomer * comprises the residues of two amino acids selected from the group consisting of alanine, cysteine, histidine, homoserine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, norleucine, norvaline, ornithine, phenylalanine, serine, thyronine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine and derivatives thereof.

9. A process according to any one of claims "1 to 8 inclusive wherein said cyclic dipeptide enantiomer comprises the residues of two amino acids one of which is selected from histidine and tryptophan and derivatives thereof and the other is selected from the group consisting of phenylalanine, thyronine, tyr< of. v- tyrosine, tryptophan, histidine and derivatives there- - 70 -

10. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 9 inclusive wherein said cyclic dipeptide enantiomer is selected from (R)-3-benzyl-(R)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-2,5 —piperazinedione and (S)-3-benzyl-(S)-6-(4-imidazolylmethyl )-2,5-piperazinedione.

11. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 10 inclusive wherein said cyclic dipeptide enantiomer comprises from 0.5 to 1.5 moles of water of hydration per mole of cyclic dipeptide enantiomer..

12. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 11 inclusive wherein said reaction is carried out in the presence of a solvent in which the aldehyde of formula II and hydrogen cyanide are soluble and which is adsorbed by the cyclic dipeptide enantiomer.

13. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 12 inclusive wherein said reaction is carried out at a temperature below 10°C.

14* A process according to any one of claims 1 to 13 inclusive wherein said reaction is carried out at a temperature at or below 0°C.

15. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 14 inclusive wherein said reaction is carried out at a temperature below -5°C.

16. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 15 inclusive wherein said cyclic dipeptide enantiomer is present in an amount in the range of from 10_1 to 10~6 moles per mole of the aldehyde of formula ii.

17. A process for the preparation of a pyrethroid which process comprises the esterif ication of an substituted-a-cyanomethyl alcohol enantiomer of formula I °^\ as defined in claim 1 prepared according to the process of one c: claims 1 to 16 inclusive with a pyrethrin acid pyrethroid acid or a derivative thereof. _xr .. . ..-vt■*■■■■- .. -7i- £0885;,

18. A process according to claim 17 wherein said tt-substituted-*-cyanomethyl alcohol enantiomer is selected from the group consisting of the enantiomers of: rt-cyano- 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol, <x-cyano-4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol, 3-( 2 ,2-dichlorovinyloxy)->2-cyanobenzyl alcohol, ^-cyano-pentafluorobenzyl alcohol, a-cyano-a.- {6-phenoxypyrid-2-y1)methyl alcohol and «.-cyano-a- (5-benzylfur-2-yl)methyl alcohol.

19. A process for the preparation of an arylethanolamine enantiomer of formula XXXIX / OH i R1 - CH - CH2NR56R57 XXXIX wherein R^" is as defined according to any one of claims 1 to 15; R"*7 is hydrogen and R^® is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C. to C, alkyl and substituted ^ to Cg alkyl, or R and R together form a C^ to Cg alkylene linking group; which process comprises the reduction of the nitrile group of an ot-substituted-ot-cyano-methyl alcohol enantiomer of formula I prepared according to any one of claims 1 to 15; and optionally alkylating the ^ amino group.

20. An arylethanolamine enantiomer of formula XXXIX defined according to claim 19 whenever prepared according to the process of claim 19.

A process as defined according to any one of claims 1 to 16 inclusive substantially as herein described with reference to any one of Examples^ 17 inclusive or 25 to 37 inclusive. (t <n sc'- f7V - 72 - 208839

22. A process as defined according to claim 17 or claim 18 substantially as herein described with reference to any one of Examples 18 to 24 inclusive.

23. A process as defined according to claim 19 substantially as herein described with reference to Examples 38 or 39. DATED TK.'G (O^CAYCF 19 a i n a r-r o o M agents for the APPLICANTS w