Application of Unusual Grignard Reaction for the Stereoselective Synthesis of Antidepressant Drug (R)-(-)-Venlafaxine

An enantioselective synthesis of antidepressant drug (R)-(-)-venlafaxine is accomplished as an application of recently explored unusual Grignard reaction. An innovative method for the generation of chirality at extremely reactive benzylic center along with determination of absolute stereochemistry has been discussed. The key steps involved in the synthesis include Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation for the induction of chirality and an unusual Grignard reaction.