A short and convenient chemoenzymatic synthesis of both enantiomers of 3-phenylGABA and 3-(4-chlorophenyl)GABA (Baclofen)

Both enantiomers of the pharmacologically active GABA analogues 4-amino-3-phenyl and 4-amino-3-(4-chlorophenyl)butyric acid (Baclofen) with high enantiomeric excesses were synthesized by a chemoenzymatic method involving a-chymotrypsin mediated kinetic resolutions of the corresponding 3-phenyl- and 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-nitrobutyric acid methyl ester precursors. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.