A transition metal- and hydride-free protocol has been
developed
for the chemoselective reduction of α-keto esters and α-keto
amides using rongalite as a reducing agent. Here, rongalite acts as
a hydride-free reducing agent via a radical mechanism.
This protocol offers the synthesis of a wide range of α-hydroxy
esters and α-hydroxy amides with 85–98% yields. This
chemoselective method is compatible with other reducible functionalities
such as halides, alkenes, amides, and nitriles. The use of inexpensive
rongalite (ca. $0.03/1 g), mild reaction conditions,
and gram-scale synthesis are some of the key features of this methodology.
Also, cyclandelate, a vasodilator drug, has been synthesized in gram
scale with 79% yield.