@article { ISI:000370450600006, title = {Diastereoselective synthesis of beta-ether derivatives of artemisinin, an antimalarial drug: the effect of nitrile on stereoselectivity}, journal = {Asian Journal of Organic Chemistry}, volume = {5}, number = {2}, year = {2016}, month = {FEB}, pages = {201-206}, publisher = {WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH}, address = {POSTFACH 101161, 69451 WEINHEIM, GERMANY}, abstract = {

Malaria is a life-threatening disease affecting a major portion of the world{\textquoteright}s population with considerable loss of human life. Artemisinin, isolated from Artemisia annua, its oil- and water-soluble derivatives, and other known antimalarials are recommended for artemisinin combination therapy by the World Health Organization. We have established a method for the stereoselective synthesis of beta-ether derivatives of dihydroartemisinin in high yield and high diastereoselectivity. The reaction either in acetonitrile or dichloromethane/trichloroacetonitrile (6:1) mixtures at 0 degrees C or room temperature, respectively, furnished the antimalarial drugs artemether 3 or arteether 4 in high yield with a high diastereomeric ratio. The effect the nitrile has on the yield and stereoselectivity is mechanistically explained.

}, keywords = {antimalarials, arteethers, artemisinin, nitriles, trichloroacetimidates}, issn = {2193-5807}, doi = {10.1002/ajoc.201500415}, author = {Chand, Hemender R. and Bhattacharya, Asish K.} }