Resolution of 1‐ and 2‐naphthylmethoxyacetic acids, NMR reagents for absolute configuration determination, by use of L ‐phenylalaninol

Racemic 1- and 2-naphthylmethoxyacetic acids (1NMA and 2NMA), the chiral anisotropic reagents used for absolute configuration determination of chiral secondary alcohols and primary amines, were conveniently resolved to enantiomers (>99% ee) by condensation with L-phenylalaninol (2-amino-3-phenylpropanol), chromatographic separation of the diastereomers, and hydrolysis. This method enables large-scale preparation of enantiomeric 1NMA and 2NMA.