A Novel Route for Chiral Synthesis of the Triazole Antifungal ER-30346.

A novel synthetic route to (2S, 3S)-2-(2, 4-difluorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-(1-(1, 2, 4-triazolyl))butyronitrile (2), an intermediate for the orally active triazole antifungal agent ER-30346, was developed from methyl S-(+)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate, a commercially available chiral compound. The second chiral center was constructed with 6.4 : 1 diastereoselectivity via osmium tetroxide catalyzed dihydroxylation.