Total synthesis of ezetimibe, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor

Ezetimibe (1), a strong β-lactamic cholesterol absorption inhibitor, was synthesized from (R)-6-(4-fluorophenyl)-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one 7. Independent pathways were analyzed in order to select the optimal one, which involved 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with C-(4-benzyloxyphenyl)-N-(4-fluorophenyl)-nitrone (8), intramolecular nucleophilic displacement at the benzylic position of the lactone, cleavage of the N-O bond, elimination of a water molecule, hydrogenation of the double bond, rearrangement of the six-membered lactone ring into a β-lactam moiety, and final deprotection of the phenolic hydroxyl group. Highly stereoselective Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition was the most crucial step of the synthesis. Owing to the rigid transition state of the cycloaddition, the absolute configuration of the starting lactone controlled the formation of other stereogenic centers of the final molecule 1.