Dynamic kinetic resolution of beta-azido alcohols. An efficient route to chiral aziridines and beta-amino alcohols

Enzymatic resolution of beta -azido alcohols in combination with ruthenium- catalyzed alcohol isomerization led to a successful dynamic kinetic resolut ion. A variety of racemic beta -azido alcohols were efficiently transformed to the corresponding enantiomericaliy pure acetates (tee up to 99% and con version up to 98%). The synthetic utility of this procedure has been illust rated by the practical synthesis of(S)-propanolol I and (R)-beta -azido-alp ha-(4-methoxyphenyl))ethanol ((R)-1c), a direct precursor of denopamine II.