Substrate stereocontrol in bromine-induced intermolecular cyclization: asymmetric synthesis of pitavastatin calcium.

A novel approach to synthesize pitavastatin calcium ( 1 ), an effective HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, based on readily available and attractively functionalized ( R )-3-chloro-1,2-propanediol is reported. This work highlights an intermolecular diastereoselective bromine-induced cyclization of homoallylic carbonate to meet stereochemical challenges in the synthesis of statins. An efficient route to a new triphenylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate salt of a quinoline core is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]