Synthesis Of The 2 Enantiomers Of 1-Chloro-1,1-Difluoro-3-(Para-Tolylsulphonyl)Propan-2-Ol By Microbial Reduction Of The Parent Propanone And Transformation Into 3,3-Difluorotetrahydrofuran Derivatives

Both R and S enantiomers of 1-chloro-1,1-difluoro-3-(p-tolylsulphonyl)propan-2-ol were obtained with high enantioselection by microbial reduction of 1-chloro-1,1-difluoro-3-(p-tolylsulphonyl)-propan-2-one. The enantiomerically pure R-alcohol was obtained and transformed into 3,3-difluoro-4-methyl-2-[(p-tolylsulphonyl)methyl]tetrahydrofurans through a two-step synthesis.