Short and simple synthesis of (R)- and (S)-4-hydroxypentylaminoacetamide: both enantiomers of the (ω-1)-hydroxylated metabolite of milacemide

Both (R)‐ and (S)‐4‐hydroxypentylaminoacetamide have been synthesized by reductive amination of glycinamide on the γ‐valerolactols corresponding to (R)‐ and (S)‐γ‐valerolactone, respectively. These enantiomeric lactones were readily obtained in high enantiomeric excess (ee) by enzymic porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) kinetic resolution of rac‐methyl γ‐hydroxyvalerate. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.