CHIRAL HYDANTOIN RESOLUTION

PCT No. PCT/FR91/00906 Sec. 371 Date Jul. 21, 1992 Sec. 102(e) Date Jul. 21, 1992 PCT Filed Nov. 15, 1991 PCT Pub. No. WO92/08702 PCT Pub. Date May 29, 1992.Method of resolution of chiral hydantoins of the general formula I (I) in which: R1 designates a lower alkyl radical comprising 1 to 5 carbon atoms in linear or branched chain, R2 designates a phenyl radical, possibly mono-, di-, or tri-substituted by lower alkyl or alkoxy radicals or halogen atoms, whether identical of different, or a heteroaryl radical containing a ring of 5 to 7 members in which the sole hetero atom is nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, or else an aralkyl radical the alkyl part of which comprises one or two carbon atoms and the aryl ring is a phenyl group possibly mono-, di- or tri-substituted by radicals which are lower alkyl or alkoxy radicals or halogen atoms, whether identical or different. The hydantoin (I) to be resolved is dissolved in an alcohol or an alkaline solution, and an enantiomer of alpha -methylbenzyl-amine is added in a defined proportion to the solution obtained, whereupon the diastereoisomeric salt obtained is isolated and treated with an acid solution in order to crystallize the enantiomer of hydantoin (I).