OPTICALLY PURE 4-ARYL-2-HYDROXYTETRONIC ACIDS

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for synthesis of optically pure stereogenically labile 4-aryl-2-hydroxytetronic acids from an optically pure aldehyde. The invention further relates to the use of such optically pure compounds as potent inhibitors of platelet aggregation by working at the level of cyclooxygenase, and additionally as inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase. The invention further relates to the pharmaceutical use of such compounds in the treatment of coronary artery diseases, especially in the treatment and/or prevention of atherosclerosis, and in the treatment of various inflammatory pathologies, especially arthritis.

Description: OPTICALLY PURE 4-ARYL-2-HYDROXYTETRONIC ACIDS This invention was made with Government support under Grant No. NCI-2T32CA09498 awarded by the U.S. Public Health Service National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The Government has certain rights in this invention. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to methods for the synthesis of optically pure 4-aryl-2-hydroxytetronic acid aci-reductone compounds. The aci-reductone 4- (4-chlorophenyl) -2-hydroxytetronic acid compound (CHTA) possesses antilipidemic and antiaggregatory properties which differ from those of the classical phenoxyactetic acids as has been disclosed in Witiak et al. J. Med. Chem.. 1988, 11:1434-1445 and Kamanna et al. , Lipids, 1989, 24.:25-32. Although unsubstituted- , 2-alkyl- and 2-acyltetronic acids are frequently found in nature, the 2-hydroxy substituted redox system is found only in vitamin C and its closely related relatives (isoascrobic acid, erythroascorbic acid) and derivatives, and the macrolide antibiotic chlorothricin. The antiaggregatory activities of 2-hydroxytetronic acid aci-reductone compound (CHTA) is of interest since blood platelets are involved in the genesis of atherosclerosis. 2-Hydroxytetronic acid ac -reductones inhibit collagen- induced human platelet aggregation and secretion of [ 1 C] - serotonin in a concentration-dependent manner at equivalent doses, as reported in Witiak et al., J. Med. Chem.. 1982, £5_:90-93. The CHTA compound inhibits platelet function by a similar mechanism, involving arachidonic acid release. Redox analogues, such as 2- hydroxytetronic acid, function as antioxidants in membranes or interfere with free radical processes involved in the biosynthetic elaboration of cyclic prostaglandin endoperoxides (P>--G 2 and PGH 2 ) , and, subsequently, thromboxane A 2 from arachidonic acid. The synthesis of 4-aryl-2-hydr3xytetronic acid compounds of the present invention is complicated by the stereochemical lability of the C-4 stereogenic center. The lability of this center in tetronic acids can be compared to the lability of th-i asymmetric center of mandelic acid; Whitesell et al., J. Orcr. Chem.. 1983, 4 . 8 . :3548-3551 and Gore et al., J. Orσ. Chem.. 1986, 5_1:3700-3704, and phenylglycine, Evans et al. , Tetrahedron. 1988, 4_4:5525-5540, Bodansky, Principles of Peptide Syn.. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, N.Y. , 1984, p. 160, which discloses that phenylglycine undergoes extensive racemization during peptide synthesis. Older synthetic methods such as disclosed in Helferich et al., Ber.. 1937, 7_0:465-468, involving benzoin and intermolecular Claisen condensations employed in the synthesis of L-ascorbic acid, produce racemic 4-aryl-2- hydroxytetronic acids. Various syntheses published for the naturally occurring chiral tetronic acids such as (-)-vertinolide (Wrobel et al., J. Org. Chem.. 1983, .48 . :3761-3764) ; (S)-carlosic acid (Bloomer et al., J. Org. Chem.. 1974, 39.:113-125) ; chlorothricin (Ireland et al., J. Orcr. Chem.. 1986, 5_1:635-648) ; related 2-acylated (Booth et al., J.Che . Soc. Perkin Trans I. 1987, 121- 129; or 2-unsubstituted (Brandange et al., J. Org. Chem.. 1984, ___9_, 927-928) tetronic acids, and chiral tetronic acid intermediates useful for the synthesis of the seco acid of erthronolide B (Stork et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. , 1987, 109:1564-1565) , were not applicable for the synthesis of optically pure enantiometers of 4-aryl-2- hydroxytetronic acids. Some targets contain quaternary chiral centers not expected to undergo racemization during their preparation as disclosed in Wrobel et al., supra, and Ireland et al., supra. Syntheses for 2-hydroxytetronic acids other than ascorbic acid have been reviewed by Haynes and Plimmer in "Tetronic Acids," Quart. Rev.. pp. 292-315 (1960), and by Shank, "Reductones," Synthesis. pp. 176-90 (1972). 2-Hydroxytetronic acids have generally been prepared using three different routes: (l) hydroxyl group insertion at the 2 position of the corresponding tetronic acid nucleus; (2) intramolecular Claisen cyclization of substituted glyoxylate esters; and (3) base-promoted cyclization of 2,4-dihydroxy-3-ketobutanoates. Witiak and Tehim, J. Org. Chem.. 5_2.:2324-2327 (1987) have synthesized the 5- and 6-membered spiro 2-hydroxytetronic acids using propargyl alcohol conversion to methyl tetronate by treatment with sodium methoxide. Attempted hydroxylation at the 2-position by α-lithiation and reaction with dibenzoylperoxide provided only a 6% yield of the corresponding 2-benzoyloxytetronic acid. However, the 2-hydroxyl group was introduced in good yields by lithiation using lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) , boronate ester formation [B(MeO) 3 ] and oxidative hydrolysis (AcOH, H 2 0 2 ) . Methyl 2-hydroxytetronate was converted to the corresponding aci-reductone by stirring in 48% HBr at 45°C for 12 hours. Ireland and Thompson, J. Org. Chem.. .44.:3041-3052 (1979), have utilized the Claisen condensation for construction of 2-hydroxytetronic acids. Witiak and Tehim, J. Org. Chen .. 52.:2324-2327 (1987) have also prepared 5- and 6-membered spiro-2-hydroxytetronic acids using strategies developed by Ireland and Thompson, supra . This method was superior to use of hydroxy1 group insertion methods because fewer steps were necessary and overall yields were higher. For example, Claisen cyclization of easily prepared methoxy or benzyloxy thiocarboxylate intermediates using LDA or lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDA) at -78°C occurred in high yields. The resultant 2-methoxytetronic acids underwent deprotection by acetylation and subsequent reaction with BBr 3 , whereas the 2-benzyloxytetronic acids were convertible to target 2-hydroxytetronic acid by transfer hydrogenation. Witiak and Tehim, J. Org. Chem.. 5_5_:1112-1114 (1990), developed the first synthesis for optically pure (S)-(+)- 4-pheny1-2-hydroxytetronic acid using the Claisen cyclization under kinetically controlled conditions. The 2-benzyloxyacetate derivative of the corresponding methyl mandelate underwent such cyclization at -100°C using the sterically hindered non-nucleophilic base, lithium dicyclohexylamide (LiDCyA) . Subsequent benzyl group deprotection of the tetronic acid generated the desired compound in low overall yields; 12% for both steps. Parent Application Serial Nos. 07/464,511 (now U.S. Patent No. 5,095,126) and 07/847,295 (now U. S. Patent 5,298,526) relate to the preparation of optically pure stereogenically labile 4-substituted-2-hydroxytetronic acid compounds. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for the synthesis of optically pure 4-aryl-2-hydroxytetronic acids containing electron withdrawing substituents. The chiral approach of the present invention utilizes an aldol condensation between optically pure α-t- butyldimethylsilyloxyarylacetaldehydes and the anion of ethyl l,3-dithiane-2-carboxylate, followed by trapping the intermediate alkoxide anion with pivaloyl chloride to yield a fully protected butanoate ester containing the masked enediol functionality of the target aci- reductones. The dithiane moiety is then oxidatively hydrolyzed to produce an α-keto ester which undergoes fluoride anion catalyzed-cyclization to 2- pivaloyloxytetronic acid derivatives which are then hydrolyzed under acidic conditions or by hydride reduction to the corresponding 4-aryl-2-hydroxytetronic acids. The invention is further related to the methods of using such optically pure compounds as potent inhibitors of platelet aggregation, cyclooxygenase, and 5- lipooxygenase, and pharmaceutical compositions therefor. The invention is further concerned with the pharmaceutical use of such compositions for the treatment and/or the prevention of coronary artery diseases, platelet aggregation and thrombosis, and/or prevention of atherosclerosis, as well as in the treatment of various pathologies involving both acute and chronic inflammation, including adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) , inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a first embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for making optically pure 4-aryl-2- hydroxytetronic acid compounds of Formula I: (la) (lb) wherein Z is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. This process comprises: (a) reacting an optically pure aldehyde of the formula II or its corresponding isomer, wherein Pr is a protecting group selected from the group consisting of t-butyldimethylsilyl, tetrahydropyranyl , thio ethyl, methoxymethyl, and Z is as hereinbefore defined, with the anion of an alkyl l,3-dithiane-2- carboxylate followed by trapping of the intermediate alkoxide anion with a pivaloyl halide to yield a protected ester of the formula (III) or its corresponding isomer, wherein Z and Pr are as hereinbefore defined and alk is a lower alkyl group; (b) oxidatively hydrolyzing the protected ester of formula III to yield the α-keto ester of formula IV or its corresponding isomer, wherein Z, Pr and alk are as hereinbefore defined; (c) catalytically cyclizing the ester of formula IV to yield the 2-pivaloyloxytetronic acid derivative of formula V: or its corresponding isomer, wherein Z is as hereinbefore defined; and (d) removal by hydrolysis or reductive cleavage of the pivaloyl ester group to afford the desired optically pure 4-ary1-2-hydroxytetronic acid of formula la or lb. Step (a) of the instant process utilizes as starting material, the appropriate optically pure hydroxy aldehyde of the formula OPr z A * (I D H 0 or its corresponding isomer, wherein Z and Pr are as hereinbefore defined which, in a 1:1.1 mixture with pivaloyl chloride, is reacted with the lithium salt of an alkyl l,3-dithiane-2-carboxylate at about -78°C in a nonpolar aprotic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran according to the method of Belletire et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 25 t50 :5729-5732 (1984). Preferably, the alkyl 1,3-dithiane-2-carboxylate is ethyl or methyl 1,3-dithiane-2-carboxlate. but other alkyl esters may similarly be utilized. The Pr protecting group is most preferably a t-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) group, but other hydroxy protecting groups such as tetrahydropyranyl, methoxymethyl and thio ethoxy can be similarly utilized. Thus afforded is the compound of formula III or its corresponding isomer, wherein Z , Pr and alk are as hereinbefore defined, which is then oxidatively hydrolyzed using N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) and silver nitrate according to the method of Corey and Erickson, J. Org. Chem.. 3 . 6:3553 (1971). Typically, this hydrolysis is conducted at room temperature in an aqueous organic solvent, such as aqueous acetonitrile. The resultant compound of formula IV, i.e., or its corresponding isomer, wherein Z, Pr and alk are as hereinbefore defined, is then catalytically cyclized to yield the 2- pivaloyloxytetronic acid derivative of formula V: or its corresponding isomer, wherein Z is as hereinbefore defined. The cyclization of step (c) is induced with tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) and is usually conducted with a non-polar aprotic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran or a similar ether. Typical reaction times vary from 5-20 minutes and the reaction is usually conducted at room temperature. Interestingly, the pivaloyl group undergoes o-→O-acyl migration during the cyclization step (c) . Step (d) of the instant reaction sequence hydrolyzes the compound of formula V to afford the desired optically pure 4-ary1-2-hydroxytetronic acid of formulae la or lb. Typically, the hydrolysis of step (d) is accomplished with a mild aqueous acid, such as acetic acid, at reflux temperatures for 12-36 hours. A preferred hydrolysis utilizes 9.8:0.2 acetic acid:water for 24 hours at reflux temperatures. These conditions yield the target compound of formula I with minimal racemization. Alternately, the pivoloate cleavage can be accomplished under neutral conditions by selective hydride reduction. In this alternate embodiment, the compound of formula V is dissolved in an organic solvent and preferably cooled to liquid nitrogen temperatures under a nitrogen atmosphere. This solution is then treated with, for instance, DIBAL-H to effect reductive cleavage of the pivaloyl ester. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to optically pure 4-ary1-2-hydroxytetronic acid compounds of the general formulae la or lb (la) (lb) wherein Z is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. In a composition aspect, the present invention encompasses novel pharmaceutical compositions comprising the optically pure compound of the general formulae la and lb, together with a physiologically acceptable carrier or excipient, in an amount sufficient to have antilipidemic, antiaggregatory or antiinflammatory activities in an animal or patient. The compounds and their compositions of the present invention are thus useful in the treatment or prevention of atherosclerotic disorders, as well as in the treatment of various pathologies in which acute and chronic inflammation occur. As used herein, the term "substituted or unsubstituted aryl" means an organic, aromatic group which can be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more halogen, lower alkyl, alkoxy, aromatic or heteroaromatic groups. 5 Examples of unsubstituted aryl groups include phenyl, pyridyl, thiophenyl, furyl, pyrrolyl and the like. Examples of substituted aryl groups include those such as halogen substituted phenyl, e.g., 4-chlorophenyl, 2,3- dichlorophenyl, 2,4-dichlorophenyl; alkyl-substituted 0 aryl, e.g., tolyl, 3-methylpyridyl, 2,3-dimethylphenyl, 4-ethylphenyl, 4-isobutylphenyl; alkoxysubstituted aryl, e.g., 4-methoxyphenyl; and aryl-substituted aryl, e.g., 1,1 '-bipheny1. As used herein, the term "alkyl" means straight- or 5 branched-chain saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups preferably containing 1-6 carbon atoms. Representative of such groups are methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl and the like. The term "alkoxy" means a lower alkyl group attached to () the remainder of the molecule by oxygen. Examples of alkoxy are methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy and the like. The starting materials of formula II are known in the art and/or are preparable by methods described herein. 5 Optically pure enantiomers of mandelic acid are commercially available. Numerous methods exist for the manufacture of optically active and optically pure derivatives of mandelic acid such as the p-chloro- and p- phenylmandelic acids. A wide range of chiral bases are D used to resolve mandelic acid precursors including methylbenzylamine, brucine and ephedrine. Partial separation of enantiomers is accomplished with optically active solvents such as (-)-menthone, (-)-menthyl acetate and (+)-limonene. Anion-exchange chromatography using a amino-1, 3-propanediol, or chromatography through starch successfully separates mandelic acid enantiomers. Reduction of 1-menthyl benzoylformate with Na-amalgam followed by saponification of the menthyl ester provides 1-mandelic acid. Asymmetric syntheses of mandelic acid precursors include the Alpine borane reduction of methyl benzoylformate, hydroxy insertion using Evan's chiral i ide enolate, and L-selectride reduction of (+)- or (-)- menthol benzoylformate. Procedures developed for the production of racemic mandelic acid derivatives are well documented in the literature. Ando's scheme (Ando, J. Chem. Soc. Japan, 5_6:745-756 (1935)) relies upon the condensation of benzene derivatives with ethyl ketomalonate in the presence of SnCl 4 . This affords hydroxy diesters which after saponification and decarboxylation liberate racemic mandelic acid derivatives. The approach formulated by Compere (Compere, J. Org. Chem.. 3_3_:2565-2566 (1968)) generates mandelic acid derivatives in one step and in high yield by condensing substituted benzaldehydes with bromoform in the presence of potassium hydroxide and lithium chloride. Furthermore, mandelic acid is obtained in 45% yield by subjecting α-chloroacetophenone to aqueous alkali under normal atmospheric conditions (see Eaborn, J. Chem. Soc.. pp. 1935-1936 (1957)). A generally useful method involves the production of the optically pure (R) isomers of mandelic acid by resolution using R (+)- ethylbenzyl amine and recrystallization of the salt from absolute ethanol. Typically, the compound of the formula VI (VI) wherein Z is as hereinbefore defined, is obtained by washing an ether solution of the salt of the formula VII OH (VII) wherein Z is as hereinbefore defined, with 5% aqueous HC1. The ether layer is separated, cooled to 0°C and titrated with CH 2 N 2 to obtain the optically pure methyl ester of formula VI. This ester of formula VI is then converted to the necessary starting material of formula II by treatment with t-butyldimethylsilylchloride (TBDMSCl) and imidazole in dimethyIformamide, followed by DIBAL-H reduction at -78°C. The invention also provides for pharmaceutical compositions comprising the optically pure compounds of the general formula I above, as well as their physiologically acceptable salts (such as, for example, Na + , K + , NH 4 + ) . The compounds of the invention have antilipidemic and antiaggregatory activity and εre thus usefuL in the treatment or prevention of atherosclerotic disorders. Additionally, the compounds of the invention possess the ability to inhibit the activity of cyclooxygenase and 5- lipooxygenase in standardized assays for such activity, thus making them useful for the treatment of pathologies involving both acute and chronic inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel disease, aεithma, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and various forms of arthritis. The invention accordingly further provides optically pure compounds of the general formula I and their physiologically acceptable salts for use in the therapy or prophylaxis of atherosclerotic disorders, as well as in pathologies involving acute and chronic inflammation. When tested according to the methods described in the art, the (S)-isomers of formula I having the formula have been found to possess markedly superior properties when compared to their corresponding (R)-isomers. The R- and S-enantiomers were tested as inhibitors of arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation in human platelet-rich plasma. Data for individual experiments (2 separate donors) are given as pIC 50 (log molar inhibitory concentration of each drug which blocks aggregation to arachidonic acid by 50%) Inhibitors were preincubated for 1 minute prior to addition of arachidonic acid (200- 400 μM) . Changes in light transmission were measured as an index of aggregation and quantified after 4 minutes. These properties are summarized in Tables 1 and 2 below: TABLE 1 Data Set 1: (R)-(-)-5-[ (1,l'-biphenyl)4-yl]-3,4- dihydroxy-2(5H)-furanone Data Set 2: (S)-(+)-5-[ (l,l'-biphenyl)4-yl]-3,4- dihydroxy-2(5H)-furanone Data Set 1 Data Set 2 3.670 4.609 Paired T = 2.843609 Degree of reedom = 4 p = 0.046697 * TABLE 2 Data Set l: (R)-(-)-5-(p-chlorophenyl)-3,4-dihydroxy- 2(5H)-furanone Data Set 2: (S)-(+)-5-(p-chlorophenyl)-3,4-dihydroxy- 2(5H)-furanone Data Set 1 Data Set 2 3.575 4.654 3.446 5.699 3.511 AVE 5.176 0.091 STD 0.739 0.065 SEM 0.523 2.604 C V 14.280 2 N 2 2.689 -95% CL -1.465 4.332 +95% CL 11.817 Paired T = 2.836126 Degree of freedom = 1 p = 0.215804 (not significant) Try + 2 replicates/set Additionally, testing in standardized screens that examine a wide-spectrum of human monocyte activities indicates that the compounds of this invention possess a spectrum of activity which makes them useful in the treatment of pathologies involving acute and chronic inflammation. These assays are as described below and Tables 3 and 4 below indicate the results of testing in these assays for the compounds (S)-(+)-5-[ (1,l'- biphenyl)-4-yl]-3,4-dihydroxy-2(5H)-furanone and (S)-(+)- 3,4-dihydroxy-5-(4-isobutylphenyl)-2-(5H)-furanone, respectively. ASSAY: TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-α (TNFα) This assay determines the effect of test compounds on the production of TNFα from purified human monocytes. Compounds are tested for their ability to downregulate the production of TNFα in activated monocytes, or upregulate secretion of TNFα in unstimulated monocytes. Test compounds are incubated for sixteen hours with purified human monocytes at four dilutions over a range of three log 10 concentrations. Where appropriate, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is used to stimulate the monocytes. The level of TNFα in the resultant supernatants is quantitated in a solid phase Enzyme-linked Immunoassay (EIA) performed in a 96 well format. TNFα present in the samples is captured by a specific monoclonal antibody immobilized on the well, and detected with an anti-TNFα polyclonal antibody conjugated to horse radish peroxidase, followed by an appropriate substrate. The levels of TNFα are determined by interpolation of the resultant color change in the substrate from a standard curve. All supernatants are tested in duplicate with controls and standards. ASSAY: INTERLEUKIN-1B (IL-lβ) This assay determines the effect of test compounds on the secretion of IL-lβ from purified human monocytes. Compounds are tested for their ability to downregulate the production of IL-lβ in activated monocytes, or upregulate secretion of IL-lβ in unstimulated monocytes. Test compounds are incubated for sixteen hours with purified human monocytes at four dilutions over a range of three log 10 concentrations. Where appropriate, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is used to stimulate the monocytes. The level of IL-lβ in the resultant supernatants is quantitated in a solid phase Enzyme-linked Immunoassay (EIA) performed in a 96 well format. IL-lβ present in the samples is captured by a specific monoclonal antibody immobilized on the well, and probed with an anti-IL-lβ polyclonal antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, followed by an appropriate substrate. The levels of IL- lβ are determined by interpolation of the resultant color change in the substrate from a standard curve. All supernatants are tested in duplicate with controls and standards. ASSAY: INTERLEUKIN-6 (IL-6) This assay determines the effect of test compounds on the secretion of IL-6 from purified human monocytes. Compounds are tested for their ability to downregulate the production of IL-6 in activated monocytes, or upregulate secretion of IL-6 in unstimulated monocytes. Test compounds are incubated for sixteen hours with purified human monocytes at four dilutions over a range of three log 10 concentrations. Where appropriate, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is used to stimulate the monocytes. The level of IL-6 in the resultant supernatants is quantitated in a solid phase Enzyme-linked Immunoassay (EIA) performed in a 96 well format. IL-6 present in the samples is captured by a specific monoclonal antibody immobilized on the well, and probed with an anti-IL-6 polyclonal antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, followed by an appropriate substrate. The levels of IL-6 are determined by interpolation of the resultant color change in the substrate from a standard curve. All supernatants are tested in duplicate with controls and standards. ASSAY: INTERLEUKIN-8 (IL-8) This assay determines the effect of test compounds on the secretion of IL-8 from purified human monocytes. Compounds are tested for their ability to downregulate the production of IL-8 in activated monocytes, or upregulate secretion of IL-8 in unstimulated monocytes. Test compounds are incubated for sixteen hours with purified human monocytes at four dilutions over a range of three log, 0 concentrations. Where appropriate, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is used to stimulate the monocytes. The level of IL-8 in the resultant supernatants is quantitated in a solid phase Enzyme-linked Immunoassay (EIA) performed in a 96 well format. IL-8 present in the samples is captured by a specific monoclonal antibody immobilized on the well, and probed with an anti-IL-8 polyclonal antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, followed by an appropriate substrate. The levels of IL-8 are determined by interpolation of the resultant color change in the substrate from a standard curve. All supernatants are tested in duplicate with controls and standards. ASSAY: GRANULOCYTE MACROPHAGE COLONY STIMULATING FACTOR (GM-CSF) This assay determines the effect of test compounds on the expression of GM-CSF from purified human monocytes. Compounds are tested for their ability to downregulate the production of GM-CSF in activated monocytes, or upregulate secretion of GM-CSF in unstimulated monocytes. Test compounds are incubated for sixteen hours with purified human monocytes at four dilutions over a range of three log-. 0 concentrations. Where appropriate, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is used to stimulate the monocytes. The level of GM-CSF in the resultant supernatants is quantitated in a solid phase Enzyme-linked Immunoassay (EIA) performed in a 96 well format. GM-CSF present in the samples is captured by a specific monoclonal antibody immobilized on the well, and probed with an anti-GM-CSF polyclonal antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, followed by an appropriate substrate. The levels of GM- CSF are determined by interpolation of the resultant color change in the substrate from a standard curve. All supernatants are tested in duplicate with controls and standards. ASSAY: INTERLEUKIN-1 receptor antagonist (IL-lra) This assay determines the effect of test compounds on the secretion of IL-lra from purified human monocytes. Compounds are tested for their ability to downregulate or upregulate the production of IL-lra in unstimulated monocytes and in activated monocytes. Test compounds are incubated for sixteen hours with purified human monocytes at four dilutions over a range of three log 10 concentrations. Where appropriate, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is used to stimulate the monocytes. The level of IL-lra in the resultant supernatants is quantitated in a solid phase Enzyme-linked Immunoassay (EIA) performed in a 96 well format. IL-lra present in the samples is captured by a specific monoclonal antibody immobilized on the well, and probed with an anti-IL-lra polyclonal antibody. A second antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase is then added, followed by an appropriate substrate. The levels of IL-lra are determined by interpolation of the resultant color change in the substrate from a standard curve. All supernatants are tested in duplicate with controls and standards. ASSAY: TISSUE FACTOR (TF) This assay determines the effect of test compounds on the production of membrane bound tissue factor (TF) from purified human monocytes. Compounds are tested for their ability to downregulate the production of TF in activated monocytes, or upregulate production of TF in unstimulated monocytes. Test compounds are incubated for sixteen hours with purified human monocytes at four dilutions over a range of three logι 0 concentrations. Where appropriate, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is used to stimulate the monocytes. After the above period of incubation, medium is aspirated from the monocytes, and the cells are solubilized in Triton-X 100. The level of TF in the soluble fraction is quantitated in a solid phase Enzyme-linked Immunoassay (EIA) performed in a 96 well format. TF present in the samples is captured by a specific monoclonal antibody immobilized on the well, and detected using a biotinylated antibody fragment specific for bound TF, followed by streptavidin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase and an appropriate substrate. The levels of TF are determined by interpolation of the resultant color change in the substrate from a standard curve. All supernatants are tested in duplicate with controls and standards. ASSAY: LEUKOTIENE B 4 (LTB 4 ) This assay measures the ability of test compounds to modulate the amount of LTB 4 produced by the oxygenation of arachidonic acid by 5-lipooxygenase produced by purified human monocytes. Compounds are tested for their ability to downregulate the secretion of LTB 4 from activated monocytes, or upregulate secretion of LTB 4 from unstimulated monocytes. Test compounds are incubated for ninety minutes with purified human monocytes at four dilutions over a range of three log 10 concentrations. where appropriate, zymosan is used to stimulate the monocytes. The level of LTB 4 in the resultant supernatants is quantitated by immunoassay performed in a 96 well format. LTB 4 levels modulated by unknown compounds are determined by interpolation from a standard curve. All compounds are tested in duplicate with controls and standards. ASSAY: PLATELET ACTIVATING FACTOR (PAF) This assay measures the ability of test compounds to modulate the amount of PAF produced by purified human monocytes. Compounds are tested for their ability to downregulate the secretion of PAF from activated monocytes, or upregulate secretion of PAF from unstimulated monocytes. Test compounds are incubated for ninety minutes with purified human monocytes ar four dilutions over a range of three log 10 concentrations. Where appropriate, zymosan is used to stimulate the monocytes. The level of PAF in the resultant supernatants is quantitated by immunoassay performed in a 96 well format. PAF levels modulated by unknown compounds are determined by interpolation from a standard curve. All compounds are tested in duplicate with controls and standards. ASSAY: PROSTAGLANDIN E 2 (PGE This procedure measures the ability of test compounds to modulate the amount of PGE 2 produced by purified human monocytes. Compounds are tested for their ability to downregulate the secretion of PGE 2 from activated monocytes, or upregulate secretion of PGE 2 from unstimulated monocytes. Test compounds are incubated for ninety minutes with purified human monocytes at four dilutions over a range of three log 10 concentrations. Where appropriate, zymosan is used to stimulate the monocytes. The level of PGE 2 in the resultant supernatants is quantitated by immunoassay performed in a 96 well format. PGE 2 levels modulated by unknown compounds are determined by interpolation from a standard curve. All compounds are tested in duplicate with controls and standards. ASSAY: THROMBOXANE A 2 (TxA 2 ) This procedure measures the ability of test compounds to modulate the amount of TxA 2 (the major cyclo-oxygenase product) produced by purified human monocytes. Compounds are tested for their ability to downregulate the secretion of TxA 2 from activated monocytes, or upregulate secretion of TxA 2 from unstimulated monocytes. Test compounds are incubated for ninety minutes with purified human monocytes at four dilutions over a range of three log 10 concentrations. Where appropriate, zymosan is used to stimulate the monocytes. The level of TxA 2 in the resultant supernatants is quantitated by immunoassay performed in a 96 well format. TxA 2 levels modulated by unknown compounds are determined by interpolation from a standard curve. All compounds are tested in duplicate with controls and standards. ASSAY: PEPTIDOLEUKOTRIENES This procedure measures the ability of test compounds to modulate the amount of peptidoleukotrienes produced by purified human monocytes. Compounds are tested for their ability to downregulate the secretion of peptidoleukotrienes from activated monocytes, or upregulate secretion of peptidoleukotrienes from unstimulated monocytes. Test compounds are incubated for ninety minutes with purified human monocytes at four dilutions over a range of three log 10 concentrations. Where appropriate, zymosan is used to stimulate the monocytes. The level of peptidoleukotrienes in the resultant supernatants is quantitated by immunoassay performed in a 96 well format. Peptidoleukotriene levels modulated by unknown compounds are determined by interpolation from a standard curve. All compounds are tested in duplicate with controls and standards. ASSAY: PHOSPHOLIPASE A 2 (PLA 2 ) This assay measures the ability of test compounds to modulate the activity of the cellular phospholipase A 2 in human monocytes. Compounds are tested for their ability to inhibit stimulate phospholipase A j activity or activate basal activity in unstimulated monocytes. Test compounds are incubated for ninety minutes with purified human monocytes at four dilutions over a range of three log 10 concentrations. Where appropriate, zymosan is used to stimulate the monocytes. Monocytes with the arachidonyl moiety of phospholipids radiolabelled are utilized in a 96 well format. Percent release of radiolabelled fatty acid into the extracellular medium is quantified by liquid scintillation counting. All compounds are tested in duplicate with controls and standards. ASSAY: CHEMOTAXIS This assay measures the ability of test compounds to modulate the chemotactic response of purified human monocytes in response to a chemoattractant. Compounds are tested at four dilutions over a range of three log- 0 concentrations. The test compounds are combined with monocytes labeled with a fluorescent indicator and placed in the top wells of a chemotaxis chamber, above an optimized concentration of a monocyte chemoattractant placed in the wells below, and separated by a microporous filter. After sixty minutes, the migration of cells through the filter is quantified flurorometrically, and expressed in relation to spontaneous and maximum controls. All tests are carried out in triplicate. ASSAY: CELL ADHESION This assays measures the ability of test compounds to modulate adhesion of purified human monocytes to human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) cultures. HUVECs are cultured to confluence in 96-well plates. Purified human monocytes are labelled with fluorescent dye. Triplicate cultures of HUVECs and monocytes are treated with four dilutions of test compound over a range of three log 10 concentrations, in addition to stimulated and unstimulated controls. One hour after treatment, TNFo. is added to HUVEC cultures to stimulate production of adhesion molecules. After a twelve hour incubation, the treated monocytes are added to their corresponding HUVEC cultures and incubated for ten minutes. The stimulation index (S.I.) is determined by comparing the fluorescence of treated cultures to untreated controls using a fluoro etric readout in a 96-well format. ASSAY: SUPEROXIDE ANION RELEASE This assay measures the ability of the test compound to modulate the ability of purified human monocytes to release superoxide anions in response to a zymosan. Compounds are tested at four dilutions over a range of three log 10 concentrations. Monocyte-compound cultures are treated with zymosan to stimulate anion production. The amount of superoxide anion produced is determined by the culture's ability to reduce cytochrome C, as measured colorimetrically. The assay is carried out in a 96-well format in triplicate and results are expressed in relation to baseline unstimulated and maximum controls. Appropriate reference controls are run with each assay. ASSAY: MITOGEN-STIMULATED CELL PROLIFERATION and MIXED LYMPHOCYTE REACTION The purpose of this procedure is to determine the effect of test compounds on Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction and Mitogen-Induced Proliferation of normal human mononuclear cells . Procedure for Cell Proliferation: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) are added to a 96-well cell culture plate. Compounds are tested at four dilutions, in quadruplicates, over a range of three log 10 concentrations along with negative an inhibitory controls. The test compounds are incubated with the cells for one hour, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) is then added to all reactive test wells and the cultures are incubated for three days. The cultures are then pulsed with 3 H incorporation is then determined with a Wallac Betaplate counter. Procedure for Two Way Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction: PBMNC from two different donors are added to a 96-well cell culture plate. Four dilutions of test compounds, over a range of three log 10 in quadruplicate, along with negative and inhibitory controls are then added to the plate and incubated for six days. Cultures are subsequently pulsed, harvested, and counted as above. When tested in the above standardized assays, a representative compound of Formula I, i.e., (S)-(+)-5- [ (l,l'-biphenyl)-4-yl]-3,4-dihydroxy-2(5H)-furanone, was found to give the following results shown below in Table 3. TABLE 3 ey: NE No effect INHIB Inhibition STIM Stimulation IC«, 40% Inhibitory Concentration EC jo 50% Effective Concentration TC Tolerated Concentration when tested in the above standardized assays, a further compound of Formula I, i.e., (S)-(+)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(4- isobutyIphenyl)-2-(5H)-furanone, was found to give the following results shown below in Table 4. TABLE 4 Key: NE No effect INHIB Inhibition STIM Stimulation IC 40% Inhibitory Concentration ECj,, 50% Effective Concentration TC Tolerated Concentration IA Interferes with Assay The ability of the compounds of formula I to inhibit the action of various inflammatory cytokines make them useful in a wide variety of therapeutic methods. Specifically, their ability to mediate or inhibit the actions of TNF-α makes these compounds useful in the treatment of various invasive diseases, infections, and inflammatory states. Particularly important is the inhibition of the large amount of TNF produced during serious bacterial infections, which can trigger a state of shock and tissue injury (septic shock syndrome) . A further important use of the compounds of formula I is to inhibit the TNF which is known to mediate cachexia produced during chronic disease states. Thus, these compounds are particularly useful in adjunctive therapy for AIDS and cancer patients to reduce and/or ameliorate the consequences of cachexia produced during these chronic disease states. A further specific method of treatment for which the compounds of the instant invention are particularly useful is in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis wherein increased amounts of the inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-1 are present. By virtue of their ability to mediate and/or inhibit the action of these cytokines, inflammation and the severity of the disease state can be reduced or eliminated. The compounds of the instant invention can also be utilized in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) , Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis by inhibiting and the activity of the inflammatory cytokines which underlie these disease states. The compounds of the invention may be formulated in a conventional manner, optionally together with one or more other active ingredients, for administration by any convenient route for example of oral, intravenous or intramuscular administration. Thus, according to another aspect, the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula I and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. For oral administration, the pharmaceutical composition may take the form of, for example, tablets, capsules, powders, solutions, syrups or suspensions prepared by conventional means with physiologically acceptable excipients. The compounds may be formulated for intravenous or intramuscular administration in dry form for reconstitution before use, or as a sterile solution or suspension. A proposed daily dose based on similar pharmacokinetic parameters to CHTA for administration to man is 10 to 25 mg/kg, for example 1 gm daily to 70 kg, which may be conveniently administered in l to 3 doses per day. The precise dose administered will, of course, depend on the age and condition of the patient. The following examples illustrate the present invention. Melting points were determined in open capillaries with a Thomas-Hoover ϋni-Melt Apparatus and are uncorrected. Infrared spectra were recorded by a Laser Precision Analytical RFX-FTIR spectrometer (model TSI-400) . Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were obtained with either an IBM-Bruker model NR/250 or NR/270 FT NMR spectrometer. Tetramethylsilane (TMS) in CDC1 3 , DMSO-d 6 , acetone-d 6 , CD 3 OD or D 2 0 was used as internal standard. Chemical shifts were reported on the <5 scale with peak multiplicities: s, singlet; d, doublet; dd, doublet of doublets; ddd, doublet of doublets of doublets; t, triplet; q, quartet; m, multiplet. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) was distilled from Na/Benzophenone ketyl; CH 2 C1 2 was dried over P 2 0 5 ; and DMF was distilled and stored over molecular sieves. Optical rotations were taken on a Perkin-El er model 241 polarimeter using a 10 cm, 1 mL cell. Mass spectra were acquired with either a Kratos MS25RFA or a VG 70-250S mass spectrometer. Elemental analyses were performed by Galbraith Laboratories, Inc. , Knoxville, TN. PREPARATION OF STARTING MATERIALS EXAMPLE A Methyl p-chlorophenyl-θ!-hvdroxyacetate A. To a 2-necked 500 mL round bottom flask equipped with a condenser, nitrogen inlet and septum was added 35 g (250 mmol) of p-chlorophenylcarboxaldehyde, 49 g (750 mmol) of KCN, 0.3 g (2.5 mmol) of Zn(CN) 2 , 135 mL of dry acetonitrile (CH 3 CN) and 80 mL (625 mmol) of tri ethylsilyl chloride (TMSC1) . The suspension was warmed to reflux with stirring, and after 18 hours, an additional 35 mL (300 mmol) of TMSC1 was added. The mixture was maintained at reflux for 18 hours, cooled, filtered (scintered glass) , washed three times with 30 mL of acetonitrile (CH 3 CN) , and the combined filtrate was concentrated to a solid (Rotovap) . The crude cyanohydrin was ground into a fine powder, diluted with 400 mL of concentrated HC1 and stirred for 24 hours. The yellow suspension was poured onto 1500 g of ice, filtered, washed with several portions of H 2 0 and dried leaving the crude acetamide, which may be recrystallized from THF and CH 2 C1 2 : m.p. 120-121°C. The crude acetamide was dissolved in 600 mL of a 5 M solution of KOH in metlanol and warmed to reflux for 2 h, cooled to room temperature, concentrated, poured into 400 g of ice and acidified with 10% aqueous HC1. The suspension was extracted three times with 500 mL of Et 2 0 and the combined Et 2 0 extracts were washed once with 200 mL of H 2 0 and extracted three times with 75 mL of NaHC0 3 solution. The combined NaHC0 3 extracts were washed twice with 50 mL of Et 2 0, acidified with 10% aqueous HC1 and extracted twice with 250 mL of Et 2 0. The combined organic extracts were washed once with 75 mL of H 2 0 and twice with 75 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated to give p- chlorophenyl-α-hydroxyacetic acid, m.p. 98-106°C, (lit .p. 119-120°C) . B. A 250 mL round bottom flask containing 5.6 g (30 mmol) of p-chlorophenyl-α-hydroxyacetic acid and 100 mL of concentrated HCl.MeOH (1:9) was warmed to reflux for 12 hours. The solution was concentrated under reduced pressure, diluted with 250 mL of Et 2 0 and washed once with 30 mL of H 2 0, twice with 30 mL of NaHC0 3 solution, once with 30 mL of H 2 0 and once with 30 mL of brine. The organic layer was dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated leaving 5.0 g (83%) of methyl p-chlorophenyl-α-hydroxyacetate lit m.p. 55°C) 'H-NMR (CDC1 3 ) S 7.36-7.28 (m, 4 H) , 5.13 (s, 1 H) , 3.72 (s, 3 H) , 3.67 (br s, 1 H (exchanges with D 2 0) ) . EXAMPLE B fR)-(-)-p-Chlorophenyl-α-hvdroxyacetic acid A. Selenium dioxide (35.5 g; 320 mmol) was dissolved in 250 mL of MeOH (warm to reflux with stirring), and 19.6 g (315 mmol) of α-bromo-4-chloroacetophenone was added. The reaction mixture was warmed to reflux for 24 hours, cooled, filtered and concentrated leaving an orange oil. The oil was diluted with 1500 mL of Et 2 0 and washed three times with 200 mL of H 2 0 and once with 200 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated. The crude oil was crystallized from Et 2 0 and hexanes at -20°C. The white needles were filtered while cold and washed with small portions of cold hexanes to yield 22 g (35%) of methyl p- chlorophenyl-α-oxoacetate, m.p. 56-57°C, J H-NMR (CDC1 3 ) <5 8.0-7.9 (m, 2 H) , 7.5-7.4 (m, 2 H) , 3.9 (s, 3 H) ; 13 C-NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 184.4, 163.5, 141.6, 131.4, 131.0, 129.3, 52.7. B. Methyl p-chlorophenyl-α-oxoacetate (16.0 g; 80 mmol) was dried under reduced pressure for 12 h in a 250 mL flask. The flask was filled with argon and 36 mL (120 mmol) of Alpine borane (prepared from (1R)-(+)-α-pinene of 93% ee) was added. The solid reaction mixture turned to a red suspension after 8 hours. The mixture was stirred and after 16 hours was cooled to 0°C. Acetaldehyde (6.7 mL) was added, with stirring. All volatile materials were removed by distillation (80°C, 0.3 mm Hg) , and the resultant orange oil was taken up in 200 mL of Et 2 0 and cooled to 0°C. Ethanolamine (8 mL; 135 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred vigorously for 30 minutes, filtered (scintered glass packed with celite) and washed three times with 25 mL of Et 2 0. The combined filtrate was washed once with 50 mL of H 2 0 and twice with 30 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated leaving an orange oil. The resultant crude hydroxyacetate was dissolved in 325 mL of MeOH, and 75 mL of an aqueous 0.42 M solution of NaOH was added with stirring and at room temperature over a 2 hour period. After an additional 2 hours the solution was acidified to Ph 6 with 10% aqueous HC1, concentrated under reduced pressure and diluted with 300 Ml of H 2 0 and 75 mL of saturated NaHC0 3 solution. The solution was washed twice with 150 mL of Et 2 0, acidified to pH 1 with 10% aqueous HC1 and extracted three times with 150 mL of Et 2 0. The Et 2 0 solution was washed once with 30 mL of H 2 θ and twice with 30 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated leaving 12.5 g (84%) of the title optically active acid, 72% ee, a_ 2 -96.12° (MeOH) . (5)- (+)-p-Chlorophenyl-α-hvdroxyacetic Acid was synthesized by a nearly identical procedure as described for the corresponding (R)-(-)-enantiomer. The only difference was that the reduction was performed with Alpine borane prepared from (IS)-(-)-α-pinene of 98% ee. (.-?)-(+)-Methylbenzylamine Salt of (R) - (-)-p-Chlorophenyl- α-hvdroxyacetic Acid The 72% ee acid (12.5 g; 67 mmol) was dissolved in 250 mL of absolute EtOH and warmed to reflux on a steam bath, (i?)-(+)-Methylbenzylamine (8.6 mL; 67 mmol) was added and the flask was removed from the steam bath, seeded with a small crystal of the salt, wrapped in cotton and not disturbed for 48 hours. The crystals were filtered, washed six times with 25 mL portions of cold absolute EtOH and dried leaving 14.65 g (71%, 83% based on 72% ee) of the diastereomeric salt. The salt was recrystallized twice from EtOH to yield 12.5 g of the diastereomerically and optically pure title salt: m.p. 194-200°C, α" -49.7° (S) - (-)-Methylbenzylamine Salt of (S)-(+)-p-Chlorophenyl- α-hvdroxyacetate was prepared as described for the corresponding (R) - (-)-enantiomer: m.p. 194-200°C; _ 2 +48.7° (c = 0.624, MeOH), +185 (c = 0.624, MeOH) (R) - (-)-p-Chlorophenyl-α-hvdroxyacetic Acid: The (R) -(-)-amine salt (4.6 g; 15 mmol) was added to a separatory funnel containing 150 mL of Et 2 0 and 40 mL of 5% aqueous HC1 and shaken vigorously until the salt dissolved. The Et 2 0 layer was separated and washed once with 25 L of 5% aqueous HC1, twice with 25 mL of H 2 0 and once with 25 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated leaving 2.7 g (97%) of the optically pure α-hydroxyacetic acid. For analytical data, a small sample was recrystallized as white needles from CHC1 2 and pet ether: m.p. 117-119°C (lit m.p.120.5-121°C) ; _ 2 -129° (c = 0.966, EtOH) . ( S) - (+)-p-Chlorophenyl-α-hydroxyacetic Acid was prepared as described for the corresponding (iR)-(-)-enantiomer: m.p. 116-119°C; _ 2 +132° (c = 1.42, EtOH). EXAMPLE C (R) - (-)-Methyl p-Chlorophenyl-α-hydroxyacetate A solution of (-R)-(-)-p-chlorophenyl-α-hydroxyacetic acid (2.6 g; 14 mmol) in 100 mL of Et 2 0 was cooled to 0°C and titrated with CH 2 N 2 until the yellow color of CH 2 N 2 persisted. Evaporation of solvent provided 2.65 g (96%) of the desired methyl ester as a colorless oil: a_ 2 -110° (c = 1.102, EtOH) . (S) - (+)-Methyl p-Chlorophenyl-α-hγdroxyacetate was prepared as described for the corresponding (-R)-(-)- enantiomer: a_ 2 +103° (c = 1.555, EtOH). EXAMPLE D (R) - (-)-Methyl p-Chlorophenyl-α-r ( (1.1-dimethylethyl. dimethylsilylloxyl-acetate (R)-(-)-methyl p-chlorophenyl-α-hydroxy acetate (2.05 g; 10.0 mmol), 2.26 g (15.0 mmol) of TBDMSCl, 1.09 g (16.0 mmol) of imidazole and 10 mL of DMF were combined in a 100 mL round bottom flask and stirred under argon for 18 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with 150 mL of Et 2 θ, washed three times with 25 mL of H 2 0 and once with 25 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) , and concentrated. The compound was dried under reduced pressure (0.3 mm Hg, 60°C) for 1.5 hours to yield 3.03 g (97%) of the title tert-butyldimethylsilyloxyacetate as a colorless oil: a_ 2 -60° (c = 0.616, EtOH); Η-NMR (CDCl 3 ) δ 7.41-7.37 (m, 2 H) , 7.32-7.27 (m, 2 H) , 5.18 (s, 1 H) , 3.66 (s, 3 H) , 0.89 (s, 9 H) , 0.09 (s, 3 H) , 0.02 (s, 3 H) . (S) - (+. -Methyl p-Chlorophenyl-α-r ( (1.1- dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl)oxyl-acetate was prepared as described for the corresponding (R)-(-)-enantiomer: α* 2 , 2 +59° (c = 0.652, EtOH). EXAMPLE E (R) - (-)-p-Chlorophenyl-α-r ( (l f l-dimethylethyl) dimethylsilyl)oxyl-acetaldehyde To a 100 mL 2-necked round bottom flask equipped with a septum and nitrogen inlet was added 3.0 g (9.5 mmol) of the (R)-(-)-methyl acetate prepared in Example D dissolved in 55 mL of dry toluene. The solution was cooled to -78°C (C0 2 /acetone) and 12 mL (12 mmol) of a 1.0 M solution of DIBAL-H in toluene was added slowly (5 minutes) with stirring. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hour at -78°C and poured into 100 g of ice and 100 mL of CHC1 3 . The reaction flask was rinsed with 100 mL of CHC1 3 and the mixture was stirred vigorously for 30 minutes. After separation of the CHC1 3 layer, the aqueous phase was washed with 100 L of CHC1 3 and the combined CHC1 3 extracts were washed once with brine 80 mL, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated leaving 2.5 g (93%) of the title aldehyde as a clear colorless oil of better than 95% purity (*H-NMR) . The aldehyde was not further purified owing to its instability to temperatures above 60°C and to silica gel: α, 2 , 2 -33.71° (c = 0.330, EtOH); J H-NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 9.47 (d, J = 2.0 Hz, 1 H) , 7.33-7.32 (m, 4 H) , 4.95 (d, J = 2.0 Hz, 1 H) , 0.92 (s, 9 H) , 0.10 (S, 3 H) , 0.02 (s, 3 H) . .S)-(+)-p-Chlorophenyl-α-r ( ( 1.l-dimethylethyl) dimethylsilyl)oxyl-acetaldehyde was prepared as described for the corresponding (!?)-(-)-enantiomer: α- 2 , 2 +46.5° (c = 0.316, EtOH). EXAMPLE F r (1,1'-Biphenyl)4-yll-α-hydroxyacetamide To a 25 mL-round bottom flask containing a reflux condenser fitted with a nitrogen inlet and 3.0 g (16.5 mmol) of 4-biphenylcarboxaldehyde was added 3.21 g (49.4 mmol) of KCN, 0.019 g (0.16 mmol) of Zn(CN) 2 , 9 mL of CH 3 CN and 3.1 mL (40.3 mmol) of TMSC1. The reaction mixture was warmed to reflux under N 2 with stirring for 20 h and an additional 2 L (26 mmol) of TMSC1 was added. The mixture was maintained at reflux for 10 h, cooled to room temperature and filtered through a scintered glass funnel. The KCN filter cake was washed twice with 5 mL portions of CH 3 CN and the combined filtrate was concentrated (Rotavap) to a yellow solid. The solid was ground to a powder and diluted with 40 mL of concentrated HCl and stirred for 20 hours. The pink-orange suspension was poured over ice (lOOg) and filtered leaving 3.6 g (96%) of the title crude acetamide. Recrystallization from THF:CH 2 C1 2 left 3.0 g (80%) of the title acetamide as light yellow flakes: m.p. 225-227°C Η-NMR (CD 3 0D) δ 7.62-7.52 (m, 6 H) , 7.44-7.31 (m, 3 H) , 5.04, (s, 1 H) EXAMPLE G T (1. l'-Biphenyl)4-ylι-α-hvdroxyacetic Acid To a solution of 2.7g (11.9 mmol) of the α- hydroxyacetamide prepared in Example F in 67 L of MeOH was added 17 g of KOH, and the solution was warmed to reflux for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and concentrated (Rotavap) , poured into 20 g of crushed ice and acidified with 10% aqueous HCl. The precipitate (hydroxy acid) thus obtained was filtered, washed with small portions of H 2 0, dried and recrystallized from EtOH-H 2 0 as white crystals: m.p. 200- 201 (lit. m.p. 20^203°C). EXAMPLE H Methyl α-f (1.1 '-Biphenyl)4-yl1-α-hvdroxyacetate A 250 mL R.B. flask containing a condenser, drying tube, and 7.5 g (32.8 mmol) of the α-hydroxyacetic acid of Example G dissolved in 150 mL of concentrated HCl:MeOH (1:9) was warmed to reflux for 2 hours. The solution was concentrated under reduced pressure, and the residue was dissolved in 250 mL of Et 2 0. The Et 2 0 solution washed once with 50 mL of H 2 0, twice with 50 mL portions of 10 % NaHC0 3 solution, twice with 30 mL of H 2 0 and twice with 30 mL of brine, dried (MgS0 4 ) and concentrated. The crude methyl acetate was recrystallized from EtOAc and Hexanes leaving 6.5 g (82%) of the title acetate: l H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.63-7.32 (m, 9 H) , 5.22 (d, broad, 1 H) , 3.78 (s, 3 H) , 3.45 (d, broad, 1 H) . EXAMPLE I Methyl α-r (1.l'-Biphenyl)4-vn-α-oxoacetate: Method A: To a 100 mL round bottom flask with attached drying tube was added 2.42 g (10.0 mmol) of the methyl α- hydroxyacetate of Example H, 1.84 g (12 mmol) of pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) and 70 mL of CH 2 C1 2 . The suspension was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. An additional 1.0 g (7 mmol) of PCC was added and stirring continued for 20 h. The reaction was quenched by the addition of 15 mL of Et^O, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. Filtration over silica gel (70-230 mesh) using CHCl 3 :MeOH (97:03) as elutant produced a yellow oil which crystallized upon standing leaving 1.85 g (77%) of the title α-keto ester. Method B: To a 100 mL R.B. flask with 1.9 g (7.8 mmol) of the methyl α-hydroxyacetate of Example H dissolved in 50 mL of acetone at 15°C was added Jones reagent (chromic acid solution) with stirring at a rate to maintain the reaction temperature under 20°C. The reaction was monitored by TLC and after the disappearance of starting material 5 mL of iPrOH was added. The green chromium salts were removed by filtration, washed three times with 15 mL portions of acetone and the filtrate was concentrated. The crude mixture was diluted with 100 mL of Et 2 0, and the Et 2 0 solution was washed twice with 20 mL of H 2 0 and twice with 20 mL of brine, dried (MgS0 4 ) and concentrated. Recrystallization from EtOAc and Hexanes provided 1.2 g (64%) of the title α-keto ester: m.p. 61- 62°C; ! H-NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 8.13-8.05 (m, 2 H) , 7.74-7.62 (m, 4 H) , 7.53-7.44 (m, 3 H) , 3.98 (s, 3 H) . EXAMPLE J ■R-Methyl α-r (l.l'-Biphenyl)4-yll-α-hvdroxyacetate To a 2-necked round bottom flask containing 2.4 g (10.0 mmol) of methyl α-[ (1,l'-biphenyl)4-yl]-α-oxoacetate under N 2 was added 6 mL (20 mmol) of Alpine borane prepared from 92% ee (1R) -(+)-α-pinene. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. The resultant off white solid was diluted with 3 mL of THF, cooled to 0°C, and 2 mL (35 mmol) of acetaldehyde was added. All volatile substances were removed by distillation (85°C, 0.3 mm Hg) and the intermediate boronate ester was diluted with 25 mL of Et 2 0, cooled to 0°C and hydrolyzed with 1.3 mL (22 mmol) of ethanolamine. The suspension was stirred for 30 min at 0°C, filtered through a celite packed scintered glass funnel and washed twice with 10 mL portions of Et 2 0. The combined filtrate was washed once with 10 mL of H 2 0 and twice with 10 L of brine, dried (MgS0 4 ) and concentrated. --methyl α-[(l,l'- biphenyl)4-yl]-α-hydroxyacetate was filtered through silica gel (70-230 mesh) using hexanes:EtOAc (90:10) as elutant and recrystallized from EtOAc and Hexanes to provide 1.1 g (46 %) of the title optically active (R) - (-)-methyl acetate. EXAMPLE K Resolution of Racemic f (1.1 / -Biphenyl)4-yll-α- hydroxyacetic Acid with (R) - (+)-Methylbenzylamine and (S) - (-)-Methylbenzylamine. The racemic acid of Example H (22.8 g; 100 mmol) was dissolved in 350 mL of absolute EtOH and warmed to reflux on a steam bath. (!?)-(+)- Methylbenzylamine (12.8 mL; 100 mmol) was added, the flask removed from the steam bath, and the contents seeded with a small crystal of the salt. The flask was wrapped in cotton and not disturbed for 48 hours. The crystals were filtered, washed six times with 25 mL portions of cold absolute EtOH and dried leaving about 18 g of the crystalline salt. The salt was recrystallized three times using approximately 15 mL of ethanol for each gram of compound to yield 10 g [28% yield, 57% adjusted based on 50 mmol of (i?)-acid] of the diastereomerically and optically pure salt of the title [ (1,l'-biphenyl)4- yl]-α-hydroxyacetic acid: m.p. 196-205°C, a_ 2 -49.7° (c = 0.306, MeOH) . The filtrate from the first recrystallization was concentrated and diluted with 500 mL of Et 2 0. The Et 2 0 solution was washed three times with 50 mL of 10% aqueous HCl, twice with 50 mL of H 2 0 and twice with 50 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated leaving 10 g (45 mmol) of the corresponding optically active (-?)-(+)- hydroxy acid. The acid was dissolved in about 250 mL of absolute EtOH, the solution warmed to reflux, and 5.7 mL (45 mmol) of (S)-(-)-methylbenzylamine was added. The flask was wrapped in cotton and foil and set on a cork ring without disturbance for 48 hours. The crystals were filtered and washed with a minimum of cold EtOH. The salt was recrystallized 3 times using approximately 15 mL of EtOH for each 1 g of the diastereomeric salt leaving 8 g (23%, 46% adjusted) of: m.p. 197-207°C; α£° +44.2° (c = 0.624, MeOH) . EXAMPLE L (R) - (-) - ( 1. 1 '-Biphenyl)4-yl ~ |-α-hvdroxyacetic Acid: (R)-(-)-Amine Salt (2.65 g; 7.6 mmol) was added to a separatory funnel containing 150 mL of Et 2 0 and 40 L of 5% aqueous HCl, and the suspension was shaken vigorously until the salt dissolved. The Et 2 0 layer was separated and washed once with 25 mL of 5% aqueous HCl, twice with 25 mL of H 2 0 and once with 25 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated leaving 1.7 g (98%) of optically pure (R)-(-)-[l,l , -biphenyl)4-yl]-α-hydroxyacetic acid. For analytical data, a small sample was recrystallized as white needles from THF and CH 2 C1 2 : m.p. 210-212°C; a._ 2 - 135.2° (c = 0.318, EtOH). (S) - (+)-r (1.1'-Biphenyl)4-yl1-α-hvdroxyacetic Acid was prepared as described for the corresponding (i?)-(-)- enantiomer using the (S)-(+)-Amine salt prepared in Example K: m.p. 212-215°C; α- 2 . 2 +133.7° (c = 0.662, EtOH). EXAMPLE M (R) - (-)-Methyl r fl.1'-Biphenyl)4-yl]-α-hydroxyacetate A solution of 1.7 g (7.5 mmol) of the (*R)-(-)-p- phenylmandelic acid prepared in Example L in 75 mL of Et 2 0 was cooled to 0°C and titrated with CH 2 N 2 until the yellow color of CH 2 N 2 persisted. Evaporation of solvent provided 1.8 g (99%) of the title methyl ester as a white crystalline solid: m.p. 103-106°C; _ 2 -121.0° (c = 0.482, EtOH). (S) - (+)-Methyl T (1.l'-Biphenyl)4-yll-α-hvdroxyacetate was prepared as described for the corresponding (-R)-(-)- enantiomer: m.p. 103-106°C α*, 2 +120.7° (c = 0.372, EtOH). EXAMPLE N The Mosher Ester of Racemic Methyl ( 1. l -Biphenyl) 4-yll- α-hvdroxyacetate To a dry 10 mL round bottom flask equipped with a stir bar and 30 mg (0.13 mmol) of (i?)-(+)-α-methoxy-α- (trifluoromethyl)phenylacetic acid [ (R) ~(+)-MTPA] under argon atmosphere was added 0.5 mL of oxalyl chloride containing 0.1 % of DMF. The solution was stirred for 1 hour, and the excess oxalyl chloride was removed under reduced pressure (25°C, 0.3 mm Hg, 25 min) . (i?)-(-)~ MTPA-C1 was placed under argon atmosphere and 12 mg (0.05 mmol) of racemic methyl [(1,1'-biphenyl)4-yl]-α- hydroxyacetate, 0.2 mL of CH 2 C2 2 and 2 drops of pyridine were added. The solution was stirred for 27 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with 30 mL of Et 2 0 and extracted with 5 mL of H 2 0, 5 mL of 10% aqueous HCl, 5 L of H 2 0, 5 mL of saturated NaHC0 3 solution, 5 mL of H 2 0 and 5 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated. The crude solid was dried under reduced pressure: -NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.66-7.35 (m, 28 H) , 6.15 (s, 1 H) , 6.13 (s, 1 H) , 3.78 (s, 3 H) , 3.75 (s, 3 H) , 3.70 (d, J = 1.15 Hz, 3 H) , 3.56 (d, J = 0.98 Hz, 3 H) . The Mosher Ester of (R) - (-)-Methyl r .1.1'-Biphenyl) 4-yll- α-hydroxyacetate was prepared as described for the Mosher ester derivative of the racemic acetate: -NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.66-7.31 (m, 14 H) , 6.13 (s, 1 H) , 3.78 (s, 3 H) , 3.70 (d, J = 1.15 Hz, 3 H) . The Mosher Ester of t " S) - . +) -Methyl r (1.1 '-Biphenyl)4-yll- α-hvdroxyacetate was prepared as described for the Mosher ester derivative of the racemic acetate: 'H-NMR (CDC1 3 ) <5 7.61-7.35 (m, 14 H) , 6.15 (s, 1 H) , 3.75 (s, 3 H) , 3.56, (d, J = 0.98 HZ, 3 H) . EXAMPLE O .i?)-.-)-Methvl r(l,l'-Biphenyl)4-vn-α-(.l,l- dimethylethyl)-dimethylsilyl)oxyacetate α-Hydroxyacetate (1.8 g; 7.5 mmol), 1.8 g (12.0 mmol) of TBDMSCl, 0.82 g (12.0 mmol) of imidazole and 10 mL of DMF were combined in a 100 mL round bottom flask and stirred under argon for 18 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with 150 mL of Et-O, washed three times with 25 mL of H 2 0 and once with 25 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) , and concentrated. The compound was dried under reduced pressure (0.3 mm Hg, 60°C) for 1.5 hours to yield 2.6 g (98%) of the title tert-butyldi ethylsilyloxyacetate as a cloudy white oil: α 2 , 2 -71.9° (c = 0.914, EtOH); *H-NMR (CDC1 3 ) <S 7.59-7.33 (m, 9 H) , 5.28 (s, 1 H) , 3.70 (s, 3 H) , 0.92 (S, 9 H) , 0.12 (s, 3 H) , 0.05 (s, 3 H) . fS)-f+)-Methyl T (1.1'-Biphenyl)4-yll-α-f (1.1- dimethylethyl)-dimethylsilyl)oxyacetate was prepared as described for the corresponding (- )-(-)-enantiomer from (S) - (+)-methyl p-phenylmandelate: α- 2 , 2 +68.8° (c = 0.780, EtOH) . EXAMPLE P (R) - (-) - (1.1'-Biphenyl)4-yll-α- ( (1.l-dimethylethyl) dimethylsilyl)oxy-acetaldehyde A 100 mL 2-necked round bottom flask was equipped with a septum, N 2 inlet and 2.6 g (7.4 mmol) of the (i?)-(-)- methyl acetate of Example 0 dissolved in 45 mL of dry toluene. The solution was cooled to -78°C (C0 2 /acetone) , and 9 mL (9 mmol) of a 1.0 M solution of DIBAL-H in toluene was added slowly (5 min) with stirring. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 h at -78°C and poured into a mixture of 100 g of ice and 100 mL of CHC1 3 . The reaction flask was rinsed with 100 mL of CHC1 3 and the mixture was stirred vigorously for 30 min. After separation of the CHC1 3 layer, the aqueous phase was washed with 100 mL of CHC1 3 (emulsion!) and the combined CHC1 3 extracts were washed once with brine 80 mL, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated leaving 2.3 g (95%) of the title aldehyde as a colorless oil which was not further purified: 'H-NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 9.54 (d, J = 2.1 Hz, 1 H) , 7.63-7.35 (m, 9 H) , 5.05 (d, J = 2.1 Hz, 1 H) , 0.97 (S, 9 H) , 0.14 (s, 3 H) , 0.07 (s, 3 H) . (S) - (+)-T tl.1'-Biphenyl)4-yll-α-. (1.l-dimethylethyl) dimethylsilyl)oxy-acetaldehvde was prepared from (S) -(+)- methyl α-silyloxymandelate as described for the corresponding (J?)-(-)-enantiomer: a_\ 2 +36.6° (c = 1.01, EtOH) . EXAMPLE O (R) - (-)-Methyl α-Hydroxybenzeneacetate A solution of (R) - (-)-mandelic acid (1.52 g; 10 mmol) in 70 mL of Et 2 0 was cooled to 0°C and titrated with CH 2 N 2 until the yellow color persisted. Evaporation of solvent provided 1.65 g (99%) of the title methyl ester as a colorless oil which crystallized upon standing: m.p. 54- 55°C. (S)-(+)-Methyl α-Hvdroxybenzeneacetate was prepared as described for the corresponding (R)-(-)-enantiomer. The oil crystallized upon standing: m.p. 54-56°C, _ψ +125° (c = 2.30, EtOH) . EXAMPLE R (R) - (-)-Methyl α-r ( ( 1.1-Dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl)oxyl- benzeneacetate The α-Hydroxy acetate of Example Q (1.65 g; 10.0 mmol), 2.26 g (15.0 mmol) of TBDMSCl, 1.16 g (17.0 mmol) of imidazole and 12 mL of DMF were combined in a 100 mL round bottom flask and stirred under argon for 18 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with 150 mL of Et 2 0, washed three times with 25 mL of H 2 0 and once with 25 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated. The compound was dried under reduced pressure (0.3 mm Hg, 60°C) for 1.5 hours to yield 2.8 g (99%) of the title tertbutyldimethylsilyl-oxyacetate as a colorless oil: a_ 2 -53.6° (c = 1.25, EtOH); 'H-NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.47-7.27 (m, 5 H) , 5.22 (s, 1 H) , 3.67 (s, 3 H) , 0.90 (s, 9 H) , 0.09 (s, 3 H) , 0.02 (s, 3 H) . (S) - (+)-Methyl α-r ( (1.l-Dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl)oxyl- benzeneacetate was prepared as described for the corresponding (.R)-(-)-enantiomer: a_\ 2 +57.4° (c = 0.592, EtOH) . EXAMPLE S (R) - (-) - - ( ( 1.l-Dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl) oxy]benzeneacetaldehyde To a 100 mL 2-necked round bottom flask equipped with a septum and nitrogen inlet was added 2.8 g (10 mmol) of the (R) - (-)-methyl acetate of Example R dissolved in 55 mL of dry toluene. The solution was cooled to -78°C (C0 2 /acetone) and 12 mL (12 mmol) of a 1.0 M solution of DIBAL-H in toluene was added slowly (5 minutes) with stirring. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hour at -78°C and poured into 100 g of ice and 100 mL of CHC1 3 . The reaction flask was rinsed with 100 mL of CHC1 3 and the mixture was stirred vigorously for 30 minutes. After separation of the CHC1 3 layer, the aqueous phase was washed with 100 mL of CHC1 3 (emulsion) and the combined CHC1 3 extracts were washed with 80 mL brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated leaving 2.2 g (88%) of aldehyde as a clear colorless oil of greater than 90% purity (*H-NMR) . The aldehyde was not further purified: α- 2 , 2 -39.5° (c — 0.612, EtOH); *H-NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 9.51 (d, J = 2.2 Hz, 1 H) , 7.40-7.29 (m, 5 H) , 5.00 (d, J = 2.2 Hz, 1 H) , 0.95 (s, 9 H) , 0.12 (s, 3 H) 0.04 (s, 3 H) . (S) - (+) -a-T . (1.l-Dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl) oxylbenzeneacetaldehyde was prepared as described for the corresponding (R)-(-)-enantiomer: cc_\ 2 +39.6° (c = 0.442, EtOH) . EXAMPLE T 4-Isobutylmandelic Acid. To a dry 3-necked round-bottom flask under argon atmosphere equipped with a dropping funnel, septum and magnetic stir bar was added 12.6 mL (80 mmol) of isobutylbenzene, 12.3 mL (80 mmol) of diethyl ketomalonate (DEOM) and 40 mL of CH 2 C1 2 . The flask was cooled with stirring to 0°C followed by the dropwise addition of 11.7 mL (100 mmol) of SnCl 4 . The yellow reaction mixture was allowed to warm slowly to room temperature and after 3 hours the reaction was quenched by pouring the suspension into a mixture of 50 g of ice and 50 mL of 5% aqueous HCl and extracted with ether (3 X 100 mL) . The ether layers were combined and washed with water (2 X 50 mL) , 25 mL of brine, dried over MgS0 4 and concentrated. The crude diester was diluted with 120 mL of H 2 0 and 18 g (320 mmol) of KOH was added. The orange reaction mixture was stirred at 90°C for 1.5 h, and washed with 2 X 30 mL of ether. Decarboxylation was effected by adjusting the pH to 1 with concentrated HCl and warming to 90°C for 45 minutes. The pH of the solution was monitored and additional HCl was added as needed to maintain the pH of the solution below 2. The two phase system was extracted with 3 X 75 mL of ether and the combined ether layers were washed with 25 mL of H 2 0, 25 mL of brine, dried over MgS0 4 and concentrated leaving 12.3 g (73.8%) of a white solid which was not purified, but directly resolved into individual enantiomers. Resolution of 4-Isobutylmandelic Acid with Methylbenzylamine. Racemic 4-isobutylmandelic acid (45g, 215 mmol) was dissolved in 350 mL of absolute ethanol by warming on a steam bath. To the solution at reflux was added 27.7 mL (215 mmol) of (R)-methylbenzylamine. The solution was allowed to cool slowly without disturbance for 48 h. The white crystals were filtered, rinsed with small portions of ethanol, and subsequently recrystallized from ethanol until a constant rotation was observed: [α 20 D -44.4° (c = 1.80, MeOH)], m.p. = 181-185°C. The filtrate was concentrated, taken up in 400 mL of ether and washed with 3 X 50 mL of 10% HCl, 50 mL H 2 0, 50 mL of brine, dried over MgS0 4 and concentrated leaving 19.5 g of material. This compound was diluted with 175 mL of absolute ethanol, warmed to reflux on a steam bath and 12.5 mL (95 mmol) of (S)-methylbenzylamine was added. The solution was allowed to cool slowly for 48 hours and the crystals were filtered, washed with small portions of ethanol and recrystallized from ethanol until a constant rotation was obtained [α 0 D +42.4° (c = 1.306, MeOH)], m.p. = 181-186°C.. EXAMPLE U Methyl (i?)-.-)-2-r fl.l-Dimethylethyl)dimethy silvπoxy-2- (4-isobutyl)phenylacetate. A suspension of 4.94 g (15 mmol) of the (i?)-methylbenzylamine salt of (i?)-4- isobutylmandelic acid in 150 mL of ether was washed in a separatory funnel with 2 X 75 mL of 5% cone. HCl, 2 X 50 mL of H 2 0, 50 L of brine, dried over MgS0 4 and filtered. A small sample of the free acid was isolated by evaporation of solvent; recrystallization from CHCl 3 /hexanes produced white crystalline flakes: m.p. 135-137°C, α 21 D -126.5° (c = 3.134, MeOH). The colorless etheral solution was cooled to 0°C in an ice bath and treated with diazomethane until the color of diazomethane persisted. Evaporation of solvent provided a colorless oil α 20 D -120.8° (c = 2.14, MeOH). The crude oil was dried under high vacuum at room temperature for 2 hours and placed under argon atmosphere, tert- Butyldimethylsilyl chloride (3.4 g, 22.5 mmol), 2.1 g (30 mmol) of imidazole and 15 mL of DMF were combined and stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was diluted with 100 mL of ether and washed with 3 X 20 mL of H 2 0, 1 X 20 mL of brine, dried over MgS0 4 and concentrated leaving 3.98g of a colorless oil (79%): *H NMR (CDClj) δ 7.27-7.00 (m, 4H) , 5.12 (s, 1H) , 3.59 (s, 3H) , 2.35 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H) , 1.75 (heptet, J = 6.8 Hz, 1H) , 0.82 (S, 9H) , 0.79 (d, J = 6.7 Hz) , 0.00 (S,3H), - 0.07 (s, 3H) . Methyl fS)-f+)-2-r fl.l-Dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl1oxy-2- (4-isobutyl) henylacetate was prepared in an identical manner as described for the (i?)-(-)-enantiomer starting from the (S)-methylbenzylamine salt of (5)-4- isobutylmandelic acid. (S)-(+)-4-isobutylmandelic acid: m.p. 135-137°C; α 21 D +118.0° (c = 1.78, MeOH). Methyl (S)-(+)-4-isobutylmandelate α 21 D +118.3° (c = 1.75, MeOH). EXAMPLE V (R) - (-) -2-r .1.l-Dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl1oxy-2- (4- isobutyDphenylacetaldehyde. A solution of 3.98 g (11.8 mmol) of methyl (i?)-(-)-2-[ (1,1- dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy-2-(4- isobutyl)phenylacetate in 180 L of anhydrous toluene was cooled in an ice bath at -78°C and 14 mL (14 mmol) of 1.0 M Diisobutylalumminum hydride (DIBAL-H) solution in toluene was added dropwise. The colorless reaction mixture was stirred at -78°C for 1 hour and quenched by pouring into a mixture of lOOg of ice and 200 mL of CHC1 3 and adjitating the mixture with a glass rod. The CHC1 3 layer was separated, carefully washed with 50 mL of brine, dried over excess MgS0 4 and concentrated leaving 3.4g (94%) of the crude aldehyde as a colorless oil used in the next step without further purification: ! H NMR (CDC1 3 ) 9.50 (s, 1H) , 7.30-7.14 (m, 4H) , 4.99 (s, 1H) , 2.47 (d, J = 7.0 Hz, 2H) , 1.86 (heptet, J = 6.6 Hz, 1H) , 0.95 (s, 9H) , 0.89 (d, J = 6.6 Hz, 6H) , 0.11 (s, 3H) , 0.04 (s, 3H) . (S)- (+)-2-r (1.l-Dimethylethyl)dimethylsilylloxy-2- (4- isobutylphenylacetaldehvde was prepared in an analogous manner as described for (i?)-(-)-2-[ (1,1- dimethylethy1)dimethylsilyl]oxy-2-(4- isobuty1)phenylacetaldehyde. EXAMPLE 1 A. (4J )-(-)-Ethyl 2-Carboxylate-2-r3-(4-chlorophenyl)-α- ((2.2-dimethyl)1-propanoyl)oxy-β-((1.1- dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl)oxyl-1.3-dithiane A solution of 0.52 mL (3.3 mmol) of ethyl 1,3-dithiane-2- carboxylate in 10 L of THF (freshly distilled from Na/benzophenone) under argon was cooled to -78°C (C0 2 /acetone) and 2.2 mL (3.3 mmol) of 1.5 M LDA (solution in cyclohexanes) was added with stirring. The reaction mixture was removed from the dry ice bath for 10 minutes, cooled to -78°C and stirred for 1 hour. A solution consisting of 0.85 g (3.0 mmol) of (i?)-(-)-p- chlorophenyl-α-[ (1,1-dimethylethy1)dimethylsilyl)oxy]- acetaldehyde, 2 mL of THF and 0.41 mL (3.3 mmol) of pivaloyl chloride was added dropwise. Stirring was continued for 2 hours at -78°C and for 1 hour at room temperature. The reaction mixture was diluted with 100 mL of Et 2 0 and washed once with 20 mL of H 2 0, twice with 20 mL of 5% aqueous HCl, once with 20 mL of H 2 0 and once with 20 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated. Chromatography over silica gel (70-230 mesh) using EtOAc:Hexanes (0.5:9.5) provided 1.1 g (62%) of the title dithiane as a diastereomeric mixture in the ratio of (8.4:1.6) (integration of the benzyl protons at δ 5.92 (major) and 5.83 (minor)). The major diastereomer crystallized from the oil upon standing 4 to 8 days: m.p. 88-89°C; IR (KBr, pellet) 2978, 2967, 2929, 2858, 1741, 1724, 1225, 1144, 1101, 1022, 858, 838 cm" 1 ; -NMR (major diastereomer) (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.32-7.15 (m, 4 H) , 5.83 (d, J = 7.3 Hz, 1 H) , 5.11 (d, J = 7.3 Hz) , 4.18-4.04 (m, 2 H -0CH 2 CH 3 ) , 3.26 (ddd, J = 3.4, 10.5, 14.0 Hz, 1 H) , 3.08 (ddd, J = 3.2, 10.8, 14.0 Hz, 1 H) , 2.83-2.69 (m, 2 H) , 2.07-1.83 (m, 2 H) , 1.23 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3 H) , 0.97 (s, 9 H) , 0.73 (s, 9 H) , 0.05 (s, 3 H) , -0.26 (s, 3 H) . Anal , calcd . for C 26 H 41 0 5 SiS 2 Cl ; C , 55 . 64% , H, 7 . 36% ; Found : C , 55 . 37 ; H, 7 . 63 . B. (4R)-(-)-Ethyl 4-(p-Chlorophenyl)-3-( (2.2-dimethyl)1- propanoyl)oxy)-4-( (1.l-dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl)oxy-2- oxobutanoate To a solution of 3.25 g (24.3 mmol) of N- chlorosuccinimide and 4.7 g (27.8 mmol) of AgN0 3 in 200 mL of CH 3 CN:H 2 0 (8:2) was added a solution of 2.9 g (5.17 mmol) of the pivaloyl dithiane diastereomers prepared in Example IA in 10 L of acetone. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 25 minutes and quenched by the addition of the following at 1 minute intervals: 2 mL of saturated Na 2 S0 3 solution, 2.0 mL of saturated Na 2 C0 3 solution, 2.0 mL of brine and 200 mL of CH 2 C1 2 :Hexanes (1:1). The organic layer was separated, washed once with 30 mL of brine, dried (MgS0 4 ) and concentrated. Filtration through silica gel using EtOAc:Hexanes (9.5:0.5) as elutant provided 2.0 g (82%) of the title α-keto ester as an 8.4:1.6 mixture of diastereomers (integration of l H NMR for the benzylic protons at δ 5.82 (minor) and 5.59 (major) in the form of a colorless oil: IR (NaCl plates) 2960, 2933, 2860, 1738, 1274, 1261, 1151, 1092 cm 1 ; 'H-NMP. (CDC1 3 ) for major diastereomer δ 7.40-7.30 (m, 4 H) , 5.59 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H) , 4.96 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H) , 4.29 (q, J = 7.1 Hz, 2 H) , 1.35 (t, J = 7.1 Hz, 3 H) , 1.06 (s, 9 H) , 0.78 (s, 9 H) , -0.06 (S, 3 H) , -0.26 (s, 3 H) ; Anal, calcd. for C 23 H 35 0 ( -,SiCl: C, 58.64; H, 7.49: Found; C, 58.39; H, 7.55. C. (R) -(-)-5-(p-Chlorophenyl)-3- ( (2 .2-dimethyl)-1- propanoyl)oxy-4-hydroxy-2 (5H)-furanone The (4i?)-(-)-α-Keto ester of Example IB (0.38 g; 0.8 mmol) was dissolved in 25 mL of THF and 1.0 mL (1.0 mmol) of a 1.0 M solution of tetrabutylammoniumfluoride (TBAF) in THF was added dropwise with stirring. The solution turned green, then yellow, and after 10 minutes 5 mL of 10% aqueous HCl and 75 mL of Et 2 0 were added. The Et a O layer was separated and washed once with 10 mL of 5% aqueous HCl solution, twice with 10 mL of H 2 0 and once with 10 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated in vacuo leaving 235 mg (94%) of the title tetronic acid: m.p. 93-95°C; 0_W 2 -70.34° (c = 0.118, EtOH); IR (KBr, pellet) 3700-2600 (broad, vinylogous acid), 1770, 1749, 1660, 1495, 1323, 1302, 1130, 1091, 1007 cm 1 ; *H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.45-7.30 (m, 4 H) , 5.65 (s, 1 H) , 1.35 (s, 9 H) ; Anal, calcd. for C 15 H 15 0 5 C1 + 1/4 H 2 0; C, 57.15; H, 4.96: Found; C, 56.88; H, 5.08. The (R) - (+)-Methylbenzylamine Salt of Racemic 5-(p- Chlorophenyl)-3-( (2.2-dimethyl)-1-propanoyl)oxy)-4- hydroxy-2 (5H)-furanone was prepared by dissolving 0.23 g (1.0 mmol) of p-chloropheny1-2-hydroxytetronic acid in a mixture of 2 mL of pyridine, 2 mL of CH 2 C1 2 and 0.14 mL (1.1 mmol) of pivaloyl chloride under argon. The solution was stirred at room temperature for 12 hours followed by the addition of 1 mL of saturated NaHC0 3 . After 1 hour the mixture was diluted with 20 L of EtjO and extracted three times with 3 mL of NaHC0 3 solution. The aqueous layer was washed once with 5 mL Et 2 0 and acidified with 10% HCl solution and extracted twice with 20 mL of Et 2 0. The organic layer was washed once with 5 mL of 10% HCl solution, twice with 5 mL of H 2 0 and once with 5 mL of brine, dried (MgS0 4 ) and concentrated leaving a white waxy solid. The racemic crude tetronic acid (0.015 g, 0.05 mmol) was dissolved in 0.75 L of CDC1 3 containing 0.01 mL (0.1 mmol) of (R)-methylbenzylamine and 1 drop of D 2 0. *H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.36-7.27 (m, 22 H (Note the extra 4 protons are from excess amine)), 5.20 (s, 1 H ( (R,R)-diastereomeric salt)), 5.11 (s, 1 H ( (S,- )-diastereomeric salt)), 3.98 (q, J = 6.9 Hz, 2.5 H (excess amine), 1.40 (d, J = 6.9 Hz, 8 H (excess amine)), 1.28 (s, 18 H) . The (R) - (+)-Methylbenzylamine salt of (R) -(-)-5-(p- Chlorophenyl)-3-((2.2-dimethyl)-1-propanoyl)oxy-4- hydroxy-2(5ff)-furanone was prepared by mixing 0.015 g (0.05 mmol) of (R)-(-)-5-(-chlorophenyl)-((2,2-dimethyl)- l-propanoyl)oxy)-4-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone in 0.75 mL of CDC1 3 , 0.01 mL (0.1 mmol) of (R)-methylbenzylamine and 1 drop of D 2 0. J H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.36-7.27 (m, 9 H (2 additional protons were from excess amine)), 5.20 (s, 1 H) , 3.98 (q, J = 6.9 Hz, 1.2 H (excess amine), 1.40 (d, J = 6.9 Hz, 4 H (excess amine)), 1.28 (s, 9 H) . The (R) - (+)-Methylbenzylamine Salt of (S) - (-)-5-(p- Chlorophenyl)-3-f (2.2-dimethyl)-1-propanoyl)oxy-4- hvdroxy-2 ( 5ft)-furanone was prepared by mixing 0.018 g (0.06 mmol) (S)-(+)-5-(-chlorophenyl)-((2,2-dimethyl)-l- propanoyl)oxy)-4-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone in 0.75 mL of CDC1 3 and 0.02 mL (0.2 mmol) of (R)-methylbenzylamine. *H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.33-7.19 (m, 19 H (excess amine)), 5.13 (s, 1 H) , 4.30 (s, 7 H (RNH 3 + excess amine)), 3.99 (q, J = 6.7, 3 H (excess amine)), 1.34 (d, J = 6.7, 9 H (excess amine), 1.24 (s, 9 H) . D. (.R)-(-)-p-Chlorophenyl-2.3-dihvdroxy-2 (5H)-furanone: The pivaloyl tetronic acid prepared in Example IC (165 mg, 0.53 mmol) and 10 mL of AcOH:H 2 0 (9.8:0.2) were combined with stirring and warmed to c.a. 100°C for 24 hours. The stir bar was removed and rinsed with 2 mL of iPrOH and the yellow solution was concentrated leaving an oil that was crystallized by warming on a steam bath and adding 2 L of CHC1 3 and 1 mL of hexanes. The flask was allowed to cool slowly to room temperature and subsequently at 0°C for 3 hours, filtered and washed with small portions of CHC1 3 :hexanes (1:1) to yield 50 mg of optically pure (R)-(-)-p-chlorophenyl-2,3-dihydroxy- 2(5H)-furanone. The mother liqueur was concentrated on a steam bath and diluted with hexanes until the solution became slightly turbid. Upon cooling, an additional 20 mg of product was isolated to yield a total of 70 mg (58%) of the title acid: m.p. 173-176°C (dec); -128° (c = 0.24, EtOH); *H NMR (CD 3 COCD 3 ) δ 7.48-7.37 (m, 4 H) , 5.69 (s, 1 H) . The (R) - (+)-Methylbenzylamine Salt of Racemic 5-(p- Chlorophenyl)-3.4-dihvdroxy-2 (5H)-furanone was prepared by dissolving 12 mg (0.05 mmol) of the racemic 2- hydroxytetronic acid in 0.8 mL of CDC1 3 . The initial suspension was taken into solution by the addition of 0.01 mL (0.1 mmol) of (R)-(+)-methylbenzylamine. The J H NMR spectrum of the sample was taken immediately before crystallization. Separation of the diastereomeric benzylic protons was best observed after addition of D 2 0, but addition of D 2 0 also initiates crystallization: 1 H- NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.28-7.02 (m, 20 H (excess amine)), 6.23 (br s, 12 H (RNH 3 + excess amine)), 4.96 (s, 1 H) , 4.91 (s, 1 H) , 3.77 (q, J = 6.8 Hz, 2.5 H (excess amine), 1.22 (d, J = 6.8 Hz, 7 H (excess amine)). The (R) - (+)-Methylbenzylamine Salt of (R) - (-) -5- (Ό- Chlorophenyl)-3,4-dihvdroxy-2 (5H)-furanone was greater than 98% de by *H NMR analysis. (i?)-(-)-2-hydroxytetronic acid (12 mg; 0.05 mmol) was dissolved in 0.8 mL of CDC1 3 containing 0.01 L (0.1 mmol) of (i?)-(+)- methylbenzylamine and 1 drop of D 2 0: *H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.28-7.02 (m, 9 H) , 4.93 (s, 1 H) , 3.92 (br q, J = 6.8 Hz, 1 H) , 1.27 (d, J = 6.8 Hz, 3 H) . EXAMPLE 2 A. (4S) -(+)-Ethyl 2-Carboxylate-2- [ β-(4-chlorophenyl)-α- ( (2.2-dimethyl) 1-propanoyl)oxy-β-( (1.1- dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl)oxyl-1.3-dithiane was prepared by a procedure identical to that described for the synthesis of the corresponding (R)-(-)-enantiomer. The mixture of diastereomers that formed (8.4:1.6) was not separated. B. (4S)-(+) -Ethyl 4-(p-Chlorophenyl)-3-( (2.2-dimethyl) 1- propanoyDoxy) -4-( (1.1-dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl)oxy-2- oxobutanoate was prepared by a procedure identical to the one described for the corresponding (41?) -(-)-enantiomer. C. (S) -(+)-5-(p-Chlorophenyl)-3-( (2.2-dimethyl)-1- propanoyl)oxy)-4-hvdroxy-2 (5H)-furanone was prepared by a procedure identical to the corresponding (.R)-(-)-enantiomer. Recrystallization from Et 2 0 and Hexanes provided a white powder: m.p. 104-110°C; α- 2 , 2 +85° (c = 1.312, EtOH) . D. (S)-(+)-p-Chlorophenyl-2.3-dihvdroxy-2 (5H) -furanone was prepared by a procedure identical to the one described for the corresponding R-enantiomer: m.p. 165- 168°C dec; tt 2 +105.4° (c = 0.242, EtOH). The (R) - (+)-Methylbenzylamine Salt of (S) -(+)-5-(p- Chlorophenyl)-3.4-dihydroxy-2 (5H)-furanone was greater than 98% de by *H NMR analysis. (S)-(+)-2-hydroxytetronic acid (12 mg; 0.05 mmol) was dissolved in 0.8 mL of CDC1 3 containing 0.02 mL (0.2 mmol) of (i?)-(+)- methylbenzylamine. *H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.31-7.07 (m, 26 H (excess amine)), 4.92 (s, 1 H) , 4.22 (s, 11 H (RNH 3 + excess amine)), 3.97 (q, J = 6.7 Hz, 4 H (excess amine)), 1.34 (d, J = 6.7 Hz, 12 H (excess amine)). EXAMPLE 3 A. (4R)-(-)-Ethyl 2-rθ-( (1.1'-Biphenyl)4-yl)-α-((2.2- dimethyl) 1-propanoyl)oxy-β-( (1.l-dimethylethyl) dimethylsilyl)oxy1ethane-2-carboxylate-l.3-dithiane A solution of 0.52 L (3.3 mmol) of ethyl l,3-dithiane-2- carboxylate in 10 mL of THF (freshly distilled from Na/benzophenone) under argon was cooled to -78°C (C0 2 /acetone) and 2.2 mL (3.3 mmol) of 1.5 M LDA (solution in cyclohexanes) was added with stirring. The reaction flask was removed from the dry ice bath for 10 minutes and subsequently cooled to -78°C and stirred for 1 hour. A solution consisting of 0.98 g (3.0 mmol) of (-R)-(-)- [1,1'-biphenyl)4-yl]-α-(1,dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl) oxy-acetaldehyde, 2 mL of THF and 0.41 mL (3.3 mmol) of pivaloyl chloride was added drop-wise with stirring. Stirring was continued for 2 hours at -78°C and for 1 hour at room temperature. The reaction mixture was diluted with 100 mL of Et 2 0 and washed once with 20 L of H 2 0, twice with 20 mL of 5% aqueous HCl, once with 20 mL of H 2 0 and once with 20 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated. Chromatography over silica gel (70-230 mesh) using EtOAc:Hex (0.5:9.5) provided 1.1 g (62%) of the dithiane as a diastereomeric mixture in the ratio of (8.5:1.5) (integration of the benzyl protons at δ 5.92 (major) and 5.65 (minor)). The diastereomers were separated by chromatography (major was slightly less polar) for analytical purposes; -NMR (major diastereomer) (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.57-7.30 (m, 9 H) , 5.92 (d, J = 7.4 Hz, 1 H) , 5.18 (d, J = 7.4 Hz, 1 H) , 4.20-4.04 (m, 2 H -OCH 2 CH 3 ) , 3.27 (ddd, J = 3.5, 10.4, 13.9 Hz, 1 H) , 3.09 (ddd, J = 3.2, 10.7, 14.0 Hz, 1 H) , 2.83-2.72 (m, 2 H) , 2. 07-1.83 (m, 2 H) , 1.29 (t, J = 7.2 Hz , 3 H) , 0.95 (s , 9 H) , 0.75 (S , 9 H) , 0.07 (s , 3 H) , -0.22 (s , 3 H) . Anal , calcd. for C 32 H 46 0 5 SiS 2 ; C, 63.76% , H, 7 . 69% . Found: C, 63 .25 ; H, 7.64. B . (4R) - (-) -Ethyl 4- r ( 1. 1 ' -Biphenyl) 4-yl l -3- ( (2 .2- dimethyl) 1-propanoyl) oxy-4- ( ( 1. l-dimethylethyl) dimethylsilyl) oxy-2-oxobutanoate : To a solution of 0.54 g (4. 0 mmol) of N-chlorosuccinimide and 0.77 g (4.5 mmol) of AgN0 3 in 20 mL of CH 3 CN:H 2 0 ( 8 : 2 ) was added a solution of 0. 6 g (1. 0 mmol) of the pivaloyl dithiane diastereomers prepared in Example 3A in 2 mL of acetone. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 25 minutes and quenched by the addition of the following at 1 minute intervals: 1 mL of saturated Na 2 S0 3 solution, 1.0 mL of saturated Na 2 C0 3 solution, 1.0 L of brine and 80 mL of CH 2 C1 2 :Hexanes (1:1). The organic layer was separated, washed twice with 20 mL of H 2 0 and once with 30 mL of brine, dried (MgS0 4 ) and concentrated. Filtration through silica gel using EtOAc:Hex (9.5:0.5) as elutant provided 0.36 g (70%) of the title α-keto ester as an 8.5:1.5 mixture of diastereomers (integration of Η NMR for the benzylic protons at δ (minor) and 5.71 (major) in the form of a colorless oil: *H-NMR (CDC1 3 ) for major diastereomer δ 7.63-7.35 (m, 9 H) , 5.71 (d, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H) , 5.06 (d, J = 7.9 Hz, 1 H) , 4.31 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2 H) , 1.37 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3 H) , 1.10 (s, 9 H) , 0.82 (s, 9 H) , -0.01 (s, 3 H) , -0.20 (s, 3 H) ; Anal, calcd. for C 29 H 40 O 6 Si: C, 67.94; H, 7.86: Found: C, 67.67; H, 7.81. C. (i?)-(-)-5-r (1.1'-Biphenyl)4-yll-3-( (2.2-dimethyl)-1- propanoyl)oxy-4-hydroxy-2 (5H)-furanone: The (4i?)-(-)-α-Keto ester prepared in Example 3B (0.35 g; 0.7 mmol) was dissolved in 20 mL of THF, and 0.8 mL (0.8 mmol) of a 1.0 M solution of TBAF in THF was added drop- wise with stirring. The reaction solution turned yellow, and after 10 minutes, 5 mL of 10% aqueous HCl and 75 mL of Et 2 0 were added. The Et 2 0 layer was separated and washed once with 10 mL of 5% aqueous HCl solution, twice with 10 mL of H 2 0 and once with 10 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated in vacuo leaving 235 mg (94%) of the title tetronic acid. A sample was recrystallized as white plates from acetone and hexanes: m.p. 213-220°C dec; ά_ 2 -82.3° (c = 0.164, EtOH); IR (KBr, pellet) 2983, 2934, 1774, 1752, 1676, 1130, 1122, 1085 cm" 1 ; *H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.65-7.36 (m, 9 H) , 5.74 (s, 1 H) , 1.36 (s, 9 H) ; Anal , calcd . for C 21 H 20 O 5 C , 71 . 58 ; H , 5 . 72 : Found : C , 70 . 54 ; H , 4 . 75 . Optical Purity was Determined by *H NMR of the Diastereomeric Salt of (R)-(-)-5-r (1.l'-Biphenyl)4-yl1-3- ( (2.2-dimethyl)-l-propanoyl)oxy-4-hvdroxy-2(5ff)-furanone with (R) - (+)-Methylbenzylamine. The sample was prepared by mixing 0.015 g (0.05 mmol) of the acid in 0.75 mL of CDC1 3 and 0.01 mL (0.1.rimol) of (R)-methylbenzylamine: *H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.46-7.22 (m, 26 H (excess amine)), 5.27 (s, 1 H) , 4.02 (q, J = 6.7 Hz, 3.4 H (excess amine)), 3.39 (br s, 11.6 H (NH 3 + excess amine)), 1.35 (d, J = 6.7 Hz, 10 H (excess amine)), 1.24 (s, 9 H) . D. (J?)-(-)-5-r (1.1'-Biphenyl)4-yll-2.3-dihvdroxy-2(5ff)- furanone: Method A: The pivaloyl tetronic acid prepared in Example 3C (180 mg, 0.50 mmol) and 10 mL of AcOH:H 2 0 (9.8:0.2) were combined with stirring and warmed to ca. 100°C for 24 h. The stir bar was removed and rinsed with 2 mL of iPrOH and the yellow solution was concentrated leaving an oil that was crystallized from a mixture of CHC1 3 (2 mL) and hexanes (1 mL) . The flask was allowed to cool slowly to room temperature and subsequently at 0°C for 3 hours, filtered and washed with small portions of CHC1 3 :hexanes (1:1) to yield 50 mg of optically pure 2-hydroxytetronic acid. The mother liquor was concentrated on a steam bath and diluted with hexanes until the solution became slightly turbid. Upon cooling, an additional 20 mg of product was isolated to yield a total of 70 mg (52%) of the title tetronic acid: m.p. 207-210°C (dec); _ 2 -154° (c = 0.13, EtOH) *H NMR (DMSO-ά^) δ 7.72-7.65 (m, 4 H) , 7.50-7.34 (m, 5 H) , 5.76 (s, 1 H) , 3.35 (br S, 2 H) . Method B: A suspension of 178 mg (0.50 mol) of pivaloyl tetronic acid prepared in Example 3C in 15 mL of toluene and 7 L of CH 2 C1 2 was cooled to -78°C in a dry flask under N 2 atmosphere. To the suspension with rapid stirring was added 1.75 mL (1.75 mmol) of 1 M DIBAL-H dropwise. After 30 minutes the reaction was removed from the ice bath for 5 minutes, cooled to -78°C and quenched by the addition of 3 mL of 10% aqueous HCl and 50 mL of Et-.0. The organic layer was washed with 1 x 30 mL of H 2 0 and extracted with 2 x 30 mL of NaHC0 3 solution. The NaHC0 3 layer was washed with 1 x 30 mL of Et 2 0, acidified with 10% aqueous HCl and extracted with 2 x 40 mL of Et 2 0. The Et 2 0/hexanes (1:1) provided 55 mg (41%) of pure 2- hydroxytetronic acid: m.p. 194-202°C (dec); α 1 -168° (c = 0.31, EtOH) . The Salt of Racemic 5-f (1. l'-Biphenyl)4-V11-3.4- dihvdroxy-2 (5H) -furanone with (R) -(+)-Methylbenzylamine was prepared by diluting 12 mg (0.05 mmol) of the racemic 2-hydroxytetronic acid in 0.8 mL of CDC1 3 . The suspension was taken into solution by the addition of 0.01 mL (0.1 mmol) of (*R)-(+)-methylbenzylamine. The *H NMR spectrum was taken immediately and prior to crystallization. Addition of D 2 0 resulted in sample crystallization within 2-4 min: -NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.61-7.18 (m, (excess amine)), 5.08 (s, 1 H) , 5.03 (s, 1 i) , 3.97 (q, J = 6.7 Hz, (excess amine)), 3.84 (br s, (NH 3 + excess amine)), 1.33 (d, J = 6.7 Hz, (excess amine)). The Salt of (R) - (-) -5- [ (1.l'-Biphenyl)4-V11-3.4- dihydroxy-2 (5H) -furanone with (R) - (+)-Methylbenzylamine was determined to be greater than 98% de by *H NMR analysis. The sample was prepared as described for the preparation of the racemic salt: 'H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.58- 7.25 (m, 22 H (excess amine)), 5.69 (br s, 7 H (NH 3 + excess amine)), 4.98 (s, 1 H) , 3.96 (q, J = 6.7 Hz, 2 H (excess amine)), 1.34 (d, J = 6.7 Hz, 7 H (excess amine) ) . EXAMPLE 4 A. (45)-(+)-Ethyl 2- \β- ( (1.1'-Biphenyl)4-yl)-α-((2.2- dimethyl)1-propanoyl)oxy-iδ-( (1.l-dimethylethyl) dimethylsilyl)oxylethane-2-carboxylate-1.3-dithiane was prepared by a procedure identical to that described for the synthesis of (J?)-(-)-enantiomer in Example 3A. The mixture of diastereomers that formed (8.5:1.5) was not separated. B. (4S) - (+)-Ethyl 4-r (1.1'-Biphenyl)4-yll-3-( (2.2- dimethyl)l-propanoyl)oxy-4-( (1.1-dimethylethγl) dimethylsilyl)oxy-2-oxobutanoate was prepared by a procedure identical to the one described in Example 3B for the (4R)-(-)-enantiomer. C. (S) -(+)-5-T (1.1'-Biphenyl)4-yl1-3-((2.2-dimethyl)-1- propanoyl)o?:y-4-hvdroxy-2(5fO-furanone was prepared by a procedure identical to the one used to prepare the (- )-(- )-enantiomer of Example 3C: m.p. 210-215°C dec; α- 2 , 2 +84.8° (c = 0.466, EtOH). D. (S) -(+)-5-T (1.1'-Biphenyl)4-yl1-2.3-dihvdroxy-2(5ff) - furanone war. prepared by a procedure identical to the one described in Example 3D for (R)-(-)-enantiomer: m.p. 182-187°C due. ; α-, 2 +145° (c = 0.11, EtOH). The Salt of (S)-(+)-5-T (1.1'-Biphenyl)4-yl1-3.4- dihydroxy-2 <'5H)-furanone with (R)-(+)-Methylbenzylamine was determined to be greater than 98% de by *H NMR analysis. The sample was prepared as described for the racemic salt: *H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.54-7.19 (m, (excess amine)), 5.05 (s, 1 H) , 4.03 (q, J = 6.6 Hz), 3.28 (br s, NH 3 + excess amine), 1.35 (d, J = 6.6 Hz). EX AMPLE 5 A. (4R) - (-)-Ethyl 2-Carb3xylate-2-rα-( (2.2-dimethyl)1- propanoyl)oxy-β-( (1.1-dimechylethyl)dimethylsilyl) oxγ-β- phenyl1-l.3-dithiane: A solution of 1.58 mL (10. D mmol) of ethyl 1,3-dithiane- 2-carboxylatein 25 mL of THF (freshly distilled from Na/benzophenone) under argan was cooled to -78°C (C0 2 /acetone) and 6.7 mL (:o.O mmol) of 1.5 M LDA (solution in cyclohexanes) was added with stirring. The reaction mixture was remov-id from the dry ice bath for 10 minutes, cooled to -78°C and stirred for 1 hour. A solution consisting of 2.25 g (9.0 mmol) of (i?)-(-)-l- [ ( (1,1-dimethylethyl)dimetnylsilyl)oxy]benzacetaldehyde 6 mL of THF and 1.25 mL (10 τtmol) of pivaloyl chloride was added dropwise with stirring and stirring was continued for 2 hours at -78°C and for 1 hour at room temperature. The reaction mixture was diluted with 200 mL of Et 2 0 and washed once with 20 mL of H 2 0, twice with 20 mL of 5% aqueous HCl, once with 20 iL of H 2 0 and once with 20 mL of brine. The organic layer as dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated. Chromatogra hy over silica gel (70-230 mesh) using EtOAc:Hexanes (0.5:9.5) and distillation (0.3 mm Hg, 110°C) to remove excess ethyl l,3-dithiane-2- carboxylate provided 3 g (63%) of the title dithiane as an 8.3:1.7 mixture of diastereomers (integration of the benzylic protons at δ 5.92 (major) and 5.67 (minor)). An analytical sample of the pure major diastereomer was isolated by chromatography: IR (NaCl plates) 2960, 2929, 2904, 1729, 1279, 1250, 1215, 1140, 1113, 1093, 1057, 1030, 847, 838 cm "1 ; l ϋ NMR of the major isomer (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.35-7.18 (m, 5 H) , 5.92 (d, J = 7.7 Hz, 1 H) , 5.11 (d, J = 7.7 Hz, 1 H) , 4.22-4.08 (m, 2 H (-0CH 2 CH 3 ) ) , 3.33 (ddd, J = 3.5, 10.5, 14.0 Hz, 1 H) , 3.09 (ddd, J = 3.2, 10.8, 14.0 Hz, 1 H) , 2.86-2.71 (m, 2 H) , 2.10-1.86 (m, 2 H) , 1.32 (t, J = 7.1 HZ, 3 H) , 0.96 (s, 9 H) , 0.73 (s, 9 H) , 0.06 (s, 3 H) , -0.24 (s, 3 H) ; Anal, calcd. for C 26 H 42 0 5 SiS 2 ; C, 59.29; H, 8.04. Found: C, 59.01; H, 7.28. B. (4R) - (-)-Ethyl 4-Benzene-3-( (2.2-dimethyl)1- propanoyl)oxy)-4-( (1.l-dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl)oxy-2- oxobutanoate: To a solution of 0.54 g (4.0 mmol) of N-chlorosuccinimide and 0.77 g (4.5 mmol) of silver nitrate (AgN0 3) in 20 mL of acetonitrile:water (8:2) was added a solution of 0.53 g (1.0 mmol) of the pivaloyl dithiane diastereomers prepared in Example 5A in 2 mL of acetone. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 25 minutes and quenched by the addition of the following at 1 minute intervals: 1 mL of saturated Na 2 S0 3 solution; 1.0 mL of saturated Na 2 C0 3 solution; 1.0 mL of brine and 70 mL of CH 2 C1 2 :Hexanes (1:1). The organic layer was separated, washed once with 15 mL of brine, dried (MgS0 4 ) and concentrated (note, it is essential that all solvent is removed prior to chromatography or excess succinimide will elute with compound) . The crude product was diluted with EtOAc:hexanes (1:9) and filtered through silica gel using EtOAc:Hexanes (9.5:0.5) as elutant to provide 0.30 g (70%) of the title α-keto ester as an 8.3:1.7 mixture of diastereomers ( (*H NMR) integration of the benzylic protons at <5 5.72 (minor) and 5.65 (major)) in the form of a colorless oil: IR (NaCl plates) 2960, 2931, 2860, 1736, 1271, 1259, 1153, 838 cm" 1 ; tø-NMR (CDC1 3 ) for mixture δ 7.41-7.25 (m, 6 H (major and minor)), 5.71 (d, J = 5.4 Hz, 0.2 H (minor)), 5.66 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H (major)), 5.23 (d, J = 5.4 Hz, 0.2 H (minor)), 4.98 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H (major)), 4.28 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2 H (major)), 4.14 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 0.4 H (minor)), 1.34 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3 H) , 1.24 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 0.6 H (minor)), 1.16 (s, 1.8 H (minor)), 1.05 (s, 9 H (major)), 0.84 (s, 1.8 H (minor)), 0.78 (s, 9 H (major)), 0.02 (s, 0.6 H (minor)), 0.01 (s, 3 H (major)), -0.02 (s, 0.6 H (minor)), -0.04 (s , 3 H (major) ) ; Anal , calcd. for C 23 H 36 0 6 Si : c, 63 .27 ; H, 8 . 31 : Found ; C , 62 . 90 ; H , 7 . 60 . C. (i?)-(-)-5-Benzene-3-( (2.2-dimethyl)-l-propanoyl)oxy- 4-hydroxy-2 (5H)-furanone The (4i?)-(-)-α-Keto ester prepared in Example 5B (0.28 g; 0.64 mmol) was dissolved in 20 mL of THF and 0.7 mL (0.7 mmol) of a 1.0 M solution of tetrabutylammonium fluoride in THF was added dropwise with stirring. The reaction solution turned yellow, and after 10 minutes 5 mL of 10% aqueous HCl and 75 mL of Et 2 0 were added. The Et^O layer was separated and washed once with 10 mL of 5% aqueous HCl solution, twice with 10 mL of H 2 0 and once with 10 mL of brine, dried (Na 2 S0 4 ) and concentrated in vacuo leaving 170 mg (95%) of the title tetronic acid. An analytical sample was recrystallized from CHC1 3 and hexanes: m.p. 135-138°C; α£ 2 -80.4° (c = 0.734, EtOH); IR (KBr pellet) 3037, 2989, 2976, 2937, 2875, 2717, 1762, 1651, 1481, 1456, 1367, 1340, 1290, 1265, 1128, 1018, 771 cm' 1 ; *H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.42-7.39 (m, 5 H) , 5.69, (s, 1 H) , 1.35 (s, 9 H) ; Anal, calcd. for C 15 H 16 0 5 ; C, 65.21; H, 5.84: Found; C, 64.76; H, 5.62. D. (JR)-(-)-3.4-Dihydroxy-5-phenyl-2 (5H)-furanone: The pivaloyl tetronic acid of Example 5C (0.17 g, 0.62 mmol) and 10 mL of Ac0H:H 2 0 (9.8:0.2) were combined with stirring and warmed to c.a. 100°C for 24 hours. The stir bar was removed and rinsed with 2 mL of iPrOH and the yellow solution was concentrated leaving an oil that was crystallized by warming on a steam bath and adding 2 mL of CHC1 3 and 1 mL of hexanes. The flask was allowed to cool slowly to room temperature and subsequently at 0°C for 3 hours. The crystalline solid was filtered and washed with small portions of CHC1 3 :hexanes (1:1) to yield 50 mg of optically pure 2-hydroxytetronic acid. The mother liqueur was concentrated on a steam bath and diluted with hexanes until the solution became slightly turbid. Upon cooling, an additional 15 mg of product was isolated to yield a total of 65 mg (55%) of the tetronic acid: m.p. 164-170°C (dec); lit racemic 155°C; _ 2 -140° (c = 0.546, EtOH) . The (iR)-(+)-Methylbenzylamine Salt of (±)-3.4-Dihvdroxy- 5-phenyl-2 ( 5H)-furanone was prepared by dissolving 12 mg (0.05 mmol) of the racemic 2-hydroxytetronic acid in 0.8 mL of CDC1 3 . The initial suspension was taken into solution by the addition of 0.01 mL (0.1 mmol) of (i?)- (+)-methylbenzylamine. The ! H NMR spectrum was taken immediately before crystallization took place. Better separation of the diastereomeric benzylic protons was observed after addition of D 2 0, but D 2 0 initiates crystallization: J H-NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.37-7.19 (m, 24 H (diastereomeric mixture + excess amine)), 4.99 (s, 1 H (diastereomer)), 4.96 (s, 1 H (diastereomer)), 4.77 (br s, 7 H (RNH 3 + excess amine)), 3.70 (q, J = 6.7 Hz, 3 H (diasteromeric mixture + excess amine)), 1.18 (d, J = 6.7 Hz, 8 H (diastereomeric mixture + excess amine)). The (R) - (+)-Methylbenzylamine Salt of (R)-(-)-3.4- Dihvdroxy-5-phenyl-2 (5H)-furanone was greater than 98% de by l E NMR analysis. The (- )-(-)-2-Hydroxytetronic acid of Example 5D (12 mg; 0.05 mmol) was dissolved in 0.8 L of CDC1 3 containing 0.01 mL (0.1 mmol) of (i?)-(+)- methylbenzylamine: l H NMR (CDC1 3 ) «S 7.32-7.18 (m, 16 H) , 6.04 (br s, 6 H(RNH 3 + excess amine)), 4.88 (s, 1 H) , 3.84 (q, J = 6.7 Hz, 2 H (excess amine)), 1.26 (d, J = 6.7 Hz, 6 H (excess amine) ) . EXAMPLE 6 A. (4S)-(+)-Ethyl 2-Carboxylate-2-rα-( (2.2-dimethyl)1- propanoyl)oxy-β-( (1.1-dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl)oxy-<3- pheny11-1.3-dithiane was prepared by a procedure identical to that described in Example 5A for the synthesis of the (R)-(-)-enantiomer. The mixture of diastereomers that formed (8.3:1.7) was not separated. B. (4S) -(+)-Ethyl 4-Benzene-3-( (2.2-dimethyl)1- propanoyl)oxy)-4-( (1.l-dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl)oxy-2- oxobutanoate was prepared by a procedure identical to the one described in Example 5B for the (4R)-(-)-enantiomer. C. (S)-(+)-5-Benzene-3-( (2.2-dimethyl)-1-propanoyl)oxy)- 4-hydroxy-2 (5H)-furanone was prepared by a procedure identical to the one described for the (R) - (-)-enantiomer in Example 5C: m.p. 136-139°C, _ 2 +81.9° (c = 0.804, EtOH) . D. (S) -(+)-3.4-Dihvdroxy-5-phenyl-2(5ff)-furanone was prepared by a procedure identical to the one described in Example 5C for the preparation of the J?-enantiomer: m.p. 165-170°C dec. lit 29 . 142-143°C; α 22 N<t589 +135° (c = 0.512, EtOH) lit 2 +109.4° (c = 0.80; MeOH). 29 The (R) - (+)-Methylbenzylamine Salt of (S)-(+)-3.4- Dihvdroxy-5-phenyl-2 (5H)-furanone was in greater than 98% de by ! H NMR analysis. (S)-(+)-2-Hydroxytetronic acid (12 mg; 0.05 mmol) was dissolved in 0.8 L of CDC1 3 and 0.02 mL (0.2 mmol) of (R)-(+)-methylbenzylamine. *H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.30-7.17 (m, 14 H (excess amine)), 6.40 (br s, 6 H (NH 3 + excess amine)), 4.98 (s, 1 H) , 3.72 (q, J = 6.7 Hz, 1.6 H (excess amine)), 1.22 (d, J = 6.7 Hz, 5 H (excess amine) ) . EXAMPLE 7 A. 2β(iR)-2-Carbomethoxy-2-rβ-r (1.l-dimethylethyl) dimethylsilylloxy-α-(2.2-dimethy1-1-propanoyloxy)-β-(4- isobutyIphenyl) ]-l.3-dithiane. To a 3-necked 100 mL round bottom flask flame dried under N 2 and containing 30 mL of anhydrous THF and 2.1 g (11.5 mmol) of methyl 1,3- dithiane-2-carboxylate at -78°C was added 7.7 mL of 1.5 M LDA. The reaction mixture was stirred for 45 minutes and a solution of 3.2 g (10.4 mmol) of (J?) -(-)-2-[ (1,1- dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy-2-(4- isobutyl)phenylacetaldehyde and 1.4 mL (11.5 mmol) of pivaloyl chloride in 5 mL of THF was added. Stirring continued for 2 hours followed by the addition of 25 mL of 5% HCl solution. The mixture was extracted with 2 X 75 mL of ether. The combined ether layers were washed with 25 mL of 5% HCl, 25 mL of H 2 0 and brine, dried over MgS0 4 and concentrated. Purification over silica gel using EtOAc/hexanes (0.6/9.4) and subsequent Kugelrohr distillation (100°C, 0.3 mm Hg) to remove excess methyl l,3-dithiane-2-carboxylate provided 3.5g (59.2%) of the target butanoate as a (1/3) mixture of diastereomers: *H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ (major diastereomer) 7.25-7.00 (m, 4H) , 5.92 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 1H) , 5.02 (d, J = 8.1Hz, 1H) , 3.75 (s, 3H) , 3.2-2.3 (m, 6H) , 2.1-1.7 (m, 3H) , 0.96 (s, 9H) , 0.84-0.76 (m, 6H) , 0.71 (s, 9H) , 0.03 (s, 3H) , -0.23 (s, 3H) . B. Methyl 4(J?)-4-r (1. l-Dimethylethyl)dimethylsilylloxy- 3-(2.2-dimethyl)-l-propanoyloxy-4-(4-isobutγlphenyl) -2- one-butanoate. To a rapidly stirring suspension of 4.7g (27.5 mmol) of AgN0 3 and 3.3g (24.6 mmol) of NCS in 120 mL of CH 3 CN/H 2 0 (8/2) was added 3.5g (6.1 mmol) of 2β(J?)-2- carbomethoxy-2-[β-[ (1,1-dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy- α-(2,2-dimethyl-l-propanoyloxy)-β-(4-isobutyIphenyl) ]- 1,3-dithiane. A white precipitate formed immediately and the reaction mixture was allowed to stir for 35 minutes. The reaction was quenched by adding sequentially, at 1 minute intervals, 2 mL of saturated NaHS0 3 solution, 2 mL of saturated Na 2 C0 3 solution, 2 L of brine and 120 L of CH 2 Cl 2 /hexanes (1/1) . The aqueous layer was separated and the organic phase was washed with 25 mL of brine, dried over MgS0 4 and concentrated to a solid. The solid was diluted and triturated with 10 mL of EtOAc/hexanes (2/8) and filtered through a pad of silica gel using EtOAc/hexanes (9.5/0.5) as eluant to provide 2.93g (99%) of the butanoate (colorless oil) as a (3/1) mixture of diastereomers: J H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ (major diastereomer) 7.31-7.10 (m, 4H) , 5.65 (d, 8.2 Hz, 1H) , 4.95 (d, 8.2 Hz, 1H) , 3.86 (s, 3H) , 2.46 (d, 7.5 Hz, 2H) , 1.84 (heptet, J = 6.7 Hz, 1H) , 1.06 (s, 9H) , 0.86 (d, J = 4.8 Hz, 6H) , 0.79 (s, 9H) , -0.05 (s, 3H) , -0.26 (s, 3H) . C. (R) - (-)-3-(2.2-Dimethyl)-l-propanoyloxy-5-(4- isobutyl)phenyl-4-hydroxy-2 (5H)-furanone. To 465 mg (0.9 mmol) of methyl 4 (R)-4-[ (1,1- dimethylethy1)dimethylsilyl]oxy-3-(1,1- dimethyl)propanoyloxy-4-(4-isobutyIphenyl)-2-one- butanoate in 50 mL of THF was added 1.0 mL (1.0 mmol) of 1M TBAF dropwise over a period of 3-5 minutes. The colorless solution turned yellow immediately and the reaction was quenched by the addition of 15 mL of 5% HCl and 50 mL of ether. The organic layer was separated, washed with 10 mL of H 2 0, 5 mL of brine, dried MgS0 4 and concentrated. The crude tetronic acid was taken up in 50 mL of ether/hexanes (1/1) and extracted with 5 X 10 mL of saturated NaHC0 3 solution. The bicarbonate extracts were collected and washed with 15 mL of ether/hexanes (1/1) , acidified to pH 1 and extracted with 2 X 30 mL of ether. The ether extracts were combined, washed with 10 mL of H 2 0, 10 mL of brine, dried over MgS0 4 and concentrated leaving 140 mg (47%) of a slightly yellow solid: *H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.3-7.1 (m, 4H) , 5.65 (s, 1H) , 2.56 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 2H) , 1.85 (heptet, J = 6.8 Hz, 1H) , 1.28 (s, 9H) , 0.85 (d, J = 6.8 Hz, 6H) . D. (R)-(-)-3.4-Dihvdroxy-5-(4-isobutyl)phenyl-2 (5H) - furanone. To a flame-dried flask under argon containing 200 mg (0.6 mmol) of (R)-(-)-3-(2,2-dimethyl)-1- propanoyloxy-5-(4-isobutyl)pheny1-4-hydroxy-2(5H)- furanone dissolved in 20 mL of THF at -60°C was added 0.4 mL (0.6 mmol) of 1.5 M LDA. After the yellow-orange solution stirred for 5 minutes, 0.72 mL (0.72 mmol) of 1.0M DIBAL was added slowly. The reaction was stirred for 2 h and quenched by the addition of 10 mL of 5% HCl solution and 30 mL of ether. The organic phase was washed with 10 mL of 5% HCl solution, 10 mL of H 2 0 and extracted with 3 X 20 mL of saturated NaHC0 3 solution. The bicarbonate extract was washed with 10 mL of ether, acidified to pH 1 and extracted with 2 X 30 mL of ether. The ether extracts were combined, washed with 10 mL of H 2 0, 10 mL of brine, dried over MgS0 4 and concentrated leaving a white solid material. Recrystallization from ether and hexanes provided 110 mg of a white powder: *H NMR (acetone-d 6 ) δ 7.30-7.20 (m, 4H) , 5.64 (s, 1H) , 2.50 (d, J = 7.1 Hz, 2H) , 1.87 (heptet, J = 6.8 Hz, 1H) , 0.89 (d, J = 6.6 Hz, 6H) ; Anal. Calc for C, ,4 H 16 0 4 + 1\2 H 2 0: C, 65.39; H, 6.66. Found: C, 65.45; H, 6.88. Optical purity was determined by Η NMR analysis in CDC1 ? of the (R)-methylbenzvamine diastereomeric salts. l E NMR analysis of the (R)-methylbenzylamine salt of racemic 3,4-Dihydroxy-5-(4-isobutyl)phenyl-2(5- t 0- furanone. One drop (from a glass pipet) of (J?)- methylbenzylamine was added to 12 mg of racemic 3,4- dihydroxy-5-(4-isobutyl)phenyl-2 (5H)-furanone. The yellow mixture was taken up in 0.75 mL of CDC1 3 and the *H NMR was recorded immediately as the salts tend to precipitate from solution: ! H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.37-7.06 [m, 30H (excess amine)], 5.01 (s, 1H) , 4.99 (s, 1H) , 3.93 [q, J = 6.6 Hz, 4H (excess amine)], 2.42 (d, J = 6.9 Hz, 4H) , 1.82-1.75 (m, 2H) , 1.30 [d, J = 6.7 Hz, 16 H(excess amine)], 0.86-0.81 (m, 12 H) . J H NMR analysis of the (R)-methylbenzylamine salt of (R) - 3,4-Dihydroxy-5-(4-isobutyl) henyl-2 (5H)-furanone. One drop (from a glass pipet) of (J?)-methylbenzylamine was added to 12 mg of (J?)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(4-isobutyl)phenyl- 2 (5H)-furanone. The yellow mixture was taken up in 0.75 mL of CDC1 3 and the l E NMR was recorded immediately as the salt tends to precipitate from solution: J H NMR (CDC1 3 ) δ 7.35-7.06 [m, 30H (excess amine)], 4.84 (s, IH) , 3.95 [q, J = 6.7 Hz, 4H (excess amine)], 2.41 (d, J - 7.1 Hz, 2H) , 1.79 (heptet J = 6.7 Hz, IH) , 1.32 [d, J = 6.7 Hz, 12H(excess amine)], 0.84 (dd, J = 3.1 Hz, 6.6 Hz, 6 H) . EXAMPLE 8 A. 2β (S)-2-Carbomethoxy-2-fβ-r (1.1- dimethylethyl)dimethylsilylloxy-α-(2.2-dimethyl-l- propanoyloxy)-β-(4-isobutylphenyl) 1-1.3-dithiane was prepared in a similar manner as described in Example 7A for the synthesis of 2β(i?)-2-carbomethoxy-2-[β-[ (1,1- dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy-α-(2,2-dimethyl-l- propanoyloxy)-β-(4-isobutyIphenyl) ]-l,3-dithiane. B. Methyl 4(g)-4-r (1.l-Dimethylethyl)dimethylsilylloxy- 3-(2.2-dimethyl)-l-propanoyloxy-4-(4-isobutyIphenyl)-2- one-butanoate was prepared as described in Example 7B for the synthesis of methyl 4(i?)-4-[ (1,1- dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy-3-(2,2-dimethyl)-1- propanoyloxy-4-(4-isobutyIphenyl)-2-one-butanoate. C. (S) -(+)-3-(2.2-Dimethyl)-l-propanoyloxy-5-(4- isobutyl) henyl-4-hydroxy-2 (5H)-furanone was prepared as described in Example 7C for (R)-(-)-3-(2,2-dimethyl)-1- propanoyloxy-5-(4-isobutyl)phenyl-4-hydroxy-2 (5H) - furanone starting with methyl 4(S)-4-[ (1,1- dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy-3-(1,1- dimethyl)propanoyloxy-4-(4-isobutyIphenyl)-2-one- butanoate. D. (S) -(+)-3.4-Dihvdroxy-5-(4-isobutyl)phenyl-2 (5H) - furanone was prepared as described in Example 7D for (i?)- (-)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(4-isobutyl)phenyl-2 (5H)-furanone. } H NMR analysis of the (R)-methylbenzylamine salt of (S) - 3.4-Dihvdroxy-5-(4-isobutyl)pheny1-2( 5H)-furanone. One drop (from a glass pipet) of (i?)-methylbenzylamine was added to 12 mg of (S)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(4-isobutyl)phenyl- 2(5H)-furanone. The yellow mixture was taken up in 0.75 mL of CDC1 3 and the *H NMR was recorded immediately as the salt tends to precipitate from solution: l E NMR (CDC1 3 ) «S 7.30-7.05 [m, 12H (excess amine)], 5.02 (s, IH) , 3.72 [s (broad), IH (excess amine)], 2.39 (d, J = 7.1 Hz, 2H) , 1.79 (heptet J = 6.6 Hz, IH) , 1.22 [d, J = 6.2 Hz, 4H(excess amine)], 0.83 (dd, J = l.2Hz, 6.6 Hz, 6 H) .

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A process for the preparation of an optically pure compound of the formulae la or lb: (a) reacting an optically pure aldehyde of the formula II or its corresponding isomer, wherein Pr is a hydroxy protecting group selected from the group consisting of t-butyldimethylsilyl, tetrahydropyranyl, thiomethyl, and methoxymethyl, and Z is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; with the anion of an alkyl 1,3-dithiane-2- carboxylate followed by trapping of the intermediate alkoxide anion with a pivaloyl halide to yield a protected ester of the formula or its corresponding isomer, wherein Z and Pr are as hereinbefore defined and alk is a lower alkyl group; (b) oxidatively hydrolyzing the protected ester of formula III to yield the α-keto ester of formula IV or its corresponding isomer, wherein Z, Pr and alk are as hereinbefore defined; (c) catalytically cyclizing the ester of formula IV to yield the 2-pivaloyloxytetronic acid derivative of formula V: or its corresponding isomer, wherein Z and Pr are as hereinbefore defined; and (d) removal by hydrolysis or hydride reduction of the pivaloyl ester group to afford the desired optically pure 4-aryl-2-hydroxytetronic acid of either formula la or lb. 2. The process according to Claim 1 wherein the protecting roup utilized in step (a) is t- butyldimethylsilyl. 3. The process according to Claim 1 wherein the alkyl 1.3-dithiane-2-carboxylate used in step (a) is ethyl or methyl 1.3-dithiane-2-carboxylate. 4. The process according to Claim 1 wherein the oxidative hydrolysis of step (b) is conducted using N- chlorosuccinimide and silver nitrate. 5. The process according to Claim 1 wherein the cyclization of step (c) is induced with tetrabutylammonium fluoride. 6. The process according to Claim 1 wherein the hydrolysis of step (d) is accomplished with acetic acid. 7. The process according to Claim 1 wherein the pivolate cleavage is accomplished by selective hydride reduction using DIBAL-H. 8. The process according to Claim 1 wherein the optically pure product prepared is (S) - (+) -5-p- chlorophenyl) -3,4-dihydroxy-2 (5H) -furanone. 9. The process according to Claim 1 wherein the optically pure product prepared is (S)-(+)-5- [ (1,1' )biphenyl) -4-yl] -3,4-dihydroxy-2 (5H) -furanone. 10. An optically pure compound of the general formulae wherein Z is aryl or aralkyl group or substituted aryl or aralkyl group, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, prepared by the process of Claim 1. 11. A compound according to Claim 10 which is (S) - (+) -5- (p-chlorophenyl) -3,4-dihydroxy-2 (5H) -furanone. 12. A compound according to Claim 10 which is (S) - (+) -5- [(1,1' -biphenyl) -4-yl] -3,4-dihydroxy-2 (5H) -furanone. 13. A compound according to Claim 10 which is (S) - (+) - 3, 4-dihydroxy-5-phenyl-2 (5H) -furanone. 14. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of an optically pure compound of formulae la or lb: wherein Z is an aryl or aralkyl or substituted aryl or aralkyl group, prepared by the process of Claim 1. 15. The pharmaceutical composition of Claim 14, wherein the compound is (S) -(+) -5- (p-chlorophenyl) -3 ,4-dihydroxy- 2 (5H) -furanone. 16. The pharmaceutical composition of Claim 14, wherein the compound is (S) - (+) -5- [ (1, 1 ■ -biphenyl) -4-yl] -3,4- dihydroxy-2 (5H) -furanone. 17. The pharmaceutical composition of Claim 14, wherein the compound is (S) - (+) -3,4-dihydroxy-5-phenyl-2 (5H) - furanone.

Inventors: HOPPER ALLEN T, WITIAK DONALD T, HOPPER, ALLEN, T., WITIAK, DONALD, T.
Applicants: UNIV OHIO STATE RES FOUND, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Application year: 1995
Main classification: C07D307
IPC codes: A61K31, A61P7, A61P9, A61P29, A61P43, C07B53, C07D307, C07D339