Ibuprofen synthesis, palladium-catalyzed

A commercial synthesis (Albemarle) of naproxen (a 2-aryl propionic acid anti-inflammatory related to ibuprofen) involves palladium catalyzed hydroxycarbonylation of an aryl olefin which is itself made in a palladium catalyzed Heck coupling reaction (Figure 6b). Resolution is needed to obtain the (5)-enantiomer of naproxen since its optical isomer is a liver toxin. 

With the variety of transformations that can be promoted by organopalladium reagents, it is unfortunate that palladium is such a rare metal. Biochemical processes might be much more exotic if palladium had been more abundant in the earth s crust at the origin of life (although selenium, which is an essential trace nutrient, is only approximately five times as concentrated as palladium in the earth s crust). The discovery of high turnover number catalysts has allowed several palladium-catalyzed reactions to be used in fine chemical and pharmaceutical synthesis. Naproxen (29) can be made using a Heck reaction. Ibuprofen s (30) synthesis... 

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