Synthesis of a selective estrogen receptor β-modulator via asymmetric phase-transfer catalysis

An efficient asymmetric synthesis of selective estrogen receptor β-modulator (S)-4-bromo-9a-butyl-8-chloro-6-fluoro-7-hydroxy-1,2,9,9a-tetrahydro-fluoren-3-one was developed. The route features a chemoselective aromatic chlorination reaction, an asymmetric phase-transfer-catalyzed alkylation of an indanone with efficient ee upgrade by racemate crystallization, and a robust bromination reaction using imidazole as an in situ bromine trap to avoid overreaction. The synthesis proceeds in 34% yield over 8 steps from 2-fluoroanisole, and provides material with >99.5% ee.