A short enantioselective synthesis of the antiepileptic agent, levetiracetam based on proline-catalyzed asymmetric α-aminooxylation

An efficient enantioselective synthesis of a new antiepileptic drug, levetiracetam is described, in high optical purity (>99.5% ee), using proline-catalyzed α-aminooxylation of n-butyraldehyde as the key step.