Enantioselective synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-2- [(3-chlorophenyl)-(2-methoxyphenoxy)methyl]morpholine

The enantioselective synthesis of the (R,R)- and (S,S)-enantiomers of 1 from commercially available 3-chlorocinnamic acid is reported. The Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation was used to establish the stereocenters in the synthesis of both enantiomers of 1.