An Efficient and Scalable Synthesis of (2R,αS)-3,4-Dihydro-2-[3-(1, 1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)phenyl]-5-[3-(trifluoromethoxy)-phenyl]-α-(trifluoromethyl)-1(2H)-quinolineethanol: A Potent CETP Inhibitor

An efficient and scalable synthesis of the potent CETP inhibitor, (2R,alpha S)-3,4-dihydro-2[3-(,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)phenyl]-5-[3-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]-alpha-(trifluoromethyl)-1(2H)-quinolineethanol 1, is described. One of the important intermediates, tetrahydroquinoline 10, was readily prepared by reductive cyclization of nitroketone 9 in high yield. Asymmetric synthesis of 10 with high enantiomeric excess (>80% ee) was also developed.