Highly Enantioselective Methanolysis of Meso ‐Cyclic Anhydride Mediated by Bifunctional Thiourea Cinchona Alkaloid Derivatives: Access to Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (+)‐Biotin

An enantioselective asymmetric total synthesis of (+)−biotin ( 1 ) via the Hoffmann–Roche lactone–thiolactone strategy has been accomplished from commercially available cis ‐1,3‐dibenzyl‐2‐imidazolidone‐4,5‐dicarboxylic acid ( 2 ). Strategic transformations include a cinchona alkaloid‐based bifunctional thiourea mediated methanolytic desymmetrization of prochiral cyclic anhydride 3 to produce the enantiomerically enriched precursor of Roche lactone 5 and an improved introduction of the 4‐carboxybutyl side chain at C‐4 position of Roche thiolactone 6 via Grignard reaction .