Optical resolution of DL-pipecolinic acid (I) with (+)-tartaric acid gives L-pipecolinic acid (II), which is treated with PCl5 to obtain acil chloride (III). This compound is condensed with 2,5-dimethylaniline (IV) by means N-methylpirrolidine (NMP) to afford amide (V). Finally, amide (V) is alkylated with 1-bromopropane by means potassium carbonate (K2CO3) to yield Ropivacaine.
L-Picolinic acid (II) is protected with benzyl chloroformiate (VII) to afford compound (VIII), which is condensed with 2-methylaniline (IX) by means SOCl2/DMAP to yield amide (X). This compound (X) is methylated by treatment with palladium acetate (Pd(Oac)2) to obtain compound (XI), which is deprotected by means HBr to yield compound (V). Finally, this compound (V) is alkylated with 1-iodopropane by means potassium carbonate (K2CO3) to yield Ropivacaine.
Compound (XII) is protected with benzyl chloroformiate (VII) to afford compound (XIII), which is condensed with 2,5-dimethylaniline (XIV) by means SOCl2/DMAP to yield amide (XIV). This compound (XIV) is deprotected by means trimethylsillyl chloride to yield compound (XV), which is hydrogenated by means Rh/Al2O3. Finally, this compound (V) is alkylated with 1-iodopropane by means potassium carbonate (K2CO3) to yield Ropivacaine.