US Patent 7807850 Preparation of 2R,3S-N-isobutyl-N-(2-hydroxy-3-amino-4-phenylbutyl)-P-nitrobenzenesulfonylamide hydrochloride and other derivatives of 2-hydroxy-1,3-diamines

The present invention provides a new process for the preparation of 2R,3S-N-isobutyl-N-(2-hydroxy-3-amino-4-phenylbuty1)-p-nitrobenzenesulfonylamide hydrochloride, wherein this compound is prepared directly from the chloromethylalcohol. Importantly, the process of the present invention results in higher yields of 2R,3S-N-isobutyl-N-(2-hydroxy-3-amino-4-phenylbutyl)-p-nitrobenzenesulfonylamide hydrochloride without sacrificing its purity. The processes of the present invention can be used to prepare not only the 2R,3S-derivative, but also the 2S,3S-, 2S,2R- and the 2R,3R-derivatives.