合成路线1

Both enantiomers of racemic 8-chloro-6-hydroxyoctanoic acid (LX) were separated employing either (+)- or (-)-alpha-methylbenzylamine. Esterification of the (R)-(-)-enantiomer with HCl-MeOH provided the chloro hydroxy ester (LXI). Further chlorination of (LXI) with SOCl2 and pyridine proceeded with inversion of configuration at C-6 to furnish the (S)-dichloro derivative (LXII). The cyclic disulfide (L) was then prepared by treatment of chloride (LXII) with sulfur and sodium sulfide in boiling EtOH. Basic hydrolysis of the methyl ester group of (LXII) then afforded (R) alpha lipoic acid. The title compound was also obtained from the (S)-(+)-acid (LXIII). Reaction of hydroxy acid (LXIII) with methanesulfonyl chloride produced the chloro mesylate (LXIV), which was then cyclized to the target disulfide in the presence of sulfur and Na2S.