Abstract: A process is provided for preparing 4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-proline derivatives of the structure ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a nitrogen protecting group such as benzoyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, t-butoxycarbonyl, benzyl, benzhydryl, trityl, acetyl, trifluoromethylacetyl, sulfonamides, and the like and wherein X is OR.sub.2 and R.sub.2 is hydrogen or an acid protecting group such as lower alkyl, aryl-lower alkyl or a metal ion, such as Na or K, or X is NR.sub.3 R.sub.4 wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may be the same or different and are hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl or arylalkyl, or R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring. The process includes the steps of forming triphenylcerium [(C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.3 Ce], for example, by reacting cerium trichloride (CeCl.sub.3) with phenyllithium, and reacting the triphenylcerium with the keto acid ##STR2## in the presence of an inert organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a 7-oxabicycloheptane amino alcohol intermediate of the general structure ##STR1## (wherein the above structures represents (D) or (L) isomers) which is useful in preparing thromboxane A.sub.2 receptor antagonists. This intermediate is prepared by reacting mesoanhydride with an aryl amine ##STR2## wherein R is alkyl, CH.sub.2 OH, CO.sub.2 H or CO.sub.2 alkyl, to form the acid ##STR3## which is reduced by treatment with lithium aluminum hydride or diisobutylaluminum hydride or Red-Al to form the alcohol ##STR4## wherein R.sup.1 is CH.sub.2 OH when R is CO.sub.2 H, CO.sub.2 alkyl or CH.sub.2 OH, and R.sup.1 is alkyl when R is alkyl; where in the above alcohol R.sup.1 is CH.sub.2 OH, such alcohol compound is treated with an alkyl chloroformate in the presence of base such as an alkali metal alkoxide to form the alcohol ##STR5## which undergoes cleavage by treatment with alkali metal, ammonia and acid to form the amino alcohol intermediate.Where in the above alcohol R.sup.

Abstract: A process for preparing phosphonic acids of the structure ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is lower alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl or arylalkyl, and R.sub.2 is H, benzyl or ##STR2## by oxidizing the corresponding phosphonous acid ##STR3## employing as the oxidizing agent potassium permanganate or sodium periodate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel chemical intermediates having the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or arylalkyl.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing phosphinic acid prodrug intermediates which are useful in preparing phosphinic acid angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors which method includes the step of coupling a phosphonous acid or its ester of the structure ##STR1## wherein R is H or lower alkyl and R.sup.1 is lower alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl, with an alkylating agent of the structure ##STR2## wherein Hal is Cl, Br or I, n is 0 or 1, R.sup.2 is H or lower alkyl, and Z is H, lower alkyl, --CO.sub.2 R.sup.3 (wherein R.sup.3 is H or lower alkyl), ##STR3## (wherein R.sup.4 is H, lower alkyl, aryl or arylalkyl), --CN, or ##STR4## (wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 may be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, lower alkyl, aryl, aryl-lower alkyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl and at least one of R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 is other than H, or R.sup.5 and R.sup.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing phosphinic acid prodrug intermediates which are useful in preparing phosphinic acid angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors which method includes the step of coupling a phosphonous acid or its ester of the structure ##STR1## wherein R is H or lower alkyl and R.sup.1 is lower alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl, with a conjugated compound of the structure ##STR2## wherein R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 may be the same or different and each is independently H, lower alkyl or aryl, and Z is --CO.sub.2 R.sup.5 (wherein R.sup.5 is H or lower alkyl), ##STR3## (wherein R.sup.6 is H, lower alkyl aryl or arylalkyl), ##STR4## (wherein R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, lower alkyl, aryl, aryl-lower alkyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl and at least one of R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 is other than H, or R.sup.7 and R.sup.

Abstract: 4-Substituted proline derivatives having the formula ##STR1## can be prepared by reacting the compound having the formula ##STR2## with a compound having the formula ##STR3## to obtain a compound having the formula ##STR4## (a novel intermediate), alkylating that compound to obtain a compound having the formula ##STR5## (a novel intermediate), converting that compound to a compound having the formula ##STR6## (a novel intermediate), and oxidizing that compound to yield the desired proline having the formula ##STR7## wherein R.sub.1 is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or arylalkyl, R.sub.1 ' is alkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or arylalkyl, R.sub.2 is alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl or cycloalkyl and R.sub.3 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl or cycloalkyl.

Abstract: A method is provided for making substituted prolines of the structure ##STR1## wherein X is lower alkyl or aryl, R is H, lower alkyl or an alkali metal and Z is an N-protecting group, which method includes the step of reacting a compound of the structure ##STR2## wherein Z and R are as defined above and Q is Br. tosyloxy or mesylate, with an organic copper lithium compound of the structureXYCuLiwherein X is as defined above and Y is lower alkyl, aryl or CN.Where X is phenyl, the corresponding 4-cyclohexyl compound may be produced by conventional hydrogenation techniques.The compounds produced are useful as intermediates in the preparation of phosphinic acid derivatives useful in the treatment of hypertension.