Sugar-substituted 2-azetidinones as cholesterol absorption inhibitors.

The asymmetric synthesis of a glucuronide conjugate of the 2-azetidinone cholesterol absorption inhibitor Sch 48461 was accomplished to confirm the structure of a metabolite isolated from in vivo sources. Key features of this article include the asymmetric synthesis of 2-azetidinones by Evan's chiral oxazolidinone methodology and glucuronide formation by a Mitsunobu protocol.