Preparative Resolution of the Pindolol Enantiomers

Enantiomers of pindolol were prepared by chromatographic method. Racemic pindolol was derivatized with S-(-)-menthyl chloroformate((-)-MCF) forming its diastereomer, R-(+)-pindolol-(-)-MCF and S-(-)-pindolol-(-)-MCF. The diastereomer mixture was then chromatographically resolved to each diastereomer. Each diastereomer was further hydrolyzed with alkali to each enantiomer quantitatively. Racemization was not occurred in this process. Pindolol enantiomers were recovered producing good yield over 30% over all process.