Practical enantioselective synthesis of a COX-2 specific inhibitor

Two synthetic strategies to the COX-2 specific inhibitor 1 have been described that allowed its preparation in large quantities in 79% overall yield from (S)-2-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid. These studies have led to the identification of an efficient resolution of (±)-2-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid and a novel thionyl chloride aided formation of amide 11 from acid 6.