Clopidogrel

Clopidogrel, sold under the brand name Plavix, is commonly known as a “blood thinner”. It prevents blood from clotting in patients who are vulnerable to stroke, heart attack, and other vascular diseases. Clopidogrel is actually a prodrug—its thiophene ring hydrolyzes in vivo to the active metabolite. An improved synthesis of the chiral α-amino ester moiety in clopidogrel was described in the June 13, 2011, edition of Noteworthy Chemistry.