Highly Enantioselective Rhodium-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Tetrasubstituted Olefins: Application toward the Synthesis of GPR40 Agonist MK-2305.

A highly efficient enantioselective synthesis for the potent G-protein-coupled receptor 40 agonist MK-2305 was developed. The key tetrasubstituted olefin was prepared via a stereoselective Mukaiyama aldol reaction/elimination sequence. The highly enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of the tetrasubstituted olefin afforded the target compound MK-2305 in excellent optical and chemical purity. The key asymmetric transfer hydrogenation proceeds in excellent yields and enantioselectivities for a variety of substrates. The superior reactivity of the tethered catalysts was revealed by NMR studies.

Scalable Asymmetric Synthesis of MK-8998, a T-Type Calcium Channel Antagonist.

Two scalable and efficient synthetic routes for the synthesis of a T-type calcium channel antagonist MK-8998 were developed from a simple pyridine building block. The key step to set the stereochemistry relied on either chiral rhodium catalyst-mediated asymmetric hydrogenation of an enamide or transamination of an arylketone that provided the corresponding product in high enantioselectivity and high yield.

Calcium Dialkylamine Diazeniumdiolates: Synthesis, Stability, and Nitric Oxide Generation.

The therapeutic application of nitric oxide, an endogenous cellular signaling molecule, has been limited due to the difficulty of developing stable pro-drugs with slow kinetics of NO release. Diazeniumdiolates are valuable NO donors; however, synthetic challenges have hampered their use. O2-alkylation or arylation of diazeniumdiolates form stable pro-drugs which have found application in hypertension, cancer, and as antimicrobial agents. The synthesis of sodium diazeniumdiolates has proven to be challenging due to hazardous reaction conditions (high N2O concentrations, and flammable solvents), which can lead to detonation and suffered from limited scope. We have previously disclosed that synthesis of calcium diazeniumdiolate salts are a safer and more scalable alternative. Herein, we report the expanded scope of calcium diazeniumdiolates from benzylic amines, amides, and sterically bulky amines hitherto inaccessible and a comparison of their reactivity in comparison to sodium diazeniumdiolate.

13C NMR-Based Approaches for Solving Challenging Stereochemical Problems.

Determining the configuration of proton-deficient molecules is challenging using conventional NMR methods including nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) and the proton-dependent J-based configuration analysis (JBCA). The problem is exacerbated when only one stereoisomer is available. Alternative methods based on the utilization of 13C NMR chemical shifts, 13C-13C homonuclear couplings measured at natural abundance, and residual chemical shift anisotropy measurements in conjunction with density functional theory calculations are illustrated with a proton-deficient model compound.

Scalable Synthesis of Diazeniumdiolates: Application to the Preparation of MK-8150.

Synthetic diazeniumdiolate (DAZD)-based nitric oxide is utilized to modulate the nitric oxide (NO) concentration in cellular environments and to control physiological processes, yet chemists are still struggling to find efficient and scalable methodologies that will enable them to access sufficient quantities of the high-energy diazeniumdiolate intermediates for biological studies. Now, a general, scalable, safer, and high-yielding new methodology adaptable to the large-scale synthesis of DAZDs has been developed.

Highly Diastereoselective Synthesis of a HCV NS5B Nucleoside Polymerase Inhibitor.

An asymmetric synthesis of HCV NS5B nucleoside polymerase inhibitor (1) is described. This novel route features several remarkably diastereoselective and high-yielding transformations, including construction of the all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center at C-2 via a thermodynamic aldol reaction. A subsequent glycosylation reaction with activated uracil via C-1 phosphate and installation of the cyclic phosphate group using an achiral phosphorus(III) reagent followed by oxidation provides 1.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Functionalized trans-Cyclopropoxy Building Block for Grazoprevir.

A practical and asymmetric synthesis of a functionalized trans-cyclopropoxy building block for the preparation of the HCV NS3/4a protease inhibitor grazoprevir is reported. Intramolecular SN2 displacement-ring closure, followed by a Baeyer-Villiger oxidation, yields the desired trans-cyclopropanol with full control of diastereoselectivity. A terminal alkyne is then effectively installed using LiNH(CH2)2NEt2. Starting from (S)-epichlorohydrin, the cyclopropoxy building block is prepared in 51% overall yield with >99.8% optical purity without isolation of any intermediates.

Synthesis of the GPR40 Partial Agonist MK-8666 through a Kinetically Controlled Dynamic Enzymatic Ketone Reduction.

A scalable and efficient synthesis of the GPR40 agonist MK-8666 was developed from a simple pyridine building block. The key step to set the stereochemistry at two centers relied on an enzymatic dynamic kinetic reduction of an unactivated ketone. Directed evolution was leveraged to generate an optimized ketoreductase that provided the desired trans alcohol in >30:1 dr and >99% ee. Further, it was demonstrated that all four diastereomers of this hydroxy-ester could be prepared in high yield and selectivity. Subsequently, a challenging intramolecular displacement was carried out to form the cyclopropane ring system with perfect control of endo/exo selectivity. The endgame coupling strategy relied on a Pd-catalyzed C-O coupling to join the headpiece chloropyridine with the benzylic alcohol tailpiece.

Process Chemistry in Antiviral Research.

This article reviews antiviral therapies that have been approved for human use during the last decade, with a focus on the process chemistry that enabled access to these important drugs. In particular, process chemistry highlights from the practical syntheses of the HCV drugs sofosbuvir (Gilead), grazoprevir (Merck), and elbasvir (Merck), the HIV therapy darunavir (Tibotec) and the influenza treatment peramivir (BioCryst) are presented.

A Concise and Atom-Economical Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling Reaction Using Unactivated Trialkyl- and Triarylboranes with Aryl Halides.

A concise and atom-economical Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of trialkyl- and triarylboranes with aryl halides is described. This new protocol represents the first general, practical method that efficiently utilizes peralkyl and peraryl groups of the unactivated trialkyl- and triarylboranes for the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction.

Unusual pyrimidine participation: efficient stereoselective synthesis of potent dual orexin receptor antagonist MK-6096.

An asymmetric synthesis of dual orexin receptor antagonist MK-6096 (1) is described. Key steps for the trans-2,5-disubstituted piperidinyl ether fragment include a biocatalytic transamination, a trans-selective Mukaiyama aldol, and a regioselective pyridyl SNAr process. The pyrimidyl benzoic acid was synthesized via a Negishi coupling and a nitrile hydrolysis. Coupling of the two fragments via a catalytic T3P-mediated amidation completed the synthesis. Unusual behaviors in the hydrolysis of pyrimidyl benzonitrile and the amide coupling of the pyrimidyl benzoic acid are also described.

Practical and cost-effective manufacturing route for the synthesis of a ß-lactamase inhibitor.

Compound 1, a potent and irreversible inhibitor of ß-lactamases, is in clinical trials with ß-lactam antibiotics for the treatment of serious and antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. A short, scalable, and cost-effective route for the production of this densely functionalized polycyclic molecule is described.

Development of a practical, asymmetric synthesis of the hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor MK-5172.

The development of a practical, asymmetric synthesis of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor MK-5172 (1), an 18-membered macrocycle, is described.

Synthesis of antifungal glucan synthase inhibitors from enfumafungin.

An efficient, new, and scalable semisynthesis of glucan synthase inhibitors 1 and 2 from the fermentation product enfumafungin 3 is described. The highlights of the synthesis include a high-yielding ether bond-forming reaction between a bulky sulfamidate 17 and alcohol 4 and a remarkably chemoselective, improved palladium(II)-mediated Corey-Yu allylic oxidation at the highly congested C-12 position of the enfumafungin core. Multi-hundred gram quantities of the target drug candidates 1 and 2 were prepared, in 12 linear steps with 25% isolated yield and 13 linear steps with 22% isolated yield, respectively.

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of an HIV integrase inhibitor.

An efficient synthesis of HIV integrase inhibitor (S)-(-)-1 via a unique asymmetric hydrogenation of a mixture of imines/enamine 5a-5b/5c is described. Hydrogenation of the imines/enamine by a Rh(I)-Josiphos complex afforded 6 in 90% yield and 90% ee. Amide formation completed the synthesis of 1 in 58% overall yield from 2, which is readily available from 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran in a seven-step sequence. A deuterium labeling study suggests the asymmetric hydrogenation proceeds predominantly via the enamine tautomer.

Synthesis of a beta-amino acid pharmacophore via a beta-lactam intermediate.

A stereoselective synthesis of (R)-beta-amino acid 1 via a beta-lactam intermediate is discussed.

New method for the synthesis of diversely functionalized imidazoles from N-acylated alpha-aminonitriles.

[reaction: see text] A new general method for the synthesis of medicinally important diversely functionalized imidazoles from N-acylated alpha-aminonitriles has been developed. N-Acylated alpha-aminonitriles were reacted with triphenylphosphine and carbon tetrahalide to afford 2,4-disubstituted 5-halo-1H-imidazoles in good yield. This new methodology was applied for the synthesis of 2-butyl-4-chloro-5-hydroxymethylimidazole. These halo-imidazoles can be directly converted to 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles through palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions.

Practical synthesis of sultams via sulfonamide dianion alkylation: application to the synthesis of chiral sultams.

[reaction: see text]. A practical synthesis of sultams was developed via intramolecular sulfonamide dianion alkylation. This method has been applied toward the synthesis of chiral sultams, which are synthetically valuable as chiral auxiliaries.