Pd-catalyzed N-arylation of heteroarylamines.

The palladium-catalyzed N-(hetero)arylation of a number of heteroarylamines including 2-aminopyridines, 2-aminothiazoles, and their analogues has been realized using Xantphos as the ligand. Weak bases such as Cs(2)CO(3), Na(2)CO(3), and K(3)PO(4) were used in most cases to allow for the introduction of functional groups. Choice of the base and solvent was critical for the success of these reactions. [reaction: see text]

Direct and convenient conversion of alcohols to fluorides.

[reaction: see text] Directly mixing primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols with nC(4)F(9)SO(2)F-NR(3)(HF)(3)-NR(3) in THF or MeCN results in convenient conversion to the corresponding fluorides in high yields. The readily available reagents are easy to handle, and the mild, almost neutral reaction conditions allow for excellent functional group compatibility. A NR(3)(HF)(3)/NR(3) ratio of

Zn/CuI-mediated coupling of alkyl halides with vinyl sulfones, vinyl sulfonates, and vinyl sulfonamides.

A novel high-yielding Zn/CuI-mediated coupling method of alkyl halides with vinyl sulfones, vinyl sulfonates, and vinyl sulfonamides is described. This protocol is applicable for primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl iodides and bromides. Alkyl chlorides and aryl and vinyl halides were unreactive under the reaction conditions. Formamide was found to be a superior solvent for obtaining high yields.

Practical asymmetric synthesis of aprepitant, a potent human NK-1 receptor antagonist, via a stereoselective Lewis acid-catalyzed trans acetalization reaction.

A streamlined and high-yielding synthesis of aprepitant (1), a potent substance P (SP) receptor antagonist, is described. The enantiopure oxazinone 16 starting material was synthesized via a novel crystallization-induced dynamic resolution process. Conversion of 16 to the penultimate intermediate cis-sec-amine 9 features a highly stereoselective Lewis acid-catalyzed trans acetalization of chiral alcohol 3 with trichloroacetimidate 18 followed by inversion of the adjacent chiral center on the morpholine ring. The six-step process for the synthesis of 9 was accomplished in extremely high overall yield (81%) and with only two isolations.

Efficient synthesis of NK(1) receptor antagonist aprepitant using a crystallization-induced diastereoselective transformation.

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of the orally active NK(1) receptor antagonist Aprepitant is described. A direct condensation of N-benzyl ethanolamine with glyoxylic acid yielded a 2-hydroxy-1,4-oxazin-3-one which was activated as the corresponding trifluoroacetate. A Lewis acid mediated coupling with enantiopure (R)-1-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethan-1-ol afforded a 1:1 mixture of acetal diastereomers which was converted into a single isomer via a novel crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation. The resulting 1,4-oxazin-3-one was converted via a unique and highly stereoselective one-pot process to the desired alpha-(fluorophenyl)morpholine derivative. Interesting and unexpected [1,2]-Wittig and [1,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements were identified during the optimization of these key steps. In the final step, a triazolinone side chain was appended to the morpholine core. The targeted clinical candidate was thus obtained in 55% overall yield over the longest linear sequence.