A Slug Flow Platform with Multiple Process Analytics Facilitates Flexible Reaction Optimization.

Flow processing offers many opportunities to optimize reactions in a rapid and automated manner, yet often requires relatively large quantities of input materials. To combat this, the use of a flexible slug flow reactor, equipped with two analytical instruments, for low-volume optimization experiments are reported. A Buchwald-Hartwig amination toward the drug olanzapine, with 6 independent optimizable variables, is optimized using three different automated approaches: self-optimization, design of experiments, and kinetic modeling. These approaches are complementary and provide differing information on the reaction: pareto optimal operating points, response surface models, and mechanistic models, respectively. The results are achieved using <10% of the material that would be required for standard flow operation. Finally, a chemometric model is built utilizing automated data handling and three subsequent validation experiments demonstrate good agreement between the slug flow reactor and a standard (larger scale) flow reactor.

Autonomous Multi-Step and Multi-Objective Optimization Facilitated by Real-Time Process Analytics.

Autonomous flow reactors are becoming increasingly utilized in the synthesis of organic compounds, yet the complexity of the chemical reactions and analytical methods remains limited. The development of a modular platform which uses rapid flow NMR and FTIR measurements, combined with chemometric modeling, is presented for efficient and timely analysis of reaction outcomes. This platform is tested with a four variable single-step reaction (nucleophilic aromatic substitution), to determine the most effective optimization methodology. The self-optimization approach with minimal background knowledge proves to provide the optimal reaction parameters within the shortest operational time. The chosen approach is then applied to a seven variable two-step optimization problem (imine formation and cyclization), for the synthesis of the active pharmaceutical ingredient edaravone. Despite the exponentially increased complexity of this optimization problem, the platform achieves excellent results in a relatively small number of iterations, leading to >95% solution yield of the intermediate and up to 5.42 kg L-1 h-1 space-time yield for this pharmaceutically relevant product.

Carbamoyl Anion Addition to Azirines.

The addition of carbamoyl anions to azirines affords synthetically useful 2-aziridinyl amide building blocks. The reaction scope was explored with respect to both formamide and azirine, and the addition was found to be highly diastereoselective. A one-pot conversion of a ketoxime to an aziridinyl amide was demonstrated. The method was employed to incorporate an aziridine residue into a dipeptide segment.

Sequential C-H Arylation and Enantioselective Hydrogenation Enables Ideal Asymmetric Entry to the Indenopiperidine Core of an 11ß-HSD-1 Inhibitor.

A concise asymmetric synthesis of an 11ß-HSD-1 inhibitor has been achieved using inexpensive starting materials with excellent step-economy at low catalyst loadings. The catalytic enantioselective total synthesis of 1 was accomplished in 7 steps and 38% overall yield aided by the development of an innovative, sequential strategy involving Pd-catalyzed pyridinium C-H arylation and Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of the resulting fused tricyclic indenopyridinium salt highlighted by the use of a unique P,N-ligand (MeO-BoQPhos) with 1000 ppm of [Ir(COD)Cl]2.

Transnitrilation from Dimethylmalononitrile to Aryl Grignard and Lithium Reagents: A Practical Method for Aryl Nitrile Synthesis.

An electrophilic cyanation of aryl Grignard or lithium reagents, generated in situ from the corresponding aryl bromides or iodides, by a transnitrilation with dimethylmalononitrile (DMMN) was developed. DMMN is a commercially available, bench-stable solid. The transnitrilation with DMMN avoids the use of toxic reagents and transition metals and occurs under mild reaction conditions, even for extremely sterically hindered substrates. The transnitrilation of aryllithium species generated by directed ortho-lithiation enabled a net C-H cyanation. The intermediacy of a Thorpe-type imine adduct in the reaction was supported by isolation of the corresponding ketone from the quenched reaction. Computational studies supported the energetic favorability of retro-Thorpe fragmentation of the imine adduct.

Development of an asymmetric synthesis of a chiral quaternary FLAP inhibitor.

A practical sequence involving a noncryogenic stereospecific boronate rearrangement followed by a robust formylation with an in situ generated DCM anion has been developed for the asymmetric construction of an all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center of a FLAP inhibitor. The key boronate rearrangement was rendered noncryogenic and robust by using LDA as the base and instituting an in situ trapping of the unstable lithiated benzylic carbamate with the boronic ester. A similar strategy was implemented for the DCM formylation reaction. It was found that the 1,2-boronate rearrangement for the formylation reaction could be temperature-controlled, thus preventing overaddition of the DCM anion and rendering the process reproducible. The robust stereospecific boronate rearrangement and formylation were utilized for the practical asymmetric synthesis of a chiral quaternary FLAP inhibitor.

Addressing the configuration stability of lithiated secondary benzylic carbamates for the development of a noncryogenic stereospecific boronate rearrangement.

A practical noncryogenic process for the Aggarwal stereospecific boronate rearrangement with chiral secondary benzylic carbamates has been developed. The use of LDA instead of sec-BuLi combined with an in situ trapping of the unstable lithiated carbamate was critical to success. Furthermore, this new process increased the substrate scope to include the versatile aryl iodide and bromide substrates. The methodology was applied to a diverse array of substrates and was demonstrated on multikilogram scale.

Synthesis of the 6-azaindole containing HIV-1 attachment inhibitor pro-drug, BMS-663068.

The development of a short and efficient synthesis of a complex 6-azaindole, BMS-663068, is described. Construction of the 6-azaindole core is quickly accomplished starting from a simple pyrrole, via a regioselective Friedel-Crafts acylation, Pictet-Spengler cyclization, and a radical-mediated aromatization. The synthesis leverages an unusual heterocyclic N-oxide α-bromination to functionalize a critical C-H bond, enabling a highly regioselective copper-mediated Ullmann-Goldberg-Buchwald coupling to install a challenging triazole substituent. This strategy resulted in an efficient 11 step linear synthesis of this complex clinical candidate.

Insights into palladium-catalyzed cyanation of bromobenzene: additive effects on the rate-limiting step.

Kinetic studies using reaction calorimetry were conducted under synthetically relevant conditions to study the effect of additives in the cyanation of bromobenzene catalyzed by palladium complexes. This work demonstrates that the addition of a catalytic amount of ZnBr(2) facilitates the reaction with an elimination of the induction period observed without additive. This study afforded a qualitative assessment of the effect of water on the rate-limiting step and the apparent reaction order in bromobenzene.

Remarkable beta-selectivity in the synthesis of beta-1-C-arylglucosides: stereoselective reduction of acetyl-protected methyl 1-C-arylglucosides without acetoxy-group participation.

An efficient and practical process to generate beta-C-arylglucoside derivatives was achieved. The process described involves Lewis acid mediated ionic reduction of a peracetylated 1-C-aryl methyl glucoside derived from the addition of an aryl-Li to selectively protected delta-D-gluconolactone. The reduction of the 2-acetoxy-1-C-oxacarbenium ion intermediates proceeds with a high degree of selectivity to give beta-C-arylglucosides without 2-acetoxy group participation. Furthermore, during the reduction process we also identified an unprecedented critical role of water. By changing from the usual benzyl ether protecting groups because of cost and chemical compatibility concerns, the new process is made additionally efficient and highly selective.

Novel 1,4-homofragmentation via an alpha-lactone.

Conversion of an alpha,alpha-dichloroester to the corresponding alpha-keto acid was unexpectedly complicated by a novel 1,4-homofragmentation. Investigation of the kinetics of this reaction revealed a mechanism involving an alpha-lactone intermediate, which can lead to both the desired alpha-keto acid and the 1,4-homofragmentation, with the product distribution being dependent upon reaction conditions. This information allowed development of a process that affords the alpha-keto acid exclusively and should be generally applicable to the preparation of alpha-keto acids from alpha,alpha-dichloroesters or acids.

Oxidative dehydrogenation of dihydropyrimidinones and dihydropyrimidines.

[reaction: see text] A mild, practical procedure for oxidative dehydrogenation with catalytic amounts of a Cu salt, K2CO3, and tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) as a terminal oxidant has been developed. This oxidation procedure is generally applicable to dihydropyrimidinones and most dihydropyrimidines.

Kinetic evidence for a tetrameric transition state in the asymmetric autocatalytic alkylation of pyrimidyl aldehydes.

Experimental kinetic data coupled with kinetic modeling implicates a tetrameric transition state in the Soai autocatalytic alkylation of pyrimidyl aldehydes. The kinetic model accurately predicts both the reaction rate and the amplification in enantiomeric excess observed in reactions carried out under a wide range of conditions. These studies reveal the Soai reaction to be an example of true autocatalytic efficiency in a template-directed "minimal system" for self-replication.