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 one-pot synthesis of the 2-aminocarbonylpyrrolidin-4-ylthio-containing side chain of the new broad-spectrum carbapenem antibiotic ertapenem.

An efficient synthesis of the 2-aminocarbonylpyrrolidin-4-ylthio containing side chain of ertapenem (MK-0826) is described. Starting material N-(O,O-diisopropyl phosphoryl)-trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline is converted in a one-pot process to (2S)-cis-3-[[(4-mercapto-2-pyrrolidinyl)carbonyl]amino]benzoic acid monohydrochloride in 70-75% overall yield via a series of six reactions. The development of each of these reactions and the isolation of the product is discussed in detail.