Asymmetric Formal Synthesis of the Long-Acting DPP-4 Inhibitor Omarigliptin.

A highly efficient asymmetric synthesis of the key tetrahydropyranol intermediate of DPP-4 inhibitor omarigliptin (1) is described. The successful development of a protecting-group- and precious-metal-free synthesis was achieved via the discovery of a practical asymmetric Henry reaction and the application of a one-pot nitro-Michael-lactolization-dehydration through-process. Other features of the synthesis include a highly efficient MsCl-mediated dehydration and a crystallization-induced dynamic resolution for exceptional ee and dr upgrade. The synthesis of this complex intermediate utilizes simple starting materials and proceeds in four linear steps.

Enantioselective Synthesis of 4'-Ethynyl-2-fluoro-2'-deoxyadenosine (EFdA) via Enzymatic Desymmetrization.

An enantioselective synthesis of the potent anti-HIV nucleoside EFdA is presented. Key features of stereocontrol include construction of the fully substituted 4'-carbon via a biocatalytic desymmetrization of 2-hydroxy-2-((triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl)propane-1,3-diyl diacetate and a Noyori-type asymmetric transfer hydrogenation to control the stereochemistry of the 3'-hydroxyl bearing carbon. The discovery of a selective crystallization of an N-silyl nucleoside intermediate enabled isolation of the desired ß-anomer from the glycosylation step.

Promotion of a Ti-Mediated Mannich Reaction by a Proton Source.

Low temperature NMR studies revealed that a diastereoselective Mannich reaction between a phenyl oxazolidone-derived titanium enolate and an aromatic aldimine was found to occur only after introduction of a proton source. While various protic additives could be used to promote the transformation, the best results were obtained using AcOH to afford the corresponding Mannich products in high diastereoselectivities and yields.

N-Boc deprotection and isolation method for water-soluble zwitterionic compounds.

A highly efficient TMSI-mediated deprotection and direct isolation method to obtain zwitterionic compounds from the corresponding N-Boc derivatives has been developed. This method has been demonstrated in the final deprotection/isolation of the ß-lactamase inhibitor MK-7655 as a part of its manufacturing process. Further application of this process toward other zwitterionic compounds, such as dipeptides and tripeptides, has been successfully developed. Furthermore, a catalytic version of this transformation has been demonstrated in the presence of BSA or BSTFA.

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.

Discovery and application of doubly quaternized cinchona-alkaloid-based phase-transfer catalysts.

We report the discovery of novel N,N'-disubstituted cinchona alkaloids as efficient phase-transfer catalysts for the assembly of stereogenic quaternary centers. In comparison to traditional cinchona-alkaloid-based phase-transfer catalysts, these new catalysts afford substantial improvements in enantioselectivity and reaction rate for intramolecular spirocyclization reactions with catalyst loadings as low as 0.3 mol% under mild conditions.

Ring-closing metathesis reactions of bis(enynes): selectivity and surprises.

A study of the ring-closing metathesis reactions of two bis(enynes) is presented. These substrates, which contain two alkenes and two alkynes, as well as a resident stereocenter, can potentially generate metathesis products resulting from many reaction pathways. In this contribution we present our results on these reactions, show how small changes in reaction conditions can lead to different product ratios, and attempt to provide a rationale for the outcomes.

Enantioselective synthesis of an HCV NS5a antagonist.

A concise, enantioselective synthesis of the HCV NS5a inhibitor MK-8742 (1) is reported. The features of the synthesis include a highly enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of an NH imine and a dynamic diastereoselective transformation. The synthesis of this complex target requires simple starting materials and nine linear steps for completion.

Synthesis of α-hydroxyacetophenones.

A general method for the preparation of α-hydroxyacetophenones is presented. Functionalized arylmagnesium species are transmetalated to the corresponding arylzinc intermediates, which undergo Cu(I)-catalyzed reaction with acetoxyacetyl chloride. Acidic hydrolysis of the acetate group releases the target α-hydroxyacetophenones with minimal production of undesired polymeric degradates that are often observed under alternative conditions.

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.

Synthesis of vaniprevir (MK-7009): lactamization to prepare a 20-membered [corrected] macrocycle.

Development of a practical synthesis of MK-7009, a 20-membered [corrected] macrocycle, is described. A variety of ring-closing strategies were evaluated, including ring-closing metathesis, intermolecular palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings, and macrolactamization. Ring closure via macrolactamization was found to give the highest yields under relatively high reaction concentrations. Optimization of the ring formation step and the synthesis of key intermediates en route to MK-7009 are reported.

Reaction development and mechanistic study of a ruthenium catalyzed intramolecular asymmetric reductive amination en route to the dual Orexin inhibitor Suvorexant (MK-4305).

The first example of an intramolecular asymmetric reductive amination of a dialkyl ketone with an aliphatic amine has been developed for the synthesis of Suvorexant (MK-4305), a potent dual Orexin antagonist under development for the treatment of sleep disorders. This challenging transformation is mediated by a novel Ru-based transfer hydrogenation catalyst that provides the desired diazepane ring in 97% yield and 94.5% ee. Mechanistic studies have revealed that CO(2), produced as a necessary byproduct of this transfer hydrogenation reaction, has pronounced effects on the efficiency of the Ru catalyst, the form of the amine product, and the kinetics of the transformation. A simple kinetic model explains how product inhibition by CO(2) leads to overall first-order kinetics, but yields an apparent zero-order dependence on initial substrate concentration. The deleterious effects of CO(2) on reaction rates and product isolation can be overcome by purging CO(2) from the system. Moreover, the rate of ketone hydrogenation can be greatly accelerated by purging of CO(2) or trapping with nucleophilic secondary amines.

Practical synthesis of functionalized 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,4-triazole derivatives.

A general approach for the synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted-1,2,4-triazole compounds is described. A series of new oxamide-derived amidine reagents can be accessed in excellent yield with minimal purification necessary. Typically, these amidine reagents are stable crystalline solids and in certain cases were found to exist in a cyclic form as determined by NMR spectroscopy. Under optimized conditions, the direct reaction of these prepared reagents with various hydrazine hydrochloride salts efficiently generates the target triazoles. Both aromatic and aliphatic hydrazines react readily with the amidine reagents under very mild reaction conditions, delivering desired 1,5-disubstituted-1,2,4-triazole derivatives in good yields.

A general method for the synthesis of 3,5-diarylcyclopentenones via friedel-crafts acylation of vinyl chlorides.

A general approach for the synthesis of 3,5-diarylcyclopentenones was developed. Key aspects of this approach are the intramolecular Friedel-Crafts-type cyclization of vinyl chlorides and subsequent Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. The requisite vinyl chloride-bearing arylacetic acid precursors are readily available by straightforward alkylation of arylacetic acid esters and undergo cyclization to yield 3-chloro-5-aryl-2-cyclopentenones when treated with AlCl(3). The vinylogous acid chloride functionality present in these immediate products allows for further elaboration via Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling chemistry, leading to a diverse array of products.

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.

A case of remote asymmetric induction in the peptide-catalyzed desymmetrization of a bis(phenol).

We report a catalytic approach to the synthesis of a key intermediate on the synthetic route to a pharmaceutical drug candidate in single enantiomer form. In particular, we illustrate the discovery process employed to arrive at a powerful, peptide-based asymmetric acylation catalyst. The substrate this catalyst modifies represents a remarkable case of desymmetrization, wherein the enantiotopic groups are separated by nearly a full nanometer, and the distance between the reactive site and the pro-stereogenic element is nearly 6 A. Differentiation of enantiotopic sites within molecules that are removed from the prochiral centers by long distances presents special challenges to the field of asymmetric catalysis. As the distance between enantiotopic sites increases within a substrate, so too may the requirements for size and complexity of the catalyst. The approach presented herein contrasts enzymatic catalysts and small-molecule catalysts for this challenge. Ultimately, we report here a synthetic, miniaturized enzyme mimic that catalyzes a desymmetrization reaction over a substantial distance. In addition, studies relevant to mechanism are presented, including (a) the delineation of structure-selectivity relationships through the use of substrate analogs, (b) NMR experiments documenting catalyst-substrate interactions, and (c) the use of isotopically labeled substrates to illustrate unequivocally an asymmetric catalyst-substrate binding event.

Chlorination/cyclodehydration of amino alcohols with SOCl2: an old reaction revisited.

A simple, one-pot preparation of cyclic amines via efficient chlorination of amino alcohols with use of SOCl(2) has been developed. This approach obviates the need for the classical N-protection/O-activation/cyclization/deprotection sequence commonly employed for this type of transformation. The reaction pathways and the general scope of this method have also been investigated.

Stereoisomeric separation of pharmaceutical compounds using CE with a chiral crown ether.

Optical pure (+)-(18-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid, a chiral crown ether, was successfully used as a chiral selector for the stereoisomeric separation of numerous real pharmaceutical compounds. Both practical and mechanistic aspects were described. Effects of chiral selector concentration under different pH values of BGE were discussed. Chiral recognition for the enantiomeric compounds with (+)-(18-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid was investigated through model compounds using CE and infrared spectroscopic techniques. Relations between the enantioselectivity of the chiral crown ether and the structural features of the studied compounds were also investigated. Unusual resolutions of compound-p and its enantiomer as well as compound-o and its 2b epimer were described. These compounds contained only tertiary amine, believed to be nonbinding with crown ethers in general. The possible mechanisms for the interaction between compound-o and the chiral crown ether were investigated using CE, electrospray MS (ESI-MS), and proton ((1)H) NMR spectroscopy. All experiments provided clear evidence that binding between compound-o and the chiral crown ether had occurred. ESI-MS spectra indicated that the complexes had a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio. The advantages and disadvantages of using chiral crown ether for stereoisomeric separations were compared with those using sulfated CDs.

Novel intramolecular reactivity of oximes: synthesis of cyclic and spiro-fused imines.

Under conventional heat (135-145 degrees C) or microwave irradiation and 1 equiv of acetic anhydride, ortho-substituted aryl-oximes undergo a novel sp3 C-H activated cyclization to produce the corresponding isoindoles, and aliphatic oximes afford the corresponding dihydropyrroles. The cyclization occurs with various substrates in good yield (46-82%) leading to unique spiro-fused and cyclic imines. An initial mechanistic investigation suggests the reaction occurs via a nitrenium or vinyl nitrene intermediate. [reaction: see text]