Ligated Pd-Catalyzed Aminations of Aryl/Heteroaryl Halides with Aliphatic Amines under Sustainable Aqueous Micellar Conditions.

Sustainable technology for constructing Pd-catalyzed C-N bonds involving aliphatic amines is reported. A catalytic system that relies on low levels of recyclable precious metal, a known and commercially available ligand, and a recyclable aqueous medium are combined, leading to a newly developed procedure. This new technology can be used in ocean water with equal effectiveness. Applications involving highly challenging reaction partners constituting late-stage functionalization are documented, as is a short but efficient synthesis of the drug naftopidil. Comparisons with existing aminations highlight the many advances being offered.

A sustainable, efficient, and potentially cost-effective approach to the antimalarial drug candidate MMV688533.

A 6-step synthesis of the antimalarial drug candidate MMV688533 is reported. Key transformations carried out under aqueous micellar conditions include two Sonogashira couplings and amide bond formation. Compared with the first-generation manufacturing process reported by Sanofi, the current route features ppm levels of palladium loading, less material input, less organic solvent, and no traditional amide coupling reagents. The overall yield is improved ten-fold, from 6.4% to 67%.

A 1-Pot Synthesis of the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Inhibitor Nirmatrelvir, the Key Ingredient in Paxlovid.

A newly devised route to the Pfizer drug nirmatrelvir is reported that reduces the overall sequence to a 1-pot process and relies on a commercially available, green coupling reagent, T3P. The overall yield of the targeted material, isolated as its MTBE solvate, is 64%.

A sustainable synthesis of the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitor nirmatrelvir, the active ingredient in Paxlovid.

Pfizer's drug for the treatment of patients infected with COVID-19, Paxlovid, contains most notably nirmatrelvir, along with ritonavir. Worldwide demand is projected to be in the hundreds of metric tons per year, to be produced by several generic drug manufacturers. Here we show a 7-step, 3-pot synthesis of the antiviral nirmatrelvir, arriving at the targeted drug in 70% overall yield. Critical amide bond-forming steps utilize new green technology that completely avoids traditional peptide coupling reagents, as well as epimerization of stereocenters. Likewise, dehydration of a primary amide to the corresponding nitrile is performed and avoids use of the Burgess reagent and chlorinated solvents. DFT calculations for various conformers of nirmatrelvir predict that two rotamers about the tertiary amide would be present with an unusually high rotational barrier. Direct comparisons with the original literature procedures highlight both the anticipated decrease in cost and environmental footprint associated with this route, potentially expanding the availability of this important drug worldwide.

Bisulfite Addition Compounds as Substrates for Reductive Aminations in Water.

Highly valued products resulting from reductive aminations utilizing shelf-stable bisulfite addition compounds of aldehydes can be made under aqueous micellar catalysis conditions. Readily available α-picolineborane serves as the stoichiometric hydride source. Recycling of the aqueous reaction medium is easily accomplished, and several applications to targets in the pharmaceutical industry are documented.