Ten-Gram-Scale Total Synthesis of the Anticancer Drug Candidate E7130 to Supply Clinical Trials.

E7130 is a novel drug candidate with an exceedingly complex chemical structure of the halichondrin class, discovered by a total synthesis approach through joint research between the Kishi group at Harvard University and Eisai. Only 18 months after completion of the initial milligram-scale synthesis, ten-gram-scale synthesis of E7130 was achieved, providing the first good manufacturing practice (GMP) batch to supply clinical trials. This paper highlights the challenges in developing ten-gram-scale synthesis from the milligram-scale synthesis.

Novel and Efficient Chromium(II)-Mediated Desulfonylation of α-Sulfonyl Ketone.

A novel and efficient method for the Cr(II)-mediated desulfonylation of α-sulfonyl ketone by a Cr-ligand-Mn system has been developed during the course of process research on Halaven (eribulin mesylate). This reaction is dramatically accelerated in the presence of an appropriate bipyridyl-type ligand. This system is applicable to reduction of α-sulfur-substituted ketones. In addition, a Cr-Cp2ZrCl2-Mn catalytic system is also applicable to desulfonylation of α-sulfonyl ketone.