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An efficient multi-gram synthesis of (1R,2S,5S)-methyl 6,6-dimethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2-carboxylate, a key chiral bicyclic proline fragment employed in the construction of the potent anti-HCV drug boceprevir, has been presented. The synthetic route commences with the readily available cis-cypermethric acid, a cheap source of the cyclopropane ring required in the targeted compound, and utilizes the cis-orientation of the 2,2-dichlorovinyl and carboxylic acid side arms, already present in the starting material, to effect a diastereoselective construction of the proline moiety.

In the context of a programme directed at the manufacture of telaprevir, eight possible approaches to its bicyclic α-amino acid core, based on organocatalytic enantioselective conjugate additions to cyclopent-1-enecarbaldehyde, were identified and preliminarily explored. Four reactions, delivering advanced intermediates en route to the target amino acid, were selected for a thorough optimisation. Three of this reactions involved iminium ion catalysis with a prolinol catalyst (addition of nitromethane, nitroacetate and acetamidomalonate) and one was based on a Cinchona-derived phase-transfer catalyst (addition of glycine imines). A careful choice of additives allowed lowering of the catalyst loading to 0.5 mol% in some cases. The preparation of intermediates that would give access to the core of telaprevir in good yields and enantioselectivities by exploiting readily available substrates and catalysts, highlights the potential of organocatalytic technology for a cost-effective preparation of pharmaceuticals.

A synthetic route to an N-BOC d-phenylalanine pharmaceutical intermediate suitable for rapid scale-up to 150-kg scale was required. A seven-step route based on asymmetric hydrogenation of an N-acetyl dehydroamino-acid was developed. Starting with terephthalic dialdehyde, monoreduction of one aldehyde group, Erlenmeyer condensation, and ring-opening/O-deacetylation with methanol provided the 4-(hydroxymethyl)-substituted dehydrophenylalanine hydrogenation substrate. Asymmetric hydrogenation of this enamide using [((R,R)-Ethyl-DuPhos)Rh(COD)]BF4 proceeded in high enantiomeric excess. Subsequently, the cis-2,6-piperidyl group was introduced by mesylation/displacement, the BOC group was introduced, and acetyl and methyl ester groups were removed by basic hydrolysis. This route was used to manufacture 150 kg of the BOC amino acid 1.

Bis-sulfamyl imines are shown to be potentially ideal substrates for rhodium-catalysed asymmetric additions of arylboron nucleophiles as they show: (i) near perfect enantioselectivities (11 examples, 98-99+% ee), (ii) good to excellent diastereoselectivities (10-32:1 rac:meso), and (iii) high functional group tolerance in removal of the low molecular weight protecting group via mild heating in aqueous pyridine.

Two complementary and scalable approaches have been used to manufacture multikilogram quantities of N,O-protected-(S)-2-methylserine. The first approach uses a diastereomeric salt resolution of 2-methylserine methyl ester as the (1S)-(+)-camphorsulfonate salt, and was used to rapidly access 15 kg of (S)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid with >99% ee. The second approach involves a stereoselective enolate methylation of a chiral cyclic l-serine derivative under cryogenic conditions. The four-step telescoped process, starting from l-serine methyl ester, was used to manufacture 20 kg of (2R,4S)-2-tert-butyl-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-4-methyl-1,3-oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid in 52% overall yield and 98% ee. The advantages and disadvantages for scale-up of both approaches are discussed.

Chiral shift 31P NMR spectroscopy allows the identification of ligand leads in asymmetric catalyst systems for ZnMe2 addition to ArCH NP(O)Ph2. Subsequent GC-based optimisation shows [RhCl(CH2 CH2)2]2 and (R,R)-MeDuPhos to be the optimal pre-catalyst combination (product in 78–93% ee). Transmetallation of [(MeDuPhos)Rh{N(P(O)Ph2–CHMeAr}] with ZnMe2 appears to be the rate limiting step of the catalytic cycle as competing coordination by the imine starting material leads to Ph2P(O)NHCH2Ar via MVP hydrogen-transfer. This limitation can largely be overcome by the slow addition of the imine.

A series of seven bis(2,5-diphenylphospholane) ligands has been evaluated for utility in rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation. The ligands differ in the nature of the moiety that bridges t...

A synthesis of (1R,2S)-dehydrocoronamic acid ethyl ester was developed employing a regio- and enantioselective palladium-catalysed nucleophilic ring-opening of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene with a glycine anion equivalent as the key enantiodifferentiating step. The desired selectivity was achieved using Trost’s naphthyl ligand. The subsequent activation of the free hydroxyl group and ring-closure by intramolecular SN2 reaction gave the desired amino acid ethyl ester.

A method for the coupling of acyl and imino substituents to the sterically encumbered 5-position of a 4-aminoquinazoline was developed. Starting with a 4-amino-5-iodoquinazoline, the method employs a facile intramolecular zinc-mediated transfer from the 4-amino group to the iodo-bearing carbon. The method was found to be effective for a variety of substituents, in particular a pyridyl group required for the synthesis of Pfizer’s prostate selective α1 antagonist candidate for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, UK-338,003.

An intramolecular hydroxylamine-alkyne cyclisation is used for the enantioselective synthesis of the cyclic nitrones 36 and 44. We have demonstrated the use of a novel nitrone protection strategy by cycloaddition of styrene to the cyclic nitrone 44 in the synthesis of the spirocyclic core of the histrionicotoxin family of alkaloids. Deprotection by dipolar cycloreversion of the styrene adduct (the bicyclic isoxazolidine 39) and in situ intramolecular dipolar cycloaddition of a pendant (Z)-α,β-unsaturated nitrile to the intermediate nitrone 50 gave the isoxazolidine 51 in high yield with a surprising degree of regioselectivity compared with the corresponding (Z)-enyne 36. The method is amenable to the synthesis of both enantiomers 51 and 62 of the tricyclic core structure which can be converted by way of the common intermediates (e.g.53 and ent-53) respectively into the natural configuration of alkaloids (−)-histrionicotoxin 1 and (−)-histrionicotoxin 235A 65 as well as the unnatural (+)-histrionicotoxin 63.

A concise synthesis of 5-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-10-propyl-2H-pyrano[2,3-f]chromen-8-one utilising a novel selective desulfonylation protocol is described. This method provides facile access to a key intermediate for the asymmetric synthesis of calanolide A.

A commercial synthesis of the antiglaucoma agent, travoprost 2, is described. A total of 22 synthetic steps are required to provide the single enantiomer prostanoid, with the longest linear sequence being 16 steps from 3-hydroxybenzotrifluoride. The route is based upon a cuprate-mediated coupling of the single enantiomer vinyl iodide 13 and the tricyclic ketone 5, of high stereochemical purity, to yield the single isomer bicyclic ketone 15. A Baeyer−Villiger oxidation provides the lactone 16 as a crystalline solid, thus limiting the need for chromatographic purification. DIBAL-H reduction, Wittig reaction, esterification, and silyl group deprotection complete the synthesis of travoprost.

Dehydrocoronamic acid can be racemised by dehydration of an N-acyl derivative to an azlactone, which undergoes facile racemisation. For the N-trifluoroacetyl derivative, the racemisation process was combined with an enzymatic resolution, to achieve a dynamic kinetic resolution process by which the racemate can be converted to either enantiomer.

The first enantioselective total synthesis of scopadulcic acid A is described. The key step is a cascade intramolecular Heck reaction of a methylenecycloheptene iodide, which generates the B, C, and D rings of the scopadulan ring system in 90% yield as a single stereoisomer. A distinctive feature of these syntheses is the use of stereoselective enolization to dictate which enantiomer of the natural product is produced.

A convenient synthesis of 11,12-diamino-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene (1) is described. A Diels-Alder reaction between fumaryl chloride and anthracene provides an acid chloride. Conversion into an acyl azide followedby a thermal Curtius rearrangement and saponification affords the racemic diamine. Diastereoisomeric salt resolution provides the single enantiomer products, which are used as the chiral backbone of several ligands in asymmetric catalysis, including the Trost asymmetric allylic alkylation ligand 2.

Activated aldimines (III) are suitable substrates for the synthesis of optically active diarylmethylamines (V) via Rh-catalyzed asymmetric addition of arylboronic acids.

The sequential reaction of chlorosulfonyl isocyanate with t -BuOH, t -BuNH 2 and TFA allows formation of H 2 NSO 2 NHBu t . Condensation of the latter with Ar 1 CHO in the presence of Ti(OEt) 4 provides the activated imines Ar 1 CH NSO 2 NHBu t (59–89%). Commercially available boronic acids add to these imines with good stereoselectivity (76–98% ee ) using readily available diene ligands. Simple deprotection with 5% w/w water in pyridine affords free Ar 1 CHNH 2 Ar 2 .

The cyclisation of the alkynylhydroxylamines 2, 13, 14, 19, 27, 34, 39, 46 and 47 to give five-, six- and seven-membered cyclic nitrones is described. A concerted intramolecular ene-like pathway is proposed for the addition of the N–O–H group across the triple bond. Using the nitrone 48 as the starting material, the seven-membered lactam structure 49 proposed for the natural product acacialactam was prepared and was found to be incorrect.

Bis-sulfamyl imines are shown to be potentially ideal substrates for rhodium-catalysed asymmetric additions of arylboron nucleophiles as they show: (i) near perfect enantioselectivities (11 examples, 98-99+% ee), (ii) good to excellent diastereoselectivities (10-32:1 rac:meso), and (iii) high functional group tolerance in removal of the low molecular weight protecting group via mild heating in aqueous pyridine.

The single enantiomer title alcohols, useful as ω-side chain precursors for pharmaceutically important prostaglandin analogues were synthesised from the corresponding racemic alcohols by a convenient 4-step sequence. After enzymatic acylation of the alcohol with a vinyl carboxylate, the residual (S)-alcohol in the mixture was converted to the mesylate. Subsequent displacement with the corresponding carboxylate anion, followed by enzymatic deacylation gave the desired (R)-alcohol. In this way, all of the starting alcohol was utilised without the need for separation of the starting material and product after the bioresolution.

The cyclic nitrone 2 was converted via the key intermediates 7, 12 and 14 into the seven-membered lactam structure 3 proposed for acacialactam. The spectra of the synthetic material differed from that of the product for which an alternative structure 15 is tentatively proposed.

The intramolecular cyclisation of the alkynylhydroxylamines 2 , 5a , 8 , 11 , 16 and 19 provides the cyclic nitrones 3 , 9 , 12 , 17 and 20 in good yields.

The total synthesis of racemic indolizidines 235B 1 and 235B′2 is described, in which the key step is the intramolecular thermal cycloaddition of the (Z)-N-alkenylnitrones 10b and 10a, respectively. Cyclisation of the isoxazolidines 12, followed by reductive N–O bond cleavage, epimerisation of the resulting axial hydroxymethyl side chain to the equatorial configuration, and further reduction to a methyl group gave the target molecules. Intramolecular cyclisation of the related nitrone 18, a potential precursor to the solenopsins, was less regioselective, affording a 6:1 mixture of the adducts 19 and 20, which indicates a dependence on the nature of the substituent α to nitrogen.

Four chiral diphosphine ligands consisting of bis(2,5-diphenylphospholan-1-yl) groups connected by the sp(2) carbon linkers 2,3-quinoxaline ((S,S)-Ph-Quinox), 2,3-pyrazine ((S,S)-Ph-Pyrazine), maleic anhydride ((S,S)-Ph-MalPhos), and 1,1'-ferrocene ((S,S)-Ph-5-Fc) were synthesized, and their cationic [rhodium(I)(COD)] complexes were prepared. These complexes were tested in asymmetric hydrogenation of functionalized olefins. [((S,S)-Ph-Quinox)Rh(COD)]BF4 showed high activity and selectivity against itaconate and dehydroamino acid substrates. The corresponding (S,S)-Ph-Pyrazine and (S,S)-Ph-MalPhos complexes exhibited lower activities and selectivities. [((S,S)-Ph-5-Fc)Rh(COD)]BF4 showed high activity with low selectivity for these substrates, but high activity and selectivity against 2-C-substituted cinnamate salts, whereas rhodium complexes of (S,S)-Ph-Quinox and (R,R)-Ph-BPE showed low activity and selectivity against 2-C-substituted cinnamate salts.

The performance of a catalyst used in asymmetric synthesis is likely to be dependent upon its stereoisomeric purity. An impurity was detectable by (31)P NMR in early development batches of the asymmetric hydrogenation catalyst [(S,S)-Me-BPE-Rh(COD)](+)BF(4) (-) made from the ligand bis((2S,5S)-2,5-dimethylphospholano)ethane [(S,S)-Me-BPE]. Its identity as a stereoisomer with one chiral and one meso-phospholane ring was deduced by comparison of the (31)P NMR spectra and GC traces of the ligand with a deliberately synthesized mixture of isomers. Interestingly, the impurity corresponded to a trans-meso isomer formed by thermal (200 degrees C) pyramidal inversion at phosphorus of the initially synthesized cis-meso-phospholane when the ligand was purified by distillation. Low levels of this trans-meso/chiral impurity do not significantly impair the enantioselectivity of the rhodium complex as an asymmetric hydrogenation catalyst, but high levels of stereochemical impurities resulted in a loss of both enantioselectivity and activity. Therefore it is indeed important to establish that a catalyst used in asymmetric catalysis is sufficiently stereoisomerically pure. Owing to strict control of the stereochemical purity of the key hexane-2,5-diol intermediate, the impurity is not detected in production batches.

[reaction: see text] The 11-oxa prostaglandin analogue AL-12182 1 has potent topical ocular hypotensive activity. A convergent and concise general synthesis of this class of prostanoid was developed employing a stereoselective coupling reaction between a tetrahydrofuran core electrophile and a nucleophilic omega side chain component, providing a route that should be suitable for commercial scale production. The tetrahydrofuran core was assembled from dimethyl d-malate using a stereoselective beta-hydroxy ester dianion alkylation reaction.

A robust and scalable procedure for the palladium-catalyzed dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene into (2 R )-3-butene-1,2-diol with water as the cosolvent is reported. Examination of the effects of solvent and temperature led to the identification of conditions that permitted use of 0.025 mol % catalyst, providing (2 R )-3-butene-1,2-diol in 84% isolated yield and 85% enantiomeric excess. Subsequent Heck reactions with a diverse range of coupling partners are described and the influence of their electronic nature on maintaining the enantiopurity of the diol is discussed.

The single enantiomer title alcohols, useful as ω-side chain precursors for pharmaceutically important prostaglandin analogues were synthesised from the corresponding racemic alcohols by a convenient 4-step sequence. After enzymatic acylation of the alcohol with a vinyl carboxylate, the residual (S)-alcohol in the mixture was converted to the mesylate. Subsequent displacement with the corresponding carboxylate anion, followed by enzymatic deacylation gave the desired (R)-alcohol. In this way, all of the starting alcohol was utilised without the need for separation of the starting material and product after the bioresolution.