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An efficient four-step synthesis of PA-824, a promising antituberculosis drug candidate, has been developed. This concise approach offers significant improvements over the synthetic route currently used for large-scale production.

A di-O-TBS protected glyceraldehyde synthon was condensed with Ellman's reagent to form a bench-stable N-tert-butanesulfinyl imine 6, which served as a common intermediate for the stereoselective introduction of various R groups. The Ellman adducts were converted to useful multifunctional intermediates 18a-i in one pot. The alcohols 18a-i were efficiently elaborated to both known and novel anti-N-protected-3-amino-1,2-epoxides in two steps. Compound 2a is a key intermediate toward HIV protease inhibitors.

c-Met is a receptor tyrosine kinase that plays a key role in several cellular processes but has also been found to be overexpressed and mutated in different human cancers. Consequently, targeting this enzyme has become an area of intense research in drug discovery. Our studies began with the design and synthesis of novel pyrimidone 7, which was found to be a potent c-Met inhibitor. Subsequent SAR studies identified 22 as a more potent analog, whereas an X-ray crystal structure of 7 bound to c-Met revealed an unexpected binding conformation. This latter finding led to the development of a new series that featured compounds that were more potent both in vitro and in vivo than 22 and also exhibited different binding conformations to c-Met. Novel c-Met inhibitors have been designed, developed, and found to be potent in vitro and in vivo.

Trituration and crystallization are essential techniques for purification of intermediates and drug substances in pharmaceutical process development. Traditionally, identifying the optimal solvent conditions for impurity rejection adopts an empirical approach that can be a time and material consuming process. On the basis of thermodynamic considerations for optimizing the purity and the yield of the crystal product, it is necessary to conduct screening experiments with the crude product in different solvents including mixtures of solvents. In this report, we describe the development and the implementation of a high-throughput screening workflow in a 96-well array format for identifying the optimal purification conditions. The impure samples were first triturated at room temperature and subsequently subjected to a thermal cycle in 96 unique solvents or solvent mixtures at a volume of 0.6 mL per well. The compound solubility and the impurity profiles of both supernatant and recovered solid were analyzed by ...

Rh(CO)2(acac)/TangPhos was found to be a highly enantioselective catalyst for asymmetric hydroformylation of norbornylene under mild conditions. Application of the protocol to the desymmetrization of other [2.2.1]-bicyclic olefins gave moderate to excellent enantioselectivity (55–92% ee).

A highly efficient synthesis of the substance P antagonist 1 is reported starting from the optically pure morpholine acetal derivative 2. The 5-dimethylaminomethyl-1,2,3-triazole moiety is elaborated via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between an activated acetylenic intermediate and sodium azide. Two approaches to the construction of the triazole moiety of 1 have been designed. The first approach is linear affording the side chain in four steps and 85−92% overall yield. The reactive acetylenic aldehyde 5 allowed for a mild azide cyclization. A simple reductive amination of the triazole aldehyde completed the synthesis of 1. An alternative, more efficient, convergent synthesis using analogous methodology developed from the linear synthesis was designed to improve the overall efficiency of the process as well as remove the concerns with the handling of azide. The triazole adduct was prepared offline in a two-step, one-pot operation as the building block 4-N,N-dimethylaminomethyl-1,2,3-triazole-aldehyde 3. Form...

A practical preparation of an αvβ3 antagonist is reported. The antagonist consists of three key components, a tetrahydronaphthyridine moiety, a β-alanine moiety, and a central imidazolidone moiety. The tetrahydronaphthyridine component was prepared using two different methods, both of which relied on variations of the Friedlander reaction to establish the desired regiochemistry. The β-alanine component was prepared using Davies' asymmetric 1,4-addition methodology as the key stereo-defining step. The central imidazolidone portion was created from these two components using an effective three-step cyclization protocol. Thus, a highly convergent process for the drug candidate was defined.

A highly stereoselective aldol reaction was observed on chromane carboxylate ester 1 via the corresponding diisopinocampheyl boron-enolate using commercially available (−)-DIP-Cl reagent. The aldol product 2c was obtained in 89% yield with 48 dr and 92% ee. Further studies indicate that stereoselective formation of the enolate and proper chiral ligand on boron are responsible for the exceptional diastereo- and enantioselectivity in the aldol reaction.

The synthesis of ras farnesyl-protein transferase inhibitor 1 is described on a multi-kilogram scale. Retrosynthetic analysis reveals chloromethylimidazole 2 and a piperazinone 3 as viable precursors. The 1,5-disubstituted imidazole system was regioselectively assembled via an improved Marckwald imidazole synthesis. A new imidazole dethionation procedure has been developed to convert the Marckwald mercaptoim-idazole product to the desired imidazole. This methodology was found to be tolerant of a variety of functional groups providing good to excellent yields of 1,5-disubstituted imidazoles. A new Mitsunobu cycliza-tion strategy was developed to prepare the arylpiperazinone fragment 3.

A β3 adrenergic receptor agonist was prepared on a multi-kilogram scale in high yield and purity via a convergent synthesis. A key intermediate in this synthesis was an arylthiazolylbenzenesulfonyl chloride. The triaryl segment of this sulfonyl chloride was assembled at the thiazole ring via coupling of α-haloketone and thiobenzamide precursors (Hantzsch synthesis). Three strategies for introducing the para-sulfonyl chloride moiety were developed and evaluated. The sulfonation/chlorination and diazotization/chlorosulfonylation routes were found the most efficient.

A novel, high yielding preparation of sulfones from α,α-dibromomethyl aromatics through reaction with a sulfinate salt is reported.

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of the orally active NK(1) receptor antagonist Aprepitant is described. A direct condensation of N-benzyl ethanolamine with glyoxylic acid yielded a 2-hydroxy-1,4-oxazin-3-one which was activated as the corresponding trifluoroacetate. A Lewis acid mediated coupling with enantiopure (R)-1-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethan-1-ol afforded a 1:1 mixture of acetal diastereomers which was converted into a single isomer via a novel crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation. The resulting 1,4-oxazin-3-one was converted via a unique and highly stereoselective one-pot process to the desired alpha-(fluorophenyl)morpholine derivative. Interesting and unexpected [1,2]-Wittig and [1,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements were identified during the optimization of these key steps. In the final step, a triazolinone side chain was appended to the morpholine core. The targeted clinical candidate was thus obtained in 55% overall yield over the longest linear sequence.

An efficient synthesis of the sodium salt of the doxorubicin-peptide conjugate 1, useful for the treatment of prostate cancer is described. The EDC-mediated amide formation between the heptapeptide 4 and doxorubicin (2) as the key step has been extensively studied employing peptide-coupling additives, such as 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt), l-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole (HOAt) and 2-hydroxypyridine N-oxide (HOPO), surprisingly, mixing the additives HOAt and HOPO furnished the best results.

Two synthetic strategies to the COX-2 specific inhibitor 1 have been described that allowed its preparation in large quantities in 79% overall yield from (S)-2-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid. These studies have led to the identification of an efficient resolution of (±)-2-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid and a novel thionyl chloride aided formation of amide 11 from acid 6 .

An efficient asymmetric synthesis of 1,2,3-trisubstituted cyclopentanes and cyclohexanes is described. Three methods were developed for the preparation of the 2,3-disubstituted cyclopentenones and cyclohexenones, which are key achiral building blocks. These intermediates are reduced catalytically with (R)-2-methyloxazaborolidine in high yield (82-98%) and excellent ee (89-96%). Directed reduction of the chiral allylic alcohols using Red-Al gives exclusively the 1,2-anti stereochemistry (99:1). Epimerization of the ester center followed by saponification/crystallization affords the desired hydroxyacids in good yield (65-70%) and in high enantiomeric excess (99%).

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.

The convergent synthesis of a potent α1A-selective adrenoceptor antagonist is described. Salient features of the synthesis include the enzymatic resolution of a racemic dihydropyrimidinone and the use of a palladium coupling reaction in the synthesis of 2,4'-dipyridyl.Key words: dihydropyrimidinone, enzymatic resolution, palladium coupling.

The aza-Diels–Alder reactions of 2-iodo-3-indoleacetaldehydes in the presence of zinc triflate provides 2-(2-iodoindolylmethyl)-4-pyridones in high yield. Palladium-mediated intramolecular Heck cyclization gives access to the tetracyclic tetrahydro-β-carboline framework of the ajmaline/sarpagine alkaloids.

[reaction: see text]. In the copper salt catalyzed ether formation from aryl bromides or iodides and phenols, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5-dione (TMHD) was found to greatly accelerate the ordinarily difficult reaction, making it occur under more moderate temperatures and reaction times. A series of aryl halides and phenols were shown to form ethers in NMP as the solvent, cesium carbonate as the base, and CuCl and TMHD as the catalysts. The reaction was shown to tolerate electron-rich aryl bromides and electron-neutral phenols.

Catalytic asymmetric alkylation reactions of branched racemic carbonates 1a and 1b with sodium dimethyl malonate, promoted by molybdenum and ligand 5, proceed by a kinetic resolution in toluene, THF, tetrahydropyran, i-PrOAc, 1,2-dichloroethane, and MeCN with k(rel) of 7-16. In THF, MeCN, tetrahydropyran, and i-PrOAc using the (S,S)-5 ligand, the fast reacting (S)-carbonate enantiomer provides the branched product with high ee (97-99.5%) and branched/linear selectivity, but the ee erodes as the reaction of the slow-reacting (R)-enantiomer takes place. This implies that the rate of equilibration of the oxidative addition complexes in these solvents is competitive with the subsequent malonate displacement step. In toluene and dichloroethane, the ee and branched/linear ratios diminish during the reaction of the slow-reacting (R)-isomer, but not nearly as much as in the other solvents. This is most likely due to either an increase in the rate of equilibration of the oxidative addition complexes relative to the malonate displacement step, or vice versa. Because of the minimal stereochemical memory effect in toluene and 1,2-dichloroethane, the reactions in these solvents can be carried to completion (dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation) and still provide product with excellent ee (>95%). The anion of dimethyl methylmalonate also reacts via a kinetic resolution, although the ee's, rates, and k(rel) values differ from those of the reactions with dimethyl malonate.

A novel three-component condensation followed by a crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation is used to build this key substance P inhibitor intermediate in a short synthetic sequence.

5-Pyridyl- and 5-aryl-2-furaldehydes are prepared from furaldehyde diethyl acetal in a four-step, one-pot procedure: (i) deprotonation; (2) Li to Zn transmetalation; (3) Pd-mediated cross-coupling; (4) aldehyde deprotection. Triorganozincate 7 was found to transfer all three groups in the Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction with haloaromatics.

The aza-Diels–Alder reaction of substituted indole 2-carboxaldehydes with Danishefsky's diene has been investigated. The reaction proceeds with a high degree of diastereoselectivity providing highly functionalized 2-(2-piperidyl)indoles which are further elaborated into novel polycyclic heterocycles.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an essential metabolite utilized as a redox cofactor and enzyme substrate in numerous cellular processes. Elevated NAD+ levels have been observed in red blood cells infected with the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, but little is known regarding how the parasite generates NAD+. Here, we employed a mass spectrometry-based metabolomic approach to confirm that P. falciparum lacks the ability to synthesize NAD+ de novo and is reliant on the uptake of exogenous niacin. We characterized several enzymes in the NAD+ pathway and demonstrate cytoplasmic localization for all except the parasite nicotinamidase, which concentrates in the nucleus. One of these enzymes, the P. falciparum nicotinate mononucleotide adenylyltransferase (PfNMNAT), is essential for NAD+ metabolism and is highly diverged from the human homolog, but genetically similar to bacterial NMNATs. Our results demonstrate the enzymatic activity of PfNMNAT in vitro and demonstrate its ability to genetically complement the closely related Escherichia coli NMNAT. Due to the similarity of PfNMNAT to the bacterial enzyme, we tested a panel of previously identified bacterial NMNAT inhibitors and synthesized and screened twenty new derivatives, which demonstrate a range of potency against live parasite culture. These results highlight the importance of the parasite NAD+ metabolic pathway and provide both novel therapeutic targets and promising lead antimalarial compounds.

[structure: see text]. A practical, chromotography-free asymmetric synthesis was developed for the large scale preparation of an endothelin receptor antagonist 2. This synthesis includes a new efficient process for the preparation of 6-bromo-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran, a stereoselective conjugate addition of an aryllithium followed by stereospecific addition of the Grignard reagent of the top aryl bromide, and an aminophosphate-mediated sterospecific intramolecular enolate alkylation, which led to the formation of the five-membered ring bearing three contiguous asymmetric centers.

An efficient synthesis of a structurally unique, novel M(3) antagonist 1 is described. Compound 1 is conveniently disconnected retrosynthetically at the amide bond to reveal the acid portion 2 and the amine fragment 3. The synthesis of key intermediate 2 is highlighted by a ZnCl(2)-MAEP complex 19 catalyzed diastereoselective Michael reaction of dioxolane 7 with 2-cyclopenten-1-one (5) to establish the contiguous quaternary-tertiary chiral centers and a subsequent geminal difluorination of ketone 17 using Deoxofluor in the presence of catalytic BF(3).OEt(2). The synthesis of the amine moiety 3 is highlighted by the discovery of a novel n-Bu(3)MgLi magnesium-halogen exchange reaction for selective functionalization of 2,6-dibromopyridine. This new and practical metalation protocol obviated cryogenic conditions and upon quenching with DMF gave 6-bromo-2-formylpyridine (26) in excellent yield. Further transformations afforded the amine fragment 3 via reductive amination with 35, Pd-catalyzed aromatic amination, and deprotection. Finally, the highly convergent synthesis of 1 was accomplished by coupling of the two fragments. This synthesis has been used to prepare multi-kilogram quantities of the bulk drug.

We recently required an efficient synthesis of 2-halo- and 2-alkylamino-4-pyridinecarboxaldehydes. Several routes to these compounds were investigated resulting in efficient and practical procedures from readily available and inexpensive starting materials.

Synthesis of 2-[3-aminopropyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyridine was accomplished via a one-pot double Suzuki reaction followed by deprotection and a highly regioselective intramolecular Chichibabin cyclization. A variety of reactions conditions were screened for the Chichibabin cyclization including choice of base, solvent and reaction temperature.

Boronic acids, esters and borinic anhydrides are partners in Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions with a variety of β-chlorovinamidinium salts to give the desired β-arylvinamidinium salts in up to 88% yield. Reduction is a competing reaction pathway. DFT calculations on the intermediate palladium complex reveal that the Pd–C interaction is predominantly of σ-symmetry and the metal based LUMO is mainly dz2 in character.

[structure: see text]. The NK-1 receptor antagonist 1 has been prepared in seven steps from phenylglycine methyl ester. The key steps are a double ring closing metathesis reaction of tetraene 7 to prepare spirocycle 6 and a reductive Heck reaction to introduce the aryl moiety. This latter reaction discriminates the olefins of compound 6 and proceeds in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner.

Molybdenum-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation reactions were carried out using the inexpensive, air-stable, and readily available Mo(CO)6 as precatalyst. In situ IR was used to determine the required activation time and temperature required to achieve the maximum concentration of the ‘‘active’’ catalyst from the molybdenum-precatalyst and chiral ligand. Results from comparison studies are consistent with the notion that the same active catalyst is generated regardless of molybdenum-precatalyst.

Selected examples of asymmetric bioreductions of pharmaceutically relevant prochiral ketones are reviewed. These data show that microbial screens lead to the identification of appropriate biocatalysts, and that the use of miniaturized and semi-automated technology can greatly reduce both labor and lead times. The same data also highlight the need to evaluate a . relatively large andror diverse microbial population highlighting biodiversity . We also found that in many instances the luxury of producing either enantiomers with high optical purity, enantiocomplementarity, can be achieved when employing different microbial strains. Process development studies reviewed here demonstrate that it is possible in some cases to understand and control the production of an unwanted enantiomer or by-product. Finally, a specific example, the asymmetric bioreduction of a ketone by Candida sorbophila, shows that process development studies which optimized, the bioreduction . environmental conditions pH, temperature . . . , the addition of ketone, and the implementation of a nutrient feeding strategy in conjunction with the use of a defined cultivation medium were key in achieving increased bioreduction rates and product titers. When scaled-up in pilot plant bioreactors, the bioreduction process supported the production of several kilograms of . . . R -alcohol enantiomeric excess e.e. ) 98% , with an isolated product yield of about 80%. q 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

β-Regioselectivity has been demonstrated for the Heck arylation of N , N -disubstituted allylamines. The scope and limitations of the reaction were demonstrated by the coupling of N , N -dibenzylallylamine with a variety of substituted aryl triflates. This methodology represents a straightforward approach for the efficient preparation of a variety of primary β-aryl allyl amines.

[figure: see text] An improved method for rapid LC/MS screening of chiral stationary phases based on the use of isotopically labeled enantiomers is reported.

Substituted acetic acids and formamides react in the presence of phosphorus oxychloride to yield the vinamidinium hexafluorophosphate salts 5a-d, 6a-d, and 7 in moderate to good unoptimized recrystallized yields (40-67%) as easily handled nonhygroscopic solids. The 1,3-differentially substituted vinamidinium salts 8 was prepared by amine exchange in 81% yield as are the cyclic diazapinium salts 9 and 10 in > 76% yield. The symmetrical 2-chlorovinamidinium 11 was prepared by displacement of 3 in 71% yield. The 2-chlorovinamidinium salts are cleanly reduced to the parent vinamidinium salts 12-16 using HI or PPh3/pTSA in up to 99% assay yield.

The key step in the manufacturing process for the HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitor efavirenz (Sustiva) involves addition of the 2:2 tetrameric complex 6 [formed from lithium cyclopropylacetylide (5) and lithium (1R,2S)-N-pyrrolidinylnorephedrate (4)] to ketone 2, to give 3 in 95% yield and 98% enantioselectivity. Studies of acetylide-alkoxide complexes in solution by NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray crystallography are described. Studies of the asymmetric addition reaction involving 2:2 tetramer 6 using low-temperature NMR spectroscopy provide conclusive evidence for formation of 2:1:1 tetramer 9 containing the product alkoxide 3. Observation of this reaction intermediate strongly supports the proposed reaction mechanism involving the tetramer 6 in the stereo-determining step.

Hydrogen bromide has been demonstrated to provide optimal cis -selectivity in the reduction of 4-chromanone α-hydroxyoxime (25:1 cis / trans ) in 94% yield. This reaction is pivotal in the synthesis of cis -aminochromanol.

[reaction: see text] Chiral oxazolidin-2-ones are synthetically valuable as chiral auxiliaries, and many have pharmaceutically interesting biological activity. This communication focuses on a convenient, practical one-pot preparation of chiral 4,5-disubstituted oxazolidan-2-ones in good yield with high enantioselectivities, using a modified Sharpless asymmetric aminohydroxylation of beta-substituted styrene derivatives followed by base-mediated ring closure. This procedure has been demonstrated on both small and large scale, utilizing 1, 3-dichloro-5,5-dimethyl hydantoin as an easily handled, commercially available substitute for tert-butyl hypochlorite.

The asymmetric dihydroxylation of 1-aryl-1′-pyridyl alkenes afforded the diols in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity.

Selective monolithiation of 2,5-dibromopyridine at either the 2-position or the 5-position is reported. Solvent and concentration strongly influence the selectivity. Coordinating solvents and higher concentration favor the 5-position while non-coordinating solvents and lower concentration favor the 2-position.

In this communication, we report that suspension cultures of Sf21 insect cells, co-infected with baculovirus containing the cDNA for a single cytochrome P450 and NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase, can be employed successfully as "bioreactors" for the synthesis of milligram quantities of cytochrome P450-generated metabolite(s). Three standard or probe substrates for the human P450s were chosen for the initial biosynthetic experiments: testosterone, diazepam, and diclofenac. Testosterone (100 microM, 2.88 mg/100 ml), added to a 100-ml CYP3A4 bioreactor, was converted to 6beta-hydroxytestosterone (2.3 mg) and 15beta-hydroxytestosterone (0.18 mg). Diazepam (100 microM, 2.9 mg/100 ml), added to a 100-ml CYP3A4 bioreactor, was converted to temazepam (1.1 mg), N-demethyldiazepam (0.35 mg), and oxazepam (0.15 mg). Diclofenac (100 microM, 3.18 mg/100 ml), added to a 100-ml CYP2C9 bioreactor, was converted to 4'-hydroxydiclofenac (2.6 mg). Since the goal for the development of the bioreactors was to provide a platform for both the production and subsequent purification of milligram quantities of P450-generated metabolite(s), a second 100-ml CYP2C9 bioreactor was used for the large-scale production and subsequent purification of 4'-hydroxydiclofenac. After 55 h of incubation, 7.95 mg of diclofenac was converted to 4.35 mg of 4'-hydroxydiclofenac, while 3.55 mg of unchanged diclofenac remained in the bioreactor. Using a simple preparative HPLC method, approximately 2.2 mg of 4'-hydroxydiclofenac and 1.9 mg of diclofenac were recovered from this experiment (28% yield). These results indicate clearly that suspension cultures of Sf21 insect cells coexpressing a cytochrome P450 and NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase can be used effectively as bioreactors for the production and subsequent purification of milligram quantities of P450-derived metabolite(s).

A catalyst system of Rh2(oct)4/DIPEA or TMU allows for the rapid construction of α-alkoxyketones from the corresponding α-diazo ketone and alcohol. This methodology was applied to the synthesis of immunoregulant 1.

A practical large-scale synthesis of the naphthosultam-based side chain of the anti-MRSA antibiotic 1 has been achieved in 29% overall yield over seven steps from 1-methylnaphthalene. The synthesis was completed without the use of protecting groups, featuring a novel naphthosultam annelation, a chemoselective acid-catalyzed triflation, and the use of a novel naphthosultam dianion to effect functionalization through benzylic metalation.

An efficient, practical, asymmetric synthesis of the endothelin receptor antagonist 1 is reported. The key pyridine-fused cyclopentane ring bearing three consecutive chiral centers was constructed ...

A practical multikilogram synthesis of 2(S)-[(p-toluenesulfonyl)amino]-3-[[[5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4-oxo-5-[2-(piperidin-4-yl)ethyl]-4H-pyrazolo[1,5-a][1,4]diazepin-2-yl]carbonyl]amino]propionic acid pentahydrate (1), an oral fibrinogen receptor antagonist, is described. The nine-step convergent process, which afforded 1 in 37% overall yield, included pyrazole 5a and N-tosylaminoalanine 16 as key fragments. Pyrazole 5a was obtained from pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylic acid by esterification with MeOH, alkylation/cyclization with 3-bromopropylamine, and Michael addition with 4-vinylpyridine. N-Tosylaminoalanine 16 was prepared by tosylation of asparagine, Hofmann reaction, and benzyl esterification. Saponification of pyrazole 5a, coupling of the acid with N-tosylaminoalanine 16, and Pd-catalyzed hydrogenolysis and pyridine reduction completed the synthesis.

A chemoenzymatic synthesis of β 3 agonist 1 suitable for large scale preparation is described. The key chiral 3-pyridylethanolamine intermediate ( R )- 7 was prepared via an improved Neber rearrangement and a yeast-mediated asymmetric reduction. The tetrazolone fragment of the molecule was constructed via a dipolar cycloaddition between 1-(cyclopentyl)-3-propylazide and p -chlorosulfonyl phenylisocyanate. Sulfonamide coupling of these two intermediates under Shotten-Baumann conditions, followed by a borane reduction of the amide afforded 1 in 20–32% overall yield from 3-acetylpyridine.

Efficient synthesis of benzofuroquinolizine ketone 1 was accomplished in four steps from ethyl 3-benzofuranacetate. The O-analogue of the Pictet-Spengler cyclization was used to form the benzofuroquinolizine ring structure as a key step.