Synthesis of the Intermediate of Gemifloxacin by the Chemoselective Hydrogenation of 4-Cyano-3-methoxyimino-1-(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine. Part 1. Screening of Metal Catalysts

A novel synthetic route was devised for 4-aminomethyl-3-Z-methoxyiminopyrrolidine methanesulfonate (AMPM), the key intermediate of gemifloxacin, based on chemoselective hydrogenation of the cyano group in 4-cyano-3-methoxyimino-1-(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine (CMBP) with minimum reduction of the methyloxime group employing (t-Boc)2O (BOC) as in situ protecting agent. Over Raney nickel or cobalt catalysts, without in situ BOC protection of amine, the side reaction to 4-aminomethyl-3-amino-1-(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine (AABP) was extensive by simultaneous hydrogenation of the methyloxime and cyano groups in CMBP, resulting in over-reduction of the desired intermediate, 4-aminomethyl-3-Z-methoxyimino 1-(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine (Z-AMBP) all the way to AABP. When in situ BOC protection was performed, the selectivity to the desired 4-(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)aminomethyl-3-Z-methoxyimino-1-(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine (Z-BAMBP) rose to as high as 91% over Raney cobalt by suppressing the...