David C. Blakemore

One-pot three-component sulfone synthesis exploiting palladium-catalysed aryl halide aminosulfonylation

A palladium-catalysed aminosulfonylation process is used as the key-step in a one-pot, three-component sulfone synthesis. The process combines aryl-, heteroaryl- and alkenyl iodides with a sulfonyl unit and an electrophilic coupling fragment. The sulfonyl unit is delivered in the form of an aminosulfonamide, which then serves as a masked sulfinate. The sulfinate is combined, in situ, with an electrophilic coupling partner, such as a benzylic, allylic or alkyl halide, an electron-poor arene, or a cyclic epoxide, to provide the corresponding sulfone products in good to excellent yields. The mild reaction conditions and use of commercially available reaction components allows the easy preparation of a broad range of sulfones featuring a variety of functional groups. The process obviates the need to employ thiol starting materials, and oxidative operations.

Iterative reactions of transient boronic acids enable sequential C–C bond formation

The ability to form multiple carbon-carbon bonds in a controlled sequence and thus rapidly build molecular complexity in an iterative fashion is an important goal in modern chemical synthesis. In recent times, transition-metal-catalysed coupling reactions have dominated in the development of C-C bond forming processes. A desire to reduce the reliance on precious metals and a need to obtain products with very low levels of metal impurities has brought a renewed focus on metal-free coupling processes. Here, we report the in situ preparation of reactive allylic and benzylic boronic acids, obtained by reacting flow-generated diazo compounds with boronic acids, and their application in controlled iterative C-C bond forming reactions is described. Thus far we have shown the formation of up to three C-C bonds in a sequence including the final trapping of a reactive boronic acid species with an aldehyde to generate a range of new chemical structures.

Metal-free coupling of saturated heterocyclic sulfonylhydrazones with boronic acids

The coupling of aromatic moieties with saturated heterocyclic partners is currently an area of significant interest for the pharmaceutical industry. Herein, we present a procedure for the metal-free coupling of 4-, 5-, and 6-membered saturated heterocyclic p-methoxyphenyl (PMP) sulfonylhydrazones with aryl and heteroaromatic boronic acids. This procedure enables a simple, two-step synthesis of a range of functionalized sp(2)-sp(3) linked bicyclic building blocks, including oxetanes, piperidines, and azetidines, from their parent ketones.

Selection of a Novel Anti-Nicotine Vaccine: Influence of Antigen Design on Antibody Function in Mice

Anti-nicotine vaccines may aid smoking cessation via the induction of anti-nicotine antibodies (Ab) which reduce nicotine entering the brain, and hence the associated reward. Ab function depends on both the quantity (titer) and the quality (affinity) of the Ab. Anti-nicotine vaccines tested previously in clinical studies had poor efficacy despite high Ab titer, and this may be due to inadequate function if Ab of low affinity were induced. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of novel nicotine-like haptens which were all linked to diphtheria toxoid (DT) as carrier, but which differed in the site of attachment of linker to nicotine, the nature of linker used, and the handle used to attach the hapten to DT. The resulting hapten conjugates were evaluated in a mouse model, using CpG (a TLR9 agonist) and aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) as adjuvants, whereby Ab titers, affinity and function were evaluated using a radiolabeled nicotine challenge model. A series of additional linkers varying in length, rigidity and polarity were used with a single hapten to generate additional DT-conjugates, which were also tested in mice. Conjugates made with different haptens resulted in various titers of anti-nicotine Ab. Several haptens gave similarly high Ab titers, but among these, Ab affinity and hence function varied considerably. Linker also influenced Ab titer, affinity and function. These results demonstrate that immune responses induced in mice by nicotine-conjugate antigens are greatly influenced by hapten design including site of attachment of linker to nicotine, the nature of linker used, and the handle used to attach the hapten to DT. While both Ab titer and affinity contributed to function, affinity was more sensitive to antigen differences.

Rapid access to α-alkoxy and α-amino acid derivatives through safe continuous-flow generation of diazoesters.

Despite the wide synthetic potential of diazo compounds (X H insertion, ylide formation, cyclopropanation, cycloaddition etc.), concerns over the hazards associated with their preparation, isolation, and use have hindered their full exploitation in both academic and industrial laboratories. A few diazo compounds are commercially available (e.g. ethyl and butyl diazoacetate, TMS-diazomethane and diazodimedone), but safe and convenient access to a wider range of useful functionalized diazo species is still desirable. Diazo transfer can be used to access a-diazocarbonyls, but this only partially addresses the safety concerns associated with the diazo species, as the use of equally hazardous azidebased diazo-transfer reagents is still required. Ideally, it would be beneficial if the diazo species could be generated and consumed in situ so that handling of the hazardous diazo compound is avoided altogether. Recent work by Ley, Jamison, Kappe, and others has shown that highly reactive diazo and azido compounds can be used in lab-scale continuous-flow reactors to achieve a number of very useful synthetic transformations, and indeed work from our own laboratory has shown that ethyl diazoacetate can be used in-flow to access b-keto esters. We therefore wondered if it was possible to actually generate a-diazocarbonyl compounds under flow conditions and then use these materials directly in further synthetic manipulations, thus minimizing exposure to any potentially hazardous material. In effect, could we develop a continuous-flow diazo generator and then demonstrate its use to prepare a range of useful a-alkoxy (3 a–i) and aamino acid (4 a–i) derivatives through O H and N H insertion (Scheme 1)? At the outset we were aware that in order to provide an acceptable solution to the problem, we needed to identify a way to access the diazo compounds of interest (2 a–i) from starting materials that showed an acceptable safety profile, that is, the precursor molecules and reagents should be safer to prepare and handle than the diazocarbonyl compounds being produced. Of the methods available for the generation of a-diazocarbonyl compounds, we were particularly attracted to the Bamford–Stevens reaction as it uses readily accessible arylsulfonylhydrazones (e.g., 1 a–i) as starting materials, with the corresponding diazocarbonyls being generated upon exposure to relatively weak base at moderate reaction temperatures. Thermal stability studies (DSC and TGA) were conducted on the tosylhydrazone 1 b and its corresponding methyl diazoester 2 b 16] in order to determine if a safe window of operation could be identified for the continuous-flow process (see the Supporting Information). The results clearly show that the rate of initial mass loss from diazoester 2 b peaks at 125 8C, which corresponds to a significant exotherm. In comparison tosylhydrazone 1 b has a rate of mass loss which peaks at 221 8C, indicating that it is substantially more thermally stable. We therefore concluded that there would be significant safety benefits in adapting the Bamford–Stevens reaction for use in-flow to produce diazoesters, which in turn could be utilized immediately in subsequent transformations without needing to be isolated or purified. Reassured by these data, a wider range of arylsulfonylhydrazones 1 a–i was readily prepared from simple and inexpensive starting materials (Scheme 2). [a] Dr. H. E. Bartrum, Prof. Dr. C. J. Moody, Prof. Dr. C. J. Hayes School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD (UK) Fax: (+44) 115-951-3564 E-mail : c.j.moody@nottingham.ac.uk chris.hayes@nottingham.ac.uk [b] Dr. D. C. Blakemore Pfizer Global Research and Development Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9NJ (UK) Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.201101590. Scheme 1. Proposed flow process for diazoester synthesis. CFC =convection flow coil reactor, BPR=back-pressure regulator, oct=octanoate.

Synthesis of β-Keto Esters In-Flow and Rapid Access to Substituted Pyrimidines

We have developed an in-flow process for the synthesis of β-keto esters via the BF(3)·OEt(2)-catalyzed formal C-H insertion of ethyl diazoacetate into aldehydes. The β-keto esters were then condensed with a range of amidines to give a variety of 2,6-substituted pyrimidin-4-ols.

New lithium-zincate approaches for the selective functionalisation of pyrazine: direct dideprotozincation vs. nucleophilic alkylation

Comparing the reactivity of the related lithium zincates [(THF)LiZn(TMP)(t)Bu(2)] (1) and [(PMDETA)LiZn(t)Bu(3)] (2) towards pyrazine discloses two new bimetallic approaches for the selective 2,5-dideprotonation and room temperature C-H alkylation of this sensitive heterocycle.

The ortho-Substituent Effect on the Ag-Catalysed Decarboxylation of Benzoic Acids

A combined experimental and computational investigation on the Ag-catalysed decarboxylation of benzoic acids is reported herein. The present study demonstrates that a substituent at the ortho position exerts dual effects in the decarboxylation event. On one hand, ortho-substituted benzoic acids are inherently destabilised starting materials compared to their meta- and para-substituted counterparts. On the other hand, the presence of an ortho-electron-withdrawing group results in an additional stabilisation of the transition state. The combination of both effects results in an overall reduction of the activation energy barrier associated with the decarboxylation event. Furthermore, the Fujita-Nishioka linear free energy relationship model indicates that steric bulk of the substituent can also exert a negative effect by destabilising the transition state of decarboxylation.

Fluorodecarboxylation for the Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl Aryl Ethers

The synthesis of mono-, di-, and trifluoromethyl aryl ethers by fluorodecarboxylation of the corresponding carboxylic acids is reported. AgF2 induces decarboxylation of aryloxydifluoroacetic acids, and AgF, either generated in situ or added separately, serves as a source of fluorine to generate the fluorodecarboxylation products. The addition of 2,6-difluoropyridine increased the reactivity of AgF2 , thereby increasing the range of functional groups and electronic properties of the aryl groups that are tolerated. The reaction conditions used for the formation of trifluoromethyl aryl ethers also served to form difluoromethyl and monofluoromethyl aryl ethers.

Organic synthesis provides opportunities to transform drug discovery

AbstractDespite decades of ground-breaking research in academia, organic synthesis is still a rate-limiting factor in drug-discovery projects. Here we present some current challenges in synthetic organic chemistry from the perspective of the pharmaceutical industry and highlight problematic steps that, if overcome, would find extensive application in the discovery of transformational medicines. Significant synthesis challenges arise from the fact that drug molecules typically contain amines and N-heterocycles, as well as unprotected polar groups. There is also a need for new reactions that enable non-traditional disconnections, more C–H bond activation and late-stage functionalization, as well as stereoselectively substituted aliphatic heterocyclic ring synthesis, C–X or C–C bond formation. We also emphasize that syntheses compatible with biomacromolecules will find increasing use, while new technologies such as machine-assisted approaches and artificial intelligence for synthesis planning have the potential to dramatically accelerate the drug-discovery process. We believe that increasing collaboration between academic and industrial chemists is crucial to address the challenges outlined here.Organic synthesis is a rate-limiting factor in drug discovery, so the pharmaceutical industry heavily relies on academic research. This Perspective highlights some of the most pressing challenges to be overcome from the industrial viewpoint — such as the development of reactions tolerating specific functionalities — and encourages stronger industry–academia relationships. Credit: Pills image: Profimedia.CZ a.s. / Alamy Stock Photo; Factory image: Diana Johanna Velasquez / Alamy Stock Vector; Graduate hat: Michael Burrell / Alamy Stock Photo; Conical flask: Astex.