Jon C. Lorenz

Reduction of Tertiary Phosphine Oxides with DIBAL-H

The reduction of tertiary phosphine oxides (TPOs) and sulfides with diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL-H) has been studied in detail. An extensive solvent screen has revealed that hindered aliphatic ethers, such as MTBE, are optimum for this reaction at ambient temperature. Many TPOs undergo considerable reduction at ambient temperature and then stall due to inhibition. 31P and 13C NMR studies using isotopically labeled substrates as well as competition studies have revealed that the source of this inhibition is tetraisobutyldialuminoxane (TIBAO), which builds up as the reaction proceeds. TIBAO selectively coordinates the TPO starting material, preventing further reduction. Several strategies have been found to circumvent this inhibition and obtain full conversion with this extremely inexpensive reducing agent for the first time. Practical reduction protocols for these critical targets have been developed.

Development of a large scale asymmetric synthesis of the glucocorticoid agonist BI 653048 BS H3PO4.

The development of a large scale synthesis of the glucocorticoid agonist BI 653048 BS H3PO4 (1·H3PO4) is presented. A key trifluoromethyl ketone intermediate 22 containing an N-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl amide was prepared by an enolization/bromine-magnesium exchange/electrophile trapping reaction. A nonselective propargylation of trifluoromethyl ketone 22 gave the desired diastereomer in 32% yield and with dr = 98:2 from a 1:1 diastereomeric mixture after crystallization. Subsequently, an asymmetric propargylation was developed which provided the desired diastereomer in 4:1 diastereoselectivity and 75% yield with dr = 99:1 after crystallization. The azaindole moiety was efficiently installed by a one-pot cross coupling/indolization reaction. An efficient deprotection of the 4-methoxyphenethyl group was developed using H3PO4/anisole to produce the anisole solvate of the API in high yield and purity. The final form, a phosphoric acid cocrystal, was produced in high yield and purity and with consistent control of particle size.

Large-Scale Asymmetric Synthesis of a Cathepsin S Inhibitor

A potent reversible inhibitor of the cysteine protease cathepsin-S was prepared on large scale using a convergent synthetic route, free of chromatography and cryogenics. Late-stage peptide coupling of a chiral urea acid fragment with a functionalized aminonitrile was employed to prepare the target, using 2-hydroxypyridine as a robust, nonexplosive replacement for HOBT. The two key intermediates were prepared using a modified Strecker reaction for the aminonitrile and a phosphonation-olefination-rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation sequence for the urea. A palladium-catalyzed vinyl transfer coupled with a Claisen reaction was used to produce the aldehyde required for the side chain. Key scale up issues, safety calorimetry, and optimization of all steps for multikilogram production are discussed.

Concise and Practical Asymmetric Synthesis of a Challenging Atropisomeric HIV Integrase Inhibitor

A practical and efficient synthesis of a complex chiral atropisomeric HIV integrase inhibitor has been accomplished. The combination of a copper-catalyzed acylation along with the implementation of the BI-DIME ligands for a ligand-controlled Suzuki cross-coupling and an unprecedented bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonamide-catalyzed tert-butylation renders the synthesis of this complex molecule robust, safe, and economical. Furthermore, the overall synthesis was conducted in an asymmetric and diastereoselective fashion with respect to the imbedded atropisomer.

Development of a concise, scalable synthesis of a CCR1 antagonist utilizing a continuous flow Curtius rearrangement

A convergent, robust, and concise synthesis of a developmental CCR1 antagonist is described using continuous flow technology. In the first approach, following an expeditious SNAr sequence for cyclopropane introduction, a safe, continuous flow Curtius rearrangement was developed for the synthesis of a p-methoxybenzyl (PMB) carbamate. Based on kinetic studies, a highly efficient and green process comprising three chemical transformations (azide formation, rearrangement, and isocyanate trapping) was developed with a relatively short residence time and high material throughput (0.8 kg h−1, complete E-factor = ∼9) and was successfully executed on 40 kg scale. Moreover, mechanistic studies enabled the execution of a semi-continuous, tandem Curtius rearrangement and acid–isocyanate coupling to directly afford the final drug candidate in a single, protecting group-free operation. The resulting API synthesis is further determined to be extremely green (RPG = 166%) relative to the industrial average for molecules of similar complexity.

Synthesis of P-Chiral Dihydrobenzooxaphosphole Core for BI Ligands in Asymmetric Transformations

An efficient and practical synthesis of enantiomerically pure P-chiral dihydrobenzooxaphosphole (BOP) core 1 is developed that is amenable to large scale preparation of the related ligand series. The unique epimerization of the P-chiral center of the undesired (R,R)-diastereomeric phosphine oxide 19 through chlorination followed by crystallization makes this chemical resolution method achieve 65% yield of desired (R,S)-diastereomer 12.

Development of the BIPI ligands for asymmetric hydrogenation

The detailed development of unique BIPI ligands suitable for asymmetric hydrogenation is described, and the process research leading to their kilogram-scale manufacture is discussed. Full optimization of each ligand region is shown, and the complete design features for these ligands are explained. Application of the best members of this ligand class to asymmetric hydrogenations of ureaesters, BOC- and CBZ-enecarbamates, and a variety of enamides are described. A novel resolution of P-chiral ligand precursors via their zinc complexes is described, and the research leading to the discovery of catalysts capable of carrying out asymmetric hydrogenations in >99% ee at multi-kilogram scale are presented.

Development of a Scalable, Chromatography-Free Synthesis of t-Bu-SMS-Phos and Application to the Synthesis of an Important Chiral CF3-Alcohol Derivative with High Enantioselectivity Using Rh-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

A chromatography-free, asymmetric synthesis of the C2-symmetric P-chiral diphosphine t-Bu-SMS-Phos was developed using a chiral auxiliary-based approach in five steps from the chiral auxiliary in 36% overall yield. Separtion and recovery of the auxiliary were achieved with good yield (97%) to enable recycling of the chiral auxiliary. An air-stable crystalline form of the final ligand was identified to enable isolation of the final ligand by crystallization to avoid chromatography. This synthetic route was applied to prepare up to 4 kg of the final ligand. The utility of this material was demonstrated in the asymmetric hydrogenation of trifluoromethyl vinyl acetate at 0.1 mol % Rh loading to access a surrogate for the pharmaceutically relavent chiral trifluoroisopropanol fragment in excellent yield and enantiomeric excess (98.6%).

Synthesis of a Potent Cathepsin S Inhibitor Labeled with Deuterium and Carbon-14

Morpholine-4-carboxylic acid {(S)-1-[4-cyano-1-(3-morpholin-4-yl-propyl)-piperidin-4-ylcarbamoyl]-4,4- dimethyl-hexyl}-amide, (1) is a potent reversible and selective cathepsin S inhibitor. Deuterium labeled (1) was prepared in four steps in 62% overall yield from [2H8]- morpholine and chiral acid (6). Carbon-14 labeled (1) was obtained in two steps using sodium [14C]-cyanide in a modified Strecker reaction followed by amide bond formation with acid (6) in 74% overall radiochemical yield. The phosphate salt of this compound was produced by treatment with phosphoric acid in methanol in 97% yield.