Kevin M. Belyk

Rhodium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Addition of Boronic Acids to N-Benzylnicotinate Salts

The highly enantioselective catalytic asymmetric addition of aryl and alkenylboronic acids to N-benzylnicotinate salt 1 is described. The dihydropyridine 2 reaction products can be converted to synthetically useful piperidines. Application of the methodology to the preparation of enantioenriched quaternary chiral centers is also discussed.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Hemiaminals via Pd-Catalyzed C–N Coupling with Chiral Bisphosphine Mono-oxides

A novel approach to hemiaminal synthesis via palladium-catalyzed C-N coupling with chiral bisphosphine mono-oxides is described. This efficient new method exhibits a broad scope, provides a highly efficient synthesis of HCV drug candidate elbasvir, and has been applied to the synthesis of chiral N,N-acetals.

Discovery and Application of Doubly Quaternized Cinchona-Alkaloid-Based Phase-Transfer Catalysts†

We report the discovery of novel N,N-disubstituted cinchona alkaloids as efficient phase-transfer catalysts for the assembly of stereogenic quaternary centers. In comparison to traditional cinchona-alkaloid-based phase-transfer catalysts, these new catalysts afford substantial improvements in enantioselectivity and reaction rate for intramolecular spirocyclization reactions with catalyst loadings as low as 0.3u2005mol% under mild conditions.

Discovery of MK-4409, a Novel Oxazole FAAH Inhibitor for the Treatment of Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain

We report herein the identification of MK-4409, a potent and selective fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor. Starting from a high throughput screening (HTS) hit, medicinal chemistry efforts focused on optimizing of FAAH inhibition in vitro potency, improving the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, and increasing in vivo efficacy in rodent inflammatory and neuropathic pain assays.

Enantioselective Rh(I)-Catalyzed Addition of Arylboronic Acids to Cyclic Ketimines.

A method for the enantioselective synthesis of chiral α-tertiary amines via Rh-catalyzed 1,2-addition of arylboronic acids to cyclic ketimines is described. The products are efficiently accessed in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities using a commercially available chiral ligand. The reaction scope includes vinyl, aryl, and heteroarylboronic acids with yields ranging from 40% to 99% and enantiomeric excesses from 88% to 99%. Conversion of an addition product into an α,α-diaryl-substituted amino acid is also demonstrated.

Synthesis of α-hydroxyacetophenones.

A general method for the preparation of α-hydroxyacetophenones is presented. Functionalized arylmagnesium species are transmetalated to the corresponding arylzinc intermediates, which undergo Cu(I)-catalyzed reaction with acetoxyacetyl chloride. Acidic hydrolysis of the acetate group releases the target α-hydroxyacetophenones with minimal production of undesired polymeric degradates that are often observed under alternative conditions.

Asymmetric hydrogenation of protected allylic amines.

A general method for the enantioselective hydrogenation of protected allylic amine derivatives is described. This procedure relies on the generation of a cationic ruthenium complex with the axially chiral ligand (-)-TMBTP. The utility is highlighted by the highly enantioselective hydrogenation of a diene substrate that can then be elaborated to prepare Telcagepant, a compound currently in Phase III clinical trials. The scope of the hydrogenation reaction was studied, and a variety of substituted allylic amine derivatives could be hydrogenated with enantiomeric ratios of 92:8 or higher.