Paul N. Devine

Asymmetric synthesis of telcagepant, a CGRP receptor antagonist for the treatment of migraine.

A highly efficient, asymmetric synthesis of telcagepant (1), a CGRP receptor antagonist for the treatment of migraine, is described. This synthesis features the first application of iminium organocatalysis on an industrial scale. The key to the success of this organocatalytic transformation was the identification of a dual acid cocatalyst system, which allowed striking a balance of the reaction efficiency and product stability effectively. As such, via an iminium species, the necessnary C-6 stereogenicity was practically established in one operation in >95% ee. Furthermore, we enlisted an unprecedented Doebner-Knoevenagel coupling, which was also via an iminium species, to efficiently construct the C3-C4 bond with desired functionality. In order to prepare telcagepant (1) in high quality, a practical new protocol was discovered to suppress the formation of desfluoro impurities formed under hydrogenation conditions to <0.2%. An efficient lactamization facilitated by t-BuCOCl followed by a dynamic epimerization-crystallization resulted in the isolation of caprolactam acetamide with the desired C3 (R) and C6 (S) configuration cleanly. Isolating only three intermediates, the overall yield of this cost-effective synthesis was up to 27%. This environmentally responsible synthesis contains all of the elements required for a manufacturing process and prepares telcagepant (1) with the high quality required for pharmaceutical use.

Synthesis of Vaniprevir (MK-7009): Lactamization To Prepare a 22-Membered Macrocycle

Development of a practical synthesis of MK-7009, a 20-membered [corrected] macrocycle, is described. A variety of ring-closing strategies were evaluated, including ring-closing metathesis, intermolecular palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings, and macrolactamization. Ring closure via macrolactamization was found to give the highest yields under relatively high reaction concentrations. Optimization of the ring formation step and the synthesis of key intermediates en route to MK-7009 are reported.

Factors influencing the stereoselectivity in the cycloaddition of imino-dienophiles derived from amino ethers, amino alcohols, and amino acid esters

Abstract Imino dienophiles derived from amino ethers, amino alcohols and amino esters undergo Lewis acid promoted cycloaddition with Danishefskys diene. Cyclic chelation between the imine and oxygen atom increases the stereoselectivity of the reaction.

Asymmetric synthesis of cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidine, the core scaffold of β3-AR agonists.

A practical, enantioselective synthesis of cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidine is described. Application of an enzymatic DKR reduction of a keto ester, which is easily accessed through a novel intramolecular N→C benzoyl migration, yields syn-1,2-amino alcohol in >99% ee and >99:1 dr. Subsequent hydrogenation of cyclic imine affords the cis-pyrrolidine in high diastereoselectivity. By integrating biotechnology into organic synthesis and isolating only three intermediates over 11 steps, the core scaffold of β3-AR agonists is synthesized in 38% overall yield.

Synthesis of a tertiary carbinamide via a novel Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation.

Asymmetric hydrogenation of allylic dimethylcarbinamide 2 with 1 mol % of cationic Rh(I)-Josiphos complex in THF under 500 psi of H2 generated the corresponding tertiary carbinamide 1 in 98.5% assay yield and a 94:6 enantiomeric ratio. Upon crystallization, the product was isolated in 91% isolated yield and 95:5 enantiomeric ratio.

Synthesis of chiral nonracemic diols via nucleophilic opening of (S,S)-1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane

Abstract (S,S)-1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane was synthesized from (R,R)-dimethyl tartrate. Nucleophilic opening of this diepoxybutane gave a convenient method for generating a variety of chiral nonracemic diols.