Development and validation of a GC method for a key nemtabrutinib intermediate: Implementation of an in-situ free base sample preparation protocol.

A novel synthetic approach to nemtabrutinib (MK-1026) was recently developed in our laboratories. The chemistry goes through a cyrene amine intermediate which does not contain any chromophore. As a result, analysis of this key chiral intermediate by HPLC-UV is not feasible. Initial attempts to develop a HPLC-CAD method were unfruitful; therefore, a gas chromatography method was developed and optimized to effectively monitor the cyrene amine free base and related impurities generated during the process. As the synthetic process continued to be optimized, the toluene sulfonic acid salt (p-TsOH) of the cyrene amine intermediate was later identified by our process chemistry group to be beneficial in terms of ease of isolation and purity upgrade. However, repeated injections of the cyrene amine p-TsOH intermediate resulted in rapid GC column deterioration. After identifying p-TsOH as the main cause of the issue, we developed a straightforward and practical procedure that involves using a resin to remove the p-TsOH counterion in-situ, which converts cyrene amine salt to its neutral form in sample solutions. This protocol was successfully demonstrated and proven to be an efficient solution. This methodology may find applications with other analytes containing counterions that need to be neutralized prior to analysis.

A kinase-cGAS cascade to synthesize a therapeutic STING activator.

The introduction of molecular complexity in an atom- and step-efficient manner remains an outstanding goal in modern synthetic chemistry. Artificial biosynthetic pathways are uniquely able to address this challenge by using enzymes to carry out multiple synthetic steps simultaneously or in a one-pot sequence1-3. Conducting biosynthesis ex vivo further broadens its applicability by avoiding cross-talk with cellular metabolism and enabling the redesign of key biosynthetic pathways through the use of non-natural cofactors and synthetic reagents4,5. Here we describe the discovery and construction of an enzymatic cascade to MK-1454, a highly potent stimulator of interferon genes (STING) activator under study as an immuno-oncology therapeutic6,7 (ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT04220866 ). From two non-natural nucleotide monothiophosphates, MK-1454 is assembled diastereoselectively in a one-pot cascade, in which two thiotriphosphate nucleotides are simultaneously generated biocatalytically, followed by coupling and cyclization catalysed by an engineered animal cyclic guanosine-adenosine synthase (cGAS). For the thiotriphosphate synthesis, three kinase enzymes were engineered to develop a non-natural cofactor recycling system in which one thiotriphosphate serves as a cofactor in its own synthesis. This study demonstrates the substantial capacity that currently exists to use biosynthetic approaches to discover and manufacture complex, non-natural molecules.

Palladium-Catalyzed Carbon Isotope Exchange on Aliphatic and Benzoic Acid Chlorides.

An operationally simple protocol for a palladium-catalyzed 13CO and 14CO exchange with activated aliphatic and benzoic carbonyls is presented. Several 13C and 14C building blocks, natural product derivatives, and pharmaceuticals have been prepared to showcase the method for late-stage carbon isotope incorporation and its functional group compatibility.

Palladium(II)-Mediated C-H Tritiation of Complex Pharmaceuticals.

Tritium-labeled molecules are critical tools for elucidating the binding and metabolic properties of bioactive compounds, particularly during pharmaceutical discovery. Direct tritiation of inert C-H bonds with T2 gas is an ideal approach for tritium labeling, but significant gaps remain for direct tritiation of structurally complex molecules with diverse functional groups. Here we report the first application of palladium(II) C-H activation chemistry for tritiation with T2 gas. This practical transformation exhibits novel substrate scope and greater functional group tolerance compared to previous state of the art tritiation methods, and has been applied to directly tritiate 9 complex pharmaceuticals and an unprotected dipeptide. The isolated tritium-labeled products exhibit >15 Ci mmol-1 specific activity, exceeding the typical requirements for application in studies of molecular interaction and metabolism.

Photoredox-catalyzed deuteration and tritiation of pharmaceutical compounds.

Deuterium- and tritium-labeled pharmaceutical compounds are pivotal diagnostic tools in drug discovery research, providing vital information about the biological fate of drugs and drug metabolites. Herein we demonstrate that a photoredox-mediated hydrogen atom transfer protocol can efficiently and selectively install deuterium (D) and tritium (T) at α-amino sp3 carbon-hydrogen bonds in a single step, using isotopically labeled water (D2O or T2O) as the source of hydrogen isotope. In this context, we also report a convenient synthesis of T2O from T2, providing access to high-specific-activity T2O. This protocol has been successfully applied to the high incorporation of deuterium and tritium in 18 drug molecules, which meet the requirements for use in ligand-binding assays and absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion studies.

A Synthesis of a Spirocyclic Macrocyclic Protease Inhibitor for the Treatment of Hepatitis C.

The development of a convergent and highly stereoselective synthesis of an HCV NS3/4a protease inhibitor possessing a unique spirocyclic and macrocyclic architecture is described. A late-stage spirocyclization strategy both enabled rapid structure-activity relationship studies in the drug discovery phase and simultaneously served as the basis for the large scale drug candidate preparation for clinical use. Also reported is the discovery of a novel InCl3-catalyzed carbonyl reduction with household aluminum foil or zinc powder as the terminal reductant.

Iron-catalysed tritiation of pharmaceuticals.

A thorough understanding of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of a drug in animal models is a critical component of drug discovery and development. Such studies are performed in vivo and in vitro at various stages of the development process--ranging from preclinical absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) studies to late-stage human clinical trials--to elucidate a drug molecule's metabolic profile and to assess its toxicity. Radiolabelled compounds, typically those that contain (14)C or (3)H isotopes, are one of the most powerful and widely deployed diagnostics for these studies. The introduction of radiolabels using synthetic chemistry enables the direct tracing of the drug molecule without substantially altering its structure or function. The ubiquity of C-H bonds in drugs and the relative ease and low cost associated with tritium ((3)H) make it an ideal radioisotope with which to conduct ADME studies early in the drug development process. Here we describe an iron-catalysed method for the direct (3)H labelling of pharmaceuticals by hydrogen isotope exchange, using tritium gas as the source of the radioisotope. The site selectivity of the iron catalyst is orthogonal to currently used iridium catalysts and allows isotopic labelling of complementary positions in drug molecules, providing a new diagnostic tool in drug development.

Discovery of Benzimidazole CYP11B2 Inhibitors with in Vivo Activity in Rhesus Monkeys.

We report the discovery of a benzimidazole series of CYP11B2 inhibitors. Hit-to-lead and lead optimization studies identified compounds such as 32, which displays potent CYP11B2 inhibition, high selectivity versus related CYP targets, and good pharmacokinetic properties in rat and rhesus. In a rhesus pharmacodynamic model, 32 produces dose-dependent aldosterone lowering efficacy, with no apparent effect on cortisol levels.

Synthesis of a [(14) C]-steroid intermediate: an application of a nonstabilized Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination approach.

Radiolabeled steroid derivative 1 was successfully prepared using a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons approach: a [(14) C]-label was efficiently incorporated into the C-18 position of the molecule. Previously published procedures employing other olefination methods are either not applicable due to unavailability of [(14) C]-precursors or suffer from poor reactivity.

Rapid catalyst identification for the synthesis of the pyrimidinone core of HIV integrase inhibitors.

A microscale chemistry improvement engine: a pre-dosed microscale high-throughput experimentation additives platform enables rapid, serendipitous reaction improvement. This platform allowed one chemist to set up 475 experiments and analyze the results using MISER chromatography in a single day, thus resulting in two high-quality catalytic systems for the construction of the title compound 1. Support for a single-electron transfer mechanism was obtained.

A concise synthesis of a ß-lactamase inhibitor.

MK-7655 (1) is a ß-lactamase inhibitor in clinical trials as a combination therapy for the treatment of bacterial infection resistant to ß-lactam antibiotics. Its unusual structural challenges have inspired a rapid synthesis featuring an iridium-catalyzed N-H insertion and a series of late stage transformations designed around the reactivity of the labile bicyclo[3.2.1]urea at the core of the target.

Highly efficient asymmetric synthesis of sitagliptin.

A highly efficient synthesis of sitagliptin, a potent and selective DPP-4 inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), has been developed. The key dehydrositagliptin intermediate 9 is prepared in three steps in one pot and directly isolated in 82% yield and >99.6 wt % purity. Highly enantioselective hydrogenation of dehydrositagliptin 9, with as low as 0.15 mol % of Rh(I)/(t)Bu JOSIPHOS, affords sitagliptin, which is finally isolated as its phosphate salt with nearly perfect optical and chemical purity. This environmentally friendly, 'green' synthesis significantly reduces the total waste generated per kilogram of sitagliptin produced in comparison with the first-generation route and completely eliminates aqueous waste streams. The efficiency of this cost-effective process, which has been implemented on manufacturing scale, results in up to 65% overall isolated yield.

An efficient catalyst for Pd-catalyzed carbonylation of aryl arenesulfonates.

Aryl carboxylic esters were synthesized by Pd-catalyzed carbonylation of aryl p-fluorobenzenesulfonates or -tosylates. A unique Josiphos ligand was discovered through high-throughput catalyst screening, which was the key for the successful carbonylation of various substrates. This catalyst is effective and works well for both electron-rich and electron-poor aryl arenesulfonates. Isolated yields of up to 90% were obtained for aryl p-fluorobenzenesulfonates and -tosylates. [reaction: see text]

Stereoselective synthesis of an anti-HIV drug candidate.

The asymmetric synthesis of a Merck anti-HIV drug candidate is described. The target molecule contains four stereogenic centers, three of which are located in a highly functionalized cyclopentane unit. The convergent synthesis involves the preparation of two key advanced intermediates: the cyclopentane unit and a substituted pyrazole unit. The cyclopentane unit was prepared via two different procedures; a highly diastereoselective Diels-Alder reaction with a chiral oxazolidinone auxiliary and a sequence that incorporated a molybdenum-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction to set the stereocenters. The other key step was a highly diastereoselective hydroxyl-directed reductive amination. The overall yield for the 16-step synthesis was 10%.

Methods for the synthesis of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,8-naphthyridine fragments for alphaVbeta3 integrin antagonists.

The preparation of 3-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)propan-1-amine 2a and 3-[(7R)-7-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl]propan-1-amine 2b, key intermediates in the synthesis of alpha(V)beta(3) antagonists, is described. The syntheses rely on the efficient double Sonogashira reactions of 2,5-dibromopyridine 3 with acetylenic alcohols 4a/4b and protected propargylamines 10a-e followed by Chichibabin cyclizations of 3,3'-pyridine-2,5-diyldipropan-1-amines 9a/9b.

Highly efficient synthesis of beta-amino acid derivatives via asymmetric hydrogenation of unprotected enamines.

A direct asymmetric hydrogenation of unprotected enamino esters and amides is described. Catalyzed by Rh complexes with Josiphos-type chiral ligands, this method gives beta-amino esters and amides in high yield and high ee (93-97% ee). No acyl protection/deprotection is required.

An efficient synthesis of an alphavbeta3 antagonist.

A practical preparation of an alpha(v)beta(3) antagonist is reported. The antagonist consists of three key components, a tetrahydronaphthyridine moiety, a beta-alanine moiety, and a central imidazolidone moiety. The tetrahydronaphthyridine component was prepared using two different methods, both of which relied on variations of the Friedländer reaction to establish the desired regiochemistry. The beta-alanine component was prepared using Davies' asymmetric 1,4-addition methodology as the key stereo-defining step. The central imidazolidone portion was created from these two components using an effective three-step cyclization protocol. Thus, a highly convergent process for the drug candidate was defined.

Highly diastereoselective heterogeneously catalyzed hydrogenation of enamines for the synthesis of chiral beta-amino acid derivatives.

Pure (Z)-enamines readily prepared from beta-ketoesters and amides using (S)-phenylglycine amide were hydrogenated with very high diastereoselectivities (up to 200:1) using heterogeneous catalysis. Hydrogenolytic cleavage of the (S)-phenylglycine amide afforded the corresponding chiral beta-aminoesters and amides. The high geometrical purity of the (Z)-enamine and a simple activation procedure for the PtO2 catalyst are essential in achieving high selectivity.