Synthesis of a Complex and Highly Potent PCSK9 Inhibitor.

The solution-based gram-scale synthesis of complex and highly potent proprotein convertase subtilisin-like/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor 1 is presented. Construction of Northern fragment 2, followed by stepwise installation of Eastern 3, Southern 4, and Western 5 fragments, provided macrocyclic precursor 19. This intermediate was cross-linked via an intramolecular azide-alkyne click reaction, which preceded macrolactamization to afford the core framework of compound 1. Finally, coupling with poly(ethylene glycol) side-chain-based 6 gave the PCSK9 inhibitor 1.

Unexpected Propargylic Retro-Brook Rearrangements in Alkynes.

Retro-Brook rearrangements refer to the intramolecular migration of a silyl group from oxygen to carbon. In this study, we report a novel propargylic retro-Brook rearrangement observed in terminal alkynes bearing a silyl ether moiety. Retro-Brook rearrangements involving [1,2]-, [1,4]-, and [1,5]-migrations are described, affording propargylsilanes in reasonable yield. The reaction mechanism was investigated experimentally by deuterium quenching and rationalized by density functional theory calculations. The terminal alkyne and the subsequent propargyl/allenyl dianion were shown to be crucial for the reaction favoring the retro-Brook rearrangement product over the Brook rearrangement. The second deprotonation at the propargylic position was determined to be the rate-limiting step. In addition, a gas-phase Brook-type rearrangement of the propargylsilanes was observed under GC-MS conditions. This observation was also further confirmed by DFT calculations.

Highly Diastereoselective Synthesis of a HCV NS5B Nucleoside Polymerase Inhibitor.

An asymmetric synthesis of HCV NS5B nucleoside polymerase inhibitor (1) is described. This novel route features several remarkably diastereoselective and high-yielding transformations, including construction of the all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center at C-2 via a thermodynamic aldol reaction. A subsequent glycosylation reaction with activated uracil via C-1 phosphate and installation of the cyclic phosphate group using an achiral phosphorus(III) reagent followed by oxidation provides 1.

Model for the Enantioselectivity of Asymmetric Intramolecular Alkylations by Bis-Quaternized Cinchona Alkaloid-Derived Catalysts.

A model for the stereoselectivity of intramolecular alkylations by N,N'-disubstituted cinchona alkaloids reported by Xiang et al. was established using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The stereocontrol is based on the minimal distortion of the transition state (TS) and catalyst required to achieve favorable electrostatic interactions in the favored TS. Counterions must be included in computational modeling of ion-paired catalysis in order to reproduce experimental enantioselectivity.

Synthesis of the GPR40 Partial Agonist MK-8666 through a Kinetically Controlled Dynamic Enzymatic Ketone Reduction.

A scalable and efficient synthesis of the GPR40 agonist MK-8666 was developed from a simple pyridine building block. The key step to set the stereochemistry at two centers relied on an enzymatic dynamic kinetic reduction of an unactivated ketone. Directed evolution was leveraged to generate an optimized ketoreductase that provided the desired trans alcohol in >30:1 dr and >99% ee. Further, it was demonstrated that all four diastereomers of this hydroxy-ester could be prepared in high yield and selectivity. Subsequently, a challenging intramolecular displacement was carried out to form the cyclopropane ring system with perfect control of endo/exo selectivity. The endgame coupling strategy relied on a Pd-catalyzed C-O coupling to join the headpiece chloropyridine with the benzylic alcohol tailpiece.

Process Chemistry in Antiviral Research.

This article reviews antiviral therapies that have been approved for human use during the last decade, with a focus on the process chemistry that enabled access to these important drugs. In particular, process chemistry highlights from the practical syntheses of the HCV drugs sofosbuvir (Gilead), grazoprevir (Merck), and elbasvir (Merck), the HIV therapy darunavir (Tibotec) and the influenza treatment peramivir (BioCryst) are presented.

N-Boc deprotection and isolation method for water-soluble zwitterionic compounds.

A highly efficient TMSI-mediated deprotection and direct isolation method to obtain zwitterionic compounds from the corresponding N-Boc derivatives has been developed. This method has been demonstrated in the final deprotection/isolation of the ß-lactamase inhibitor MK-7655 as a part of its manufacturing process. Further application of this process toward other zwitterionic compounds, such as dipeptides and tripeptides, has been successfully developed. Furthermore, a catalytic version of this transformation has been demonstrated in the presence of BSA or BSTFA.

Unusual pyrimidine participation: efficient stereoselective synthesis of potent dual orexin receptor antagonist MK-6096.

An asymmetric synthesis of dual orexin receptor antagonist MK-6096 (1) is described. Key steps for the trans-2,5-disubstituted piperidinyl ether fragment include a biocatalytic transamination, a trans-selective Mukaiyama aldol, and a regioselective pyridyl SNAr process. The pyrimidyl benzoic acid was synthesized via a Negishi coupling and a nitrile hydrolysis. Coupling of the two fragments via a catalytic T3P-mediated amidation completed the synthesis. Unusual behaviors in the hydrolysis of pyrimidyl benzonitrile and the amide coupling of the pyrimidyl benzoic acid are also described.

Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of unprotected haloimidazoles.

An efficient protocol for the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of unprotected haloimidazoles is reported. The relatively mild reaction conditions allow for ready access to a wide array of functionalized imidazole derivatives in good to excellent yields. The synthetic utility of this method is demonstrated by the total synthesis of nortopsentin D.

Asymmetric synthesis of cyclic indole aminals via 1,3-stereoinduction.

A general and efficient asymmetric synthesis of cyclic indoline aminals was developed with a high level of 1,3-stereoinduction through a dynamic crystallization-driven condensation. Dehydrogenation of the indoline aminals with potassium permanganate produced the corresponding cyclic indole aminals in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities. This general methodology was successfully applied to the synthesis of a wide variety of chiral cyclic indoline aminals and indole aminals with aromatic and aliphatic functional groups.

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 0.3 mol% under mild conditions.

Practical and cost-effective manufacturing route for the synthesis of a ß-lactamase inhibitor.

Compound 1, a potent and irreversible inhibitor of ß-lactamases, is in clinical trials with ß-lactam antibiotics for the treatment of serious and antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. A short, scalable, and cost-effective route for the production of this densely functionalized polycyclic molecule is described.

Development of a practical, asymmetric synthesis of the hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor MK-5172.

The development of a practical, asymmetric synthesis of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor MK-5172 (1), an 18-membered macrocycle, is described.

Synthesis of antifungal glucan synthase inhibitors from enfumafungin.

An efficient, new, and scalable semisynthesis of glucan synthase inhibitors 1 and 2 from the fermentation product enfumafungin 3 is described. The highlights of the synthesis include a high-yielding ether bond-forming reaction between a bulky sulfamidate 17 and alcohol 4 and a remarkably chemoselective, improved palladium(II)-mediated Corey-Yu allylic oxidation at the highly congested C-12 position of the enfumafungin core. Multi-hundred gram quantities of the target drug candidates 1 and 2 were prepared, in 12 linear steps with 25% isolated yield and 13 linear steps with 22% isolated yield, respectively.

Enantioselective, biocatalytic reduction of 3-substituted cyclopentenones: application to the asymmetric synthesis of an hNK-1 receptor antagonist.

A convergent and enantioselective route to the hNK-1 receptor antagonist (1) is described, which sets all six stereogenic centers with high diastereoselectivity and delivers 1 in only 11 steps and 23% overall yield. The process was enabled by the development of the enantioselective enzymatic reduction of 3-functionalized cyclopentenones and stereospecific Pd-catalyzed etherification coupling of fragments 6 and 7.

Expedient synthesis of 3-alkoxymethyl- and 3-aminomethyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines.

An effective strategy has been developed for the preparation of 3-alkoxymethyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines, compounds that are currently not readily accessible by existing synthetic methods. Further manipulation of these compounds allows for access to 3-alkoxymethyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines with a variety of substitution patterns as well as 3-aminomethyl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines.

N-cyclopropylation of indoles and cyclic amides with copper(II) reagent.

Copper-mediated coupling reactions of cyclopropylboronic acid with indoles and cyclic amides are described. The process utilizes catalytic or stoichiometric amounts of copper(II) acetate, DMAP, and NaHMDS at 95 degrees C under an atmosphere containing oxygen. A variety of functional groups remain intact throughout the reaction.

A practical method for preparation of 4-hydroxyquinolinone esters.

4-Hydroxyquinolinone esters are a common motif for many medicinal agents. Several methods exist for preparation of these compounds, generally involving the use of sodium hydride, which raises significant safety issues and limits their application to large-scale synthesis. In this note a practical, safe, and general method that employs a combination of diisopropylethylamine and sodium tert-butoxide is described. This allows for the synthesis of 4-hydroxyquinolinone esters and amides in good yields.

A concise synthesis of (S)-N-ethoxycarbonyl-alpha-methylvaline.

A practical and efficient protocol for the three-step synthesis of (S)-N-ethoxycarbonyl-alpha-methylvaline 3 is described which utilizes readily available commercial starting materials. The key transformations involve resolution-crystallization of tartrate salt 6 followed by a one-pot procedure for the preparation of 3 which is isolated as the dicyclohexylamine salt in 45% overall yield and in 91-95% ee.

Stereoselective syntheses of highly functionalized bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes: a general methodology for the synthesis of potent and selective mGluR2/3 agonists.

[Chemical reaction: See text] A Et3Al mediated intramolecular epoxide opening, cyclopropanation reaction is described. The transformation provided highly functionalized bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane systems in high efficiency and with perfect H or F endo selectivity. Application of this reaction to the synthesis of mGluR2/3 agonist 1 (43% overall yield) and a few intermediates suitable for the synthesis of other bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane mGluR2/3 agonists is discussed.