A convenient synthesis of the immunosuppressive agent FTY720

Abstract  

This paper describes a practical synthetic approach to preparation of an immunosuppressant, FTY720. The key steps involve an iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction and a Wittig reaction. The advantages of this synthesis include readily available starting materials, inexpensive reagents, simple operations and good yields.     

A convenient synthesis of immunosuppressive agent FTY720 using the petasis reaction

A convenient synthesis of immunosuppressive agent FTY720 (1) using the Petasis reaction was developed. 4-Octylbenzaldehyde (9) was converted into 1-ethenyl-4-octylbenzene (11) by two-step synthesis. Hydroboration of 11 using catecholborane and hydrolysis gave (E)-2-(4-octylphenyl)vinylboronic acid (4). The Petasis reaction of 4, dihydroxyacetone (3), and benzylamine following catalytic hydrogenation afforded FTY720 (1).     

Iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions

Simple iron salts such as FeCl(n), Fe(acac)(n) (n = 2,3) or the salen complex 4 turned out to be highly efficient, cheap, toxicologically benign, and environmentally friendly precatalysts for a host of cross-coupling reactions of alkyl or aryl Grignard reagents, zincates, or organomanganese species with aryl and heteroaryl chlorides, triflates, and even tosylates. An "inorganic Grignard reagent" of the formal composition [Fe(MgX)(2)] prepared in situ likely constitutes the propagating species responsible for the catalytic turnover, which occurs in many cases at an unprecedented rate even at or below room temperature. Because of the exceptionally mild reaction conditions, a series of functional groups such as esters, ethers, nitriles, sulfonates, sulfonamides, thioethers, acetals, alkynes, and -CF(3) groups are compatible. The method also allows for consecutive cross-coupling processes in one pot, as exemplified by the efficient preparation of compound 12, and has been applied to the first synthesis of the cytotoxic marine natural product montipyridine 8. In contrast to the clean reaction of (hetero)aryl chlorides, the corresponding bromides and iodides are prone to a reduction of their C-X bonds in the presence of the iron catalyst.     

Enantioselective synthesis of the phosphate esters of the immunosuppressive lipid FTY720

The enantiomers of FTY720-phosphate (3) were synthesized via 2-methylene-4-(4-octylphenyl)butan-1-ol (7), 2,3-epoxy alcohol 8, and Δ²-oxazoline 10. These compounds have potential use in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and prevention of kidney transplant rejection.     

Synthesis of fluorinated analogues of the immunosuppressive drug FTY720

Four fluorinated derivatives of the immunosuppressive drug FTY720 were synthesized by a convergent strategy, using the Sonogashira coupling as the key reaction to assemble the two major fragments.     

Direct mono-phosphorylation of 1,3-diols. A synthesis of FTY720-phosphate

A novel method for selective and direct phosphorylation of various 1,3-diols using silver(I) oxide, tetrabenzyl pyrophosphate (TBPP), and tetrahexylammonium iodide affording mono-phosphates was developed. We applied the present method to the synthesis of FTY720-phosphate.     

A convergent synthesis of the immunosuppressant FTY720 employing aqueous Wittig chemistry

A short, convergent synthesis of the immunosuppressant FTY720 is described involving the use of 4-hydroxymethylbenzaldehyde as a pivotal intermediate. A double Wittig strategy was developed to connect this dual-functional aldehyde with an alkyl-tether and to a readily available TRIS-derivative leading to an efficient synthesis of the target molecule.     

A photoreactive analogue of the immunosuppressant FTY720

An azido group was incorporated into the immunomodulatory agent FTY720, accomplishing the first synthesis of a photoactivatable analogue of this ligand (2) in 9 steps from 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanol and in 34% overall yield. The key steps are formation of a primary amine at a quaternary center of aniline derivative 13 followed by selective diazotization of the arylamine.     

Iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions between a bicyclic alkenyl triflate and Grignard reagents

Fe-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions between a bicyclic alkenyl triflate and Grignard reagents were investigated. Under the optimized reaction conditions, various 2-substituted bicyclic alkenes were synthesized in moderate to excellent yields (52-93%). This method provided an efficient route for the synthesis of 2-substituted bicyclic alkenes with secondary alkyl groups which cannot be synthesized using previous methods such as Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions and lithium-halide exchange reactions.     

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions in total synthesis

In studying the evolution of organic chemistry and grasping its essence, one comes quickly to the conclusion that no other type of reaction plays as large a role in shaping this domain of science than carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. The Grignard, Diels-Alder, and Wittig reactions are but three prominent examples of such processes, and are among those which have undeniably exercised decisive roles in the last century in the emergence of chemical synthesis as we know it today. In the last quarter of the 20th century, a new family of carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions based on transition-metal catalysts evolved as powerful tools in synthesis. Among them, the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are the most prominent. In this Review, highlights of a number of selected syntheses are discussed. The examples chosen demonstrate the enormous power of these processes in the art of total synthesis and underscore their future potential in chemical synthesis.     

Iron-catalyzed cross-coupling of imidoyl chlorides with Grignard reagents

[reaction: see text] A general, high yielding rapid iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between Grignard reagents and imidoyl chlorides is described. These reactions are typically completed within 5 min, resulting in high yields of 71-96% using 5% iron catalyst in a THF-NMP solvent mixture. Functionalized imidoyl chlorides (e.g., R = CO(2)Me) gave excellent yields (89%).     

Iron-catalyzed cross-coupling of alkenyl sulfides with Grignard reagents

[reaction: see text] The iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of alkenyl sulfides with Grignard reagents is described. While the cross-coupling proceeds efficiently at alkenyl-S bonds, almost no cross-coupling takes place at aryl-S bonds, attesting to a unique selectivity of iron catalysis. The beneficial effect of potentially coordinating 2-pyrimidyl group on sulfur is also described.     

Iron-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryltrimethylammonium triflates and alkyl Grignard reagents

Fe(acac)₃ effectively catalyzes reaction of aryltrimethylammonium triflates with β-hydrogen-containing primary or secondary alkyl Grignard reagents in a mixed solvent of THF and NMP at room temperature. A series of functional groups are tolerated under the reaction conditions.     

A facile synthesis of perfluoroalkyl vinyl iodides and their palladium-mediated cross-coupling reactions

Catalytic amounts of zinc, as low as 10 mol %, in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) initiate the radical addition of perfluoroalkyl iodides to terminal alkynes with high regio- and stereoselectivities. Palladium-mediated cross-coupling of these (E)-perfluoroalkyl vinyl iodides allows for a facile synthesis of potentially useful fluoroorganic intermediates.     

Improved synthesis of phenylethylamine derivatives by Negishi cross-coupling reactions

Trifluoroacetamido-protected β-aminoalkylzinc iodides undergo Negishi cross-coupling reaction with aryl iodides in moderate to excellent yields (42-84%) based on the corresponding trifluoroacetamido-protected β-aminoalkyl iodides, employing a catalyst prepared in situ from Pd₂(dba)₃ and SPhos (1:2 M ratio). In general, meta- and para-substituted aryl iodides give good results using relatively low levels of catalyst [0.25 mol % Pd₂(dba)₃], but more hindered ortho-substituted examples require higher catalyst loadings. The preparation of trifluoroacetamido-protected β-aminoalkyl iodides is straightforward, and the intermediates are significantly more stable than the corresponding Boc-protected derivatives.     

Palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reactions in the synthesis of some high polarizability materials

Abstract

Liquid crystal materials of high optical anisotropy consist of moieties of high electron density in conjugation with each other along the molecular length. Such structures are conducive to convergent synthesis methods. Here we report the synthesis of a range of novel materials by the strategic use of palladium-catalysed cross-coupling methods. In addition to the traditional use of bromide and iodide leaving groups, invaluable use of the triflate leaving group and the importance of selective cross-coupling methods using both arylboronic acids and alkynylzinc chloride derivatives is illustrated. This systematic methodology allows the separate synthesis of the appropriate sub-units that can be efficiently coupled together to provide high overall product yields.