Liquid-phase synthesis of combinatorial libraries based on 7-trifluoromethyl-substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine scaffold

The parallel solution-phase synthesis of more than 2200 7-trifluoromethyl-substituted pyrazolo1,5-a]pyrimidine and 4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo1,5-a]pyrimidine carboxamides on a 50-100-mg scale has been accomplished. Key reactions include assembly of the pyrazolo1,5-a]pyrimidine ring by condensation of 5-aminopyrazole derivatives with the corresponding trifluoromethyl-beta-diketones. The libraries from libraries were then obtained in good yields and purities using solution-phase acylation and reduction methodologies. Simple manual techniques for parallel reactions using special CombiSyn synthesizers were coupled with easy purification procedures (crystallization from the reaction mixtures) to give high-purity final products. The scope and limitations of the developed approach are discussed.