Antifolate chemistry: synthesis of 4-[N-[(6RS)-2-methyl-4-oxo-3,4,7,8-tetrahydro-6H-cyclopenta[g]quinazolin-6-yl]-N-(prop-2-ynyl)amino]benzoic acid via a (propargyl)Co2(CO)6+ complex

A new route to compound 3 (4-N-(6RS)-2-methyl-4-oxo-3,4,7,8-tetrahydro-6H-cyclopentag]quinazolin-6-yl]-N-(prop-2-ynyl)amino]benzoic acid), a crucial intermediate for the synthesis of potent inhibitors of thymidylate synthase (TS), is described. In this sequence the C6-N10 bond was constructed first, by the reductive amination of 5-acetamido-6-bromoindan-1-one 6 with tert-butyl 4-aminobenzoate, then the cyclopentag]quinazolinone ring was formed and the propargyl group was introduced on the N10-position using the (propargyl)Co2(CO)6+ complex as the electrophilic propargyl reagent.