5) The condensation of 3-methylbutanal (XIX) with cyanoacetic acid ethyl ester (XXXII) or cyanoacetamide (XXXIII) by means of dipropylamine in refluxing hexane, followed by treatment with refluxing 6N HCl, gives 3-isobutylglutaric acid (XXXIV). This compound is converted into the corresponding anhydride (XXXV) by treatment with refluxing acetic anhydride. The reaction of the anhydride (XXXV) with NH4OH affords the glutaramic amide (XXXVI), which is submitted to optical resolution with (R)-(+)-1-phenylethylamine, yielding the (S)-enantiomer (XXXVII). Finally, this compound is submitted to a Hoffmann degradation with Br2/NaOH.
3) The reaction of diethyl malonate (XVIII) with 3-methylbutanal (XIX) by means of dipropylamine in acetic acid gives the corresponding 2-(3-methylbutylidene)malonate derivative (XX), which is treated with KCN to yield the corresponding addition compound (XXI). The decarboxylative hydrolysis of (XXI) with KOH affords 3-cyano-5-methylhexanoic acid (XXII), which is reduced with H2 over Ni to yield racemic pregabalin (XXIII). Finally, this racemate is submitted to optical resolution with (S)-(+)-mandelic acid.
S-9490 is synthesized by coupling (2S,3aS,7aS)-2-tert-butoxycarbonylperhydroindole (II) with N-[(S)-1-carbethoxybutyl-(S)-alanine (I).
An asymmetric synthesis of pregabalin has been reported: Condensation of isobutyraldehyde (I) with acrylonitrile (II) by means of DBU and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4- methylphenol (DBP) gives 3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-methylenepentanenitrile (III), which is acylated with AcCl or Ac2O and pyridine to yield the acetate (IV). The carboxylation of (IV) by means of Pd(OAc)2, PPh3, CO and EtOH affords 3-cyano-4-methyl-3-hexenoic acid ethyl ester (Va-b), which is hydrolyzed with KOH in THF/water to provide the corresponding carboxylic acid potassium salt (VIa-b). Acidification of (VIa-b) with HCl, followed by reaction with tert-butylamine gives the corresponding salt (VIIa-b), which is reduced with H2 over a chiral (R,R)-rhodium catalyst [(R,R)-Rh] in THF/water to yield (S)-3-cyano-5-methylhexanoic acid butylammonium salt (VIII). Finally, the CN group of (VIII) is reduced with H2 over a sponge-Ni catalyst in basic (KOH) ethanol. Alternatively, intermediate (VIa-b) can be reduced with H2 over a chiral (R,R)-rhodium catalyst [(R,R)-Rh] in THF/water to yield (S)-3-cyano-5-methylhexanoic acid potassium salt (IX). Finally, the CN group of (IX) is reduced with H2 over a sponge-Ni catalyst in basic (KOH) ethanol.
1) The reaction of 4-methylpentanoic acid (I) with SOCl2 in refluxing chloroform gives the acyl chloride (II), which is condensed with the chiral oxazolidinone (III) by means of BuLi in THF, yielding the corresponding N-acyl derivative (IV). The regioselective alkylation of (IV) with benzyl bromoacetate (V) by means of LDA in THF affords the (S)-adduct (VI) with >95% e.e. purity. The elimination of the chiral auxiliary with LiOH and H2O2 gives the glutaric acid monoester (VII), which is reduced with BH3/SMe2 in THF, yielding compound (VIII). The reaction of (VIII) with tosyl chloride in pyridine yields the tosylate (IX), which is treated with sodium azide in DMSO, affording the azide (X). Finally, this compound is reduced and debenzylated with H2 over Pd/C in THF.
2) The reaction of 4-methylpentanoic acid (I) with SOCl2 in refluxing chloroform gives the acyl chloride (II), which is condensed with the chiral oxazolidinone (III) by means of BuLi in THF, yielding the corresponding N-acyl derivative (IV). The regioselective alkylation of (IV) with tert-butyl bromoacetate (XI) by means of LDA in THF affords the (S)-adduct (XII). The elimination of the chiral auxiliary with LiOH and H2O2 gives the glutaric acid monoester (XIII), which is reduced with BH3/SMe2 in THF, yielding compound (XIV). The reaction of (XIV) with tosyl chloride in pyridine yields the tosylate (XV), which is treated with sodium azide in DMSO, affording the azide (XVI). The hydrolysis of the tert-butyl group of (XVI) affords the free acid (XVII), which is reduced with H2 over Pd/C.
4) The deamination of L-leucine (XXIV) with NaNO2, NaBr and H2SO4 gives 2(S)-bromo-4-methylpentanoic acid (XXV), which is esterified with tert-butyl acetate and BF3.AcOH to yield the tert-butyl ester (XXVI). The condensation of (XXVI) with the sodium salt of diethyl malonate affords the substituted malonic ester (XXVII), which is selectively hydrolyzed at the tert-butyl ester group with formic acid, giving the monoacid (XXVIII). The decarboxylative reduction of (XXVIII) with BH3 and SMe2 provides 3(S)-isobutylbutano-4-lactone (XXIX). Lactone (XXIX) is submitted to ring opening by treatment with trimethylsilyl iodide in ethanol, yielding 3(S)-(iodomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid ethyl ester (XXX). The reaction of (XXX) with sodium azide yields azide (XXXI), which is hydrolyzed with KOH in ethanol/water to afford the free acid (XVII). Finally, this compound is reduced to pregabalin by treatment with H2 over Pd/C.