The intermediate N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-chloroethyl)phosphorodiamidate (IV) was prepared by an improved procedure consisting of addition of phosphoryl chloride to 2-bromoethanol (I) in the presence of Et3N, followed by in situ treatment of the resulting intermediate (II) with bis(2-chloroethyl)amine (III).
The known gamma-glutamyl-(S-benzylcysteinyl)-(R)-(-)-phenylglycine (V) was debenzylated to the corresponding thiol (VI) by means of sodium in liquid ammonia. Subsequent S-alkylation of (VI) with bromide (III) produced thioether (VII), which was finally oxidized to the title sulfone employing peracetic acid.