Asymmetric synthesis of telcagepant, a CGRP receptor antagonist for the treatment of migraine.
A highly efficient, asymmetric synthesis of telcagepant (1), a CGRP receptor antagonist for the treatment of migraine, is described. This synthesis features the first application of iminium organocatalysis on an industrial scale. The key to the success of this organocatalytic transformation was the identification of a dual acid cocatalyst system, which allowed striking a balance of the reaction efficiency and product stability effectively. As such, via an iminium species, the necessnary C-6 stereogenicity was practically established in one operation in >95% ee. Furthermore, we enlisted an unprecedented Doebner-Knoevenagel coupling, which was also via an iminium species, to efficiently construct the C3-C4 bond with desired functionality. In order to prepare telcagepant (1) in high quality, a practical new protocol was discovered to suppress the formation of desfluoro impurities formed under hydrogenation conditions to <0.2%. An efficient lactamization facilitated by t-BuCOCl followed by a dynamic epimerization-crystallization resulted in the isolation of caprolactam acetamide with the desired C3 (R) and C6 (S) configuration cleanly. Isolating only three intermediates, the overall yield of this cost-effective synthesis was up to 27%. This environmentally responsible synthesis contains all of the elements required for a manufacturing process and prepares telcagepant (1) with the high quality required for pharmaceutical use.
Department of Process Research, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States.
Feng
F
Xu
Michael
M
Zacuto
Naoki
N
Yoshikawa
Richard
R
Desmond
Scott
S
Hoerrner
Tetsuji
T
Itoh
Michel
M
Journet
Guy R
GR
Humphrey
Cameron
C
Cowden
Neil
N
Strotman
Paul
P
Devine
D001381:Azepines / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077221:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Receptor Antagonists; D002384:Catalysis; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015394:Molecular Structure
D001381:Azepines; D000077221:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Receptor Antagonists; D007093:Imidazoles; C525458:telcagepant