2-[(S)-2-(t-Butoxycarbonyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-3-yl]acetic acid

Cyclopropabenzaindoles (CBIs) are exquisitely potent cytotoxins which bind and alkylate in the minor groove of DNA. They are not selective for cancer cells, so prodrugs are required. CBIs can be formed at physiological pH by Winstein cyclisation of 1-chloromethyl-3-substituted-5-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzo[e]indoles (5-OH-seco-CBIs). Corresponding 5-NH2-seco-CBIs should also undergo Winstein cyclisation similarly. A key triply orthogonally protected intermediate on the route to 5-NH2-seco-CBIs has been synthesised, via selective monotrifluoroacetylation of naphthalene-1,3-diamine, Boc protection, electrophilic iodination, selective allylation at the trifluoroacetamide and 5-exo radical ring-closure with TEMPO. This intermediate has potential for introduction of peptide prodrug masking units (deactivating the Winstein cyclisation and cytotoxicity), addition of diverse indole-amide side-chains (enhancing non-covalent binding prior to alkylation) and use of different leaving groups (replacing the usual chlorine, allowing tuning of the rate of Winstein cyclisation).

LiTMP metalated dimethyl N-Boc-phosphoramidates derived from 1-phenylethylamine and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-ylamine highly selectively at the CH3O group to generate short-lived oxymethyllithiums. These isomerized to diastereomeric hydroxymethylphosphonamidates (phosphate–phosphonate rearrangement). However, s-BuLi converted the dimethyl N-Boc-phosphoramidate derived from 1-phenylethylamine to the N-Boc α-aminophosphonate preferentially. Only s-BuLi deprotonated dimethyl hydroxymethylphosphonamidates at the benzylic position and dimethyl N-Boc α-aminophosphonates at the CH3O group to induce phosphonate–phosphinate rearrangements. In the former case, the migration of the phosphorus substituent from the nitrogen to the carbon atom followed a retentive course with some racemization because of the involvement of a benzyllithium as an intermediate.

Two orthogonal routes for preparing (S)-2-methylazetidine as a bench stable, crystalline (R)-(-)-CSA salt are presented. One route features the in situ generation and cyclization of a 1,3-bis-triflate to form the azetidine ring, while the second route involves chemoselective reduction of N-Boc azetidine-2-carboxylic acid. Both sequences afford the desired product in good overall yields (61% and 49%) and high enantiomeric excess (>99% ee), avoid column chromatography, and are suitable for the large-scale production of this material.

The authentic standards GSK1482160 and its isomer, as well as the radiolabeling precursors desmethyl-GSK1482160 and Boc-protected desmethyl-GSK1482160 were synthesized from L-pyroglutamic acid, methyl L-pyroglutamate and 2-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzylamine with overall chemical yield 27-28% in 3 steps, 58% in 4 steps, 76% in 1 step and 33% in 2 steps, respectively. [(11)C]GSK1482160 was prepared from either desmethyl-GSK1482160 or Boc-protected desmethyl-GSK1482160 with [(11)C]CH3OTf through N-[(11)C]methylation and isolated by HPLC combined with SPE in 40-50% and 30-40% radiochemical yield, respectively, based on [(11)C]CO2 and decay corrected to end of bombardment (EOB). The radiochemical purity was >99%, and the specific activity at EOB was 370-1110 GBq/μmol with a total synthesis time of ∼40-min from EOB.