Improved and Flexible Synthetic Access to the Spiroindole Backbone of Cebranopadol.

By changing the dimethylamino to a nitro group, a novel synthetic access to the spirocyclic opioid analgesic cebranopadol was developed that is much more efficient compared with the established route. On the basis of the α-acidity of α-nitrotoluene, the two-fold Michael addition to acrylate gave an acyclic precursor compound, which was easily transformed by Dieckmann condensation and decarboxylation to the cyclohexanone derivative needed for the annulation of the indole ring by an oxa-Pictet-Spengler reaction. As an additional benefit, the reduction of the nitro group furnished an amine, which could be late-stage-diversified to carboxamides, sulfonamides, ureas, and -alkyl congeners.

Four-Component Reaction for the Synthesis of Dithiocarbamates Starting from Cyclic Imines.

An efficient one-pot, four-component reaction for the synthesis of dithiocarbamates using carbon disulfide, cyclic imines, acid chlorides, and commercially available primary or secondary amines has been developed by performing an acid chloride addition to a heterocyclic imine followed by subsequent nucleophilic substitution of in situ generated dithiocarbamic acid. With the aid of the newly developed and powerful multicomponent reaction, a direct route for the synthesis of 24 unknown dithiocarbamates in moderate to good yield under mild conditions is enabled.