A novel enantioselective alkylation and its application to the synthesis of an anticancer agent.

A novel enantioselective alkylation of double benzylic substrates with secondary electrophiles is reported. A simple norephedrine-based chiral ligand was synthesized that gives alkylation product in 95% yield and 95% ee. A unique water effect on the enantioselectivity was unveiled.

Antitumor Imidazotetrazines. 35. New Synthetic Routes to the Antitumor Drug Temozolomide.

Three new pathways to the antitumor drug temozolomide (4) have been explored via intermediates 3, 6, and 7. The key intermediate 5-amino-1-(N-methylcarbamoyl)imidazole-4-carboxamide (6) has been successfully converted to 4 in 45% yield by employing sodium nitrite in aqueous tartaric acid at 0-5 degrees C. Compound 6 is prepared from nitrophenyl carbamate 14a and methylamine or directly from 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide (13) and either methyl isocyanate or N-methylcarbamoyl chloride.