Isolation and structure elucidation of unexpected in-process impurities during tetrazole ring formation of an investigational drug substance.

During the formation of a tetrazole ring on an investigational drug, two in-process impurities were detected and analyzed by LC-MS, which suggested that both impurities were drug-related with the same mass-to-charge ratio. To understand and control their formation, both impurities were isolated from the mother liquor of the reaction using a multi-step isolation procedure to obtain a sufficient amount for high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and NMR structural analysis. HRMS suggested a protonated mass of 577.

Pyridine N-Oxide vs Pyridine Substrates for Rh(III)-Catalyzed Oxidative C-H Bond Functionalization.

The origin of the high reactivity and site selectivity of pyridine N-oxide substrates in O-pivaloyl hydroxamic acid-directed Rh(III)-catalyzed (4+2) annulation reactions with alkynes was investigated computationally. The reactions of the analogous pyridine derivatives were previously reported to be slower and to display poor site selectivity for functionalization of the C(2)-H vs the C(4)-H bonds of the pyridine ring. The N-oxide substrates are found to be more reactive overall because the directing group interacts more strongly with Rh.

Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation and double directing group strategy for the regioselective synthesis of naphthyridinones.

A general Rh(III)-catalyzed synthesis of naphthyridinone derivatives is described. It relies on a double-activation and directing approach leveraging nicotinamide N-oxides as substrates. In general, high yields and selectivities can be achieved using low catalyst loadings and mild conditions (room temperature) in the couplings with alkynes, while alkenes require slightly more elevated temperatures.

Synthesis of the C1-C52 fragment of amphidinol 3, featuring a beta-alkoxy alkyllithium addition reaction.

An advanced intermediate for the synthesis of amphidinol 3 has been prepared. A cross-metathesis reaction was used to couple the C1-C12 and C13-C26 segments. An unusual beta-alkoxy alkyllithium reagent was generated from this segment and added to a Weinreb amide to assemble the C1-C52 section of amphidinol 3.

Synthesis of optically pure arylsilylcarbinols and their use as chiral auxiliaries in oxacarbenium ion reactions.

A family of arylsilylcarbinols was synthesized and investigated as chiral auxiliaries for oxacarbenium ion reactions. The optically pure arylsilylcarbinols were prepared using Noyori's transfer hydrogenation catalyst 11. The transfer hydrogenation shows very good enantioselectivities and turnover efficiency for the aryl silyl ketones and is the method of choice for preparing these optically pure alcohols.