Stereospecific construction of substituted piperidines. Synthesis of (−)-paroxetine and (+)-laccarin

Short and efficient enantioselective syntheses of (-)-paroxetine and (+)-laccarin are described based on the highly stereospecific cleavage of C(3)-substituted 1,3-cyclic sulfamidates.

Efficient Heck Arylations of Cyclic and Acyclic Acrylate Derivatives Using Arenediazonium Tetrafluoroborates. A New Synthesis of the Antidepressant Drug (±)-Paroxetine

[reaction: see text] The Heck arylation of acyclic- and cyclic-substituted acrylates using several arenediazonium tetrafluoroborates was investigated. Arylations were carried out under aerobic, ligand-free conditions to provide the corresponding substituted acrylates in moderate to high isolated yields. Heck arylations were usually completed in less than 2 h in refluxing methanol. The aza-endocyclic acrylate derivative 11a was converted into the antidepressant drug (+/-)-paroxetine in a concise new route in good overall yield.

Convenient Synthesis of Substituted Piperidinones from α,β-Unsaturated Amides: Formal Synthesis of Deplancheine, Tacamonine, and Paroxetine

[reaction: see text] An intermolecular aza-double Michael reaction leading to functionalized piperidin-2-ones from simple starting materials has been developed. The method allows alpha,beta-unsaturated amides to be used as a synthon of the piperidine nucleus. In addition, the utility of this methodology is demonstrated by its application to a formal synthesis of the indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidine alkaloids, (+/-)-deplancheine, (+/-)-tacamonine, and the antidepressant paroxetine.

Synthesis, structural identification, and ligand binding of tropane ring analogs of paroxetine and an unexpected aza-bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane rearrangement product

The structural requirements for high affinity at the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) have been investigated through the preparation of rigid paroxetine analogs. Tropane-derived analogs (4a-i) of paroxetine (2) were designed and synthesized as potential inhibitors of serotonin reuptake based on the structural and biological similarity between the two compound classes. Overall, the affinity of tropane-derived analogs at the 5-HTT was found to be at least an order of magnitude lower than that of paroxetine and ranged from 2-400nM. The reduced affinity at the 5-HTT may be attributed to the inability of the rigid tropane-derived analogs to adopt conformations favored by the 5-HTT. Within the series of tropane analogs, the 2beta,3beta- and 2beta,3alpha-isomers, 4a and 4d, were the most potent at the DAT and NET and are also significantly more potent than paroxetine (2) suggesting that their reduced conformational flexibility maximizes residence time in conformations favored by these transporters. Examination of the previously published preparation and structural assignment of 4a by additional NMR and X-ray crystallographic data has established that nucleophilic addition to the intermediate 2beta-methanesulfonyloxymethyl-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane unexpectedly provided the aza-bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane derivative 10a.

Selective methodologies for the synthesis of biologically active piperidinic compounds

The synthesis of optically active substituted piperidines has been achieved by using four different methodologies. The first one is an intramolecular nucleophilic displacement of activated alcohol moieties that was used to build up the piperidine ring of (-)-prosophylline and (-)-slaframine, and the second one is a ring-closing metathesis of unsaturated amines which was employed in the synthesis of (+)-sedamine and 4a,5-dihydrostreptazoline. The third methodology is the alpha-functionalization of N-Boc piperidines which was particularly useful in the synthesis of argatroban, and the fourth one is a ring expansion of prolinols to 3-chloropiperidines or 3-hydroxypiperidines which was utilized to synthesize (-)-paroxetine, (-)-pseudoconhydrine, the piperidine ring of (-)-velbanamine and (+)-zamifenacin.

Catalytic Enantioselective Conjugate Reduction of Lactones and Lactams

A dramatic acceleration of the enantioselective copper-catalyzed conjugate reduction of alpha,beta-unsaturated lactones, lactams, and esters is reported upon addition of alcohol additives. Good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities were realized using a catalyst generated in situ from CuCl(2).H(2)O, t-BuONa, p-tol-BINAP, and PMHS, and this methodology was applied to the synthesis of (-)-Paroxetine.

Synthesis of the major metabolites of paroxetine

Paroxetine is a well-known antidepressant, used worldwide in therapeutics. In comparison with other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, it exhibits the highest activity in serotonin reuptake inhibition. Paroxetine metabolism initially involves its demethylenation to the catechol intermediate, which is then O-methylated at positions C3 or C4. Herein, the chemistry resulting in the syntheses of these metabolites (3S,4R)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)piperidine and (3S,4R)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenoxymethyl)piperidine is described starting from the common intermediate (3S,4R)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-1-methylpiperidine. Additionally, the common intermediate was used to synthesize paroxetine, which had the same structure and stereochemistry as commercial paroxetine, thereby confirming our synthetic route.

Anhydrides as acylating agents in the enzymatic resolution of an intermediate of (-)-Paroxetine

A new chemoenzymatic method for the preparation of an intermediate of (-)-Paroxetine is reported. Cyclic anhydrides are used as acylating agents in the lipase-catalyzed esterification of trans-4-(4'-fluorophenyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-N-phenyloxycarbonylpiperidine in organic solvents. The best enantioselectivities are obtained with two different lipases from Candida antarctica. These two lipases show opposite stereochemical preference in these processes, so that both enantiomers can be obtained in their optically pure forms. The (3S,4R) isomer is an intermediate for the synthesis of (-)-Paroxetine.

Enantiomeric enrichment of (+)-(3R,4S)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-1-methylpiperidine by crystallization

Two-fold crystallization of trans-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-1-methylpiperidine enriched in (+)-enantiomer 3b (65.2-79.4% ee) yielded the racemate that crystallized out of solution and the mother liquor highly enriched in 3b (95.4-97.6% ee). Differences in infrared spectra of the racemate and enantiomer proved that the racemate consists of a racemic compound. Furthermore, solution NMR spectra of enriched 3b showed differentiation of some resonances (self-induced non-equivalence), which indicated strong diastereomeric interactions between solutes in apolar solvent. The enantiomeric composition of products was determined by NMR spectroscopy in the presence of R-Mosher acid.

Synthesis of enantiopure trans-3,4-disubstituted piperidines. An enantiodivergent synthesis of (+)- and (-)-paroxetine

Reaction of (R)-phenylglycinol with methyl 5-oxopentanoate gave either bicyclic lactam cis-1 (the kinetic product) or its isomer trans-1 (under equilibrating conditions) as the major products, which were converted to the corresponding (cis or trans) unsaturated lactams 4 and 5. On treatment with lithium alkyl (or aryl) cyanocuprates, these chiral building blocks undergo conjugate addition to give enantiopure trans-3,4-substituted 2-piperidone derivatives in high yield and stereoselectivity. The synthetic potential of this transformation is illustrated by the synthesis of (+)-femoxetine and the two enantiomers of the known antidepressant paroxetine.

Improved synthesis of paroxetine hydrochloride propan-2-ol solvate through one of metabolites in humans, and characterization of the solvate crystals

Paroxetine, a potent and selective inhibitor of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) uptake, was prepared through a piperidine derivative, which was reported to be one of the paroxetine metabolites in humans. Thus, the piperidine derivative was converted to its N-tert-butoxycarbonyl (N-Boc) derivative, which was then converted to N-Boc paroxetine. Paroxetine hydrochloride propan-2-ol (isopropyl alcohol (IPA)) solvate crystals were directly obtained from the N-Boc paroxetine by adding hydrogen chloride to the N-Boc paroxetine IPA solution. The amount of IPA content in the crystals was reduced by drying with a continuous change of powder X-ray diffraction patterns. Other characterizations of the solvate crystals were also conducted.

Synthesis and ligand binding of tropane ring analogues of paroxetine

(3S,4R)-4-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenoxy]methyl] piperidine [(3S,9R)-3, paroxetine] is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used as an antidepressant in humans. In previous studies, we reported that certain (1R)-3 beta-(substituted phenyl)nortropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl esters (2a) exhibited high affinity and reasonable selectivity for the serotonin transporter (5-HTT). The major structural differences between 2a and (3S,4R)-3 are that 2a possesses a different absolute stereochemistry and has an ethylene bridge not present in 3. In addition, 2a possesses a carbomethoxy substituent adjacent to the aryl ring, whereas (3S,4R)-3 contains a [3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenoxy]methyl group. In this study, we present the synthesis and biological evaluations of six of the possible eight isomers of 3-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-[[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenoxy]methyl]nortropane+ ++ (4). The data for inhibition of [3H]paroxetine binding show that (1R)-2 beta, 3 alpha-4c, which has the same stereochemistry as paroxetine, has the highest affinity at the 5-HTT. Strikingly, the most potent compounds for inhibition of [3H]WIN-35,428 binding were not the (1R)-2 beta, 3 beta-isomers but rather (1R)-2 beta, 3 alpha-4c and (1S)-2 beta, 3 alpha-4f. Conformational analyses show that these isomers exist in a flattened boat conformation with pseudoequatorial substituents. Thus, the binding data show that this conformation is recognized by the DAT-associated binding site and also suggest that this conformation of paroxetine is recognized by the 5-HTT-associated binding site.

Synthesis and characterization of an aryl-azidoparoxetine. A novel photo-affinity probe for serotonin-transporter

Paroxetine is an effective antidepressant drug and potent serotonin (5-HT) uptake inhibitor. It selectively labels 5-HT transporter on platelets and neurons. We report here the synthesis of an aryl-azido derivative of paroxetine, which is a novel photoactive and irreversible ligand for the [3H]paroxetine binding site on the platelet 5-HT transporter. The compound inhibited [3H]paroxetine binding (IC50, 55 nM) and 5-HT uptake (IC50, 12 nM) at equilibrium conditions and inactivated 10-20% of [3H]paroxetine binding sites upon irradiation at 320 nm. SDS-PAGE of platelet protein extract labelled with the radioactive analogue of the synthesized probe revealed the presence of four radioactive bands of which the 71-kDa one was the most prominent.