Results and Discussion
The synthesis route of 1 presented in this work is depicted in [Scheme 2]. The route started with compound 8, which underwent a Ru-catalyzed ATH reaction to achieve R-6
D-tartrate (step 1), followed by a Michael addition reaction with tert-butyl acrylate to obtain compound 9 (step 2), an N-methylation process to obtain (R-cis)-10 (step 3), and transesterification to generate the target product (1) (steps 4 and 5). Consequently, 1 was synthesized through a 5-step reaction with a 21% overall yield without the need
for column chromatography purification. Remarkably, the enantioselectivity of R-6 and (R-cis)-10 was 99.67% ee and 100% de, respectively. The entire process effectively demonstrated
the safety and efficacy of this synthetic pathway.
Optimization of Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation
A series of ruthenium catalysts was screened for the ATH reaction ([Table 1], entries 1 − 6). Their chemical structures were shown in [Fig. 2]. Our data showed that when HCOOH/Et3N (5:2) was used as a hydrogen source and EtOH as a solvent, RuCl[(S,S)-TsDPEN](p-cymene) (16) showed the best result with R-6 being obtained with a 96.56% ee and 97.82% conversion ([Table 1], entry 6). Next, we screened the solvents, including DCM, THF, DMF, i-PrOH, CH3CN, and MeOH ([Table 1], entries 7 − 12). It was found that MeOH showed the best result with R-6 being obtained with a 97.00% ee and 98.34% conversion ([Table 1], entry 12). Then, the base and the ratio of the base to formic acid were screened
when 16 was used as a catalyst and MeOH as a solvent ([Table 1], entries 13 − 15). To our disappointment, there were no significant differences
in ee and conversion when using different bases and different ratios. At last, the
hydrogen source was screened ([Table 1], entries 16 − 17). Our data showed that HCOONa was found to be suitable with higher
ee, higher conversion, and shorter reaction time ([Table 1], entry 17). To improve the solubility of HCOONa, H2O and MeOH/H2O (1:1) were discussed as a solvent ([Table 1], entries 18 − 19), suggesting that MeOH/H2O (1:1) was better than a single solvent ([Table 1], entry 19). Given the above, R-6 could be prepared by using RuCl[(S,S)-TsDPEN](p-cymene) (16, 0.8 mol% %) as a catalyst, HCOONa as the hydrogen source, and MeOH/H2O (1:1, 10 V) as the solvent. The product had a yield of 77.0 and 99.67% ee when the
process was conducted on a 1,096-g scale.
Table 1
Screening of asymmetric transfer hydrogenation[a]
|
Entry
|
Ruthenium catalyst[b]
|
Hydrogen source
|
Solvent
|
ee (%)
|
Conversion (%)
|
1
|
11
|
HCOOH/Et3N (5:2)
|
EtOH
|
59.34
|
86.26
|
2
|
12
|
HCOOH/Et3N (5:2)
|
EtOH
|
31.60
|
83.18
|
3
|
13
|
HCOOH/Et3N (5:2)
|
EtOH
|
−1.20
|
75.71
|
4
|
14
|
HCOOH/Et3N (5:2)
|
EtOH
|
−2.54
|
77.63
|
5
|
15
|
HCOOH/Et3N (5:2)
|
EtOH
|
94.10
|
89.88
|
6
|
16
|
HCOOH/Et3N (5:2)
|
EtOH
|
96.56
|
97.82
|
7
|
16
|
HCOOH/Et3N (5:2)
|
DCM
|
86.94
|
90.90
|
8
|
16
|
HCOOH/Et3N (5:2)
|
THF
|
86.34
|
98.02
|
9
|
16
|
HCOOH/Et3N (5:2)
|
DMF
|
93.40
|
74.38
|
10
|
16
|
HCOOH/Et3N (5:2)
|
i-PrOH
|
91.08
|
98.29
|
11
|
16
|
HCOOH/Et3N (5:2)
|
CH3CN
|
93.80
|
98.15
|
12
|
16
|
HCOOH/Et3N (5:2)
|
MeOH
|
97.00
|
98.34
|
13
|
16
|
HCOOH/Et3N (1:1)
|
MeOH
|
97.19
|
98.11
|
14
|
16
|
HCOOH/DIPEA (5:2)
|
MeOH
|
96.84
|
98.17
|
15
|
16
|
HCOOH/DIPEA (1:1)
|
MeOH
|
96.72
|
97.81
|
16
|
16
|
HCOONH4
|
MeOH
|
98.10
|
89.42
|
17
|
16
|
HCOONa
|
MeOH
|
98.17
|
99.16
|
18
|
16
|
HCOONa
|
H2O
|
95.99
|
99.12
|
19
|
16
|
HCOONa
|
MeOH:H2O (1:1)
|
98.19
|
99.64
|
a Reaction conditions: 8 (1 g, 2.03 mmol, 1.0 equiv.), 40°C. ee and conversion was measured by a chiral IC
column with high performance liquid chromatography method.
b 0.8 mol %.
Process for (R-cis)-10 and Crystallization
Michael addition reaction of R-6 with tert-butyl acrylate gave compound 9 in 95.80% yield. (R-cis)-10 was synthesized from compound 9 and methyl benzenesulfonate, forming only a single isomeric impurity, (R-trans)-10, with a ratio of (R-cis)-10/(R-trans)-10 being 62.36:20.27. Due to their difference in solubility, we attempted to separate
(R-trans)-10 and (R-trans)-10 through a recrystallization purification.
Several common solvents, including EA, DCM, Et2O, and CH3CN, were screened for the recrystallization process ([Table 2], entries 1 − 4). Our data showed that DCM and CH3CN dissolved (R-cis)-10 effectively and (R-trans)-10 moderately, whereas EA and Et2O showed no solubility. Mixed solvent systems, like DCM/Et2O (1:2) and DCM/EA (1:3) ([Table 2], entries 5, 6), were explored to optimize crystallization. The result showed that
DCM/Et2O (1:2) preferentially dissolved (R-cis)-10, whereas DCM/EA (1:3) selectively dissolved (R-trans)-10. Finally, crystallization was performed using DCM/Et2O (1:2, 5.5 V) to remove most of (R-trans)-10, followed by further crystallization with DCM/EA (1:3, 4 V). The final product had
a 41.6% yield and 100% de when the resolution process was scaled to 857.71 g.
Table 2
Solvents screening for recrystallization purification of (R-cis)-10 and (R-trans)-10
|
Entry
|
Solvent
|
(R-cis)-10
|
(R-trans)-10
|
Solubility (mg/mL)
|
Solubility (mg/mL)
|
1
|
DCM
|
2058
|
167
|
2
|
CH3CN
|
2087
|
252
|
3
|
EA
|
Insoluble
|
Insoluble
|
4
|
Et2O
|
Insoluble
|
Insoluble
|
5
|
DCM/Et2O (1:2)
|
390
|
5
|
6
|
DCM/EA (1:3)
|
364
|
7
|
a Reaction conditions: 9 (5 g, 8.90 mmol, 1.0 equiv.), methyl benzenesulfonate (3.07 g, 17.8 mmol, 2.0 equiv.),
DCM (2 V), 35°C.
Process for Cisatracurium Besylate (Compound 1)
In this study, (R-cis)-10 was hydrolyzed with benzenesulfonic acid to get 2, which was then reacted with 1,5-pentanediol (0.5 equiv.) to obtain the target product
(1) through a one-pot method. The purification of the target product was straightforward,
involving extraction with water and recrystallization using DCM/MTBE, due to the high
de of (R-cis)-10. However, the removal of water generated in this step is critical to increase the
rate of inversion. Initially, co-boiling was explored to remove the water using 2-butanone,
toluene, DCE, chloroform, and DCM tested as solvents ([Table 3], entries 1 − 5). The result showed that 2-butanone, toluene, DCE, and chloroform
were associated with lower inversion rates and more impurities ([Table 3], entries 1 − 4). DCM achieved a 70.22% inversion rate ([Table 3], entry 5). When 4Å molecular sieves were used instead, in combination with DCM (15 V)
as the solvent, the best inversion rate was achieved ([Table 3], entry 6). The product had a yield of 67.0 and 98.71% purity when the process was
conducted on a 129.41-g scale.
Table 3
Method to remove H2O in the synthesis of Cisatracurium besylate[a]
|
Entry
|
Solvent
|
Method to remove H2O
|
Temperature (°C)
|
Inversion rate (%)[b]
|
1
|
2-Butanone
|
Co-boiling
|
85
|
n.d.
|
2
|
Toluene
|
Co-boiling
|
90
|
22.43
|
3
|
DCE
|
Co-boiling
|
75
|
57.22
|
4
|
Chloroform
|
Co-boiling
|
65
|
52.39
|
5
|
DCM
|
Co-boiling
|
40
|
70.22
|
6
|
DCM
|
Add 4Å molecular sieve
|
40
|
90.08
|
a Reaction conditions: (R-cis)-10 (1.00 g, 0.155 mmol, 1.0 equiv.), benzenesulfonic acid (1.23 g, 0.777 mmol, 5.0 equiv.).
b Inversion rate was measured by a high performance liquid chromatography method.
Experimental Section
General
All reagents were commercially available and used without further purification unless
indicated otherwise. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were recorded on an
AVANCE III 400 MHz spectrometer (Bruker) in deuterated D2O or CDCl3, using tetramethylsilane as the internal reference. Chemical shifts are given in
δ values (ppm), and coupling constants (J values) are given in Hz. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) spectra were recorded
using a Waters quadrupole time-of-flight micromass spectrometer with an electrospray
ionization (ESI) source. The reaction was monitored by a high-performance liquid chromatographic
(HPLC) method using an Agilent 1260 Infinity II HPLC, and the ee was determined by
a chiral Dionex UltiMate 3000 HPLC.
The HPLC method was performed using a Syncronis C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm).
The mobile phase A was a mixture of H2O/MeOH/CH3CN (8:1:1) supplemented with 3.2% ammonium formate and 1.6% formic acid in water;
the mobile phase B was a mixture of CH3CN/MeOH (1:1). The gradient program was as follows: from 90:10 A/B to 60:40 A/B over
80 minutes, 60:40 A/B over 10 minutes, 60:40 A/B to 90:10 A/B over 0.1 minute, 90:10
A/B over 10 minutes. The detection wavelength was 280 nm; the flow rate was 0.8 mL/min;
the column temperature was 35°C.
The chiral HPLC method was performed using a CHIRALPAK IC-3 (250 × 4.6 mm, 3 μm) column,
with a mobile phase (n-hexane/EtOH/1,4-dioxane/TFA/Et2NH, 750:200:50:3:3) over 20 minutes. The flow rate was 0.7 mL/min; the column temperature
was 25°C, and the detection wavelength was 235 nm.
Preparation of (R)-1-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (2S,3S)-2,3-dihydroxysuccinate (R-6) D-tartrate
To a solution of 1-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline hydrogen
chloride (8) (1.0 equiv., 2.885 mol, 1,090 g) in the MeOH/H2O (5 L:5 L) mixture was added sodium formate (5.0 equiv., 14.43 mol, 981 g) and RuCl[(S,S)-TsDPEN](p-cymene) (16, 14.7 g, 0.023 mol, 0.8 mol%). The mixture was stirred at 40°C for 4 hours. The reaction
was monitored by thin-layer chromatography. MeOH was removed under reduced pressure.
The residue was extracted with DCM (5 L, 5 V). The organic phase was concentrated,
and the residue was dissolved in EtOH (25 L, 25 V). Then, D-tartaric acid was added (1.0 equiv., 2.885 mol, 433 g). The mixture was stirred at
70°C for 1 hour, then cooled gradually to 0 to 5°C. Crystals were filtered and washed
with ice–cold EtOH (1 L). The solid was dried to get R-6
D-tartrate as a pink solid (1,096 g, 99.45% purity, 99.67% ee, 77.0% yield). 1H NMR (400 MHz, D2O) δ 6.96 (d, J = 8.3 Hz, 1H), 6.87 (s, 1H), 6.81 (dd, J = 8.2, 2.0 Hz, 1H), 6.71 (d, J = 2.0 Hz, 1H), 6.33 (s, 1H), 4.70 (t, J = 7.3 Hz, 1H), 4.50 (s, 2H), 3.81 (d, J = 2.7 Hz, 6H), 3.71 (s, 3H), 3.58 (s, 3H), 3.54–3.36 (m, 2H), 3.19 (qd, J = 13.9, 7.4 Hz, 2H), 3.02 (t, J = 6.5 Hz, 2H). 13C NMR (101 MHz, D2O) δ 176.29, 148.19, 147.92, 147.54, 146.38, 128.07, 124.17, 122.96, 122.58, 113.10,
111.98, 111.66, 110.16, 72.77, 55.63, 55.60, 55.49, 55.37, 38.88, 38.32, 24.04. HRMS
(ESI-TOF) calcd. for C20H26NO4
+ [M + H]+ 344.18563, found: 344.18496.
Preparation of tert-butyl (R)-3-(1-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl)propanoate Oxalate (9)
R-6
D-tartrate (1.0 equiv., 2.026 mol, 1,000 g) was dissolved in H2O (10 L, 10V). The pH was adjusted to 10 with NaOH (aq) (4.4 L, 5.0 mol/L) at 0 to
5°C. The mixture was extracted with toluene (3.5 L, 3.5V) twice, and the organic phase
was combined and concentrated to 2 L (2 V) under reduced pressure. Then, tert-butyl acrylate (1.2 equiv., 2.431 mol, 311.6 g) and acetic acid (0.5 equiv., 1.013 mol,
61 g) were added to the solution. The reaction mixture was stirred at 85°C for 5 hours
until the proportion of R-6 was controlled to be less than 5% (monitored by HPLC). After cooling to room temperature,
ethyl acetate (20 L, 20V) was added. The mixture was cooled to 0 to 5°C. Subsequently,
a solution of oxalic acid (1.1 equiv., 2.244 mol, 202 g) in 1.2 L ethyl acetate was
slowly added. The mixture was stirred at 0 to 5°C for 10 hours and filtered to obtain
a white powder, which was washed with ice–cold ethyl acetate (3 L) and dried to constant
weight to afford compound 9 (1,093.45 g, 95.64% purity, 99.79% ee, 95.8% yield) as a white solid. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 6.74 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 1H), 6.64 (d, J = 2.9 Hz, 2H), 6.49 (dd, J = 8.1, 1.9 Hz, 1H), 5.65 (s, 1H), 4.39 (s, 1H), 3.86 (s, 3H), 3.83 (s, 3H), 3.80
(s, 3H), 3.72 (s, 1H), 3.63–3.49 (m, 2H), 3.43 (s, 5H), 3.19 (dt, J = 19.6, 9.4 Hz, 1H), 2.98 (dd, J = 17.9, 6.1 Hz, 1H), 2.88–2.74 (m, 3H), 1.42 (s, 9H). 13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 169.26, 163.26, 149.24, 149.12, 148.35, 147.15, 127.80, 122.62, 113.06, 111.33,
111.12, 82.34, 55.99, 55.96, 55.93, 55.49, 47.96, 30.59, 27.98. HRMS (ESI-TOF) calcd.
for C27H38NO6
+ [M + H]+ 472.26936, found: 472.27013.
Preparation of (1R,2R)-2-(3-(tert-butoxy)-3-oxopropyl)-1-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-ium
benzenesulfonate ((R-cis)-10)
Compound 9 (1.0 equiv., 3.21 mol, 1,800 g) was dissolved in a mixture of H2O and DCM (5:5, 14.4 L, 8 V). NaOH (aq) (1.5 L, 5.0 mol/L) was added to adjust pH = 10
at 0 to 5°C. The aqueous phase was extracted with DCM (3 L, 1.67 V). The organic phase
was concentrated to 1.44 L (0.8 V) under reduced pressure. Subsequently, methyl benzenesulfonate
(1.2 equiv., 3.85 mol, 663 g) was added. The mixture was stirred at 35°C for 15 hours,
and the proportion of 9 was controlled to be less than 5%, as monitored by an HPLC method.
Raising the reaction temperature to 25°C, the reaction mixture was diluted with DCM
(360 mL, 0.2 V), followed by dropwise addition of ether (6.66 L, 3.7 V). The mixture
was stirred for 1 hour and gradually cooled to 0 to 5°C. The resulting crystals were
filtered to obtain (R-trans)-10 (97.27% purity). The mother liquor was collected and concentrated to obtain crude
(R-cis)-10 (1,398.35 g, 88.94% purity) as a white powder.
Crude (R-cis)-10 was dissolved in DCM (2.8 L). Ethyl acetate (8.4 L) was added dropwise at 35°C. After
stirring for 1 hour, the mixture was gradually cooled to 26°C, stirred for 2 hours,
and filtered to get a white powder, which was washed with ice–cold DCM/EA (1:3, 600 mL)
and dried to constant weight to afford (R-cis)-10 (857.71 g, 41.6% yield, 100% de, and 99.08% purity) as a white powder. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.92–7.81 (m, 2H), 7.31–7.27 (m, 3H), 6.67 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 1H), 6.60 (s, 1H), 6.51 (d, J = 2.0 Hz, 1H), 6.45 (dd, J = 8.2, 2.0 Hz, 1H), 5.96 (s, 1H), 4.99–4.88 (m, 1H), 4.21–4.11 (m, 1H), 4.06–3.97
(m, 1H), 3.81 (d, J = 4.4 Hz, 7H), 3.69–3.55 (m, 5H), 3.43 (s, 3H), 3.21 (s, 4H), 3.11 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 3.01 (dd, J = 18.2, 6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.90 (dd, J = 13.4, 9.3 Hz, 1H), 1.45 (s, 9H). 13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 169.12, 149.32, 149.09, 148.36, 147.30, 146.81, 129.20, 127.97, 126.88, 125.91,
122.39, 121.63, 120.53, 113.27, 111.78, 111.17, 110.60, 82.54, 71.12, 58.77, 55.98,
55.94, 55.88, 55.65, 53.65, 46.79, 37.66, 28.79, 28.01, 23.37. HRMS (ESI-TOF) calcd.
for C28H40NO6
+ [M]+ 486.28501, found: 486.28605.
Preparation of Cisatracurium besylate (1)
To a solution of compound (R-cis)-10 (1.0 equiv., 310.7 mmol, 200 g) in DCM (400 mL, 2V) was added benzenesulfonic acid
(5.0 equiv., 1,553.5 mmol, 246 g). The reaction was stirred at 37°C for 4 hours to
completely consume (R-cis)-10, as monitored by HPLC.
The reaction temperature was raised to 40°C. To the mixture was added DCM (2.6 L,
13V), 4Å molecular sieve (1,000 g), and 1,5-pentanediol (0.5 equiv., 155.36 mmol,
16.2 g). The reaction was stirred at 40°C for 67 hours. When the total proportion
of 2 and 3 was controlled to be less than 10% (as monitored by HPLC), the mixture was gradually
cooled to room temperature, washed with H2O (3 L, 15 V; pH = 3 adjusting with benzenesulfonic acid) four times. The organic
phase was washed with H2O (3 L, 15 V) twice and concentrated under reduced pressure to give a residue, which
was dissolved in DCM (100 mL, 0.5 V). The residue solution was added dropwise to MTBE
(3 L, 15 V) at 0 to 5°C. After stirring for 4 hours, the crystals were filtered under
N2 protection, washed with ice–cold MTBE (200 mL), and dried at 30°C in a vacuum to
afford compound 1 (129.41 g, 67.0% yield, 98.71% purity) as white crystals. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.87–7.78 (m, 4H), 7.29 (m, 6H), 6.63 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 2H), 6.52 (s, 2H), 6.49–6.37 (m, 4H), 5.91 (s, 2H), 4.91 (dd, J = 9.5, 3.9 Hz, 2H), 4.16 (m, 6H), 4.00 (td, J = 13.2, 11.3, 5.7 Hz, 2H), 3.79 (m, 14H), 3.65–3.48 (m, 10H), 3.37 (m, 10H), 3.17
(m, 8 H), 2.95–2.82 (m, 4H), 1.68 (dq, J = 11.5, 6.4 Hz, 4H), 1.58–1.49 (m, 2H). 13C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3) δ 170.33, 149.17, 148.99, 148.26, 147.14, 146.62, 129.38, 128.04, 126.93, 125.83,
122.48, 121.66, 120.56, 113.26, 111.84, 111.15, 110.50, 70.79, 65.08, 58.74, 55.93,
55.88, 55.87, 55.58, 53.40, 46.55, 37.60, 27.73, 27.60, 23.27, 22.48. HRMS (ESI-TOF)
cald. for C53H72N2O12
2+ [M]2+ 928.5074, found: 464.25537.