Process for the preparation of 9-deazaguanine derivatives

1. A process for producing 9-substituted 9-deazaguanine compound of the formula:

wherein X is a member selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted aryl, wherein said aryl is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and naphthyl and said substituted aryl contains one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, benzyloxy, hydroxyl and trifluoromethyl; 5 and 6 member heterocyclic rings having one N, S, or O atom; alicyclic rings selected from the group consisting of cycloparaffins and cycloolefins having up to 9 carbon atoms; and groups represented by the formula:

R 5 is an optionally substituted cyclic group wherein said cyclic group is selected from the group consisting of aromatic, and alicyclic groups having five to nine atoms and optionally containing one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, N and S and wherein said substituted cyclic group is substituted by a member selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxyl, alkoxy, alkyl and trifluoromethyl; R 6 and R 7 are independently H or C 1-4 alkyl, a is 0-4, b is 0-6, c is 0-1; W is CN, CSNH 2 , PO(OH) 2 , COOH, SO 2 NH 2 , NH 2 , OH, CONHNH 2 , tetrazole, triazole or COR 8 , said tetrazole and triazole being attached through nitrogen and wherein said R 8 is C 1-4 alkyl, CF 3 —NH 2 , or OC 1-4 alkyl and V is O or NH; Q is a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen C 1-3 alkyl, CF 3 and phenyl; and which comprises:

1) reacting an aldehyde or ketone represented by the formula:

 wherein X and Q have the same meanings as defined in formula I with a C 1 -C 4 dialkylaminomalonate to produce an enamine;

2) reacting the enamine obtained from step 1 with a base wherein said base is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, sodium hydroxide, sodium amide, pyridine, triethylamine, 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]-undec-7-ene to produce a pyrrole represented by the formula:

 wherein X and Q are defined above and R 2 is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

3) reacting the pyrrole obtained from step 2 with a compound represented by the formula R 3 OC(O)N═C(Z)NHC(O)OR 3 wherein R 3 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl and Z is S C 1 -C 4 alkyl, SH, Cl or C 1 -C 4 alkoxy to provide a protected guanidine compound represented by the formula:

 or reacting the pyrrole obtained from step 2 with a derivative of carbamimidoic acid having the formula

 wherein R 10 is a member selected from the group consisting of phenyl and substituted phenyl and R 11 is a C 1 -C 4 alkoxy group, to provide a protected guanidine compound represented by the formula:

4) reacting the protected guanidine compound from step 3 with 1) trifluoracetic acid or 2) C 1 -C 4 alkoxide or alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide followed by neutralization with an acid to provide the desired compound of formula I.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said dialkylaminomalonate is diethylaminomalonate.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein step 1 is carried out in water or water and alcohol mixture.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein step 2 is carried out in the presence of a C 1 -C 4 alcohol mixture.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein said alcohol is methanol.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein step 3 is carried out in the presence of a metal salt.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein said protected guanidino compound is reacted with trifluoroacetic acid.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein said protected guanidino compound is reacted with a member selected from the group consisting C 1 -C 4 alkoxide, alkali metal hydroxide and alkaline earth metal hydroxide, followed by neutralization with an acid.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the reaction with said member is carried out in alcohol under reflux.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein step 3 is carried out employing a urea compound wherein Z is a C 1-4 alkoxy group.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein said urea compound is 1,3 dimethoxycarbonyl-O-methylisourea.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein step 3 is carried out employing a derivative of carbamimidoic acid.

13. The process of claim 12 wherein said derivative of carbamimidoic acid is N,N-dibenzoylcarbamimidoic acid, methyl ester.