Process for the preparation of compounds useful as inhibitors of SGLT

1. A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I)

wherein Ring A and Ring B are one of the followings:

(1) Ring A is an optionally substituted unsaturated monocyclic heterocyclic ring, and Ring B is an optionally substituted unsaturated monocyclic heterocyclic ring, an optionally substituted unsaturated fused heterobicyclic ring, or an optionally substituted benzene ring; or

(2) Ring A is an optionally substituted benzene ring, and Ring B is an optionally substituted unsaturated monocyclic heterocyclic ring, or an optionally substituted unsaturated fused heterobicyclic ring wherein Y is linked to the heterocyclic ring of the fused heterobicyclic ring; or

(3) Ring A is an optionally substituted unsaturated fused heterobicyclic ring, wherein the sugar moiety X-(sugar) and the moiety -Y-(Ring B) are both on the same heterocyclic ring of the fused heterobicyclic ring, and Ring B is an optionally substituted unsaturated monocyclic heterocyclic ring, an optionally substituted unsaturated fused heterobicyclic ring, or an optionally substituted benzene ring;

X is a carbon atom;

Y is —(CH 2 ) n —; wherein n is 1 or 2;

provided that in Ring A, X is part of an unsaturated bond;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a prodrug thereof;

comprising

reacting a compound of formula (V) with a compound of formula (VI-S), in the presence of an alkyl lithium, wherein the alkyl lithium is selected from the group consisting of trimethylsilylmethyl lithium, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl lithium and triethylsilylmethyl lithium; in an organic solvent, at a temperature in the range of from about 0° C. to about −78° C.; to yield the corresponding compound of formula (VII);

and wherein the alkyl lithium is added to a mixture of the compound of formula (V) and the compound of formula (VI-S);

reacting the compound of formula (VII) with BF 3 OEt 2 , in the presence of a trialkylsilane, in an organic solvent, to yield the corresponding compound of formula (VIII);

reacting the compound of formula (VIII) with acetic anhydride or acetyl chloride, in the presence of an organic base, neat or in an organic solvent, to yield the corresponding compound of formula (IX); and

de-protecting the compound of formula (IX), to yield the corresponding compound of formula (I).

2. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the compound of formula (VI-S) is present in an amount in the range of from about 1.0 to about 1.25 molar equivalents relative to the moles of the compound of formula (V).

3. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the alkyl lithium is (trimethylsilyl)methyl lithium and wherein the alkyl lithium is present in an amount in the range of from about 2.0 to about 2.5 molar equivalents relative to the moles of the compound of formula (V).

4. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the alkyl lithium is added to a mixture of the compound of formula (V) and the compound of formula (VI-S) in the organic solvent.

5. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the BF 3 OEt 2 is present in an amount in the range of from about 2.0 to about 6.0 molar equivalents relative to the moles of the compound of formula (VII) and wherein the trialkylsilane is Et 3 SiH and is present in an amount in the range of from about 2.0 to about 6.0 molar equivalents relative to the moles of the compound of formula (VII).

6. A process as in claim 5 , wherein the molar ratio of BF 3 OEt 2 : Et 3 SiH is about 1:1.

7. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the compound of formula (VIII) is reacted with acetic anhydride and wherein the acetic anhydride is present in an amount in the range of from about 4.5 to about 5.0 molar equivalents relative to the moles of the compound of formula (VII).

8. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the organic base is NMM.

9. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the compound of formula (VIII) is reacted with acetic anhydride in the presence of a catalytic amount of DMAP.

10. A process as in claim 1 , wherein the compound of formula (IX) is de-protected by reacting with a base.

11. A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I-S)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a prodrug thereof;

comprising

reacting a compound of formula (V-S), with a compound of formula (VI-S),in the presence of an alkyl lithium, wherein the alkyl lithium is selected from the group consisting of trimethylsilylmethyl lithium, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl lithium and triethylsilylmethyl lithium; in an organic solvent, at a temperature in the range of from about 0° C. to about −78° C., to yield the corresponding compound of formula (VII-S);

and wherein the alkyl lithium is added to a mixture of the compound of formula (V-S) and the compound of formula (VI-S);

reacting the compound of formula (VII-S) with BF 3 OEt 2 , in the presence of a trialkylsilane, in an organic solvent, to yield the corresponding compound of formula (VIII-S);

reacting the compound of formula (VIII-S) with acetic anhydride or acetyl chloride, in the presence of an organic base, neat or in an organic solvent, to yield the corresponding compound of formula (IX-S); and

de-protecting the compound of formula (IX-S) to yield the corresponding compound of formula (I-S).

12. A process as in claim 11 , wherein the compound of formula (VI-S) is present in an amount in the range of from about 1.0 to about 1.25 molar equivalents relative to the moles of the compound of formula (V-S).

13. A process as in claim 11 , wherein the alkyl lithium is (trimethylsilyl)methyl lithium and wherein the alkyl lithium is present in an amount in the range of form about 2.0 to about 2.5 molar equivalents relative to the moles of the compound of formula (V-S).

14. A process as in claim 11 , wherein the alkyl lithium is added to a mixture of the compound of formula (V-S) and the compound of formula (VI-S) in the organic solvent.

15. A process as in claim 11 , wherein the BF 3 OEt 2 is present in an amount in the range of from about 2.0 to about 6.0 molar equivalents relative to the moles of the compound of formula (VII-S)and wherein the trialkylsilane is Et 3 SiH and is present in an amount in the range of from about 2.0 to about 6.0 molar equivalents relative to the moles of the compound of formula (VII-S).

16. A process as in claim 15 , wherein the molar ratio of BF 3 OEt 2 : Et 3 SiH is about 1:1.

17. A process as in claim 11 , wherein the compound of formula (VIII-S) is reacted with acetic anhydride and wherein the acetic anhydride is present in an amount in the range of from about 4.5 to about 5.0 molar equivalents relative to the moles of the compound of formula (VIII-S).

18. A process as in claim 11 , wherein the organic base is NMM.

19. A process as in claim 11 , wherein the compound of formula (VIII-S) is reacted with acetic anhydride in the presence of a catalytic amount of DMAP.

20. A process as in claim 11 , wherein the compound of formula (IX-S) is further slurried in methanol and filtered.

21. A process as in claim 11 , wherein the compound of formula (IX-S) is de-protected by reacting with a base.

22. A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I-K)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;

comprising

reacting a compound of formula (V-K), with a compound of formula (VI-S), in the presence of an alkyl lithium, wherein the alkyl lithium is selected from the group consisting of trimethylsilylmethyl lithium, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl lithium and triethylsilylmethyl lithium; in an organic solvent, at a temperature in the range of from about 0° C. to about −78° C., to yield the corresponding compound of formula (VII-K);

and wherein the alkyl lithium is added to a mixture of the compound of formula (V-K) and the compound of formula (VI-S);

de-protecting the compound of formula (VII-K) to yield the corresponding compound of formula (X-K);

reacting the compound of formula (X-K) with BF 3 OEt 2 , in the presence of a trialkylsilane, in an organic solvent, to yield the corresponding compound of formula (VIII-K);

reacting the compound of formula (VIII-K) with acetic anhydride or acetyl chloride, in the presence of an organic base, neat or in an organic solvent, to yield the corresponding compound of formula (IX-K); and

de-protecting the compound of formula (IX-K) to yield the corresponding compound of formula (I-K).

23. A process as in claim 22 , wherein the compound of formula (VI-S) is present in an amount in the range of from about 1.0 to about 1.25 molar equivalents relative to the moles of the compound of formula (V-K).

24. A process as in claim 22 , wherein the alkyl lithium is (trimethylsilyl)methyl lithium and wherein the alkyl lithium is present in an amount in the range of form about 2.0 to about 2.5 molar equivalents relative to the moles of the compound of formula (V-K).

25. A process as in claim 22 , wherein the alkyl lithium is added to a mixture of the compound of formula (V-K) and the compound of formula (VI-S) in the organic solvent.

26. A process as in claim 22 , wherein the BF 3 OEt 2 is present in an amount in the range of from about 2.0 to about 6.0 molar equivalents relative to the moles of the compound of formula (VII-K) and wherein the trialkylsilane is Et 3 SiH and is present in an amount in the range of from about 2.0 to about 6.0 molar equivalents relative to the moles of the compound of formula (VII-K).

27. A process as in claim 26 , wherein the molar ratio of BF 3 OEt 2 : Et 3 SiH is about 1:1.

28. A process as in claim 22 , wherein the compound of formula (VIII-K) is reacted with acetic anhydride and wherein the acetic anhydride is present in an amount in the range of from about 4.5 to about 5.0 molar equivalents relative to the moles of the compound of formula (VIII-K).

29. A process as in claim 22 , wherein the organic base is NMM.

30. A process as in claim 22 , wherein the compound of formula (VIII-K) is reacted with acetic anhydride in the presence of a catalytic amount of DMAP.

31. A process as in claim 22 , wherein the compound of formula (IX-K) is de-protected by reacting with a base.