Process for the syntheses of triazoles

1. A process for preparing a compound (I) having the formula

comprising the steps of:

(Step 1) combining a compound (II) having the formula:

with a compound (III) having the formula:

X—N 3   Compound (III)

in a solvent, optionally in the presence of a copper catalyst, to form a compound (IV) having the formula:

(Step 2) combining a compound (IV) with a compound (V) having the formula:

in a solvent in the presence of a reducing agent to form a compound (VI) having the formula:

(Step 3) combining compound (VI) with a compound (VII) having the formula:

in a solvent in the presence of a base and a palladium catalyst to form a compound (VIII) having the formula:

(Step 4) heating a compound (VIII), in a solvent in the presence of an acid, followed by the addition of a neutralizing agent to form a compound (I);

wherein:

A is selected from: phenyl, pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, and pyridazinyl;

B is selected from: phenyl, pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, and pyridazinyl;

Het-CH 2 —R 3 is selected from:

Q is a borane having the formula —BY 2 , wherein:

Y, at each occurrence, independently is selected from:

a) —OH, b) —OC 1-6 alkyl, c) —OC 2-6 alkenyl, d) —OC 2-6 alkynyl, e) —OC 1-14 saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic carbocycle, f) C 1-6 alkyl, g) C 2-6 alkenyl, h) C 2-6 alkynyl, and i) C 1-14 saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic carbocycle,

wherein any of b)-i) optionally is substituted with one or more halogens;

alternatively, two Y groups taken together comprise a chemical moiety selected from: a) —OC(R 4 )(R 4 )C(R 4 )(R 4 )O—, and b) —OC(R 4 )(R 4 )CH 2 C(R 4 )(R 4 )O—;

alternatively, Q is a BF 3 alkali metal salt, a BF 3 ammonium salt, a BF 3 tetralkyl ammonium salt, a BF 3 phosphate salt, or 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane;

X is selected from:

a) —CH 2 -phenyl, b) —SO-phenyl, c) —SO 2 -phenyl, d) —CH 2 —O-phenyl, e) —CH 2 —O—CH 2 -phenyl, f) —CH 2 —O—R 21 , g) —Si—(R 21 ) 3 , and h) —P(O)—(W) 2 ,

wherein each W is independently C 1-6 alkyl or phenyl; each R 21 is independently C 1-6 alkyl; each phenyl in a), b), c), d), e), or h) is optionally substituted with one or more R 12 , wherein R 12 is selected from the group consisting of a) F, b) Cl, c) Br, d) I, e) —CF 3 , f) —OR 22 , g) —CN, h) —NO 2 , i) —NR 22 R 22 , j) —C(O)R 22 , k) —C(O)OR 22 , l) —OC(O)R 22 , m) —C(O)NR 22 R 22 , n) —NR 22 C(O)R 22 , o) —OC(O)NR 22 R 22 , p) —NR 22 C(O)OR 22 , q) —NR 22 C(O)NR 22 R 22 , r) —C(S)R 22 s) —C(S)OR 22 , t) —OC(S)R 22 , u) —C(S)NR 22 R 22 , v) —NR 22 C(S)R 22 , w) —OC(S)NR 22 R 22 , x) —NR 22 C(S)OR 22 , y) —NR 22 C(S)NR 22 R 22 , z) —C(NR 22 )R 22 , aa) —C(NR 22 )OR 22 , bb) —OC(NR 22 )R 22 , cc) —C(NR 22 )NR 22 R 22 , dd) —NR 22 C(NR 22 )R 22 , ee) —OC(NR 22 )NR 22 R 22 , ff) —NR 22 C(NR 22 )OR 22 , gg) —NR 22 C(NR 22 )NR 22 R 22 , hh) —S(O) p R 22 , ii) —SO 2 NR 22 R 22 and jj) R 22 , wherein each R 22 is independently, H or C 1-6 alkyl;

Z is selected from: a) I, b) Br, c) Cl, d) R 9 OSO 3 -, and e) N 2 BF 4 ;

R 1 , at each occurrence, independently is selected from:

a) F, b) Cl, c) Br, d) I, e) —CF 3 , f) —OR 4 , g) —CN, h) —NO 2 , i) —NR 4 R 4 , j) —C(O)R 4 , k) —C(O)OR 4 , l) —OC(O)R 4 , m) —C(O)NR 4 R 4 , n) —NR 4 C(O)R 4 , o) —OC(O)NR 4 R 4 , p) —NR 4 C(O)OR 4 , q) —NR 4 C(O)NR 4 R 4 , r) —C(S)R 4 , s) —C(S)OR 4 , t) —OC(S)R 4 , u) —C(S)NR 4 R 4 , v) —NR 4 C(S)R 4 , w) —OC(S)NR 4 R 4 , x) —NR 4 C(S)OR 4 , y) —NR 4 C(S)NR 4 R 4 , z) —C(NR 4 )R 4 , aa) —C(NR 4 )OR 4 , bb) —OC(NR 4 )R 4 , cc) —C(NR 4 )NR 4 R 4 , dd) —NR 4 C(NR 4 )R 4 , ee) —OC(NR 4 )NR 4 R 4 , ff) —NR 4 C(NR 4 )OR 4 , gg) —NR 4 C(NR 4 )NR 4 R 4 , hh) —S(O) p R 4 , ii) —SO 2 NR 4 R 4 , and jj) R 4 ;

R 2 , at each occurrence, independently is selected from:

a) F, b) Cl, c) Br, d) I, e) —CF 3 , f) —OR 4 , g) —CN, h) —NO 2 , i) —NR 4 R 4 , j) —C(O)R 4 , k) —C(O)OR 4 , l) —OC(O)R 4 , m) —C(O)NR 4 R 4 , n) —NR 4 C(O)R 4 , o) —OC(O)NR 4 R 4 , p) —NR 4 C(O)OR 4 , q) —NR 4 C(O)NR 4 R 4 , r) —C(S)R 4 , s) —C(S)OR 4 , t) —OC(S)R 4 , u) —C(S)NR 4 R 4 , v) —NR 4 C(S)R 4 , w) —OC(S)NR 4 R 4 , x) —NR 4 C(S)OR 4 , y) —NR 4 C(S)NR 4 R 4 , z) —C(NR 4 )R 4 , aa) —C(NR 4 )OR 4 , bb) —OC(NR 4 )R 4 , cc) —C(NR 4 )NR 4 R 4 , dd) —NR 4 C(NR 4 )R 4 , ee) —OC(NR 4 )NR 4 R 4 , ff) —NR 4 C(NR 4 )OR 4 , gg) —NR 4 C(NR 4 )NR 4 R 4 , hh) —S(O) p R 4 , ii) —SO 2 NR 4 R 4 , and jj) R 4 ;

R 3 is selected from:

a) —OR 4 , b) —NR 4 R 4 , c) —C(O)R 4 , d) —C(O)OR 4 , e) —OC(O)R 4 , f) —C(O)NR 4 R 4 , g) —NR 4 C(O)R 4 , h) —OC(O)NR 4 R 4 , i) —NR 4 C(O)OR 4 , j) —NR 4 C(O)NR 4 R 4 , k) —C(S)R 4 , l) —C(S)OR 4 , m) —OC(S)R 4 , n) —C(S)NR 4 R 4 , o) —NR 4 C(S)R 4 , p) —OC(S)NR 4 R 4 , q) —NR 4 C(S)OR 4 , r) —NR 4 C(S)NR 4 R 4 , s) —C(NR 4 )R 4 , t) —C(NR 4 )OR 4 , u) —OC(NR 4 )R 4 , v) —C(NR 4 )NR 4 R 4 , w) —NR 4 C(NR 4 )R 4 , x) —OC(NR 4 )NR 4 R 4 , y) —NR 4 C(NR 4 )OR 4 , z) —NR 4 C(NR 4 )NR 4 R 4 , aa) —S(O) p R 4 , bb) —SO 2 NR 4 R 4 , and cc) R 4 ;

R 4 , at each occurrence, independently is selected from:

a) H, b) —OR 6 , c) C 1-6 alkyl, d) C 2-6 alkenyl, e) C 2-6 alkynyl, f) C 3-14 saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic carbocycle, g) 3-14 membered saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic heterocycle comprising one or more heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, h) —C(O)—C 1-6 alkyl, i) —C(O)—C 2-6 alkenyl, j) —C(O)—C 2-6 alkynyl, k) —C(O)—[C 3-14 saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic carbocycle], l) —C(O)-[3-14 membered saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic heterocycle comprising one or more heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur], m) —C(O)O —C 1-6 alkyl, n) —C(O)O—C 2-6 alkenyl, o) —C(O)O—C 2-6 alkynyl, p) —C(O)O—C 3-14 saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic carbocycle, and q) —C(O)O-3-14 membered saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic heterocycle comprising one or more heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur,

wherein any of c)-q) optionally is substituted with one or more R 5 groups;

R 5 , at each occurrence, is independently selected from:

a) F, b) Cl, c) Br, d) I, e) ═O, f) ═S, g) ═NR 6 , h) ═NOR 6 , i)═N—NR 6 R 6 , j) —CF 3 , k) —OR 6 , l) —CN, m) —NO 2 , n) —NR 6 R 6 , o) —C(O)R 6 , p) —C(O)OR 6 , q) —OC(O)R 6 , r) —C(O)NR 6 R 6 , s) —NR 6 C(O)R 6 , t) —OC(O)NR 6 R 6 , u) —NR 6 C(O)OR 6 , v) —NR 6 C(O)NR 6 R 6 , w) —C(S)R 6 , x) —C(S)OR 6 , y) —OC(S)R 6 , z) —C(S)NR 6 R 6 , aa) —NR 6 C(S)R 6 , bb) —OC(S)NR 6 R 6 , cc) —NR 6 C(S)OR 6 , dd) —NR 6 C(S)NR 6 R 6 , ee) —C(NR 6 )R 6 , ff) —C(NR 6 )OR 6 , gg) —OC(NR 6 )R 6 , hh) —C(NR 6 )NR 6 R 6 , ii) —NR 6 C(NR 6 )R 6 , jj) —OC(NR 6 )NR 6 R 6 , kk) —NR 6 C(NR 6 )OR 6 , ll) —NR 6 C(NR 6 )NR 6 R 6 , m) —S(O) p R 6 , m) —SO 2 NR 6 R 6 , oo) —N 3 , pp) —Si(CH 3 ) 3 , qq) —O—Si(CH 3 ) 3 , m) —Si(C 2 H 5 ) 2 CH 3 , ss) —O—Si(C 2 Hs) 2 CH 3 , and tt) R 6 ;

R 6 , at each occurrence, independently is selected from:

a) H, b) —OR 8 , c) C 1-6 alkyl, d) C 2-6 alkenyl, e) C 2-6 alkynyl, f) C 3-14 saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic carbocycle, g) 3-14 membered saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic heterocycle comprising one or more heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, h) —C(O)—C 1-6 alkyl, i) —C(O)—C 2-6 alkenyl, j) —C(O)—C 2-6 alkynyl, k) —C(O)—C 3-14 saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic carbocycle, l) —C(±)-3-14 membered saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic heterocycle comprising one or more heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, m) —C(O)O—C 1-6 alkyl, n) —C(O)O—C 2-6 alkenyl, o) —C(O)O—C 2-6 alkynyl, p) —C(O)O—C 3-14 saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic carbocycle, and q) —C(O)O-3-14 membered saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic heterocycle comprising one or more heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur,

wherein any of c)-q) optionally is substituted with one or more R 7 groups;

R 7 , at each occurrence, independently is selected from:

a) F, b) Cl, c) Br, d) I, e) ═O, f) ═S, g) ═NR 8 , h) ═NOR 8 , i) ═N—NR 8 R 8 , j) —CF 3 , k) —OR 8 , l) —CN, m) —NO 2 , n) —NR 8 R 8 , o) —C(O)R 8 , p) —C(O)OR 8 , q) —OC(O)R 8 , r) —C(O)NR 8 R 8 , s) —NR 8 C(O)R 8 , t) —OC(O)NR 8 R 8 , u) —NR C(O)OR 8 , v) —NR 8 C(O)NR 8 R 8 , w) —C(S)R 8 , x) —C(S)OR 8 , y) —OC(S)R 8 , z) —C(S)NR 8 R 8 , aa) —NR C(S)R 8 , bb) —OC(S)NR 8 R 8 , cc) —NR 8 C(S)OR 8 , dd) —NR 8 C(S)NR 8 R 8 , ee) —C(NR 8 )R 8 , ff) —C(NR 8 )OR 8 , gg) —OC(NR 8 )R 8 , hh) —C(NR 8 )NR 8 R 8 , ii) —NR C(NR 8 )R 8 , jj) —OC(NR 8 )NR 8 R 8 , kk) —NR C(NR 8 )OR 8 , ll) —NR C(NR 8 )NR 8 R 8 , m) —S(O) p R 8 , m) —SO 2 NR 8 R 8 , oo) C 1-6 alkyl, pp) C 2-6 alkenyl, qq) C 2-6 alkynyl, m) C 3-14 saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic carbocycle, and ss) 3-14 membered saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic heterocycle comprising one or more heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur,

wherein any of oo)-ss) optionally is substituted with one or more moieties selected from R 8 , F, Cl, Br, I, —CF 3 , —OR 8 , —SR 8 , —CN, —NO 2 , —NR 8 R 8 , —C(O)R 8 , —C(O)OR 8 , —OC(O)R 8 , —C(O)NR 8 R 8 , —NR 8 C(O)R 8 , —OC(O)NR 8 R 8 , —NR 8 C(O)OR 8 , —NR C(O)NR 8 R 8 , —C(S)R 8 , —C(S)OR 8 , —OC(S)R 8 , —C(S)NR 8 R 8 , —NR 8 C(S)R 8 , —OC(S)NR 8 R 8 , —NR 8 C(S)OR, —NR 8 C(S)NR 8 R 8 , —C(NR 8 )R 8 , —C(NR 8 )OR 8 , —OC(NR 8 )R 8 , —C(NR 8 )NR 8 R 8 , —NR 8 C(NR 8 )R 8 , —OC(NR 8 )NR 8 R 8 , —NR 8 C(NR 8 )OR 8 , —NR 8 C(NR)NR 8 R 8 , —SO 2 NR 8 R 8 , and —S(O) p R S ;

R 8 , at each occurrence, independently is selected from:

a) H, b) an amine protecting group, c) C 1-6 alkyl, d) C 2-6 alkenyl, e) C 2-6 alkynyl, f) C 3-14 saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic carbocycle, g) 3-14 membered saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic heterocycle comprising one or more heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, h) —C(O)—C 1-6 alkyl, i) —C(O)—C 2-6 alkenyl, j) —C(O)—C 2-6 alkynyl, k) —C(O)—C 3-14 saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic carbocycle, l) —C(O)-3-14 membered saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic heterocycle comprising one or more heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, m) —C(O)O—C 1-6 alkyl, n) —C(O)O—C 2-6 alkenyl, o) —C(O)O—C 2-6 alkynyl, p) —C(O)O—C 3-14 saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic carbocycle, and q) —C(O)O-3-14 membered saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic heterocycle comprising one or more heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur,

wherein any of c)-q) optionally is substituted with one or more moieties selected from F, Cl, Br, I, —CF 3 , —OH, —OC 1-6 alkyl, —SH, —SC 1-6 alkyl, —CN, —NO 2 , —NH 2 , —NHC 1-6 alkyl, —N(C 1-6 alkyl) 2 , —C(O)C 1-6 alkyl, —C(O)OC 1-6 alkyl, —C(O)NH 2 , —C(O)NHC 1-6 alkyl, —C(O)N(C 1-6 alkyl) 2 , —NHC(O)C 1-6 alkyl, —SO 2 NH 2 —, —SO 2 NHC 1-6 alkyl, —SO 2 N(C 1-6 alkyl) 2 , and —S(O) p C 1-6 alkyl;

R 9 is selected from: a) C 1-6 alkyl, b) phenyl, and c) toluoyl, wherein any of a)-c) optionally is substituted with one or more moieties selected from F, Cl, Br, and I;

R 10 is selected from H and C 1-8 alkyl;

R 11 is selected from H and C 1-8 alkyl;

m is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;

n is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;

p, at each occurrence, independently is 0, 1, or 2;

s is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6; and

t is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6,

wherein —(CH 2 ) s — and —(CH 2 ) t , other than when t is 0, are optionally substituted on any carbon atom thereof by one or more moieties selected from a) C 1-6 alkyl, b) C 1-6 alkenyl, c) phenyl, d) hydroxyl, e) C 1-6 alkoxy, f) F, g) Cl, h) Br, i) I, j) ═O, and k) benzyl.

2. The process according to claim 1 further comprising (Step 5) combining compound (I) with an acid to form a salt thereof.

3. The process of claim 1 for preparing a compound (I) having the formula

comprising the step of (Step 4) heating a compound (VIII) having the formula:

in a solvent in the presence of an acid, followed by the addition of a neutralizing agent to form a compound (I).

4. The process of claim 1 for preparing a compound (I) having the formula:

comprising the steps of:

(Step 4) heating a compound (VIII) having the formula:

in a solvent in the presence of an acid, followed by the addition of a neutralizing agent to form a compound (I); and

(Step 5) combining a compound (I) with an acid to form a salt thereof.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein

A is selected from phenyl and pyridyl;

B is selected from phenyl and pyridyl;

m is 0, 1, or 2; and

n is 0, 1, or 2.

6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein

A is selected from phenyl and pyridyl;

B is phenyl;

m is 0; and

n is 0, 1, or 2.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein R 3 is selected from triazole, tetrazole, oxazole, and isoxazole.

8. The process according to claim 1 wherein X is selected from a) para-methoxybenzyl, b) para-toluenesulfonyl, c) trimethylsilyl, and d) diphenylphosphoryl.

9. The process according to claim 1 wherein X is para-methoxybenzyl.

10. The process according to claim 1 wherein the solvent of (Step 1) is selected from toluene, dimethylformamide, dioxane, and tetrahydrofuran.

11. The process according to claim 1 wherein (Step 1) is carried out at a temperature between about 60° C. and about 130° C.

12. The process according to claim 1 wherein (Step 1) is carried out in the presence of a copper catalyst at a temperature of about 25° C.

13. The process according to claim 1 wherein Het-CH 2 -R 3 is:

14. The process according to claim 1 wherein Het-CH 2 -R 3 is selected from:

15. The process according to claim 1 wherein the reducing agent of (Step 2) is a boron reducing agent or a combination of a palladium catalyst and hydrogen.

16. The process according to claim 1 wherein said solvent of (Step 2) is selected from the group consisting a) methanol, b) ethanol, c) propanol, d) isopropanol, e) butanol, f) isobutanol, g) secondary butanol, h) tertiary butanol, i) dichloromethane, j) 1,1,-dichloroethane, k) tetrahydrofuran, and l) dimethylformamide and mixtures thereof.

17. The process according to claim 1 wherein the base of (Step 3) is selected from alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal fluorides, trialkyl amines, and mixtures thereof.

18. The process according to claim 17 , wherein the ratio of equivalents of base of (Step 3) to equivalents of compound (VI) is about 3:1.

19. The process according to claim 1 wherein the palladium catalyst of (Step 3) is a ligand coordinated palladium (0) catalyst.

20. The process according to claim 19 , wherein in (Step 3) the ratio of the equivalents of the coordinated palladium (0) catalyst to the equivalents of compound (VI) is about 1:20.