Process for the preparation of substituted cycloserines

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

comprising

i. reacting a compound of formula (II) or a salt thereof

with a compound of formula (V)

in the presence of a suitable base to produce a compound of formula (VI)

and

ii. converting the compound of formula (VI) to a compound of formula (I) by treatment of the compound of formula (VI) with an aqueous base

wherein

R 1 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 1 -C 8 haloalkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R 11 , or aryl-C 1 -C 4 alkylene or aryl-C 1 -C 4 alkylene substituted by one to five R 11 ; and

each R 11 is independently C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy, cyano or halogen;

R 7 is hydroxy or halogen or OM where M is Na, K, Li.

2. A compound of formula (V)

wherein R 7 is is OM where M is Na, K, Li.

3. A compound of formula (VI)

wherein

R 1 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 1 -C 8 haloalkyl, C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl, aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R 11 , or aryl-C 1 -C 4 alkylene or aryl-C 1 -C 4 alkylene substituted by one to five R 11 ;

each R 11 is independently C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy, cyano or halogen;

or a salt or N-oxide thereof.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the process further comprises reacting the compound of formula (I) with a second compound, wherein the second compound comprises a carboxylic acid, acid halide, ester or thioester functional group, and the reaction comprises reacting the amine functional group of the compound of formula (I) with the carboxylic acid, acid halide, ester or thioester functional group of the second compound such that the compound of formula (I) is coupled to the second compound via an amide functional group, or wherein the second compound comprises a dicarbonate group, and the reaction comprises reacting the amine functional group of the compound of formula (I) with the dicarbonate group of the second compound, such that the compound of formula (I) is coupled to the second compound via a carbamate functional group.

5. The process according to claim 4 , wherein the second compound is a compound of formula (XII)

and the process results in a compound of formula (VIII)

wherein

X is a leaving group selected from halogen, C 1 -C 8 alkylsulfonyloxy, C 1 -C 8 haloalkylsulfonyloxy, C 1 -C 8 arylsulfonyloxy or C 1 -C 8 arylsulfonyloxy substituted by one to five R 11 , or a phosphonate ester, cyano, formyl, acetyl, C(O)CH═C(R 3 )R 4 , C(O)CH 2 C(OH)(R 3 )R 4 or group A

—B 1 —B 2 —B 3 — is —C═N—O—, —C═N—CH 2 —, —C═CH 2 —O— or —N—CH 2 —CH 2 —;

A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 are independently of one another C—H, C—R 5 , or nitrogen;

R 3 is C 1 -C 8 haloalkyl;

R 4 is aryl or aryl substituted by one to three R 6 , or R 4 is heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl substituted by one to three R 6 ;

each R 5 is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, C 1 -C 8 haloalkyl, C 2 -C 8 alkenyl, C 2 -C 8 haloalkenyl, C 2 -C 8 alkynyl, C 2 -C 8 haloalkynyl, C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, C 1 -C 8 haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 8 alkoxycarbonyl-, or two R 5 on adjacent carbon atoms together form a —CH═CH—CH═CH— bridge or a —N═CH—CH═CH— bridge;

each R 6 is independently halogen, cyano, nitro, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 1 -C 8 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 8 alkoxy, or C 1 -C 8 haloalkoxy;

R 8 is hydroxy, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, fluoro, chloro, bromo, or SR x wherein R x is H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, imidazole or pyrrole; and

each R 11 is independently C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy, cyano or halogen;

R 1 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 1 -C 8 haloalkyl, aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R 11 , or aryl-C 1 -C 4 alkylene or aryl-C 1 -C 4 alkylene substituted by one to five R 11 ; and

each R 11 is independently C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy, cyano or halogen;

or

the second compound is a compound of formula (XIII)

wherein and the process results in a compound of formula (IX)

wherein

R 1 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 1 -C 8 haloalkyl, aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R 11 , or aryl-C 1 -C 4 alkylene or aryl-C 1 -C 4 alkylene substituted by one to five R 11 ; and

R 9 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 8 alkyl or C 1 -C 8 haloalkyl and R 8 is as defined for compound of formula (XII);

each R 11 is independently C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy, cyano or halogen;

or

the second compound is a compound of formula (XIVa) or (XIVb)

and the process results in a compound of formula X

wherein

R 1 is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 1 -C 8 haloalkyl, aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R 11 , or aryl-C 1 -C 4 alkylene or aryl-C 1 -C 4 alkylene substituted by one to five R 11 ;

each R 10 is independently C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 1 -C 8 haloalkyl, aryl-C 1 -C 4 alkylene- or aryl-C 1 -C 4 alkylene-substituted by one to five R 11 ;

each R 11 is independently C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy, cyano or halogen.