IP Library Granted Patent US 10,053,426
Granted Patent B2
US 10,053,426 · App. 15/529,186 · Granted Aug 21, 2018

Process for the synthesis of metyrapone and alkylated metyrapone analogs

Inventors: Eric L. Williams (Zachary, LA); James D. Sunderhaus (Baton Rouge, LA); James J. Springer (Saugatuck, MI)
Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
C07D213/50B01J23/44B01J31/2404C07D403/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,053,426
App. No.
15/529,186
Granted
Aug 21, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Process for preparing metyrapone type compounds are generally described herein. In particular, one step process for preparing metyrapone type compounds are described herein. Such processes generally include an alpha-carbon arylation coupling reaction between 3-isobutyrylpyridine and 3-halopyridine compounds in the presence of a palladium catalyst and a phosphine ligand to form the metyrapone-type compounds.

Claims (45)

1. A process for the preparation of a compound having the following formula:

the process comprising the steps of:

1) preparing a reaction mixture from at least:

i) a halopyridine of the following structure:

ii) a substituted pyridine of the following structure:

iii) a palladium containing catalyst, if iv) does not comprise palladium;

iv) a phosphine or carbene ligand;

v) a Bronsted base; and

vi) a solvent;

2) heating the reaction mixture to one or more temperatures in the range of about 30° C. to about 110° C. such that the compound is formed;

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 , are each, independently, hydrogen or an alkyl group comprising in the range of one to four carbon atoms, R 5 and R 6 are each methyl groups, R 7 , R 8 , R 9 and R 10 are each hydrogen, and X is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, iodine, sulfonate, triflate, nonaflate, and a diazonium salt.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the phosphine ligand is selected from the group consisting of:

a) a trialkyl/aryl phosphine comprising substituents independently selected from the group consisting of tert-butyl-, cyclohexyl, and adamantyl-;

b) a trialkyl/aryl phosphine selected from the group consisting of dicyclohexylphosphino-2′,4′,6′-triisopropylbiphenyl (Xphos™), 2-di-tert-butylphosphino-2′,4′,6′-triisopropylbiphenyl (tBuXPhos™); (2-biphenyl)di-tert-butylphosphine (JohnPhos™); (2-biphenyl)dicyclohexylphosphine (CyJohnPhos™); 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′,6′-dimethoxybiphenyl (Sphos™); 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′,6′-diisopropoxybiphenyl (RuPhos™); 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′-(N,N-dimethylamino) biphenyl (DavePhos™); 2-di-tert-butylphosphino-2′-methylbiphenyl (tBuMePhos™); 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′-methylbiphenyl (MePhos™), tri tert-butylphosphine and tricyclohexylphosphine; and

c) a phosphine ligand selected from the group consisting of 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene (Xantphos), 9,9-Dimethyl-4,5-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)xanthene (t-Bu-Xantphos), 2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP), and 1,1′-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf), 1,2,3,4,5-Pentaphenyl-1′-(di-tert-butylphosphino)ferrocene (QPhos).

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the palladium catalyst is selected from the group consisting of palladium(II) acetate, bis(dibenzylideneacetone)palladium(0), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0), [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II), and any mixture thereof.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the Bronsted base is selected from the group consisting of lithium t-butoxide, sodium t-butoxide, potassium t-butoxide, lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide, sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide, potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide, lithium diisopropylamide, lithium dicyclohexylamide, cesium carbonate, potassium phosphate, and any mixture thereof.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane, dimethoxyethane, toluene; and any mixture thereof.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the carbene ligand is selected from the group consisting of 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (SIPr—HBF 4 ); 1,3-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolinium chloride; 1,3-dimesitylimidazolidinium chloride, 4,5-dihydro-1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-1H-imidazolium chloride; 1,3-bis(tricyclo[3.3.1.1 3,7 ]dec-1-yl)-1H-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate; 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolinium chloride; (1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolidene) (3-chloropyridyl) palladium(II) dichloride; (PEPPSI™-SIPr catalyst); [1,3-bis(2,6-Diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene](3-chloropyridyl)palladium(II); and dichloride (PEPPSI™-IPr catalyst).

7. The process of claim 1 wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are each hydrogen.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the substituted pyridine is 3-isobutyrylpyridine.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the halopyridine is selected from the group consisting of chloropyridine, bromopyridine, and iodopyridine.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein the palladium containing catalyst is selected from the group consisting of (dibenzylideneacetone)palladium(0), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0), [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II), and any mixture thereof.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein the solvent is tetrahydrofuran, toluene, or any mixture thereof.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein the palladium containing catalyst and phosphine ligand have a molar ratio in the range of from 1 to 5 moles of ligand per mole of palladium containing catalyst.

13. The process of claim 1 wherein the heating of the reaction mixture in 2) is to one or more temperatures in the range of about 80° C. to about 110° C. for a time in the range of 2 hours to 4 hours.

14. The process of claim 1 further comprising quenching the reaction mixture with a reagent that removes or inactivates the Bronsted base.

15. A process for the preparation of a compound having the following formula:

the process comprising the steps of:

1) preparing a reaction mixture from at least:

i) a halopyridine selected from the group consisting of chloropyridine, bromopyridine, and iodopyridine;

ii) 3-isobutyrylpyridine

iii) a palladium containing catalyst;

iv) a phosphine or carbene ligand;

v) a Bronsted base; and

vi) a solvent;

2) heating the reaction mixture to one or more temperatures in the range of about 30° C. to about 110° C. such that the compound is formed;

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 and R 10 are each hydrogen, R 5 and R 6 are each methyl groups, and X is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, iodine, sulfonate, triflate, nonaflate and a diazonium salt.

16. The process of claim 15 , wherein the phosphine ligand is selected from the group consisting of:

a) a trialkyl/aryl phosphine comprising substituents independently selected from the group consisting of tert-butyl-, cyclohexyl, and adamantyl-;

b) a trialkyl/aryl phosphine selected from the group consisting of dicyclohexylphosphino-2′,4′,6′-triisopropylbiphenyl (Xphos™), 2-di-tert-butylphosphino-2′,4′,6′-triisopropylbiphenyl (tBuXPhos™); (2-biphenyl)di-tert-butylphosphine (JohnPhos™); (2-biphenyl)dicyclohexylphosphine (CyJohnPhos™); 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′,6′-dimethoxybiphenyl (Sphos™); 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′,6′-diisopropoxybiphenyl (RuPhos™); 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′-(N,N-dimethylamino)biphenyl (DavePhos™); 2-di-tert-butylphosphino-2′-methylbiphenyl (tBuMePhos™); 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′-methylbiphenyl (MePhos™), tri-tert-butylphosphine and tricyclohexylphosphine; and

c) a phosphine ligand selected from the group consisting of 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene (Xantphos), 9,9-Dimethyl-4,5-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)xanthene (t-Bu-Xantphos), 2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP), and 1,1′-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf), 1,2,3,4,5-Pentaphenyl-1′-(di-tert-butylphosphino)ferrocene (QPhos).

17. The process of claim 15 wherein the Bronsted base is selected from the group consisting of lithium t-butoxide, sodium t-butoxide, potassium t-butoxide, lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide, sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide, potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide, lithium diisopropylamide, lithium dicyclohexylamide, cesium carbonate, potassium phosphate, and any mixture thereof.

18. The process of claim 15 , wherein the carbene ligand is selected from the group consisting of 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (SIPr—HBF 4 ); 1,3-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolinium chloride; 1,3-dimesitylimidazolidinium chloride, 4,5-dihydro-1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-1H-imidazolium chloride; 1,3-bis(tricyclo[3.3.1.1 3,7 ]dec-1-yl)-1H-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate; 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolinium chloride; (1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolidene) (3-chloropyridyl) palladium(II) dichloride; (PEPPSI™-SIPr catalyst); [1,3-bis(2,6-Diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene](3-chloropyridyl)palladium(II); and dichloride (PEPPSI™-IPr catalyst).

19. The process of claim 15 wherein the palladium containing catalyst is selected from the group consisting of (dibenzylideneacetone)palladium(0), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0), [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II), and any mixture thereof.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST SUPPLEMENT NO. 3 Recorded Feb 2, 2026
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.; ADVANCED REFINING TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 074612/0540 →
NOTES SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2026
From: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.; ADVANCED REFINING TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074532/0229 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 23, 2026
From: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.; ADVANCED REFINING TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 074503/0861 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 3 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 23, 2026
From: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.; ADVANCED REFINING TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 074503/0889 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 3 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 23, 2026
From: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.; ADVANCED REFINING TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 074503/0898 →
SECURITY INTEREST (SUPPLEMENTAL NO. 3) Recorded Jan 22, 2026
From: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.; ADVANCED REFINING TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074475/0514 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 16, 2021
From: ALBEMARLE CORPORATION
To: W.R. GRACE & CO.-CONN
Reel/Frame 057506/0960 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2021
From: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056413/0277 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2018
From: WILLIAMS, ERIC L.; SUNDERHAUS, JAMES D.; SPRINGER, JAMES J.
To: ALBEMARLE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 046427/0010 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62096192 · Dec 23, 2014
Related Publication 20170334854A1 · Nov 23, 2017