-(Substituted carbamoyl)-β-aryl- and heteroaryl-β-oxopropionitriles of formula
enol ethers thereof and salts thereof, as well as pharmaceutical preparations containing same and methods of preparing and using these compounds are disclosed. Said compounds represent novel antiinflammatory and antirheumatic agents. Their property to interfere with both the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathway of the arachidonic fatty acid bioconversion to inflammatory mediators make them valuable therapeutics. These properties render the mentioned substituted carbamoyl-β-oxopropionitriles useful for the treatment of arthritic and rheumatic diseases and other inflammatory conditions in mammals.
A simple catalyst of Ni(OAc)2 and P(t-Bu)3 enables selective C-alkylation of thioacetamides and primary acetamide with alcohols for the first time. Monoalkylation of thioamides, amides and t-butyl esters occurs in excellent yields (>95%). Mechanistic studies reveal that the reaction proceeds via a hydrogen autotransfer pathway.