Described herein is an efficient asymmetric synthesis of the potent antiarrhthymia agent MK-0499. The route is convergent and is highlighted by two stereoselective reactions. A ruthenium-catalyzed, enantioselective hydrogenation of an enamide was developed for the preparation of the key amine intermediate. Oxazaborolidine-mediated ketone reduction was utilized to establish the alcohol stereochemistry. Optimization of this chemistry led to an IPA modified reduction method which provides enhanced stereoselectivity.
Described herein is an efficient asymmetric synthesis of the potent antiarrhthymia agent MK-0499. The route is convergent and is highlighted by two stereoselective reactions. A ruthenium-catalyzed, enantioselective hydrogenation of an enamide was developed for the preparation of the key amine intermediate. Oxazaborolidine-mediated ketone reduction was utilized to establish the alcohol stereochemistry. Optimization of this chemistry led to an IPA modified reduction method which provides enhanced stereoselectivity.