New synthetic route to the important (S)-5-(1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidin-2-yl)-2-methylthiophene-3-carboxylic acid intermediate for the synthesis of a novel glucokinase activator

Abstract

To obtain an efficient and practical route to a novel glucokinase activator, we investigated a novel synthetic method for the preparation of its key intermediate (S)-5-(1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidin-2-yl)-2-methylthiophene-3-carboxylic acid through the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of a pyrroline derivative. The hydrogenation of this pyrroline derivative using the iridium (III)-prolinamide complex Cp*IrCl[(R)-PA] at atmospheric pressure provided an initial intermediate in approximately 50% ee. Further purification via recrystallization provided the desired key intermediate in an excellent enantiopurity, which was applicable to practical use.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation
• glucokinase
• practical synthesis
• thiophenyl-pyrrolidine scaffold

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. Masao Sakairi for his advice regarding our manuscript. We also thank Hamari Chemicals, Ltd. for their synthetic support.