Promotion of a Ti-Mediated Mannich Reaction by a Proton Source

Low temperature NMR studies revealed that a diastereoselective Mannich reaction between a phenyl oxazolidone-derived titanium enolate and an aromatic aldimine was found to occur only after introduction of a proton source. While various protic additives could be used to promote the transformation, the best results were obtained using AcOH to afford the corresponding Mannich products in high diastereoselectivities and yields

Promotion of a Ti-Mediated Mannich Reaction by a Proton Source

Low temperature NMR studies revealed that a diastereoselective Mannich reaction between a phenyl oxazolidone-derived titanium enolate and an aromatic aldimine was found to occur only after introduction of a proton source. While various protic additives could be used to promote the transformation, the best results were obtained using AcOH to afford the corresponding Mannich products in high diastereoselectivities and yields

The Discovery of Quinoxaline-Based Metathesis Catalysts from Synthesis of Grazoprevir (MK-5172)

Olefin metathesis (OM) is a reliable and practical synthetic methodology for challenging carbon–carbon bond formations. While existing catalysts can effect many of these transformations, the synthesis and development of new catalysts is essential to increase the application breadth of OM and to achieve improved catalyst activity. The unexpected initial discovery of a novel olefin metathesis catalyst derived from synthetic efforts toward the HCV therapeutic agent grazoprevir (MK-5172) is described. This initial finding has evolved into a class of tunable, shelf-stable ruthenium OM catalysts that are easily prepared and exhibit unique catalytic activity

Careful Navigation of the Crystallographic Landscape of MK-8970: A Racemic Acetal Carbonate Prodrug of Raltegravir

MK-8970 is an acetal carbonate prodrug of raltegravir (Isentress). This work presents the Merck team’s investigations into the polymorphism of MK-8970, the thermodynamic relationship between the discovered crystalline forms, and implementation of that knowledge toward solving key processing challenges. MK-8970 was found to exist in two enantiotropic polymorphs, with a crossover temperature of approximately 117 °C, as determined from solubility data. Form 2 of MK-8970, the stable form at ambient temperature, was confirmed to be a true racemic crystal form and not a conglomerate on the basis of single-crystal X-ray structure data. In preparation for scale-up of MK-8970, form control was established by mapping out solubility curves for the relevant crystalline forms in ethyl acetate as a function of temperature. Lastly an investigation of the relative solubilities of MK-8970 and a troublesome imidate impurity identified improved solvent systems for maximizing rejection of this impurity while avoiding significant yield losses