We present here an improved procedure for the preparation of the promising antitubercular
drug SQ109 that is currently in phase Ib/III of clinical trials against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We investigated and tested the literature synthetic procedure that enables the development
of structure–activity relationships and report the observed inconsistencies as well
as presenting improvements or novelties for the more efficient preparation of SQ109.
Most significantly we applied a novel reduction step of the aminoamide precursor using
Me3SiCl/LiAlH4 under mild conditions. These findings are important for research groups investigating
the efficacy of this drug and analogues in academia and industry.
Key words
SQ109 - tuberculosis - synthesis - reduction - trimethylsilyl chloride - geranylamine
- lithium aluminum hydride