Synfacts 2011(5): 0461-0461  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1259769
Synthesis of Natural Products and Potential Drugs
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Synthesis of Renin Inhibitor MK-1597

Contributor(s):Philip Kocienski
C. Molinaro et al.*
Merck, Kirkland, Canada; Merck, Rahway, USA and Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Allschwil, Switzerland
A Practical Synthesis of Renin Inhibitor MK-1597 (ACT-178882) via Catalytic Enantioselective Hydrogenation and Epimerization of Piperidine Intermediate
J. Org. Chem.  2011,  76:  1062-1071  
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
15 April 2011 (online)


Significance

The key feature in the synthesis of MK-1597 (ACT-178882) is the highly efficient ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of the tetrasubstituted alkene J followed by a mild epimerization reaction to set both stereogenic centers in H (trans/cis > 120:1).

Comment

The renin inhibitor MK-1597 is a ­promising lead in the treatment of hypertension. It was synthesized in nine steps (longest linear ­sequence) in 29% overall yield. Most of the intermediates were solids, but they were not purified before being used in the succeeding steps.