Synthesis of Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonist MK-6096

Key words

MK-6096 - orexin antagonists - amide bond formation - 1-propylphosphonic anhydride - enzymatic transamination - Mukaiyama directed aldol reaction

Significance

Orexins-A and -B are neuropeptides that regulate arousal and sleep–wake cycles by hypothalamic signaling through the orexin-1 and -2 receptors. MK-6096 is a dual orexin receptor antagonist that is of interest for the treatment of insomnia. In the asymmetric synthesis depicted (7 steps, 37% overall), the key stereogenic steps are (1) a biocatalytic transamination (A→B) and (2) a highly diastereoselective Mukaiyama directed aldol reaction (C→D, dr > 99:1).

Comment

During a previous kg-scale synthesis of MK-6096 (M. Girardin et al. Org. Process Res. Dev. 2013, 17, 61) the challenging amidation of fragments I and J required 3.4 equivalents of expensive T3P (1-propylphosphonic anhydride). In the current route the same amidation was accomplished using only 0.05 equivalents of T3P together with stoichiometric amounts of pivaloyl choride as the dehydrating agent. A mechanism for this unusual transformation is presented that implicates participation by the pyrimidine ring.