Scalable Synthesis of a Dual TLR7/8 Agonist via Highly Selective N2-Alkylation of 1H-Pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidine
Kai-Jiong Xiao1, Yingju Xu1, Lu Chen2
1Department of Process Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States.
Abstract:
We report a scalable synthesis of a potent dual TLR7/8 agonist featuring a pyrazolopyrimidine core. An acid-mediated selective N2-alkylation of 1H-pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidine with free benzyl alcohol furnishes the N2-alkylated product in 72% yield with high regioselectivity (14:1 N2/N1). Subsequent copper-catalyzed amination with aqueous ammonia installs the C5 amino group in 70% yield, avoiding azides or complex ammonia surrogates. The convergent sequence proceeds in 34% overall yield from readily available materials and is amenable to kilogram-scale production.
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