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A synthetic methodology for a protecting-group-free formation of 3-aryl-substituted 4-aminopyrazoles from acetophenones via a telescoped oximation and hydrazine condensation of 1,3-ketoaldehydes to generate nitrosopyrazoles, and copper-catalyzed NaBH4 reduction of the nitroso group, was demonstrated. The synthesis tolerates a broad scope of substrates with a variety of substituents on the phenyl ring to afford the desired products.

The crystallization-induced diastereomer transformation of a precursor to navoximod was investigated using online HPLC and optimized with inline racemization.

The concise early development route to the Nav1.7 inhibitor GDC-0310 is described. The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) contains one stereocenter, which was obtained with high enantiomeric excess (>99:1) by using an SN2 displacement approach to connect two intermediates: a chiral benzyl alcohol and a piperidine. The synthesis of the piperidine building block proceeded via a regioselective SNAr reaction on 1-chloro-2,4-difluorobenzene by N-Boc-4-piperidinemethanol, followed by installation of the methyl ester group by electrophilic aromatic bromination and a palladium-catalyzed alkoxycarbonylation. A subsequent Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction was then telescoped directly into cleavage of the Boc group to provide the advanced piperidine intermediate. The key feature of the synthesis is the highly selective SN2 displacement of the chiral mesylate of (R)-1-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)ethan-1-ol with the piperidine intermediate, followed by a chiral purity upgrade via the corresponding (1S)-(+)-camphorsulfonic acid salt. After standard hydrolysis of the methyl ester and CDI mediated amidation to couple the resulting acid with methanesulfonamide, enantiomerically pure GDC-0310 was obtained in high overall yield (37%) on a 6.5 kilogram scale.

A highly regioselective Mg-catalyzed alkylation of 3-substituted pyrazoles has been developed to provide N2-alkylated regioisomers. Using α-bromoacetates and acetamides as alkylating agents, this new method was applied to a variety of 3-substituted and 3,4-disubstituted pyrazoles to produce the N2-alkylated products with high regioselectivities ranging from 76:24 to 99:1 and 44–90% yields.

A practical convergent synthesis of PI3K inhibitor GDC-0908 (1) is described. The process features a dihydrobenzothienooxepine formation via palladium-catalyzed intramolecular direct C-H arylation and a Negishi coupling to construct the key C-C bonds. We further developed a general synthesis of dihydrobenzothienooxepines in good to excellent yields via palladium-catalyzed intramolecular direct C-H arylation, which tolerates both electronically and sterically diverse substituents on the phenyl ring.

An improved, efficient process with a significantly reduced process mass intensity (PMI) led to the multikilogram synthesis of a brain penetrant PI3K inhibitor GDC-0084. Highlights of the synthesis include a phase transfer catalyzed annulation in water, an efficient Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of a chloropyrimidine with an arylboronic acid using a low palladium catalyst loading, and the development of a controlled crystallization to provide the API. The process delivered GDC-0084 with low levels of both impurities and residual metals.

A process leading to the multikilogram GMP synthesis of Chk1 inhibitor GDC-0425 (1) was developed. Highlights of the synthesis include protection of the pyrrole ring of a 1,7-diazacarbazole as propyl ethyl ether, an efficient Pd catalyzed cyanation of an aryl chloride, aryl ether formation by SNAr fluoride displacement, and development of a controlled crystallization providing the API with the required polymorphic form. The process delivered high-quality GDC-0425 with low levels of impurities and residual metals in five steps and 31% overall yield.

Hexafluorophosphoric acid promotes 1,3,4-oxadiazolium hexafluorophosphate formation from N′-acyl-N-aroyl-N-arylhydrazides or N′-acyl-N-acyl-N-arylhydrazides under mild conditions. These 1,3,4-oxadiazolium hexafluorophosphates can be treated with cyanamide in propan-2-ol in the presence of triethylamine to generate 1,5-disubstituted 3-amino-1H-1,2,4-triazoles in good yields. This safe and scalable protocol displays a broad scope with respect to N-substitutions and N′-acyl protecting groups.

Ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric homogeneous hydrogenation (AHH) is used as the key step of a multi-kilogram scale synthesis of an enantiomeric fluoropiperidine. The AHH of a tetrasubstituted β-fluoroenamide is carried out under mild conditions using a Ru/Josiphos catalyst with high ee (98%).

Suitable as highly effective polymerization catalysts is the new class of donor/acceptor metallocenes in which the rotation of the two pi ligands is restricted through the formation of a dative D(+)-->A(-) bond (see picture). Specifically optimized substitution patterns yield excellent properties for the synthesis of high-melting, highly crystalline thermoplastic materials, amorphous thermoplastic materials with high glass transition temperatures as well as polyolefin elastomers with low glass T(g).