Synthesis of Enantiopure Beta-Blocker (+)-Nebivolol by Enzyme Catalyzed Asymmetrization Reaction
摘要
A six-step synthesis to (+)-nebivolol ((S,R,R,R)-nebivolol or d-nebivolol) in a cumulative yield of 32% has been developed. Conventional use of diazo compounds has been replaced with a novel approach of sulphur ylide for a safer one-carbon chain extension of methyl 6-fluorochromane-2-carboxylate, which entailed the formation of racemic 2-[dimethyl(oxido)-λ6-sulfanylidene]-1-(6-fluoro-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-2-yl)ethenone from methyl 6-fluorochromane-2-carboxylate in high yield. Subsequently the β-keto sulfoxonium ylide was converted into 2-chloro-1-(6-fluorochroman-2-yl)ethanone. Reduction of 2-chloro-1-(6-fluorochroman-2-yl)ethanone to 2-chloro-1-(6-fluorochroman-2-yl)ethanol was catalyzed by Ketoreductase 228 from Syncozymes and resulted in halohydrins (R)-2-chloro-1-((S)-6-fluorochroman-2-yl)ethanol and (S)-2-chloro-1-((S)-6-fluorochroman-2-yl)ethanol in 92% yield. The halohydrins were separated by preparative HPLC. (S)-2-Chloro-1-((S)-6-fluorochroman-2-yl)ethanol underwent amination to produce (R)-2-amino-1-((S)-6-fluorochroman-2-yl)ethanol. The final synthesis step involved reaction of (R)-2-amino-1-((S)-6-fluorochroman-2-yl)ethanol and (R)-2-chloro-1-((S)-6-fluorochroman-2-yl)ethanol forming (+)-nebivolol with > 99% enantiomeric excess (ee).