Acetylpyridines

The synthesis of 3-phenyl-]-(2-pyridyl)-2-propen-]-one (2.4c) via an aldol reaction of 2-acetylpyridine with benzaldehyde has been described in the literature ". O jmpound 2.4a-e have been prepared in high yields, using slightly modified versions of these literature procedures. 

The higjily water-soluble dienophiles 2.4f and2.4g have been synthesised as outlined in Scheme 2.5. Both compounds were prepared from p-(bromomethyl)benzaldehyde (2.8) which was synthesised by reducing p-(bromomethyl)benzonitrile (2.7) with diisobutyl aluminium hydride following a literature procedure2.4f was obtained in two steps by conversion of 2.8 to the corresponding sodium sulfonate (2.9), followed by an aldol reaction with 2-acetylpyridine. In the preparation of 2.4g the sequence of steps had to be reversed Here, the aldol condensation of 2.8 with 2-acetylpyridine was followed by nucleophilic substitution of the bromide of 2.10 by trimethylamine. Attempts to prepare 2.4f from 2.10 by treatment with sodium sulfite failed, due to decomposition of 2.10 under the conditions required for the substitution by sulfite anion. 

Ni(N03)2 6H20, Cu(N03)2 3H20, Zn(N03)2-4H20 and KNOj were of the highest purity available. Substituted 3-phenyl-l-(2-pyridyl)-2-propene-ones (2.4a-e) were prepared by an aldol condensation of the corresponding substituted benzaldehyde with 2-acetylpyridine, following either of two modified... 

Pyridyl)hydrazine (Aldrich), 4-acetylpyridine (Acros), N,N,N -trimethylethylenediamine (Aldrich), methylrhenium trioxide (Aldrich), InQj (Aldrich), Cu(N0j)2-3H20 (Merck), Ni(N03)2-6Il20 (Merck), Yb(OTf)3(Fluka), Sc(OTf)3 (Fluka), 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine (Acros), benzylideneacetone (Aldrich), and chalcone (Aldrich) were of the highest purity available. Borane dimethyl sulfide (2M solution in THE) was obtained from Aldrich. Methyl vinyl ketone was distilled prior to use. Cyclopentadiene was prepared from its dimer immediately before use. (R)-l-acetyl-5-isopropoxy-3-pyrrolin-2-one (4.15) has been kindly provided by Prof H. Hiemstra (University of Amsterdam). 

Metal ions, in particular Zn, Ni, and Cu enhance the rate of general base-catalyzed enolization of 2-acetylpyridine by several orders of magnitude. Account for this effect. 

The reaction products are 2,4-dimethyl-3-acetylpyridine (11) and ethyl ester of 2,4-dimethyl-3-nicotinic acid (12). 

Thus, reduction of the bicyclic derivatives 25 (RR = CH2 RR = CH=C(Ph)) affords the corresponding 26a-type products, while hydrogenation of 2-ethoxy-3-acetylpyridine gives, along with the carbonyl group reduction product, the imine isomer 26b (R = Me, R = Et). These results were explained by the so-called internal strain effect, e.g., by steric repulsion between the nitrogen and oxygen lone pair in rotationally restricted bicyclic derivatives or between the 2 and 3 substituents. 

Alkylation of these as their sodium salts with the ubiquitous N-C2-chloroethyl)dimethylamine affords the desired antihistamines. There are thus obtained, respectively, mephenhydramine (23a) chlorphenoxamine (23b), and mebrophenhydramine (23c)Alkylation of the tertiary alcohol, 22b, with the pyrrolidine derivative, 24, affords meclastine (25). In much the same vein, reaction of 2-acetylpyridine with phenyImagnesium bromide gives the tertiary alcohol, 27. Alkylation in the usual way leads to the potent antihistamine, doxylamine (28). " ... 

Most pyridines are reduced to the corresponding piperidines, but certain substituents, notably 2-amino and 2-hydroxy, tend to arrest the hydrogenation at the tetrahydro stage (55,56 7). Wenkert et ai. (llS) noted that in hydrogenation of any aromatic system capable of unmasking a stable, vinylogous amide unit, absorption may cease at this stage. An example is reduction of 3-acetylpyridine (I) to 2, a compound that resisted further attempts at reduction (31). 

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