Indoleacetic methyl ester

Heck cyclization with concomitant deprotection of the trifluoroacetyl group to form the indoleacetic methyl ester 68. Compound 68 was hydrolyzed and then treated with PCI5 followed by dimethylamine to give the amide 69, which was reduced with LiAlHi to afford almotriptan (5). 

Alternatively, dissolve 220 g 4-benzyloxy-3-indoleacetic acid (or equimolar amount other indoleacetic acid) in 2 L absolute methanol and reflux six hours in the presence of 20 g Dowex 50X8 sulfonic acid resin. Filter (decolor with carbon if desired) and concentrate below 35° until precipitation starts then cool to precipitate and filter to get 200 g of the methyl ester. Add 200 g of the ester to 600 ml 40% aqueous methylamine over twelve hours with vigorous stirring. Filter, wash precipitate with water and dry to get 187 g of the N-methyl-acetamide (reflux two hours in 500 ml benzene to remove unreacted ester). 24 g of the acetamide in 300 ml tetrahydrofuran is added dropwise to 10 g lithium aluminum hydride in 300 ml tetrahydrofuran reflux ten hours, cool to 15° and add dropwise with stirring 50 ml ethyl acetate. Reflux two hours and proceed as above to get 15 g (II) or analog. 

Fig. 4.2 Chromatogram of standard phenolic acids separated as their methyl ester-trimethylsilyl ether derivatives on a 6 ft column (0.004 m i.d.) packed with 10 per cent F-60 on silanized Gas Chrom P (80-100 mesh) using temperature programming from 100°C to 240°C at 2°C min" Peak identifications are 1, 2-hydroxyphenylacetate 2, 3-hydroxyphenylacetate 3, 4-hydroxyphenylacetate 4, indoleacetate 5, homovanil-late 6, homogentisate 7, vanillylmandelate 8, 5-hydroxyindoleacetate 9, nonadecanoate (standard). (Redrawn with modifications from Horning etal, 1966)...

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