Lab-Scale Preparation of a Novel Carbocyclic Chemokine Receptor Antagonist

The preparation of a novel chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR-2) antagonist is described on a 135 g scale. The synthesis of an all-carbon bicyclic core was accomplished using a radical cyclization strategy using chiral precursors, wherein elaboration led to <i>N</i>-Boc carboxylic acid in good yield. After amidation using a traditional coupling reaction, a reductive amination using enantiomerically enriched 3-methoxy-4-pyranone led to the final compound. Although several steps of the syntheses involved reagents that would not be preferred in process and chromatography was used to provide the free-base diastereomer of the final succinate salt, the overall route went through stable intermediates that could be used for future scale-up. This lab-scale synthesis struck a balance between a quick scale-up and a more thorough process review of all possible methods and routes