The convergent, highly enantioselective synthesis of rhizoxin D, a natural product possessing potent antitumor and antifungal bioactivity, is described. The C(1)-C(9) fragment of the molecule was synthesized utilizing a threefold pseudosymmetric intermediate ultimately derived from gamma-butyrolactone. The central core of rhizoxin D was prepared via a chiral resolution/asymmetric aldol protocol. Several methods for the generation of the polyene fragment were explored, and the side-chain was ultimately prepared from serine in six steps. The unification of the left and right wings of the molecule was achieved using a one-step olefination protocol, and the macrocyclization was carried out using a Horner-Emmons olefination at the C(2)-C(3) olefin.

Progression toward a scalable synthesis of TORC1/2 inhibitor bulk drug, culminating in the first GMP manufacturing campaign, is described. Process research and development was needed to obtain the prerequisite stereocenter in high enantiomeric excess for kilogram-scale production. Through route selection, a six-linear step synthesis was developed which afforded the API in 20% overall yield. Development included an application of memory of chirality (MOC) to install a quaternary chiral center with near complete retention, a reductive cyclization to form a piperazinone core, and a palladium-catalyzed C–C bond-forming step.

An improved process has been developed for compound 1, a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) inhibitor. This improved process is convergent, safe, efficient, and useful to prepare compound 1 in kilogram quantities.

An efficient and scaleable synthesis of (2S,3S)-2-ethyl-3-methylvaleramide (1) has been developed starting from inexpensive and readily available L-isoleucine. The key step in this process is an asymmetric alkylation using (1S,2S)-pseudoephedrine as a chiral auxiliary. A practical procedure was developed to remove the sterically hindered pseudoephedrine auxiliary from the amide. The process consists of eight chemical steps and five isolations without any chromatographic purification. It has been successfully implemented to prepare several multikilogram batches of the target compound 1 in 41% overall yield.

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Process research of 1 was conducted, and an efficient, scalable route was developed. The key intermediate, a multisubstituted fluoropyridone, was formed in one pot via a three-step cascade reaction: condensation between α-fluoromalonate and malononitrile, methyl amide formation, and intramolecular cyclization. Chlorination of the hydroxyl functionality and cyclization with formic acid provided the desired pyridopyrimidone core in high yield. Subsequent N-alkylation with the nosylate of (R)glycerol acetonide and displacement of the chlorine with 2-fluoro-4-iodoaniline proceeded successfully with good yields. Final acid-catalyzed deprotection of the acetonide functionality followed by a controlled crystallization protocol afforded the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) with the desired polymorph. Compared to the initial synthesis, this route was more concise (six steps compared to the original nine steps), and the overall yield was improved significantly (from 3% to 25%). These improvements allowed for production of multikilograms of 1.

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