An optimized synthesis of a key pharmaceutical intermediate methyl 4-[(1-oxopropyl)phenylamino]piperidine-4-carboxylate

Abstract

An efficient synthesis of methyl 4-[(1-oxopropyl)phenylamino]piperidine-4-carboxylate (7) has been developed, starting from 1-benzylpiperidin-4-one (1). The compound is a key intermediate in the synthesis of new generation, highly active narcotic analgesics, such as remifentanil, as well as the novel classes of fentanyl analogues. An optimized Strecker-type condensation of piperidone 1 with aniline and HCN yielded the anilino-nitrile 2 (≈90 %) which, upon selective hydrolysis with conc. H2SO4, gave the anilino-amide 3. After vigorous basic hydrolysis of 3, followed by acidification and successive treatment with SOCl2 and MeOH, the anilino-ester 5 was obtained (40-45%, in 3 steps). N-Acylation of 5 with propionyl chloride yielded the anilido-ester 6 (70-80%). In the final step, the catalytic N-debenzylation of 6 was examined under various conditions and optimized to yield 7 in near quantitative yields.