A facile total synthesis of imatinib base and its analogues

Abstract

Imatinib and its analogues were successfully synthesized by an improved method in 19.5-46.2% total yield of six main steps. Pyrimidinyl amine was prepared by the reaction of enaminone and guanidine nitrate without the use of a toxic cyanamide. N-(2-Methyl-5-nitrophenyl)-4-(pyridin-3-yl) pyrimidin-2-amine as a key intermediate for the synthesis of imatinib was prepared by coppercatalyzed iV-arylation of heteroarylamme in 82% yield. The copper salts were used instead of the expensive palladium compounds in this C-N bond-forming reaction. The intermediate nitro compound was reduced by a N2H 4.H2O/FeCl3/C system using water as a solvent in good yield. © 2008 American Chemical Society.