Process for Preparing 3-(Cyanimino)-3-Amino-Propionitriles
Abstract
An improved multistep process for the production of intermediates for hypotensive compounds, which intermediates are of the formula V: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are lower alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, alkenyl of 3 or 4 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, phenylalkyl in which the alkyl group is defined as above, or the group ##STR2## is a heterocyclic moiety of 4 to 8 ring members, e.g., azetidinyl, piperidino, pyrrolidinyl, hexahydroazepinyl, or heptamethyleneimino, each of which can be substituted by one or two methyl groups, N-alkylpiperazino, wherein alkyl is defined as above, morpholino, or thiomorpholino, and wherein R.sub.3 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, starts with the corresponding secondary amine I ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 have the significance of above. SU This invention is concerned with a new, improved process for the production of 2,N-dicyanoacetamidines which are the primary intermediates for anti-hypertensive 2,4-diamino-6-aminopyrimidine-3-oxides. This process can be illustratively represented as follows: ##STR4## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, alkenyl of 3 to 4 carbon atoms inclusive, cycloalkyl from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, inclusive, phenylalkyl in which the alkyl group is defined as above, or the group ##STR5## is a heterocyclic moiety of 4 to 8 ring members, e.g., azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidino, hexahydroazepinyl, or heptamethyleneimino, each of which can be substituted by 1 to 2 methyl groups, or 4-morpholino, 4-thiomorpholino, or N-alkylpiperazino, in which alkyl is defined as above; wherein R.sub.3 is hydrogen or alkyl defined as above, wherein X is chlorine, bromine or iodine. M is a metal ion selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium or aluminum, and Alk is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive. From compounds of formula V, the final desired compounds VI are prepared by the single step: ##STR6## See U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,928. The principal compound in this field is the compound in which ##STR7## is piperidino; thus the intermediate has the formula Va (below), and the final product has the formula VIa (below), produced by the process ##STR8## Prior to the present invention, compound Va has been produced by the following process: ##STR9## In the present new process the intermediate Va is produced by the following specific synthesis: ##STR10## The advantages in this process are: (1) the cost of the new process is less, since the price of cyanoacetic acid is only about one-third of that of malononitrile; (2) the new process provides 20-25% relative yield increase with a lower cost. In the new four-step synthesis of this invention, the step IV to V is similar to the reaction described in J. Chem. Soc. Chemical Communication, page 350, 1974, by Kristinsson. However, Kristinsson used cyanoacetic acid ethyl ester rather than the free acid, and as a result the carbethoxy group was incorporated into a new ring (a uracil ring). Thus, the process of Kristinsson cannot be used in this synthesis to give compounds of structure V, and therefore the last step is novel. The preferred process of this invention is that in which the starting compounds are heterocyclic secondary amines, such as pyrrolidine, piperidine, morpholine, thiomorpholine, hexahydroazepine, heptamethyleneimine or N-alkylpiperazine in which alkyl is of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive. Most preferred of these starting compounds is piperidine, of which the process (with starting compound Ia) has been described above. The process with starting compound Ia provides the compound Va. Compound Va is the last intermediate used to make compound VIa: ##STR11## Compound VIa, under the generic name, minoxidil, is one of the more effective drugs in the treatment of hypertension, and works particularly well in the treatment of patients having toxic hypertension, often intractable by other drugs, and the patients are therefore in acute danger of life. Minoxidil is still a clinical experimental drug. Other compounds of formula VI also have been found to be anti-hypertensives and are useful for the treatment of hypertensive patients. U.S. Pat. No. 3,461,461 provides the details of how to use the compounds of formula VI in oral and parenteral formulations and the dosages and modes of administration. The new process for the final intermediates of formula V, herein claimed, is useful to lower the price of the final medicament of formula VI. In carrying out the process of the invention, a selected secondary amine of formula I is reacted in solution with cyanogen halide and a base. Solvents used in this reaction include water, ether and non-polar organic solvents, such as diethyl or dipropyl ether, methylethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, ethyl acetate, acetone and hydrocarbons, e.g., pentane, hexane, toluene and the like. The reaction temperature is preferably kept low, between about 0.degree. and 15.degree. C. when water is solvent, and can be lower for the organic solvents. A two-phase system, water-organic solvent, is preferred. As bases, sodium or potassium hydroxide or carbonate are preferred, usually in aqueous solution. In the preferred embodiment of this invention a solution of the secondary amine is cooled to 0.degree. to 10.degree. C. and cyanogen halide is slowly added, in small portions, using an excess of 10% to 25%. Larger excess of this reagent is operative, but is not necessary or desirable. The base, aqueous sodium or potassium hydroxide is preferred, is added slowly and the temperature is kept at the low level of 0.degree. to 10.degree. C. After stirring for 1/2 to 2 hours, the product II, the carbonitrile of the amine, is isolated and purified by conventional procedures, such as extraction, washing, chromatography, crystallization, distillation and the like. Cyanogen halide used in this process is available commercially or can be made by standard methods, e.g., using sodium cyanide and a halogen source. Compound II is treated with a metal alkoxide of which the alkyl group of the alkoxide is of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, and the metal is lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium or aluminum, in a lower alkanol solution of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, to give compound III. Sodium or potassium methoxide or ethoxide is preferred. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the N-carbonitrile of the amine (II) in methanol is reacted at 10.degree. to 50.degree. C. preferably at room temperature (20.degree. to 30.degree. C.) with the methoxide. Higher or lower temperatures can be selected and are operative in this reaction. The reaction time is from 2 to 48 hours. At the termination of the reaction the resultant compound, a methyl 1-aminocarboximidate (III), is isolated and purified by conventional means, e.g., extraction, evaporation, crystallization, distillation or the like. Compound III in solution is treated with a cyanogen halide and thereto is added a base to produce compound IV. As solvent, ethers, e.g., methylethyl, diethyl, ethylpropyl ether or tetrahydrofuran, or hydrocarbons, e.g., hexane or toluene, or mixtures thereof, or the like may be used. As base sodium or potassium carbonate or bicarbonate is utilized. In the preferred embodiment of this invention to a solution of compound III in an ether is added cyanogen bromide followed by anhydrous sodium or potassium carbonate. The reaction is carried out between 0.degree. C. and the boiling temperature of the solvent, with room temperature preferred. The reaction time is between 2 to 48 hours. After the reaction is terminated, the product IV, a methyl N'-cyano-1-carboximidate, is isolated and purified by conventional means, e.g., filtration, evaporation, extraction, chromatography, crystallization or the like. Compound IV is converted to compound V, a 2,N-dicyanoacetamidine, by treating a solution of IV with a solution of a cyanoacetic acid of formula X, and a base. Preferred bases are sodium or potassium alkoxides. As solvents alcohols, e.g., methanol, ethanol and the like, ethers, e.g., tetrahydrofuran, diethylether, hydrocarbons, e.g., benzene, toluene and the like, dimethylformamide, or mixtures thereof, or the like can be used. The solution of the cyanoacetic acid VII and base is mixed with a solution of compound IV in one of the before-mentioned solvents. The mixture is stirred from 1 to 48 hours at temperatures between 0.degree. and 50.degree. C. with room temperature (20.degree. to 30.degree. C.) preferred. After the reaction is terminated, the solution is acidified, preferably with acetic acid, evaporated and extracted. The product is isolated from the extracts and purified in conventional manners, e.g., by extraction, crystallization, chromatography, distillation or the like. Starting cyanoacetic acids if not commercially available can be synthesized by the method cited by R. B. Wagner et al. in "Synthetic Organic Chemistry", John Wiley (1965) p. 593.
Metadata
Assignee
- The Upjohn Company
Inventors
- Thomas A. Hylton
- Muniraj D. Pillai
Application Information
Classifications
Patent Drawings
This patent does not have any drawings.
Description
EXAMPLE 1
1-Piperidinecarbonitrile
EXAMPLE 2
Methyl 1-piperidinecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 3
Methyl N-cyano-1-piperidinecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 4
2,-N-Dicyano-N',N'-pentamethyleneacetamidine
EXAMPLE 5
Diethylamine-N-carbonitrile
EXAMPLE 6
Methyl 1-Diethylaminecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 7
Methyl N-cyano-1-diethylaminecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 8
2,N-Dicyano-N',N'-diethylacetamidine
EXAMPLE 9
Dipropylamine-N-carbonitrile
EXAMPLE 10
Methyl 1-dipropylaminecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 11
Methyl N-cyano-1-dipropylaminecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 12
2,N-Dicyano-N',N'-dipropylacetamidine
EXAMPLE 13
Dibutylamine-N-carbonitrile
EXAMPLE 14
Ethyl 1-dibutylaminecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 15
Ethyl N-cyano-2-dibutylaminecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 16
2,N-Dicyano-N',N'-dibutylacetamidine
EXAMPLE 17
4-Methyl-1-piperidinecarbonitrile
EXAMPLE 18
Methyl 4-methyl-1-piperidinecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 19
Methyl N-cyano-4-methyl-1-piperidinecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 20
2,N-dicyano-1-(3-methylpentamethylene)acetamidine
EXAMPLE 21
1-Pyrrolidinecarbonitrile
EXAMPLE 22
Methyl 1-pyrrolidinecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 23
Methyl N-cyano-1-pyrrolidinecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 24
2-Methyl-2,N-dicyano-N',N'-tetramethyleneacetamidine
EXAMPLE 25
1-Hexahydroazepinecarbonitrile
EXAMPLE 26
Methyl 1-hexahydroazepinecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 27
Methyl N-cyano-1-hexahydroazepinecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 28
2,N-Dicyano-N',N'-hexamethyleneacetamidine
EXAMPLE 29
4-Morpholinecarbonitrile
EXAMPLE 30
Methyl 4-morpholinecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 31
Methyl N-cyano-4-morpholinecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 32
2,N-Dicyano-N',N'-(2,2'-oxydiethyl)acetamidine
EXAMPLE 33
4-Methyl-1-piperazinecarbonitrile
EXAMPLE 34
Methyl 4-methyl-1-piperazinecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 35
Methyl N-cyano-4-methyl-1-piperazinecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 36
2,N-dicyano-N',N'-(2,2'-methylaminodiethyl)-acetamidine
EXAMPLE 37
N-(N-benzyl-N-methylamine)carbonitrile
EXAMPLE 38
Methyl 1-(N-benzyl-N-methylamine)carboximidate
EXAMPLE 39
Methyl N-cyano-1-(N-benzyl-N-methylamine)carboximidate
EXAMPLE 40
2,N-Dicyano-N'-benzyl-N'-methylacetamidine
EXAMPLE 41
1-Di(cyclopropyl)aminecarbonitrile
EXAMPLE 42
Methyl 1-di(cyclopropyl)aminecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 43
Methyl N-cyano-1-di(cyclopropyl)aminecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 44
2-N-Dicyano-N',N'-di(cyclopropyl)acetamidine
EXAMPLE 45
1-Diallylaminecarbonitrile
EXAMPLE 46
Methyl 1-diallylaminecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 47
Methyl N-cyano-1-diallylaminecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 48
2,N-Dicyano-N',N'-diallylacetamidine
EXAMPLE 49
1-Di(cyclohexyl)aminecarbonitrile
EXAMPLE 50
Methyl 1-di(cyclohexyl)aminecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 51
Methyl N-cyano-1-di(cyclohexyl)aminecarboximidate
EXAMPLE 52
2,N-Dicyano-N',N'-di(cyclohexyl)acetamidine
Claims
Patent Citations (3)
Non-Patent Literature (2)
- Allenstein, E. et al., Chem. Ber., 100, 2604-2615, (1967); 101, 1232-1243, (1968).
- Chemical Abstracts, 78:158999c, (1973), [German Offen. 2,246,376, 3/29/73].