227100-23-4

The invention provides compounds which inhibit N-myristoyltransferase and are selective for protozoal N-myristoyltransferase and, consequently suitable to treat microbial infections, including viral and fungal infections, and protozoan infections such as malaria, leishmaniasis and sleeping sickness.

N-tert-Butylbenzenesulfenamide (1)-catalyzed oxidation of various primary and secondary alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes and ketones was efficiently carried out by using N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) in the coexistence of potassium carbonate and molecular sieves 4? at easy-to-control temperatures ranging from 0°C to room temperature. The present catalytic oxidation was performed without giving any damage to the functional groups in alcohols, and was particularly effective in the oxidation of alcohols that formed labile aldehydes because of its mild reaction conditions. Further, selective oxidation of primary hydroxy groups took place in 1-catalyzed oxidation of several diols. Mechanistic investigation suggested that the chlorination of the sulfenamide 1 by NCS led to the formation of a key species, N-tert-butylbenzenesulfinimidoyl chloride (2), which in turn oxidized alcohols in the presence of potassium carbonate to afford carbonyl products by accompanying regeneration of the catalyst 1.

The present invention relates to urethanes derived from azacycloalkanes and the thio and dithio analogues thereof of general formula wherein m, n, A, X, Y, E and R1to R8are defined as in claim 1, the enantiomers, diastereomers and the salts thereof, particularly the physiologically acceptable acid addition salts thereof which have valuable properties, particularly an inhibitory effect on cholesterol biosynthesis, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, their use and processes for preparing them.

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