2146 J ournal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1997, Vol. 40, No. 14
Negash et al.
of the crude product by centrifugal thin-layer chromatography
on a silica rotor using hexane-ethyl acetate (3:1) as the
developing solvent afforded 208 mg (40%) of 14a : mp 160-
161 °C; CIMS (isobutane) M + 1 434; 1H NMR (500 MHz,
CDCl3) δ 7.16 (d, 2, ArH, J ) 8.3 Hz), 7.10 (d, 1, ArH, J ) 8.4
Hz), 7.01-7.05 (m, 1, ArH), 6.95-7.0 (m, 2, ArH), 6.9 (t, 1,
ArH, J ) 7.3 Hz), 6.77 (dd, 1, ArH, J ) 2.3, 8.5 Hz), 6.61 (m,
2, ArH), 4.39 (d, 1, Ar2CH, J ) 11.6 Hz), 4.08-4.15 (m, 1,
ArCCHN), 3.93 (td, 1, CHN, J ) 2.4, 11.8 Hz), 3.67 (s, 3,
OCH3), 3.58-3.65 (m, 1, ArCCHN), 3.17-3.24 (m, 1, ArCHCN),
3.04-3.12 (m, 1, ArCH), 2.79-2.90 (m, 2, ArCH, ArCHCN),
2.35 (s, 3, ArCH3), 2.23-2.28 (m, 1, CHCN), 2.07-2.15 (m, 1,
CHCN). Anal. (C26H27NO3S) C, H, N.
7.3 Hz), 7.04-7.09 (m, 2, ArH), 6.98 (t, 1, ArH, J ) 7.5 Hz),
6.75 (dd, 1, ArH, J ) 2.7, 8.3 Hz), 6.54 (s, 1, ArH), 6.36 (d, 1,
ArH, J ) 7.6 Hz), 4.8 (d, 1, ArCH, J ) 7.0 Hz), 3.7 (s, 3, OCH3),
3.62-3.68 (m, 1, ArCCHN), 3.20-3.25 (m, 1, ArCCHN), 2.8-
2.88 (m, 2, ArCH2CN), 2.57-2.72 (m, 2, CHN, ArCH), 2.49-
2.55 (m, 4, NCH3, ArCH), 1.98-2.03 (m, 1, CHCN), 1.64-1.72
(m, 1, CHCN); HRCIMS calcd for C20H23NO 294.1858 (M +
H), found 294.1843.
(()-tr a n s-6,6a,7,8,9,13b-Hexah ydr o-7-m eth yl-5H-ben zo-
[d ]n a p th [2,1-b]a zep in -2-ol (5a ). To a solution of the free
base 16a (124 mg, 0.42 mmol) in dichloromethane (3 mL) was
added BBr3 (0.12 mL, 1.26 mmol) dropwise at -78 °C. The
reaction mixture was raised to room temperature over a period
of 2 h and with stirring continued for an additional 5 h. The
reaction mixture was then cooled to -78 °C, decomposed by
the addition of methanol (3 mL), and concentrated in vacuo.
The process of addition of methanol and evaporation was
repeated trice. The crude hydrobromide salt was suspended
in 5 mL of warm water, and the mixture was adjusted to pH
8 by dropwise addition of dilute sodium bicarbonate solution.
The reaction mixture was extracted with chloroform (3 × 3
mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with water
(2 × 3 mL) and dried (MgSO4), and the solvent was removed
in vacuo to give 108 mg (92%) of the free base 5a which was
recrystallized from acetonitrile: mp 210-212 °C; CIMS (isobu-
tane) M + 1 280; 1H NMR (CDCl3, free base) δ 7.12 (d, 1, ArH,
J ) 7.3 Hz), 7.02-7.08 (m, 2, ArH), 6.98 (t, 1, ArH, J ) 7.2
Hz), 6.7 9 (dd, 1, ArH, J ) 2.5, 8.2 Hz), 6.44 (s, 1, ArH), 6.37
(d, 1, ArH, J ) 7.6 Hz), 4.7 (d, 1, Ar2CH, J ) 7.1 Hz), 3.6 (t, 1,
ArCCHN, J ) 13.4 Hz), 3.2-3.26 (m, 1, ArCCHN), 2.66-2.8
(m, 3, ArCH2CN, CHN), 2.55-2.62 (m, 2, ArCH2), 2.5 (s, 3,
NCH3), 2.0-2.06 (m, 1, CHCN), 1.6-1.69 (m, 1, CHCN). Anal.
(HCl salt; C19H22NOCl‚0.25H2O) C, H, N.
(()-tr a n s-2,3-Dim et h oxy-7-(p -t olylsu lfon yl)-6,6a ,7,8,
9,13b-h exah ydr o-5H-ben zo[d]n aph th [2,1-b]azepin e (14b).
Amorphous 14b was obtained (62% yield) from 13b as de-
1
scribed for 14a : CIMS (isobutane) M + 1 464; H NMR (500
MHz, CDCl3) 7.04 (d, 2, ArH, J ) 8.2 Hz), 7.01 (t, 1, ArH, J )
7.4 Hz), 6.59 (d, 3, ArH, J ) 7.9 Hz), 6.58 (t, 1, ArH, J ) 7.4
Hz), 6.53 (s, 1, ArH), 6.52 (d, 1, ArH, J ) 7.42 Hz), 6.51 (s, 1,
ArH), 4.36 (d, 1, Ar2CH, J ) 11.69 Hz), 4.08-4.15 (m, 1,
ArCCHN), 3.88-3.96 (m, 4, CHN, OCH3), 3.59-3.7 (m, 4,
OCH3, ArCCHN), 2.78-2.87 (m, 2, ArCHCN, ArCH), 2.35 (s,
3, ArCH3), 2.23-2.28 (m, 1, CHCN), 2.08-2.16 (m, 1, CHCN).
(()-tr a n s-6,6a ,7,8,9,13b-Hexa h yd r o-2-m eth oxy-5H-ben -
zo[d ]n a p th [2,1-b]a zep in e (15a ). A solution of 262 mg (0.6
mmol) of 14a was suspended in 5 mL of xylene, and 0.67 mL
(2.23 mmol) of a 65+ wt % solution of sodium bis(2-methoxy-
ethoxy)aluminum hydride (Red-Al) in toluene was added. The
resulting mixture was heated at reflux for 1 h and cooled, and
5 mL of 15% sodium hydroxide was added. The mixture was
partitioned between water and ether, and the organic layer
was dried (MgSO4) and evaporated. Purification by centrifugal
thin-layer chromatography on a silica rotor, using hexane-
ethyl acetate (1:1) in an ammonia atmosphere, afforded 128
mg (76%) of the amine 15a . The hydrochloride salt of 15a was
recrystallized from methanol-ether: mp 270 °C dec; CIMS
(()-tr a n s-6,6a ,7,8,9,13b-Hexa h yd r o-5H-ben zo[d ]n a p th -
[2,1-b]a zep in e-2,3-d iol Hyd r obr om id e (5b). To a solution
of the free base 15b (20 mg, 0.065 mmol) in dichloromethane
(2 mL) was added BBr3 (0.03 mL, 0.26 mmol) dropwise at -78
°C. The crude hydrobromide salt was isolated as described
for 19 and recrystallized from ethanol-ether to give 17 mg
(71%) of the pure salt: mp 250 °C dec.; CIMS (isobutane) M
1
(isobutane) M + 1 280; H NMR (CDCl3, free base) δ 7.14 (d,
1, ArH, J ) 7.5 Hz), 7.05-7.1 (m, 2, ArH), 7.0 (t, 1, ArH, J )
7.0 Hz), 6.73 (dd, 1, ArH, J ) 3.0, 8.5 Hz), 6.55 (d, 1, ArH, J
) 7.5 Hz), 4.48 (d, 1, Ar2CH, J ) 7.5 Hz), 3.68 (s, 3, OCH3),
3.32-3.4 (m, 2, ArCCH2N), 2.78-2.84 (m, 2, ArCH2CN), 2.64-
2.73 (m, 3, ArCH2, CHN), 1.78-1.92 (m, 1, CHCN), 1.8 (b s, 1,
NH), 1.56-1.64 (m, 1, CHCN). Anal. (C19H22NOCl) C, H, N.
(()-tr a n s-6,6a ,7,8,9,13b-Hexa h yd r o-2,3-d im eth oxy-5H-
ben zo[d ]n a p th [2,1-b]a zep in e (15b). A solution of 55 mg
(0.12 mmol) of 14b was suspended in 1 mL of xylene, and 0.13
mL (0.45 mmol) of a 65+ wt % solution of sodium bis(2-
methoxyethoxy)aluminum hydride (Red-Al) in toluene was
added. The product was isolated (25 mg, 67%) as described
for 15a . The hydrochloride salt of 15b was recrystallized from
methanol-ether: mp 277-279 °C; CIMS (isobutane) M + 1
310; 1H NMR (CDCl3, free base) δ 7.16 (d, 1, ArH, J ) 7.0
Hz), 7.1 (t, 1, ArH, J ) 7.2 Hz), 7.02 (t, 1, ArH, J ) 7.6 Hz),
6.65 (s, 1, ArH), 6.0 (d, 1, ArH, J ) 7.6 Hz), 6.48 (s, 1, ArH),
4.86 (d, 1, Ar2CH, J ) 7.4 Hz), 3.58 (s, 3, OCH3), 3.54 (s, 3,
OCH3), 3.06-3.08 (m, 2, ArCCH2N), 2.56-2.57 (m, 2, ArCH2-
CN), 2.52-2.55 (m, 3, ArCH2, CHN), 1.75-1.83 (m, 1, CHCN),
1.55 (b s, 1, NH), 1.52-1.54 (m, 1, CHCN); HRCIMS calcd for
C20H23NO2 310.1807 (M + H), found 310.1807.
1
+ 1 282; H NMR (CD3OD, HBr salt) δ 7.26 (d, 2, ArH, J )
7.1 Hz), 7.18 (t, 1, ArH, J ) 7.4 Hz), 7.13 (t, 1, ArH, J ) 7.6
Hz), 6.66 (d, 1, ArH, J ) 8.0Hz), 6.63 (s, 1, ArH), 6.37 (s, 1,
ArH), 4.67 (d, 1, Ar2CH, J ) 8.2 Hz), 3.67-3.73 (m, 1H), 3.18-
3.245 (m, 2H), 3.0-3.1 (m, 2H), 2.7 (dd, 2H, J ) 5.7, 2.9 Hz),
3.16-2.23 (m, 1, CHCN), 1.73-1.82 (m, 1, CHCN); HRCIMS
calcd for free base C18H19NO2 282.1494 (M + H), found
282.1452.
(()-tr a n s-6,6a ,7,8,9,13b-Hexa h yd r o-3-iod o-2-m eth oxy-
7-m eth yl-5H-ben zo[d ]n a p th [2,1-b]a zep in e (17). To a solu-
tion of 16a (160 mg, 0.55 mmol) in ethanol (4 mL) was added
silver sulfate (342 mg, 1.1 mmol) followed by iodine (279 mg,
1.10 mmol), and the mixture was stirred at room temperature
for 24 h. The resulting yellow solid was removed by filtration,
and the filtrate was evaporated to dryness under reduced
pressure. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and
washed with 5% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (3 mL),
followed by water (5 mL). After separation, the organic layer
was dried (MgSO4) and evaporated in vacuo. Purification of
the residue by centrifugal thin-layer chromatography on a
silica rotor, eluting with 20% ethyl acetate in hexane, afforded
138 mg (60%) of the free base 17 which was recrystallized from
acetonitrile: mp 159-161 °C; CIMS (isobutane) M + 1 420;
1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.6 (s, 1, ArH), 7.14 (d, 1, ArH,
J ) 7.4 Hz), 7.08 (t, 1, ArH, J ) 7.4 Hz), 7.0 (t, 1, ArH, J )
7.6 Hz), 6.46 (s, 1, ArH), 6.35 (d, 1, ArH, J ) 7.6 Hz), 4.76 (d,
1, Ar2CH, J ) 7.1 Hz), 3.72 (s, 3, OCH3), 3.65 (t, 1, ArCCH, J
) 13.4 Hz), 3.22 (dd, 1, ArCCH, J ) 5.6, 13.5 Hz), 2.76-2.85
(m, 2, ArCH2CN), 2.54-2.68 (m, 3, CHN, ArCH2), 2.52 (s, 3,
NCH3), 1.98-2.04 (m, 1, CHCN), 1.58-1.68 (m, 1, CHCN).
Anal. (C20H22NOI‚0.25H2O) C, H, N.
(()-tr a n s-6,6a,7,8,9,13b-Hexah ydr o-7-m eth yl-2-m eth oxy-
5H-ben zo[d ]n a p th [2,1-b]a zep in e (16a ). A solution of 144
mg (0.46 mmol) of amine hydrochloride 15a was mixed with
0.23 mL (2.86 mmol) of 37% formalin solution and 118 mg (1.78
mmol) of 97% sodium cyanoborohydride in 8 mL of methanol,
and the mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature.
After removal of the volatiles in vacuo, the residue was
partitioned between 5% HCl and ether. The layers were
separated, the aqueous layer was washed once more with
ether, and the organic fractions were discarded. The aqueous
layer was made basic with concentrated ammonium hydroxide,
and the alkylated amine was then extracted into 3 × 40 mL
of dichloromethane, which was dried (MgSO4) and then
filtered. The solvent was removed in vacuo to give 129 mg
(95%) of the free base 16a as a colorless oil: CIMS (isobutane)
M + 1 294; 1H NMR (CDCl3, free base) δ 7.13 (d, 1, ArH, J )
(()-tr a n s-6,6a ,7,8,9,13b -H exa h yd r o-3-iod o-7-m et h yl-
5H-ben zo[d ]n a p th [2,1-b]a zep in -2-ol Hyd r och lor id e (5c).
To a solution of the free base 17 (50 mg, 0.12 mmol) in
dichloromethane (2 mL) was added BBr3 (0.03 mL, 0.36 mmol)
dropwise at -78 °C. The free base 5c was isolated in 70%