Synthesis of precursors for the oxidative tandem cyclization of diphenolsto galanthamine analogs

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/70100018

Methods for the preparation of 4-bromo-5-[2-(4-hydroxybenzyl)benzyl]-2- methoxyphenol and 4-bromo-5-[4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butyl]-2-methoxyphenol are described.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/70100018

Molecules 2002, 7, 18-25
molecules
ISSN 1420-3049
http://www.mdpi.org
Synthesis of Precursors for the Oxidative Tandem Cyclization of
Diphenols to Galanthamine Analogs
Matthias Treu and Ulrich Jordis*
Institute of Organic Chemistry, VUT, A-1060 Vienna, Getreidemarkt 9, Austria.
Tel. +43 (1) 58801.15460, Fax +43 (1) 58801.15499.
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; email ujordis@pop.tuwien.ac.at
Received: 1 November 2001; in revised form 19 November 2001 / Accepted: 20 November 2001 /
Published: 31 January 2002
Abstract: Methods for the preparation of 4-bromo-5-[2-(4-hydroxybenzyl)benzyl]-2-
methoxyphenol and 4-bromo-5-[4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butyl]-2-methoxyphenol are described.
Keywords: Tandem cyclization, isopropyl-ether protecting group, O-dealkylation,
deoxygenation of benzyl alcohols.
Introduction
Galanthamine is an alkaloidal acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) which has been approved in
several countries for treating symptoms of Alzheimer's type senile dementia [1, 2]. In the course of our
investigations into the oxidative tandem cyclization protocol [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] we sought to extend this
reaction type to the preparation of carbocyclic galanthamine analogs. To study this approach, we needed
4-bromo-5-[2-(4-hydroxybenzyl)benzyl]-2-methoxyphenol (9) and 4-bromo-5-[4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-
butyl]-2-methoxyphenol (13) as substrates for such oxidative tandem cyclizations.
Results and Discussion
The ketone 2 [9] was prepared in a Friedel-Crafts type reaction starting from anisole and 2-bromo-
benzoyl chloride (1) [10] in 89% yield. For the reduction of the carbonyl functionality of 2, borane-
tert.-butylamine complex/aluminum chloride was employed, yielding the diphenylmethane derivative 3

Molecules, 2002, 7
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as a colorless oil in 77% yield. This reduction had previously been performed using HSiEt3/TFA [11].
O-demethylation using boron tribromide afforded the phenol 4 [12] in 80% yield as colorless crystals.
To summarize, we have found a short and convenient synthetic pathway for the preparation of 4 in an
overall yield of 55% using readily available starting materials.
Scheme 1.
BH3-tBuNH2,
1. AlCl3
2. anisole
O
Br
Br
COCl
AlCl3
Br
89%
77%
MeO
RO
1
2
3 R = Me
4 R = H
BBr3 80%
iPrBr, K2CO3 70%
5 R = iPr
iPrO
MeO
CHO
Br
1. n-BuLi
2. 6
72%
6
Br
Br
BH3-tBuNH2,
HO
AlCl3
OMe
iPrO
OMe
OiPr
RO
82%
OR
7
8 R = iPr
9 R = H
BCl3 70%
The conversion of compound 4 into the corresponding isopropyl ether 5 (isopropyl bromide,
potassium carbonate) was achieved with a yield of 70%. Compound 5 was then metallated using n-butyl
lithium and afterwards quenched with 2-bromo-5-isopropoxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (6) [13] to give
the alcohol 7 in 72% yield. The use of the borane-tert.-butylamine complex/aluminum chloride
reduction system for the deoxygenation of aryl ketones has been described [14]. We have now extended
this method to the reduction of benzyl alcohols and thus obtained the dibenzyl substituted benzene
derivative 8 in 82% yield. The cleavage of the isopropyl ethers was accomplished using boron
trichloride and gave rise to the desired diphenol compound 9 in a yield of 70% (see Scheme 1).
4-Bromo-5-[4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butyl]-2-methoxyphenol (13) was prepared from 1-(3-iodo-
propyl)-4-isopropoxybenzene (10) [15], via the corresponding triphenylphosphonium salt and 2-bromo-

Molecules, 2002, 7
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4-methoxy-5-isopropoxybenzaldehyde (6) in the presence of KOtBu. The alkene 11, isolated in 81%
yield after purification by column chromatography, was hydrogenated over palladium on carbon to give
the saturated compound 12. Deprotection of the phenolic hydroxy groups using boron trichloride gave
the target compound 13 in 93% yield (see Scheme 2).
Scheme 2.
1. PPh3
OMe
OiPr
OMe
OR
Br
Br
H2, Pd
93%
2. 6, KOtBu
I
81%
iPrO
iPrO
RO
10
11
12 R = iPr
13 R = H
BCl3 93%
Conclusions
We have presented facile and straightforward routes for the preparation of 4-bromo-5-[2-(4-
hydroxybenzyl)benzyl]-2-methoxyphenol (9) and 4-bromo-5-[4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butyl]2-methoxy-
phenol (13) employing isopropyl ethers as phenol protecting groups.
Experimental
General
1
13
Melting points were determined on a Kofler melting point apparatus. H- and C-NMR spectra
were recorded on a Bruker AC-200 (200 MHz) pulse Fourier-transform NMR spectrometer in CDCl3
using tetramethylsilane as an internal standard. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was performed on
precoated plates (Merck TLC aluminum sheets silica 60 F254) with detection by UV light or with
phosphomolybdic acid in aqueous EtOH by heating. All reactions were magnetically stirred under an
argon atmosphere. MPLC (medium pressure liquid chromatography) was performed using SiO2
(Baker), a LC-8A pump (Shimadzu), a SPD-6AV UV-detector (Shimadzu) and Büchi glass columns.
(2-Bromophenyl)-(4-methoxyphenyl)methanone (2). 2-Bromobenzoyl chloride (1) (213.0 g, 970 mmol)
in dry CHCl3 (250 mL) was added at 15 °C to anhydrous aluminum chloride (138.67 g, 1.04 mol) in dry
CHCl3 (350 mL) and the resulting mixture stirred for 15 min at ambient temperature. Anisole (125.80
g, 1.16 mol) in dry CHCl3 (100 mL) was then added dropwise, and the mixture was stirred for 12 h at
ambient temperature. 2 N HCl (250 mL) was added, the layers were separated, and the aqueous layer
was extracted with CHCl3 (3 x 200 mL). The combined organic layer was washed with 2 N HCl (3 x

Molecules, 2002, 7
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300 mL), satd. NaHCO3 (2 x 300 mL) and brine (2 x 300 mL), dried over Na2SO4/charcoal, filtered and
concentrated in vacuo. The residue was recrystallized from MeOH (500 mL) to afford the title
compound as colorless crystals (256.3 g, 89%), mp. 94-96 °C (lit. [9] 95-95.5 °C). TLC: Rf = 0.6 (9:1
1
petroleum ether-EtOAc). H-NMR (CDCl3): δ 7.80 (dd, J = 12.7 Hz, J = 3.2 Hz, 2H), 7.60 (d, J = 6.4
Hz, 1H), 7.25 - 7.45 (m, 3H), 6.90 (dd, J = 3.2 Hz, J = 12.7 Hz, 2H), 3.80 (s, 3H); 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ
194.3 (s), 164.0 (s), 140.9 (s), 132.9 (d), 132.5 (d), 130.7 (d), 128.9 (s), 128.6 (d), 127.1 (d), 119.3 (s),
113.8 (d), 55.4 (q).
1-Bromo-2-(4-methoxybenzyl)benzene (3). To anhydrous aluminum chloride (71.94 g, 541 mmol) in dry
CH2Cl2 (1200 mL), borane-tert.-butylamine complex (92 g, 1.06 mmol) was added at 0°C and the
mixture stirred for 1 h at this temperature. Compound 2 (102 g, 350 mmol) in dry CH2Cl2 (600 mL)
was thenadded within 1 h and the resulting mixture was stirred for 1 h at 0 °C. 0.1 N HCl (1000 mL)
was added dropwise, the layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted with CH2Cl2 (3 x
200 mL). The combined organic layer was washed with 2 N HCl (3 x 300 mL), satd. NaHCO3 (2 x 300
mL) and brine (2 x 300 mL), dried over Na2SO4/charcoal, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give 3
as a colorless oil. Yield: 75 g (77%). TLC: Rf = 0.8 (9:1 petroleum ether-EtOAc). 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ
7.60 (d, J = 9.5 Hz, 1H), 7.05 - 7.30 (m, 5H), 6.85 (d, J = 9.5 Hz, 2H), 4.05 (s, 2H), 3.85 (s, 3H); 13C-
NMR (CDCl3): δ 158.0 (s), 140.7 (d), 132.8 (d), 131.5 (s), 130.9 (s), 129.9 (d), 127.7 (d), 127.4 (s),
124.8 (d), 113.9 (d), 55.2 (q), 40.8 (t).
4-(2-Bromobenzyl)phenol (4). To 3 (75 g, 271 mmol) in dry CH2Cl2 (600 mL), BBr3 (48.5 g, 194
mmol) was added at – 80°C. The mixture was warmed up to ambient temperature and stirred for 12 h. 2
N HCl (200 mL) was added, the layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted with
CH2Cl2 (3 x 200 mL). The combined organic layer was washed successively with 2 N HCl (4 x 150
mL), satd. NaHCO3 (2 x 200 mL) and brine (2 x 200 mL), dried over Na2SO4/charcoal, filtered and
concentrated in vacuo. The crude product was recrystallized from n-heptane (200 mL) to give colorless
crystals of compound 4 (56.8 g, 80%), mp. 83 - 85 °C (Lit.: 85 - 85.5 °C). TLC: Rf = 0.4 (9:1 petroleum
ether-EtOAc). 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ 7.61 (dd, J = 7.0 Hz, J = 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.36 - 7.04 (m, 5H), 6.82 (d,
J = 8.3 Hz, 2H), 6.67 (b, 1H), 4.10 (s, 2H); 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ 153.6 (s), 140.6 (s), 132.7 (d), 131.8
(s), 130.9 (d), 130.1 (d), 127.7 (d), 127.4 (d), 124.7 (s), 115.3 (d), 40.8 (t).
1-Bromo-2-(4-isopropoxybenzyl)benzene (5). Compound 4 (56.8 g, 216 mmol), 2-bromopropane (79.75
g, 648 mmol), and freshly ground anhydrous K2CO3 (89.6 g, 648 mmol) were stirred in dry acetonitrile
(400 mL) at 60 °C for 96 h. The mixture was filtered and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was
dissolved in Et2O (250 mL) and washed with water (250 mL). The aqueous layer was extracted with
Et2O (4 x 50 mL), the combined organic layer was washed with water (4 x 100 mL) and brine (1 x 300
mL), dried over Na2SO4, and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by
Kugelrohr distillation (115-125 °C/0.01 mbar) to afford 5 as a colorless oil (45.7 g, 70%). TLC: Rf =
0.8 (9:1 petroleum ether-EtOAc). Anal. Calcd for C16H17BrO: C, 62.96; H, 5.61. Found: C, 62.74; H,

Molecules, 2002, 7
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1
5.49. H-NMR (CDCl3): δ 7.60 (d, J = 6.4 Hz, 1H), 7.05 - 7.30 (m, 5H), 6.85 (d, J = 6.4 Hz, 2H),
13
4.55 (septet, J = 6.4 Hz, 1H), 4.05 (s, 2H), 1.30 (d, J = 6.4 Hz, 6H); C-NMR (CDCl3): δ 156.3 (s),
140.8 (d), 132.8 (s), 131.3 (s), 130.9 (d), 129.9 (d), 127.7 (s), 127.4 (d), 124.7 (d), 115.8 (d), 69.8 (d),
40.8 (t), 22.1 (q).
2-Bromo-5-isopropoxy-4-methoxyphenyl-[2-(4-isopropoxybenzyl]-phenylmethanol (7). To 5 (10.0 g,
32.76 mmol) in dry THF (100 mL) n-BuLi (21.09 mL, 33.74 mmol, 1.6 M in hexane) was added under
argon at - 80 °C and the resukting mixture was stirred for 1 h at this temperature. 2-bromo-4-methoxy-
5-isopropoxy-benzaldehyde (6) (9.04 g, 33.09 mmol) in dry THF (25 mL) was then added as fast as
possible at - 90 °C and stirred for 2 h at ambient temperature. Satd. NH4Cl (150 mL) was added, the
mixture was concentrated to a volume of 150 mL under reduced pressure and extracted with Et2O (5 x
50 mL). The combined organic layer was washed with satd. NH4Cl (3 x 80 mL), water (2 x 80 mL) and
brine (1 x 80 mL), dried over Na2SO4, and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified
by MPLC (500 g SiO2, 4:1 petroleum ether-Et2O) to afford the title compound as a slightly yellow oil.
Yield: 11.73 g (72%). TLC: Rf = 0.4 (4:1 petroleum ether-EtOAc). Anal. Calcd for C27H31BrO4: C,
64.93; H, 6.26. Found: C, 64.63; H, 6.18. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ 7.10 - 7.35 (m, 3H), 7.05 (d, J = 6.4 Hz,
4H), 6.90 (s, 1H), 6.80 (d, J = 6.4 Hz, 2H), 6.25 (s, 1H), 4.25 - 4.60 (m, 2H), 4.05 (s, 1H), 4.00 (s, 1H),
13
3.90 (s, 3H), 1.95 (s, 1H), 1.15 - 1.40 (m, 12H); C-NMR (CDCl3): δ 156.2 (s), 150.2 (s), 146.6 (s),
140.2 (s), 138.9 (s), 133.9 (s), 132.3 (s), 130.6 (d), 129.7 (d), 127.8 (d), 126.9 (d), 126.6 (d), 116.0 (d),
115.9 (s), 115.8 (d), 113.6 (d), 71.5 (d), 71.3 (d), 69.8 (d), 56.1 (q), 37.9 (t), 21.9 (q).
1-Bromo-4-isopropoxy-2-[2-(4-isopropoxybenzyl]-benzyl]-5-methoxybenzene (8). Borane-tert.-butyl-
amine complex (11.80 g, 135.5 mmol) was added at 0 °C to anhydrous aluminum chloride (6.49 g,
48.80 mmol) in dry CH2Cl2 (160 mL) and the mixture stirred for 1 h at this temperature. Compound 7
(22.55 g, 45.15 mmol) in dry CH2Cl2 (100 mL) was then added within 1 h and stirred for 20 min at
ambient temperature. 2 N HCl (150 mL) was added dropwise, the layers were separated, and the
aqueous layer was extracted with CH2Cl2 (3 x 100 mL). The combined organic layer was washed with 2
N HCl (3 x 150 mL), satd. NaHCO3 (2 x 100 mL) and brine (1 x 100 mL), dried over Na2SO4/charcoal,
filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by Kugelrohr distillation (170-180°C/0.005
mbar) to give 8 as a colorless oil. Yield: 16.95 g (82%). TLC: Rf = 0.5 (4:1 petroleum ether-EtOAc).
1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ 7.10 - 7.25 (m, 3H), 7.05 (d, J = 6.4 Hz, 2H), 6.98 (s, 2H), 6.80 (s, 1H), 6.78 (d, J
= 12.7 Hz, 1H), 6.40 (s, 1H), 4.5 (septet, J = 12.7 Hz, 1H), 4.25 (septet, J = 12.7 Hz, 1H), 3.95 (s, 2H),
13
3.90 (s, 2H), 3.85 (s, 3H), 1.35 (d, J = 6.4 Hz, 6H), 1.25 (d, J = 6.4 Hz, 6H); C-NMR (CDCl3): δ
156.1 (s), 149.4 (s), 146.5 (s), 139.4 (s), 137.9 (s), 132.1 (s), 131.7 (s), 130.3 (d), 129.7 (d), 126.5 (d),
117.9 (s), 116.0 (d), 115.1 (d), 71.5 (d), 69.8 (d), 56.2 (q), 38.3 (t), 21.9 (q).
4-bromo-5-[2-(4-hydroxybenzyl)benzyl]-2-methoxyphenol (9). To 8 (14.11 g, 29.2 mmol) in dry CH2Cl2
(50 mL), BCl3 (150 mL, 150 mmol, 1 M in CH2Cl2) was added at -78°C and stirred for 1 h at ambient
temperature. 2 N HCl (150 mL) was added dropwise, the layers were separated, and the aqueous layer

Molecules, 2002, 7
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was extracted with CH2Cl2 (5 x 50 mL). The combined organic layer was washed with 2 N HCl (2 x
100 mL), water (2 x 100 mL) and brine (1 x 100 mL), dried over Na2SO4/charcoal, filtered and
concentrated in vacuo. The residue was recrystallized from iPr2O (50 mL) to give colorless crystals of 9
(7.81 g, 70%), mp. 119 - 123 °C. TLC: Rf = 0.4 (4:1 petroleum –EtOAc). Anal. Calcd for C21H19BrO3:
C, 63.17; H, 4.80. Found: C, 62.89; H, 4.79. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ 8.45 8 (s, 1H), 7.95 (s, 1H), 6.90 (d, J
= 6.4 Hz, 3H), 6.60 - 6.80 (m, 4H), 6.50 (d, J = 6.4 Hz, 2H), 6.20 (s, 1H), 3.65 (s, 3H), 3.60 (s, 4H),
13
2.75 (s, 1H); C-NMR (CDCl3): δ 154.9 (s), 146.0 (s), 145.2 (s), 139.5 (s), 137.7 (s), 132.0 (s), 130.8
(s), 130.8 (d), 129.6 (d), 129.5 (d), 126.3 (d), 126.2 (d), 116.7 (d), 115.2 (d), 115.1 (d), 112.9 (s), 56.0
(q), 38.1 (t), 37.9 (t).
1-Bromo-4-isopropoxy-2-[4-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-but-1-enyl]-5-methoxybenzene (11). PPh3 (7.13 g,
27.2 mmol) and 1-(3-iodopropyl)-4-isopropoxybenzene (10) (7.52 g, 24.7 mmol) in dry acetonitrile
were stirred under reflux for 30 h. The mixture was concentrated in vacuo, the residue was crystallized
from iPr2O and triturated with Et2O (3 x 50 mL) to yield the triphenylphosphonium salt as a colorless
solid (13.8 g, 98.5%), mp. 159-161°C. This salt was suspended in dry THF (100 mL), treated with
KOtBu (3.30 g, 29.4 mmol) at 5°C within 15 min and stirred for additional 15 min. 2-Bromo-5-
isopropoxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (6) (6.32 g, 23.1 mmol) was added within 15 min and stirred for
30 min at ambient temperature. The mixture was concentrated in vacuo, dissolved in iPr2O (50 mL) and
filtered. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo, and the residue was purified by MPLC (200 g SiO2,
95:5 petroleum ether-Et2O) to afford compound 11 as a colorless oil (8.25 g, 82%). TLC: Rf = 0.8 (4:1
1
petroleum ether-EtOAc). H-NMR (CDCl3): δ 7.21 - 7.01 (m, 3H), 6.89 - 6.73 (m, 3H), 6.65 and 6.41
(d, J = 15.9 Hz and J = 11.4 Hz, 1H), 6.14 - 5.98 and 5.82 - 5.62 (m, 1H), 4.62 - 4.28 (m, 2H), 3.82 (s,
13
3H), 2.86 - 2.62 (m, 2H), 2.51 (quintet, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H), 1.48 - 1.27 (m, 12H); C-NMR (CDCl3): δ
156.0 (s), 150.3 and 150.0 (s), 146.6 and 145.8 (s), 133.5 and 133.4 (s), 132.1 (s), 131.1 (d), 129.7 and
129.5 (d), 129.3 and 129.2 (d), 128.7 and 128.6 (s), 117.9 and 115.9 (d), 115.8 and 115.7 (d), 114.7 and
114.1 (d), 71.8 and 71.7 (d), 69.8 (d), 56.1 (q), 34.9 (t), 34.8 (t), 34.7 (t), 30.2 (t), 22.0 (q), 21.9 (q).
1-Bromo-4-isopropoxy-2-[4-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)butyl]-5-methoxybenzene (12). Pd (2.5 g, 10% on
carbon) in MeOH (25 mL) was prehydrogenated (15 min, rt, 70 psi) using a Parr apparatus. Compound
11 (5.0 g, 11.5 mmol) in MeOH (20 mL) was added and the mixture was hydrogenated at 75 psi and rt
for 48 h. The mixture was filtered, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo, and the residue was purified
by MPLC (100 g SiO2, 95:5 petroleum ether-Et2O) to give 12 as a colorless oil (4.63 g, 93%). TLC: Rf
1
= 0.3 (2:1 petroleum ether-Et2O). H-NMR (CDCl3): δ 7.12 (d, J = 7.9 Hz, 2H), 6.99 - 6.71 (m, 4H),
13
4.68 - 4.42 (m, 2H), 3.87 (s, 3H), 2.80 - 2.50 (m, 4H), 2.86 - 2.57 (m, 4H), 1.55 - 1.29 (m, 12H), C-
NMR (CDCl3): δ 155.8 (s), 148.5 (s), 146.9 (s), 135.1 (s), 134.4 (s), 129.1 (d), 120.7 (s), 116.6 (d),
115.7 (d), 112.0 (d), 71.3 (d), 69.7 (d), 55.9 (q), 35.1 (t), 34.7 (t), 22.0 (q), 22.0 (q).
4-Bromo-5-[4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butyl]-2-methoxyphenol (13). BCl3 (15 mL, 1.6 M in CH2Cl2) was
added at -78°C to 12 (4.0 g, 11.4 mmol) in dry CH2Cl2 (50 mL) and the resulting mixture was stirred

Molecules, 2002, 7
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for 1 h at this temperature and then for an additional 2 h at ambient temperature. Water (100 mL) was
added dropwise, and the mixture was concentrated to ca. 80 mL in vacuo. The precipitate formed was
collected by filtration and triturated with water (6 x 100 mL) and iPr2O (2 x 10 mL) to give colorless
crystals of compound 13 (3.71 g, 93%), mp. 98 - 101 °C. TLC: Rf = 0.8 (2:1 petroleum ether-Et2O). 1H-
NMR (CDCl3): δ 8.22 (b, 1H), 7.08 - 6.81 (m, 2H), 6.80 - 6.60 (m, 4H), 6.59 - 6.44 (m, 1H), 3.76 (s,
3H), 2.48 (s, 4H), 1.57 (s, 4H); 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ 154.4 (s), 145.3 (s), 144.7 (s), 135.4 (s), 133.1 (s),
128.8 (d), 119.1 (s), 114.9 (d), 114.8 (d), 110.7 (d), 55.6 (q), 34.7 (t), 34.4 (t), 30.9 (t), 30.7 (t).
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Sample Availability: Samples of compounds 2, 4, 5, 9 and 13 are available from MDPI.
© 2002 by MDPI (http://www.mdpi.org). Reproduction is permitted for noncommercial purposes.