Synthesis and stability of 3-hydroxyanagrelide, a biologically potent metabolite of anagrelide

Article abstract of DOI:10.3987/COM-12-S(N)115

Metabolism of 6,7-dichloro-1,5-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin- 2-one (anagrelide), a drug for treating essential thrombocythemia, gives 6,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-1,5-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-2-one (3-hydroxyanagrelide) and 2-amino-5,6-dichloro-3,4-dihydroquinazoline. To enable the properties of 3-hydroxyanagrelide to be fully evaluated, the racemic compound has been synthesized. In pH 7.4 aqueous buffer 3-hydroxyanagrelide readily equilibrates with an isomer, 6,7-dichloro-1-hydroxy-3,5- dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]- quinazolin-2-one, and is also hydrolyzed to 2-amino-5,6-dichloro-3,4-dihydroquinazoline. 3-Hydroxyanagrelide (half-life 40 hours) was the dominant species at equilibrium and it was concluded that the equilibration and decomposition are sufficiently slow that published assays of 3-hydroxyanagrelide are reliable.

Full text of DOI:10.3987/COM-12-S(N)115

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 2, 2012
1637
HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 2, 2012, pp. 1637 - 1646. © 2012 The Japan Institute of Heterocyclic Chemistry
Received, 31st August, 2012, Accepted, 22nd October, 2012, Published online, 30th October, 2012
DOI: 10.3987/COM-12-S(N)115
SYNTHESIS AND STABILITY OF 3-HYDROXYANAGRELIDE, A
BIOLOGICALLY POTENT METABOLITE OF ANAGRELIDE#
Richard B. Scott,a Kristin M. Downey,a Keith P. Healy,a Alistair P.
Henderson,a Claire L. Robinson,a William Clegg,b Ross W. Harrington,b
Richard Franklin,c and Bernard T. Goldinga,b*
aNewChem Technologies Ltd., Holly Lodge, Whitesmocks, Durham, DH1 4LH,
b
UK. School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle
c
upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK. Shire Pharmaceutical Development, Hampshire
International Business Park, Chineham, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG24 8EP, UK
E-mail: bernard.golding@ncl.ac.uk
Abstract – Metabolism of 6,7-dichloro-1,5-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-
2-one (anagrelide), a drug for treating essential thrombocythemia, gives
6,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-1,5-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-2-one (3-hydroxy-
anagrelide) and 2-amino-5,6-dichloro-3,4-dihydroquinazoline. To enable the
properties of 3-hydroxyanagrelide to be fully evaluated, the racemic compound has
been synthesized. In pH 7.4 aqueous buffer 3-hydroxyanagrelide readily
equilibrates with an isomer, 6,7-dichloro-1-hydroxy-3,5-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]-
quinazolin-2-one, and is also hydrolyzed to 2-amino-5,6-dichloro-3,4-dihydro-
quinazoline. 3-Hydroxyanagrelide (half-life 40 hours) was the dominant species at
equilibrium and it was concluded that the equilibration and decomposition are
sufficiently slow that published assays of 3-hydroxyanagrelide are reliable.
The myeloproliferative disorder essential thrombocythemia (ET) is characterized by an excess of platelets
in peripheral blood.1,2 The frequency of the disease is 2.5 per 105 person-years, with sufferers having a
higher risk of adverse thrombotic and hemorrhagic events. Anagrelide (1, 6,7-dichloro-1,5-
dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin- 2-one) is a potent inhibitor of megakaryocytopoiesis3-5 that is prescribed
for the treatment of ET.2,6,7 Anagrelide is a highly selective drug unlike the alternative agent hydroxyurea
(hydroxycarbamide),2,8 which causes DNA damage and has leukemogenic potential.
#Dedicated to Professor Ei-ichi Negishi, for his outstanding contributions to organometallic chemistry.

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 2, 2012
H
H
N
NH2
NH
N
N
N
N
CYP450 1A2
O
O
N
N
Cl
Cl
Cl
OH
Cl
Cl
Cl
1
3
2
Scheme 1. Metabolism of 1 to 3 and 2
Studies of the metabolism of anagrelide 1 identified the metabolites 2-amino-5,6-dichloro-3,4-
dihydroquinazoline 2 (RL 603) and the product of hydroxylation by cytochrome P450 1A2,
6,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-1,5-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-2-one (3-hydroxyanagrelide 3).9 The
absolute configuration of metabolite 3, assuming an excess of one enantiomer was formed, was not
determined. Compound 2 probably results from the ring-opening and hydrolysis of 3 (Scheme 1).
Inhibition of PDE-III by 3 is responsible for the undesirable cardiac side-effects of 1.2,10 Whilst 1 and 3
are similarly potent against megakaryocytopoiesis [IC50 values for inhibition of megakaryocytopoiesis: 27
nM (1); 48 nM (3)], the metabolite 3 is nearly 40-fold more potent against PDE-III [IC50 values for
inhibition of PDE-III: 32 nM (1); 0.9 nM (3)].9 Compound 2 has no effect on megakaryocytopoiesis and
is only a weak inhibitor of PDE-III (IC50 40 M).
We have developed a reliable synthetic route (Scheme 2) to racemic 3, which makes this biologically
potent molecule readily available for the first time and enables a full determination of its pharmacological
profile, in particular the activities against megakaryocyte maturation and PDE-III.9 We show that
compound 3 exhibits ring-chain tautomerism, which was not previously realized9 and has important
implications for its biological assay.
Reduction of the nitro group of 2,3-dichloro-6-nitrobenzylamine 4 with tin(II) chloride in hydrochloric
acid was followed by condensation of aniline 5 with cyanogen bromide to yield 2. Coupling of 2 with
ethyl isopropylidene-glycerate 611 gave acetal 7, which was hydrolyzed with aqueous trifluoroacetic acid
to diol 8. Cleavage of diol 8 with sodium metaperiodate unmasked glyoxylic aldehyde 9, which
spontaneously cyclized to racemic 3-hydroxyanagrelide 3. Such ring-chain tautomerism of
amido-aldehydes has been previously described.12 Despite many attempts the yield of pure, isolated 3
could never be raised above ca. 10%. The fundamental problem is that the cyclisation of the intermediate
aldehyde
9
can proceed in two directions, with the formation of the isomer
6,7-dichloro-1-hydroxy-3,5-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]quinazolin-2-one 10 being at least as favorable as 3.
Furthermore, both compounds are susceptible to hydrolysis to 2 via aldehyde 9.

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 2, 2012
1639
Me
Me
O
O
EtO
NO2
NH2
NH2
N
NH2
CNBr
SnCl2
HCl
O
NH2
NH
.HBr
Cl
c
PhMe
Cl
Cl
NaH, THF
Cl
Cl
Cl
2
4
5
Me
Me
OH
H
O
H
H
O
N
N
OH
N
N
N
N
NaIO4, NEt3
TFA/H2O
O
NH
O
NH
O
N
H2O, acetone
Cl
Cl
Cl
.TFA
OH
Cl
Cl
Cl
3
7
8
Scheme 2. Synthesis of 3
1
The H NMR spectrum of 3 showed an AB system for the benzylic methylene, indicative of an adjacent
chiral center, which rules out the possibility that 3 exists in a ring-opened aldehyde 9 or aldehyde-hydrate
form. The isomer 10 resulting from the alternative possible mode of ring-closure of intermediate aldehyde
1
9 (Scheme 3), was isolated during chromatographic purification of 3 and exhibited similar H NMR and
mass spectral data to 3. The crystal structure of 10 confirmed its identity (Figure 1). Treatment of 10 with
acetic anhydride in pyridine yielded the diacetate 11 (Scheme 3 and Figure 2).
Figure 1. Molecular structure of 10
Figure 2. Molecular structure of 11
(1:1 DMSO solvate)

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 2, 2012
O
O
O
HO
AcO
O
H
N
NH
N
N
N
NH
NH
Ac2O
N
NAc
pyridine
Cl
Cl
Cl
Cl
Cl
Cl
9
10
11
Scheme 3. Formation of 10 and 11
To determine if 3 was stable under the conditions and multi-day timespan of the megakaryocytopoiesis
assay, the compound was incubated at 37 ºC in pH 7.4 buffer and analyzed by HPLC over the course of
one week. Under these conditions the half-life of 3 was ca. 40 hours (Figure 3), with formation of mainly
2 and 10 (~ 10% of the concentration of 3). Although 3 will decompose during the assay, it remains the
dominant species and so the published9 assays for 3 are reliable. When the stability of 10 was studied as
described for 3, after ca. 50 hours all three components (2, 3 and 10) were present at similar
concentrations, before both isomers were converted irreversibly into 2. Hence, attempting to determine an
IC50 value for inhibition of megakaryocytopoiesis by isomer 10 would not yield a valid result, as it would
inevitably form a mixture with the highly potent 3 under the assay conditions.
Stability of 3-Hydroxyanagrelide at pH 7.4, 37° C
0.04
0.035
0.03
3-Hydroxyanagrelide (3)
RL603 (2)
0.025
0.02
0.015
0.01
0.005
0
Isomer 10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Time / h
Figure 3. Equilibration of 3 with 10 and their decomposition to 2

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 2, 2012
1641
EXPERIMENTAL
Melting points were determined in glass capillaries and are uncorrected. NMR spectra were recorded on a
Bruker spectrometer using residual solvent signals as reference. 2,3-Dichloro-6-nitrobenzylamine.HCl
was purchased from Cambridge Major Laboratories. Other reagents and solvents were purchased from
reputable suppliers. HPLC analyses were performed on a Shimadzu Prominence 20A instrument with
diode array detection controlled by Shimadzu LCSolutions software. Solvent A was 0.5% trifluoroacetic
acid in water. A linear gradient from 20 to 30% solvent B (acetonitrile) over 20 min was used
[Phenomenex Luna C18 (2) column (250  4.6 mm, 10 μm particle size); temperature 37 C; flow rate 1
mL min-1; injection volume of 60 μL; detection wavelength 272 nm; sample concentration 0.005 mg mL-1
in pH 7.4 buffer containing 5% DMSO]. All time points were measured in triplicate.
6-Amino-2,3-dichlorobenzylamine 5: To a solution of tin(II) chloride dihydrate (87.6 g, 388 mmol) in
conc. HCl (100 mL) was added portionwise a slurry of 2,3-dichloro-6-nitrobenzylamine hydrochloride 4
(20.0 g, 77.7 mmol) in conc. HCl (100 mL), keeping the temperature below 45 C. The reaction mixture
was heated at 45 C for 2 h, then cooled to −5 C and the resulting white solid collected using suction
filtration. The solid was added to ice-water (100 mL) and the mixture basified (pH 12) with solid NaOH.
CH2Cl2 (150 mL) was added and the layers were separated. The aqueous layer was further extracted with
CH2Cl2 (5  70 mL), and the organic extracts were combined and washed with water (5  70 mL), then
dried (MgSO4) and concentrated to yield the title compound as a yellow solid which was used without
further purification (10.6 g, 72%). Rf 0.24 (EtOAc). H (300 MHz; CDCl3) 7.16 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 1H, ArH),
6.55 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 1H, ArH), 4.65 (br s, 2H, ArNH2), 4.12 (s, 2H, CH2), 1.38 (br s, 2H, NH2). δC (75
MHz; CDCl3) 146.7 (aromatic C-N), 132.6 (aromatic C-Cl), 129.4 (aromatic C-H), 125.8 (aromatic C-Cl),
122.0 (aromatic C-CH2), 115.4 (aromatic C-H), 41.5 (benzylic C). m/z (EI) 190.0068 (M+, 95%.
35
C7H8 Cl2N2 requires 190.0065), 173 (100), 146 (36).
2-Amino-5,6-dichloro-3,4-dihydroquinazoline. HBr 2: To a stirred solution of 6-amino-2,3-dichloro-
benzylamine 5 (10.0 g, 52.4 mmol) in toluene (400 mL) was added dropwise a solution of cyanogen
bromide (6.11 g, 57.6 mmol) in toluene (70 mL), forming a white precipitate. The mixture was stirred at
room temperature for 1 h, at 75 C for 30 min and finally at reflux for 1 h. The reaction mixture was
allowed to cool to room temperature and was stirred overnight. The white precipitate was collected using
suction filtration, washed with toluene then petrol, dissolved in MeOH and pre-absorbed onto silica.
Medium pressure chromatography on silica (CH2Cl2 -MeOH -conc. aq. NH3, 80 :18 :2) yielded the title
compound as a white solid hydrobromide salt (7.1 g, 47%). δH (300 MHz; DMSO-d6) 8.49 (br s, 1H, NH),
7.69 (br s, 2H, NH2), 7.54 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 1H, ArH), 6.99 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 1H, ArH), 4.53 (s, 2H, CH2). δC

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 2, 2012
(75 MHz; DMSO-d6) 152.3 (guanidine C), 133.8 (aromatic C-N), 130.2 (aromatic C-H), 129.3 (aromatic
C-Cl), 126.6 (aromatic C-Cl), 118.8 (aromatic C-C), 115.6 (aromatic C-H), 40.8 (benzylic C, obscured by
35
solvent peak). m/z (EI) 215.0014 (organic cation M+, 69%. C8H7 Cl2N3 requires 215.0017), 214 (100),
197 (14), 174 (10). (Anal. Found: C, 32.10; H, 2.72; N, 13.99. C8H8BrCl2N3 requires C, 32.36; H, 2.72; N,
14.15).
Ethyl 2,3-isopropylidene-glycerate 6: To an ice-cooled, mechanically-stirred solution of
1,2-O-isopropylideneglycerol (18.8 mL, 20.0 g, 152 mmol) in water (800 mL) was added solid KOH
(16.8g, 300 mmol) followed by solid KMnO4 (34.0 g, 216 mmol) portionwise over 2 h. Stirring was
continued overnight, and the resulting brown slurry was filtered under vacuum. The filter cake was
washed with further water (2 × 100 mL) and the combined aqueous liquors decolorized with sodium
metabisulfite and concentrated to dryness under vacuum at 50 C. The resulting white residue was broken
up with a spatula, suspended in anhydrous DMF (120 mL), treated with ethyl iodide (19.2 mL, 37.4 g,
240 mmol) and stirred overnight. The resulting opaque mixture was poured into water, extracted with
ether (3 × 100 mL) and the combined organic layers washed with water (5 × 50 mL), dried (MgSO4) and
concentrated to yield the title compound as a colorless oil (10.8 g, 41%). H (300 MHz; CDCl3) 4.52 (dd,
J = 8.0, 5.2 Hz, 1H, CH), 4.20 – 4.15 (m, 3H, OCH2 + CH), 4.04 (dd, J = 8.0, 5.2 Hz, 1H, CH), 1.52 (s,
3H, CH3) 1.42 (s, 3H, CH3), 1.23 (t, J = 7.1 Hz, 3H, CH3CH2).
Isopropylidene-glyceric acid (5,6-dichloro-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-2-yl)amide 7: To a suspension of
2-amino-5,6-dichloro-3,4-dihydroquinazoline hydrobromide 2 (5.05 g, 17.0 mmol) in anhydrous THF
(100 mL) under N2 was added NaH (1.50 g of a 60 wt % dispersion, 37.4 mmol) and the mixture was
heated at 50 C for 30 min. After cooling to room temperature, ethyl 2,3-isopropylidene-glycerate 6 (3.15
g, 18.1 mmol) was added, and the mixture was stirred for 2 ½ days. The reaction was quenched with
water and partitioned between water and EtOAc. The phases were separated and the aqueous layer was
extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were dried (MgSO4), silica (ca. 10 g) was added and
the suspension was concentrated to dryness. Medium pressure chromatography on silica (EtOAc - petrol,
40 : 60 → 50 : 50) yielded the title compound as an off-white solid (3.20 g, 55%). An analytical sample
was recrystallised from Et2O - EtOAc. Rf 0.44 (EtOAc). H (300 MHz; CDCl3) 7.16 (d, J = 8.5 Hz, 1H,
ArH), 6.61 (d, J = 8.5 Hz, 1H, ArH), 4.65 (s, 2H, benzylic CH2), 4.47 (dd, J = 7.4, 5.4 Hz, 1H, CH), 4.22
(t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H, CH), 4.06 (dd, J = 7.4, 5.4 Hz, 1H, CH), 1.45 (s, 3H, CH3), 1.32 (s, 3H, CH3). C (75
MHz; CDCl3) 177.7 (C=O), 152.3 (guanidine C), 139.6 (aromatic C-N), 130.2 (aromatic C-Cl), 129.9
(aromatic C-Cl), 127.4 (aromatic C-C), 119.8 (aromatic C-H), 119.4 (aromatic C-H), 111.9 (acetal C),
76.2 (CHO), 68.0 (CH2O), 42.2 (benzylic C), 26.5 (CH3), 25.6 (CH3). m/z (EI) 343.0486 (M+, 32%.
C14H1535Cl2N3O3 requires 343.0491), 242 (83), 199 (100), 149 (90). (Anal. Found C, 48.77; H, 4.53; N,

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 2, 2012
1643
12.19. C14H15Cl2N3O3 requires C, 48.85; H, 4.39; N, 12.21). mp 154 – 156 C.
5,6-Dichloro-2-(2,3-dihydroxypropionylamino)-3,4-dihydroquinazolinium trifluoroacetate 8: To a
suspension of isopropylidene-glyceric acid (5,6-dichloro-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-2-yl)amide 7 (3.2 g, 9.3
mmol) in water (30 mL) was added trifluoroacetic acid until the mixture just clarified (~15 mL). The
mixture was stirred for 1 h. The trifluoroacetic acid and water were removed under reduced pressure at 40
C to leave a viscous orange oil. Trituration with THF induced crystallization of the product, and the
suspension was left at 4 C overnight to complete the crystallization. The product was collected by
suction filtration to yield the title compound as an off-white solid (2.9 g, 74%). An analytical sample was
recrystallized from EtOAc - MeOH. Rf 0.50 (EtOAc – MeOH, 9:1). H (300 MHz; DMSO-d6) 7.59 (d, J
= 8.7 Hz, 1H, ArH), 7.07 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H, ArH), 4.75 (s, 2H, benzylic CH2), 4.24 (t, J = 3.5 Hz, 1H,
CHOH), 3.67 (d, J = 3.5 Hz, 2H, CH2OH). C (75 MHz; DMSO-d6) 176.1 (C=O), 159.1 (quartet, J = 33

Hz, CF3CO2 ), 149.0 (guanidine C), 132.8 (aromatic C-N), 130.4 (aromatic C-Cl), 129.3 (aromatic C-Cl),
127.8 (aromatic C-C), 118.9 (aromatic C-H), 117.1 (quartet, J = 295 Hz, CF3), 116.8 (aromatic C-H),
73.4 (CHOH), 63.7 (CH2OH), 41.9 (benzylic C). m/z (EI) 303.0159 (organic cation M+, 11%.
C11H1135Cl2N3O3 requires 303.0178), 242 (12), 214 (100) 199 (25). (Anal. found C, 37.28; H, 2.67; N,
9.89. C13H12Cl2F3N3O5 requires C, 37.34; H, 2.89; N, 10.05). mp 160 – 163 C.
rac.-6,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-1,5-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-2-one 3 and rac.-6,7-dichloro-1-
hydroxy-3,5-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]quinazolin-2-one 10: To a suspension of 5,6-dichloro-2-
(2,3-dihydroxypropionylamino)-3,4-dihydroquinazolinium trifluoroacetate 8 (1.75g, 4.22 mmol) in
acetone (50 mL) and water (10 mL) in an oversized flask was added NaIO4 (1.81 g, 8.45 mmol) dissolved
in water (10 mL) in one portion. After 5 min, triethylamine (0.56 mL, 404 mg, 4.0 mmol) was added
dropwise (precipitation), and the mixture was vigorously stirred 1 h. Silica (~ 5 g) was added and the
mixture was concentrated to dryness at 40 C (caution, bumping) to leave the crude product pre-absorbed.
This was subjected to medium pressure chromatography on silica (EtOAc – MeOH, 98 :2→ 90 :10 in 2%
increments, then 90 : 10 → 80 : 20 in 5% increments). The fractions were analyzed by TLC (THF –
MeOH, 9 : 1). The appropriate fractions were combined and concentrated, and the resulting samples of
3-hydroxyanagrelide 3 and isomer 10 were suspended in Et2O – MeCN (3 :1) with the aid of sonication,
transferred by pipette onto filter papers in Buchner funnels, and washed sequentially with water, MeCN
and Et2O. Drying under high vacuum at 50 °C yielded the title compounds in yields of approximately 5 –
10% each.
3-Hydroxyanagrelide 3: H (300 MHz; DMSO-d6) 11.40 (broad s, 1H, NH), 7.47 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H, ArH),
6.96 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H, OH), 6.91 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H, ArH), 5.01 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H, CHOH), 4.58 + 4.47
(AB system, J = 14.6 Hz, 2H, benzylic CH2). δC (75 MHz; DMSO-d6) 177.1 (C=O), 157.0 (guanidine C),

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 2, 2012
140.2 (aromatic C-N), 130.0 (aromatic C-Cl), 129.5 (aromatic C-Cl), 125.3 (aromatic C-C), 120.4
(aromatic C-H), 120.1 (aromatic C-H), 81.3 (hemi-aminal C), 41.9 (benzylic C). m/z (EI) 270.9924 (M+,
35
100 %. C10H7 Cl2N3O2 requires 270.9915), 214 (86), 199 (34). (Anal. Found C, 44.06; H, 2.44; N, 14.98.
C10H7Cl2N3O2 requires C, 44.14; H, 2.59; N, 15.44).
6,7-Dichloro-1-hydroxy-3,5-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]quinazolin-2-one 10: H (300 MHz; DMSO-d6) 9.40
(s, 1H, NH), 7.59 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H, ArH), 7.15 (d, J = 9.2 Hz, 1H, OH), 6.99 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H, ArH), 5.38
(d, J = 9.2 Hz, 1H, CHOH), 4.62 + 4.56 (AB system, J = 16.8 Hz, 2H, benzylic CH2). δC (75 MHz;
DMSO-d6) 182.9 (C=O), 163.0 (guanidine C), 134.0 (aromatic C-N), 129.97 (aromatic C-Cl), 129.3
(aromatic C-Cl), 125.2 (aromatic C-C), 118.9 (aromatic C-H), 113.1 (aromatic C-H), 79.9 (hemi-aminal C),
35
41.5 (benzylic C). m/z (EI) 270.9917 (M+, 100%. C10H7 Cl2N3O2 requires 270.9915), 214 (87), 199 (35).
(Anal. Found C, 39.97; H, 3.40; N, 13.85. C10H7Cl2N3O2.1.5 H2O requires C, 40.16; H, 3.37; N, 14.05).
Acetic acid 4-acetyl-6,7-dichloro-2-oxo-1,2,4,5-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]quinazolin-1-yl ester 11: To
a suspension of 6,7-dichloro-1-hydroxy-3,5-dihydro-imidazo[1,2-a]quinazolin-2-one 10 (50 mg, 0.18
mmol) in anhydrous pyridine (4 mL) under N2 was added acetic anhydride (38 L, 41 mg, 0.40 mmol)
dropwise. The mixture was stirred overnight, then the solvent was evaporated and the residue suspended
in THF with warming and sonication. Silica (ca. 1 g) was added and the suspension was concentrated by
rotary evaporation to leave the crude product pre-absorbed. Medium pressure chromatography on silica
(eluting with EtOAc) yielded the title compound as a white powder (30 mg, 47%). Rf 0.80 (EtOAc). H
(300 MHz; CDCl3) 7.73 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H, ArH), 6.93 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H, ArH), 6.68 (s, 1H, CHOCO),
5.48 + 4.58 (AB system, J = 16.4 Hz, 2H, benzylic CH2), 2.64 (s, 3H, CH3CON), 2.16 (s, 3H, CH3COO);
C (75 MHz; CDCl3) 180.6 (OCOCH3), 171.4 (C=O), 169.5 (NCOCH3), 167.0 (guanidine C), 132.3
(aromatic C-N), 130.7 (aromatic C-Cl), 129.4 (aromatic C-Cl), 127.0 (aromatic C-C), 120.3 (aromatic
C-H), 113.1 (aromatic C-H), 76.9 (aminal C), 42.2 (benzylic C), 27.2 (NCOCH3), 20.7 (OCOCH3). m/z
(EI) 355.0137 (M+, 15%. C14H1135Cl2N3O4 requires 355.0127), 312 (45), 270 (100), 242 (45), 43 (78).
(Anal. found C, 47.51; H, 3.30; N, 11.33. C14H11Cl2N3O4 requires C, 47.21; H, 3.11; N, 11.80).
Equilibration of 3 with 10: A sample of compound 3 (10 μL of a 0.1 mg mL-1 solution in DMSO diluted
into 1 mL pH 7.4 phosphate buffer, giving a final concentration of 1 μg mL-1, equivalent to the assay
conditions), was incubated at 37 ºC and analyzed by HPLC over the course of 1 week. It was found that
under these conditions 3-hydroxyanagrelide 3 had a half-life of approximately 40 hours (Figure 3)
converting mainly to RL 603 2 and giving only at most a very low, steady state-like concentration (ca. 0.1
μg mL-1) of isomer 10. A similar experiment was performed with isomer 10.
X-Ray Crystallography. Crystal data for 10: C10H7Cl2N3O2 .C2H6OS, M = 350.2, orthorhombic, space
group Cmca, a = 6.9482(19), b = 22.751(6), c = 18.326(5) Å, V = 2897.0(13) Å3, Z = 8, T = 120 K; 11009

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 86, No. 2, 2012
1645
reflections measured, 1138 unique (Rint = 0.065), 141 parameters, R (F, F2 > 2) = 0.143, Rw (F2, all data)
= 0.316, difference map features within 0.90 e Å3. Crystal data for 11: C14H11Cl2N3O4, M = 356.2,
monoclinic, space group P21/c, a = 7.6520(5), b = 22.443(2), c = 9.1383(5) Å,  = 107.087(4), V =
1500.08(18) Å3, Z = 4, T = 150 K; 35724 reflections measured, 3417 unique (Rint = 0.034), 211
parameters, R (F, F2 > 2) = 0.034, Rw (F2, all data) = 0.094, difference map features within 0.56 e Å3.
Data were collected on Bruker SMART and Nonius KappaCCD diffractometers with synchrotron ( =
0.6898 Å) and Mo K radiation ( = 0.71073 Å) for 10 and 11, respectively. Standard programs (Bruker
SMART and SAINT, Nonius COLLECT and EVALCCD, Bruker SADABS and SHELXTL) were used
for data collection and processing, absorption corrections, structure solution and refinement.
Whole-molecule disorder was resolved and refined for 10, with the major component itself disordered
across a crystallographic mirror plane and the minor components lying on each side of this plane; it is
possible that this model is an approximation to an incommensurate structure, adequate for confirmation of
the identity of the material. Crystallographic data have been deposited with the Cambridge
Crystallographic Data Centre with numbers CCDC 689073 and 689074. Copies of data can be obtained,
free of charge, on application to CCDC, 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, U.K.
(deposit@ccdc.com.ac.uk).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The EPSRC and CCLRC are thanked for funding for the UK National Crystallography Service and access
to synchrotron facilities at Daresbury Laboratory.
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