Synthesis and enantiomeric resolution of medetomidine

Article abstract of DOI:10.1080/00304948.2015.1005985

Medetomidine {4-[l-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)ethyl]-3H-imidazole], 5} is a selective α₂-adrenoceptor agonist used in veterinary medicine for its analgesic and sedative properties. It is also an alternative and environmentally acceptable anti-fouling biocide which impedes the settlement of barnacles at nanomolar concentrations and replaces toxic antifouling coatings based on heavy metals. Several syntheses of medetomidine have been reported. The first method for the preparation of 5 and of other related 4-benzylimidazoles was described in a patent starting from 2,3-dimethylbromobenzene as shown in Scheme 1; unfortunately the yields were not reported.

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Synthesis and Enantiomeric Resolution of
Medetomidine
H. Fakhraiana, H. Toulabia, E. Choobdarib, M. H. Peyrovib & H. Hadj
Ghanbarya
a Department of Chemistry, Imam Hossein University, Tehran, Iran
b Department of Chemistry, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, Tehran,
Iran
Published online: 18 Mar 2015.
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To cite this article: H. Fakhraian, H. Toulabi, E. Choobdari, M. H. Peyrovi & H. Hadj Ghanbary
(2015) Synthesis and Enantiomeric Resolution of Medetomidine, Organic Preparations and
Procedures International: The New Journal for Organic Synthesis, 47:2, 141-148, DOI:
10.1080/00304948.2015.1005985
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Organic Preparations and Procedures International, 47:141–148, 2015
Copyright Ó Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
ISSN: 0030-4948 print / 1945-5453 online
DOI: 10.1080/00304948.2015.1005985
Synthesis and Enantiomeric Resolution
of Medetomidine
H. Fakhraian,1 H. Toulabi,1 E. Choobdari,2 M. H. Peyrovi,2 and
H. Hadj Ghanbary1
1Department of Chemistry, Imam Hossein University, Tehran, Iran
2Department of Chemistry, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, Tehran, Iran
Medetomidine {4-[l-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)ethyl]-3H-imidazole], 5} is a selective a2-adre-
noceptor agonist used in veterinary medicine for its analgesic and sedative properties.1,2
It is also an alternative and environmentally acceptable anti-fouling biocide which
impedes the settlement of barnacles at nanomolar concentrations and replaces toxic anti-
fouling coatings based on heavy metals.3–5 Several syntheses of medetomidine have been
reported.6–13
The first method for the preparation of 5 and of other related 4-benzylimidazoles was
described in a patent starting from 2,3-dimethylbromobenzene as shown in Scheme 1;
unfortunately the yields were not reported.6–8
Scheme 1
A second route, proceeding in 41% overall yield (Scheme 2),9 also involved the reac-
tion of the Grignard reagent derived from 1 with 4-(1-triphenylmethyl)imidazole carbox-
aldehyde (6).
In a third preparation, secondary carbinol 7 was obtained via the addition of 2,3-
dimethylbenzaldehyde (10) to the Grignard reagent prepared from 4-iodo-(1-tripheny1-
methyl)imidazole (11). Subsequent oxidation with MnO2, addition of MeMgCl, deprotec-
tion and hydrogenolysis afforded 5 in »60% overall yield (Scheme 3).10
Medetomidine has also been synthesized in four steps (overall yield »79%) from 1-
(N,N-dimethylsulfamoyl)imidazole which had been regioselectively protected at the 2-
Received May 31, 2014; in final form September 14, 2014.
Address correspondence to H. Fakhraian, Department of Chemistry, Imam Hossein University,
Tehran, Iran. E-mail: fakhraian@yahoo.com
141

142
Fakhraian et al.
Scheme 2
Scheme 3
position using t-BuMe2SiCl (Scheme 4).11 This method suffers from drawbacks such as
two BuLi-metalations at -78 ꢀ C, the use of lithium in liquid ammonia at -78 ꢀ C, and the
need for chromatographic purification.
Scheme 4
A more recent report described (without yields) the alkylation of N-(tri-methylsilyl)imid-
azole (TMSIm) with 1-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-1-ethanol (16) in the presence of titanium
tetrachloride for the preparation of medetomidine at room temperature (Scheme 5).12 The
same procedure has been performed via 1-(1-chloroethyl)2,3-dimethylbenzene (the
chloro derivative of 16) using TMSIm (400–500 mol%) and TiCl4 (350–450 mol%),
again without yields being reported.13

Synthesis and Enantiomeric Resolution of Medetomidine
143
Scheme 5
The naphthalene analogue of medetomidine has also been synthesized via a three-step
procedure (Scheme 6)14–18 involving reaction of 1-naphthaldehyde (17) with MeMgI in
ether followed by addition of SOC12 in toluene to give the crude chloro compound (19)
in 97% yield. Treatment of 19 with N-trimethylsilylimidazole (TMSIm, 200 mol%) in
the presence of TiCl4 (200 mol%) in CHC13 gave 4-[1-(1-naphthylethyl)]-1H-imidazole
(20) (»19%). The difference between this method and that previously outlined in Scheme
5,12 lies in the fact that in the preceding method, the chlorination step does not exist and
alkylation of N-trimethylsilylimidazole with 1-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-1-ethanol (16) is
performed directly in one-step using TiCl4. The mechanism of the TiCl4-promoted alkyl-
ation of carbonyl compounds has been reported previously.19
Scheme 6
The final attempt to prepare of medetomidine involved the construction of the imid-
azole ring via a seven-step process starting from commercially available 2,3-dimethyl-
benzoic acid.20
The simplest and most practical method for the preparation of medetomidine would
be based of that used for the naphthalene analogue (Scheme 6). However, the final step of
this approach starting from 2,3-dimethylbenzaldehyde (10) and TMSIm (Scheme 7) pro-
ceeds in only 20% yield. Therefore the two-step procedure for the preparation of medeto-
midine (5) was re-examined under different reaction conditions such as proportional
amount of reactants, reaction time, and order of the addition of reactants as determined
using the Taguchi method.21–23
Scheme 7

144
Fakhraian et al.
Addition of aldehyde 10 to a solution of an excess methylmagnesium iodide in ether
(see Experimental Section; the reverse mode of addition leads to coagulation and decrease
in the yield) gave 90–95% yield of 16. Acidification with excess 2N HCl (200 mol%) and
stirring for 5 minutes of stirring converted the alcoholate to the alcohol. Longer contact
times between the 2N HCl solution and the reaction mixture caused dehydration of the
product and formation of the ethylenic compound leading to a change in the color of the
organic phase from yellow to red. Other important modifications were accomplished dur-
ing the work-up of the second step, by inverting the order of the addition of reaction mix-
ture and water and by addition of the NaOH solution in two stages to the aqueous phase.
Addition of the final reaction mixture to water (and not the reverse) increased the yield of
the second step (by 40%). A two-step increase of the pH of aqueous phase caused Ti
(OH)4 (formed after addition of final reaction mixture to water) to precipitate at low pH
prior to the isolation of medetomidine as the free base at high pH. Indeed the precipitation
of Ti(OH)4 occurred at a pH between 0.3 (for concentrated solutions) and 2.5 (for dilute
solutions). Thus, the pH of the aqueous phase was first adjusted to 3.0–3.5 (by NaOH
solution) to promote the precipitation of Ti(OH)4 which was removed by filtration. Mede-
tomidine hydrochloride (formed after addition of final reaction mixture to water) is freely
soluble in water. The second addition of the NaOH solution to the filtrate to give a pH of
11–12, allowed the separation of medetomidine as the free base from the aqueous solution
as a coagulated and sticky precipitate.
Since the naphthalene analogue of medetomidine (20) has similar biological effects
and 1-naphthaldehyde (17) is much less expensive than 2,3-dimethylbenzaldehyde, it was
used to determine optimized conditions for the final step. Although time was found to be
not a major factor, the concentration of TMSIm, of TiCl4 and of 1-(naphthalen-1-yl)etha-
nol (18) did have significant effects on the yield of 20; it was determined that a ratio of
6:6:1 for TMSIm, TiCl4 and 18 was optimal for the synthesis of 20. However, an increase
in the amount of TiCl4 did not change the yield significantly. These conditions were used
in our procedure to prepare racemic medetomidine.
Medetromidine is a racemate of the enantiomeric levomedetomidine and dexmedeto-
midine. Dexmedetomidine (the S-enantiomer), marketed under the brand name Precedex
(Hospira, Inc.) in the United States, is used in intensive care units and by anesthesiolo-
gists. It is relatively unique in its ability to provide sedation without causing respiratory
depression. Unlike rac-medetomidine and dexmedetomidine, levomedetomidine only pro-
vides sedation or analgesia at high doses in rats and mice24 and its excretion from the
body is four times more rapid than rac-medetomidine and dexmedetomidine in dogs.25-
Dexmedetomidine was obtained by resolution of (§)-medetomidine via fractional crystal-
lization of its diastereoisomeric salt with (C)-tartaric acid (as resolving agent) in
alcoholic media. 9, 26
The various parameters (temperature, stirring time and solvent amount) for this pro-
cess also determined by the Taguchi method, were used to optimize the diastetreoiso-
meric resolution of medetomidine. The results indicate that temperature, stirring time and
volume of solvent play significant roles in the generation of enantiomeric excesses. A
temperature of 5ꢀC, a stirring time of 4 h and 6 mL of ethanol for 0.15 g of (§)-medeto-
midine and 0.056 g. of (C)-tartaric acid (50 mole%) were found to be optimal to produce
medetomidine with maximum enantiomeric excess. Thus, on a »50 mmol scale, a total
volume of 125 mL ethanol was used at 5ꢀC for a total stirring time of 16 h to perform
one diasteroisomeric step and three consecutive fractional crystallizations to obtain dex-
medetomidine with an overall yield of 26% and an enantiomeric excess of 99% as
described in the Experimental Section. In contrast to previous results,9,26 our optimized

Synthesis and Enantiomeric Resolution of Medetomidine
145
procedure is more efficient, requiring less solvent and stirring time to achieve higher
enantiomeric excess.
In conclusion, the two-step procedure for the preparation of medetomidine (5) and its
naphthalene analogue 20 has been reinvestigated, and the second step has been optimized
with respect to the proportional amounts of reactants, order of addition, time of reaction
and work-up procedure. At the optimized conditions, the product of the second step was
obtained in high purity and quantitative yield. Major modifications were carried out on
the work-up procedure of the second step, and a six-fold excess of TiCl4 and TMSIm.
Secondly, it has been shown that various factors such as temperature, stirring time and
volume of solvent have significant effects on the diastereoisomeric resolution of medeto-
midine; its final enantiomeric excess was optimized.
Experimental Section
1
NMR spectra were obtained on a Bruker DPX-250 instrument (250 MHz for H and
62.5 MHz for 13C), and CDCl3 and DMSO-d6 were used as solvents; chemical shifts are
reported in d (ppm) from TMS for 13C and 1H. Gas chromatography (GC) was performed
on a Varian (Star 3400CX) instrument with a packed column (10% OV-101 CWHP 80/
100, 2m x 1.8”) and a He flow rate of 10 mL/min. Electron impact GC-MS spectra were
recorded on a Varian (Saturn 4D) spectrometer using an ionization current of 8 mA with
a capillary column (DB-5MS, 0.1 micron, 30 m £ 0.250 mm). Only m/z values having
intensities of more than 10% are given, and retention times are reported with a He flow
rate of 10 mL/min. HPLC analyses of the synthesis products were performed on a Knauer
EA 4300F equipped with a UV detector (215 nm), vendor model 2600, and a C18 column
(250 £ 4.6 mm) with an eluent (H2O/EtOH, 25:75) flow rate of 1 mL/min. Melting points
were obtained on a Mettler FP61 apparatus. N-Trimethylsilylimidazole (Merck, 97%),
2,3-dimethylbenzaldehyde (Aldrich, 97%) and 1-naphthaldehyde (Alfa-Ceasar, 97%)
were used without purification. For the diastereoisomeric resolution of medetomidine, the
suspensions were stirred at a constant stirring speed of 700 rpm in a 100 mL jacketed
ꢀ
glass beaker connected to a thermostated water bath (Julabo F12, §0.1 C). All samples
were analyzed by HPLC using a CHIRAL-AGP column (150 mm £ 4 mm, 5 mm, Ill-
krich) and a mobile phase of 1% 2-propanol in 20 mM acetate buffer at pH 5.0 with a
flow rate of 0.9 mL/min.
Preparation of 1-(2,3-Dimethylphenyl)ethanol (16).- Magnesium turnings (2.9 g,
0.12 g.-atom) were added over 15 min to a solution of methyl iodide (9.3 mL, 21.0 g,
0.15 mol) in 200 mL of dry diethyl ether with cooling in an ice-water bath and stirring
during 5 h. A solution of 2,3-dimethylbenzaldehyde (10) (13.0 mL, 13.4 g, 0.10 mol) in
50 mL of diethyl ether was added dropwise to the solution of MeMgI (cooled in an ice-
water bath), and the reaction mixture was stirred for 3 h at room temperature. The crude
reaction mixture was treated with 100 mL of 2 N HCI over 2 min, and the organic layer
was separated, washed with brine (2 £ 250 mL) and dried over CaCl2. Evaporation of the
solvent under reduced pressure gave 13.8 g (92%) of the alcohol (2) as a viscous colorless
liquid.
1H NMR (CDCl3): d 2.23 (s, 3H, CH3), 2.29 (s, 3H, CH3), 1.46 (d, J D 6.25 Hz, 3H,
CH(CH3)), 5.19 (q, J D 6.25 Hz, 1H, CH(CH3)), 7.1–7.4 (m, 3H, phenyl). 13C NMR
(CDCl3): d 14.5, 20.6, 24.0,ꢀ67.2, 122.2, 125.8, 128.9, 132.9, 136.9, 143.7. GC:ꢀretention
time: 3.2 min (Tcol D 200 C). GC-MS: retention time: 3.8 min (Tcol D 150 C); m/z
(intensity (%)): 135 (19), 133 (52), 132 (90), 117 (26), 107 (100), 105 (37), 91 (34).

146
Fakhraian et al.
Preparation of Medetomidine 4-[1-(2,3-Dimethylphenyl)ethyl)]-1H-imidazole (5).-
A solution of N-trimethylsilylimidazole (64.1 g, 67.3 mL, 0.46 mol) was added to a solu-
tion of TiCl4 (87.1 g, 50.3 mL, 0.46 mol) in 100 mL of dry chloroform (cooled in an ice-
water bath) over a period of 30 min. The resulting orange-colored mixture was stirred for
an additional 2 h, and then a solution of compound 16 (11.5 g, 0.077 mol) in 100 mL of
dry chloroform was added in one portion to the reaction mixture (cooled in an ice-water
bath) which was then stirred for 6 h at room temperature. The reaction was quenched by
the dropwise addition to water (500 mL) with stirring after which the aqueous layer was
separated and extracted with 50 mL of methylene chloride and the methylene chloride
extract was discarded. Then 2 N NaOH (210 mL) was added to raise the pH of aqueous
layer to 3.5–4.0. After removal fof the precipitated Ti(OH)4 thus produced by filtration,
2 N NaOH (20 mL) was added to bring the pH of the aqueous filtrate to about 12. During
the addition of the sodium hydroxide solution, medetomidine precipitated as a viscous,
very thick substance that coagulated affording 15.4 g (100%) of the target product 5 as a
pale-yellow solid, mp. 83–92 ꢀ C.
1H NMR (CDCl3): d 2.15 (s, 3H, CH3), 2.23 (s, 3H, CH3), 1.52 (d, J D 7.5 Hz, 3H,
CH(CH3)), 4.32 (q, J D 7.5 Hz, 1H, CH(CH3)), 6.63–7.25 (m, 5H, phenyl and imidazole),
10.26 (s, 1H, NH). 13C NMR (CDCl3): d 14.7, 20.8, 21.0, 34.2, 117.1, 124.7, 125.6, 127.9,
ꢀ
134.1, 134.6, 136.8, 141.4, 143.4. GC-MS: retention time: 3.8 min (Tcol D 250 C); m/z
(intensity (%)): 201 (100). HPLC: retention time: 3.8 min.
Preparation of 1-(Naphthalen-1-yl)ethanol (18).- Reaction of methylmagnesium
iodide [prepared from magnesium (2.9 g, 0.12 g-atom) and methyl iodide (9.3 mL, 21 g,
0.15 mol)], with 1-naphthaldehyde (17) (13.6 mL, 15.6 g, 0.10 mol) as above afforded
18 (16.3 g, 0.095 mol, 95% yield) as a pale green solid., mp 60–63ꢀC.
1H NMR (CDCl3): d 1.67 (d, J D 6.5 Hz, 3H, CHCH3), 5.66 (q, J D 6.5 Hz, 1H,
CHCH3), 7.26–8.13 (m, 7H, naphthyl). 13C NMR (CDCl3): d 24.3, 67.1, 122.0, 123.2,
125.5 (2C), 126.0, 127.9, 128.9, 130.3, 133.8, 141.4. GC: retention time: 7.9 min (Tcol
ꢀ
D
200 C). GC-MS: retention time: 8.0 min (Tcol D 150 ꢀ C); m/z (intensity (%)): 173 (11),
172 (100), 155 (75), 129 (33).
Preparation of 4-(1-(Naphthalen-1-yl)ethyl)-1H-imidazole (20).- Reaction of TiCl4
(12.9 mL, 22.7 g, 0.12 mol), N-trimethylsilylimidazole (16.8 g, 17.4 mL, 0.12 mol), and
18 (3.4 g, 0.02 mol) as above afforded 4.4 g of 20 (0.02 mol, 100% yield). mp 161–166 ꢀ
C, Lit.14 mp 175–176ꢀC.
1H NMR (CDCl3): d 1.71 (d, J D 7 Hz, 3H, CHCH3), 4.84 (q, J D 7 Hz, 1H,
CHCH3), 6.68–8.01 (m, 7H, naphthyl). 13C NMR (CDCl3): d 20.9, 33.5, 117.4, 123.3,
124.4, 125.5, 125.6, 126.0, 127.2, 128.9, 131.3, 134.0, 134.3, 140.8, 140.9. GC-MS:
retention time: 11.3 min (Tcol D 150ꢀC); m/z (intensity (%)): 224 (15), 223 (100), 222
(55), 221 (15), 207 (14).
Multigram-Scale Diastereoisomeric Resolution of Medetomidine.- To a solution of
(§)-medetomidine (9.8 g, 0.049 mol) in absolute ethanol (62 mL) was added (C)-tartaric
acid (3.7 g, 0.024 mol); the suspension was heated until complete dissolution and then
stirred for 4 h at 5ꢀC. The white solid (6.5 g, 38%, ee 84%) was collected and fractionally
crystallized three consecutive times from ethanol by stirring for 4 h at 5ꢀC. The first frac-
tional crystallization of 6.5 g of diastereisoomeric salt obtained above from 24 mL of eth-
anol afforded 5.8 g (89%, ee 92%) of a white solid. The second consecutive fractional
crystallization of diastereoisomeric salt obtained above from 21 mL of ethanol led to
4.9 g (85%, ee 98%) of a white solid. The third consecutive fractional crystallization of
diastereoisomeric salt obtained above from 18 mL of ethanol produced 4.4 g (90%,ee

Synthesis and Enantiomeric Resolution of Medetomidine
147
99%) of a white solid. Thus, the overall yield was 26% (or 52% based on the amount of
dexmedetomidine tartarate salt present in the original diastereoisomeric mixture).
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