The Synthesis and Absolute Configuration of Enantiomeric Pure (R)- and (S)-3-(piperidin-3-yl)-1H-Indole Derivatives

Abstract

This article describes the synthesis of new chiral 3-(piperidin-3-yl)-1H-indole derivatives (R)-10a-c and (S)-11a-c from the corresponding diastereomers: (3R, 2R) and (3S, 2R)-2-[3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1-piperidyl]-2-phenyl-acetamides (3R, 2R)-4a, (3R, 2R)-6b, (3R, 2R)-8c and (3S, 2R)-5a, (3S, 2R)-7b, (3S, 2R)-9c. Diastereomers were obtained by N-alkylation of derivatives of racemic 3-(piperidin-3-yl)-1H-indoles 1a-c using (S)-2-(4-toluenesulfonyloxy)-phenylacetic amide (S)–II. The same method was applied to obtain (3R, 2S)-methyl-2-[3-(1H-indole-3-yl)-1-piperidyl]-2-phenylacetate (3R, 2S)-2a and (3S, 2S)-methyl-2-[3-(1H-indole-3-yl)-1-piperidyl]-2-phenylacetate (3S, 2S)-3a diastereomers by treating amine 1a with (R)-2-(4-toluenesulfonyloxy)-phenylacetic acid methylester (R)-I. Systematic studies via single crystal X-ray crystallography were used to determine the molecular structure of the racemates 1a-c and the absolute configuration of the enantiomers. The solid racemates 1b and 1c were “true racemates” crystallizing in a centrosymmetric space group, while 1a formed a racemic conglomerate of homoenantiomeric crystals. The absolute configuration was determined for the enantiomeric pairs (R)-10a/(S)-11a, (R)-10b/(S)-11b, and (R)-12c/(S)-13c, as well as for (3S,2S)-3a. Spectra of 1H, 13CNMR, HPLC, and HRMS for diastereomers and enantiomers were consistent with the determined structures.