Process for preparing 1,1'-[1,4-phenylenebis-(methylene)]-bis-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecan e

An improved process for preparing 1,1'-[1,4-phenylenebis-(methylene)]-bis-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane comprising the selective functionalization of an acyclic tetraamine to obtain an acyclic ditosyl intermediate and an acyclic tritosyl intermediate in a first step, the independent dimerization/tosylation of the ditosyl intermediate and dimerization of the tritosyl intermediate to obtain a 1,4-phenylenebis-methylene bridged hexatosyl acyclic precursor in a second step, the cyclization of said precursor to obtain a hexatosyl cyclam dimer in a third step, and the detosylation of said cyclam dimer in a fourth step followed by basification to obtain the desired 1,1'-[1,4-phenylenebis-(methylene)]-bis-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to the area of cyclam dimers and, more 
particularly, relates to an improved process for preparing a specific 
pharmaceutically active 1,4-phenylene-bis-(methylene)-linked cyclam dimer. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,409 is directed to a method of treating retroviral 
infections comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment 
a therapeutically effective amount of a bicyclic macrocyclic polyamine 
compound. Although the usefulness of certain alkylene and arylene bridged 
cyclam dimers is generically embraced by the teachings of the reference, 
no arylene bridged cyclam dimers are specifically disclosed. 
WO 93/12096 discloses the usefulness of certain linked cyclic polyamines in 
combating HIV and pharmaceutical compositions useful therefor. Among the 
specifically disclosed compounds is 
1,1'-[1,4-phenylenebis-(methylene)]-bis-1,4,8,11 tetraazacyclotetradecane 
(and its acid addition salts), which compound is a highly potent inhibitor 
of several strains of human immune deficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and 
type 2 (HIV-2). 
European Patent Appln. 374,929 discloses a process for preparing 
mono-N-alkylated polyazamacrocycles comprising reacting the unprotected 
macrocycle with an electrophile in a non-polar, relatively aprotic solvent 
in the absence of base. Although it is indicated that the monosubstituted 
macrocycle is formed preferentially, there is no specific disclosure which 
indicates that linked bicyclams can be synthesized by this process. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,527 is directed to a process for preparing a 
monofunctionalized (e.g., monoalkylated)cyclic tetramine comprising: 1) 
reacting the unprotected macrocycle with chromium hexacarbonyl to obtain a 
triprotected tetraazacycloalkane compound; 2) reacting the free amine 
group of the triprotected compound prepared in 1) with an organic (e.g., 
alkyl) halide to obtain a triprotected monofunctionalized (e.g., 
monoalkylated) tetraazacycloalkane compound; and 3) de-protecting the 
compound prepared in 2) by simple air oxidation at acid pH to obtain the 
desired compound. In addition, the reference discloses alternative methods 
of triprotection employing boron and phosphorous derivatives and the 
preparation of linked compounds, including the cyclam dimer 
1,1'-[1,4-phenylenebis-(methylene)]-bis-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, 
by reacting triprotected cyclam prepared as set forth in 1) above with an 
organic dihalide in a molar ratio of 2:1, and deprotecting the resultant 
compound to obtain the desired cyclam dimer. 
J. Med. Chem., Vol. 38, No. 2, pgs. 366-378 (1995) is directed to the 
synthesis and anti-HIV activity of a series of novel 
phenylenebis(methylene)-linked bis-tetraazamacrocyclic analogs, including 
the known cyclam dimer 
1,1'-[1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)]-bis-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane. 
The cyclam dimers disclosed in this reference, including the 
afore-mentioned cyclam dimer, are prepared by: 1) forming the tritosylate 
of the tetraazamacrocycle; 2) reacting the protected tetraazamacrocycle 
with an organic dihalide, e.g., dibromo-p-xylene, in acetonitrile in the 
presence of a base such as potassium carbonate; and 3) de-protecting the 
bis-tetraazamacrocycle prepared in 2) employing freshly prepared sodium 
amalgam, concentrated sulfuric acid or an acetic acid/hydrobromic acid 
mixture to obtain the desired cyclam dimer, or an acid addition salt 
thereof. 
Although the processes disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,527 and the J. Med. 
Chem. reference are suitable to prepare the cyclam dimer 
1,1'-[1,4-phenylenebis-(methylene)]-bis-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, 
they involve the use of cyclam as a starting material, a compound which is 
expensive and not readily available. Accordingly, in view of its potent 
anti-HIV activity, a number of research endeavors have been undertaken in 
an attempt to develop a more practical process for preparing 
1,1'-[1,4-phenylenebis-(methylene)]-bis-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a more efficient and economic process for 
preparing 
1,1'-[1,4-phenylenebis-(methylene)]-bis-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane 
employing an inexpensive and readily available acyclic tetraamine compound 
as the starting material. More particularly, the present invention 
involves the selective functionalization of an acyclic tetraamine to 
obtain an acyclic ditosyl intermediate and an acyclic tritosyl 
intermediate in a first step, the independent dimerization/tosylation of 
the ditosyl intermediate and dimerization of the tritosyl intermediate to 
obtain a 1,4-phenylenebis-methylene bridged hexatosyl acyclic precursor in 
a second step, the cyclization of said precursor to obtain a hexatosyl 
cyclam dimer in a third step, and the detosylation of said cyclam dimer in 
a fourth step followed by basification to obtain the desired 
1,1'-[1,4-phenylenebis-(methylene)]-bis-1,4,8,11 
-tetraazacyclotetradecane. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing 
1,1'-[1,4-phenylenebis-(methylene)]-bis-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane 
by a three-step process as depicted below: 
##STR1## 
where M is an alkali metal. 
##STR2## 
where M is as defined above. 
##STR3## 
where M is as defined above. 
##STR4## 
where M is as defined above. 
With respect to the individual steps, Step 1 concerns the reaction of 
N,N'-bis(3-aminopropyl)ethylenediamine with 2 equivalents of 
p-toluenesulfonylchloride in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide 
such as sodium hydroxide to yield the acyclic ditosylate compound of 
formula IA and the acyclic tritosylate compound of formula IB. The 
tosylation is carried out in the presence of an aromatic hydrocarbon such 
as toluene at a temperature of from 5.degree. C. to 40.degree. C. for a 
period of between 2 and 5 hours. 
Step 2A, in a first part, involves subjecting the ditosylate compound 
prepared in Step 1, i.e., the compound of formula IA, to dimerization by 
reacting it with 0.33 equivalents of .alpha.,.alpha.'-dibromo-p-xylene in 
the presence of an alkali metal carbonate such as potassium carbonate to 
obtain the 1,4-phenylenebis-methylene bridged tetratosyl acyclic dimer of 
formula IIA. The dimerization is carried out in a mixture of a cyclic 
ether such as tetrahydrofuran and a lower alkanol such as methanol at a 
temperature of from 0.degree. C. to 45.degree. C. for a period of between 
2 and 6 hours. 
The second part of Step 2A concerns the tosylation of the compound prepared 
in the first part, i.e., the tetratosyl acyclic dimer of formula IIA, by 
reacting it with 2 equivalents of p-toluenesulfonylchloride in the 
presence of an alkali metal carbonate such as potassium carbonate to 
obtain the 1,4-phenylenebis-methylene bridged hexatosyl acyclic dimer of 
formula IIB. The tosylation is carried out in the presence of a cyclic 
ether such as tetrahydrofuran at a temperature of from 15.degree. C. to 
35.degree. C. for a period of between 1 and 4 hours. 
Step 2B involves subjecting the tritosylate compound prepared in Step 1, 
i.e., the compound of formula IB, to dimerization by reacting it with 0.4 
equivalents of .alpha.,.alpha.'-dibromo-p-xylene in the presence of 
diisopropylethylamine to obtain the 1,4-phenylenebis-methylene bridged 
hexatosyl acyclic dimer of formula II. The dimerization is carried out in 
the presence of a cyclic ether such as tetrahydrofuran at a temperature of 
from 10.degree. C. to 45.degree. C. for a period of between 6 and 20 
hours. 
Step 3 concerns the cyclization of the compound prepared in the second part 
of Step 2A and in Step 2B, i.e., the bridged hexatosyl acyclic dimer of 
formula IIB, by reacting it with 3 equivalents of ethyleneglycol 
ditosylate in the presence of a mixture of an alkali metal hydroxide such 
as sodium hydroxide (in bead form) and an alkali metal carbonate such as 
potassium carbonate (in anhydrous form) and a catalytic amount of 
t-butylammonium sulfate to obtain the hexatosyl cyclam dimer of formula 
III. The cyclization is carried out in the presence of dimethylformamide 
at a temperature of from 75.degree. C. to 125.degree. C. for a period of 
between 4 and 7 hours. 
Alternatively, the bridged hexatosyl acyclic dimer of formula IIB can be 
reacted with 3 equivalents of ethyleneglycol ditosylate in the presence of 
cesium carbonate in dimethylformamide at a temperature of from 75.degree. 
C. to 125.degree. C. for a period of between 4 and 7 hours to obtain the 
hexatosyl cyclam dimer of formula III. 
Step 4 concerns the detosylation of the compound prepared in Step 3, i.e., 
the hexatosyl cylam dimer of formula III, by reacting it with a mixture of 
hydrobromic acid (48% solution) and glacial acetic acid. The product is 
then basified with an alkali metal hydroxide solution (e.g., a 3N sodium 
hydroxide solution) to obtain the desired compound of formula IV. The 
detosylation is carried out at reflux temperature for a period of between 
30 hours and 3 days. Alternatively, the detosylation may be carried out by 
reacting the compound prepared in Step 3 with concentrated sulfuric acid 
or with a mixture of sodium phosphate and freshly prepared sodium amalgam 
in an argon atmosphere. The detosylation with concentrated sulfuric acid 
may be carried out at a temperature of from 80.degree. C. to 120.degree. 
C. for a period of between 2 and 5 hours, whereas the detosylation with a 
mixture of sodium phosphate and sodium amalgam may be carried out at a 
temperature of from 80.degree. C. to 120.degree. C. for a period of 
between 1 and 4 days. 
As alluded to above, the acyclic tetraamine compound employed as the 
starting material in Step 1 is known and commercially available: 
Although the product of each reaction described above in Step 1, the two 
parts of Step 2A, Step 2B and Step 3 may, if desired, be purified by 
conventional .techniques such as recrystallization (if a solid), the crude 
product of one reaction is advantageously employed in the following 
reaction without purification. 
It should be understood that although the instant process is directed to 
the preparation of the highly potent anti-HIV cyclam dimer 
1,1'-[1,4-phenylenebis-(methylene)]-bis-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane 
in free base form, said compound can be readily converted to 
pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt forms, if desired, in 
conventional manner. For example, the free base can be reacted with 
hydrobromic acid to obtain the cyclam dimer in octahydrobromide dihydrate 
form. Similarly, the addition of saturated hydrochloric acid to the free 
base yields the cyclam dimer in octahydrochloride dihydrate form. 
The bridged tetratosyl acyclic precursor of formula IIA is a novel compound 
and, as such, also forms a part of this invention. 
The following examples are for purposes of illustration only and are not 
intended to limit in any way the scope of the instant invention.

EXAMPLE 1 
a) Preparation of the acyclic ditosylate compound of formula IA. 
In a 4-necked, round-bottomed flask, equipped with a mechanical stirrer, 
cooling bath, internal thermometer and addition funnel, a suspension of 
69.7 g. (0.4 mol) of N,N'-bis-(3-aminopropyl)ethylenediamine, 400 ml. of 
toluene and 640 ml. (8.0 mol) of a 50% sodium hydroxide solution is cooled 
to 13.degree. C. To the cooled suspension is then added, over a period of 
45 minutes while the temperature is maintained at between 13.degree. C. 
and 15.degree. C., a solution of 152.52 g. (0.8 mol) of 
p-toluenesulfonylchloride in 250 ml. of toluene. The reaction mixture is 
then warmed to 22.degree. C. over a period of 90 minutes, after which time 
1 liter of water is added while the temperature is maintained at between 
22.degree. C. and 24.degree. C. To the resultant mixture is added 1.5 
liters of n-butanol and the pH is adjusted to 8 from 12 with concentrated 
hydrochloric acid, while the temperature is maintained at between 
22.degree. C. and 24.degree. C. The organic layer is then separated and 
the aqueous layer is extracted with 250 ml. of n-butanol. The combined 
organic layer is washed with 500 ml. of water, dried over anhydrous 
magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The resultant thick paste is 
then triturated with 650 ml. of acetonitrile and the solid is collected by 
filtration. The solid is then washed with two 50 ml. portions of 
acetonitrile and dried at 70.degree. C. under vacuum (20-25 mmHg) to yield 
the desired ditosylate compound. 
b) Preparation of the acyclic tritosylate compound of formula IB. 
The filtrate from a) above is concentrated to yield a syrup in crude form. 
The crude syrup is then chromatographed on silica gel employing a mixture 
of dichloromethane and methanol (in a ratio of 95:5) as the eluant. The 
fractions containing the tritosylate are combined and concentrated in 
vacuo to yield the desired tritosylate compound as a syrup. 
c) Preparation of the 1,4-phenylenebis-methylene bridged tetratosyl acyclic 
dimer of formula IIA. 
In a 4-necked, round-bottom flask, equipped with a magnetic stirrer, 
cooling bath, internal thermometer and addition funnel, 1.8 g. (3.73 mmol) 
of the ditosylate compound prepared in a) above is dissolved in 20 ml. of 
tetrahydrofuran and 10 ml. of methanol by slight heating. The solution is 
then cooled in an ice bath and to the cooled solution is added 0.69 g. 
(5.0 mmol) of potassium carbonate and 0.33 g. (1.25 mmol) of 
.alpha.,.alpha.'-dibromo-p-xylene. The reaction mixture is then warmed to 
room temperature and, with stirring, maintained at room temperature for 
31/2 hours. The solvents are evaporated to yield the desired compound as a 
crude residue. 
d) Preparation of the 1,4-phenylenebis-methylene bridged hexatosyl acyclic 
dimer of formula IIB. 
The crude residue obtained in c) above is treated with 25 ml. of 
tetrahydrofuran, after which time 1.03 g. (7.47 mmol) of potassium 
carbonate and 1.424 g. (7.47 mmol) of p-toluenesulfonylchloride is added. 
The resultant mixture is then stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and 
then concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue is then treated with 50 ml. 
of water and extracted with 70 ml. of ethyl acetate. The organic layer is 
then dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The 
resultant residue is then purified by silica gel chromatography employing 
a mixture of hexane and ethyl acetate (in a ratio range of 50:50 to 30:70) 
as the first eluant and then pure ethyl acetate as the second eluant. The 
combined fractions are then concentrated in vacuo to yield the desired 
compound. 
EXAMPLE 2 
Preparation of the 1,4-phenylenebis-methylene bridged hexatosyl acyclic 
dimer of formula IIB employing the tritosylate compound of formula IB. 
A solution of 3.18 g. (5.0 mmol) of the compound prepared in Example 1b) 
above and 0.78 g. (6.0 mmol) of N,N-diisopropylethylamine in 20 ml. of 
tetrahydrofuran is cooled in an ice bath and to the cooled solution is 
added 0.594 g. (2.25 mmol) of .alpha.,.alpha.'-dibromo-p-xylene. The 
resultant mixture is warmed to room temperature and maintained at this 
temperature for 15 hours. The reaction mixture is then concentrated in 
vacuo and the crude residue is treated with 100 ml. of ethyl acetate. The 
resultant solution is then washed successively with 60 ml. of water, 60 
ml. of IN hydrochloric acid and 60 ml. of water. The organic layer is then 
dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The 
crude residue is then purified by silica gel chromatography employing a 
mixture of hexane and ethyl acetate (in a ratio range of 50:50 to 30:70) 
as the eluant. The combined fractions are then concentrated in vacuo to 
yield the desired compound. 
EXAMPLE 3 
a) Preparation of the hexatosyl cyclam dimer of formula III. 
To a 4-necked, round-bottom flask, equipped with a magnetic stirrer, 
heating bath, internal thermometer and addition funnel, is added 1.98 g. 
(0.00144 mol) of the compound prepared in Example 1d) and Example 2 above 
and 50 ml. of dimethylformamide. After the system is degassed, 0.40 g. 
(0.010 mol) of NaOH beads, 0.47 g. (0.0034 mol) of anhydrous potassium 
carbonate and 0.09 g. (0.00027 mol) of t-butylammonium sulfate are added 
to the solution, and the resultant mixture is heated to 100.degree. C. and 
maintained at this temperature for 2.5 hours. A solution of 0.19 g. 
(0.0051 mol) of ethyleneglycol ditosylate in 25 ml. of dimethylformamide 
is then added, over a period of 2 hours, while the temperature is 
maintained at 100.degree. C. After cooling the reaction mixture to room 
temperature, it is poured into 75 ml. of water with stirring. The 
suspension is then filtered and the filter cake is washed with 25 ml. of 
water. The filter cake is then thoroughly mixed with 25 ml. of water and 
50 ml. of ethyl acetate. The solvent is then removed from the ethyl 
acetate solution and the residue is re-dissolved in 15 ml. of warm 
acetonitrile. The precipitate that forms on standing is collected by 
filtration and then dried to yield the desired compound as a white solid. 
b) Preparation of 1,1'-[1,4-phenylenebis-(methylene)]-bis, 
1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane. 
In a 4-necked, round-bottom flask, equipped with a magnetic stirrer, 
heating bath, internal thermometer and addition funnel, is added 0.46 g. 
(0.00034 mol) of the compound prepared in a) above, 10 ml. of 48% 
hydrobromic acid and 25 ml. of glacial acetate acid. The resultant mixture 
is then heated to reflux and maintained at reflux temperature, with 
stirring, for 42 hours. The reaction mixture is then cooled to between 
22.degree. C. and 23.degree. C. over a period of 4 hours, after which time 
it is stirred for an additional 12 hours. The solids are then collected 
using suction filtration and added to 15 ml. of deionized water. The 
resultant solution is then stirred for 25 to 30 minutes at a temperature 
between 22.degree. C. and 23.degree. C. and filtered using suction 
filtration. After washing the filter pad with a small amount of deionized 
water, the solution is cooled to between 10.degree. C. and 15.degree. C. 
4.3 g. of a 50% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide is then added, over a 
period of 30 minutes, while the temperature is maintained at between 
5.degree. C. and 15.degree. C. The resultant suspension is stirred for 10 
to 15 minutes, while the temperature is maintained at between 10.degree. 
C. and 15.degree. C. The suspension is then warmed to between 22.degree. 
C. and 23.degree. C. and to the warmed suspension is added 35 ml. of 
dichloromethane. The mixture is then stirred for 30 minutes, the layers 
are separated and the organic layer is slurried with 2 g. of sodium 
sulfate for 1 hour. The solution is then filtered using suction 
filtration, and the filtrate is concentrated under reduced pressure 
(40.degree.-45.degree. C. bath temperature, 70-75 mm Hg) until 
approximately 30 ml. of solvent is collected. To the slurry is then added 
30 ml. of acetone, and the filtrate is concentrated under reduced pressure 
(40.degree.-45.degree. C. bath temperature, 70-75 mm Hg) until 
approximately 30 ml. of solvent is collected. The slurry is then cooled to 
between 22.degree. C. and 23.degree. C. and the solids are collected using 
suction filtration. The solids are then washed with three 2 ml. portions 
of acetone and dried in a vacuum oven to obtain the desired compound as a 
white solid.