Cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide and process for preparation of 3-substituted benzisothiazole using it

Abstract: A 2-cyanobenzenesulphenyl compound is represented by the general formula (I): wherein X represents Cl or Br and can be used for the preparation of 3-substituted benzisothiazole by reaction of the compound (I) with a piperazine compound. The compound (I) can be prepared by halogenating a 2-cyanophenylthio derivative of the formula (II): wherein R represents H, alkali metal, 2-cyanophenylthio or C 1-4 alkyl.

Description: The present invention relates to a 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide compound, a process for its preparation and to a process for preparation of a 3-substituted benzisothiazole using the compound. To our knowledge, 2-Cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide is a novel compound and is a useful compound, in particular, as an intermediate for preparation of a 3-substituted benzisothiazole derivative important as an intermediate for preparation of pharmaceuticals. Hitherto, a number of processes for preparation of 3-substituted benzisothiazole derivatives have been known in which a 3-halo-1,2-benzisothiazole is reacted with a piperazine compound according to the following Reaction Scheme: See JP-A 63-83067; JP-A 63-83085; GB-A-2 163 432; EP-A 196096; J. Chem. Soc., Perkin. Trans., 1(8), 2141, 1988; Ger. Offen., 3530089; J. Med. Chem., 29(3), 359, 1986; J. Org. Chem., 43(8), 1604, 1978. However, 3-halo-1,2-benzisothiazole used in the above known processes as a raw material is not easily available. A method for chlorinating 1,2-bensisothiazol-3-one and a method using thiosalicylic acid as a starting material are described in the above references. However, these methods use an expensive raw material, give a lower yield and, therefore, they are not regarded as industrially advantageous. As described above, it has been difficult to prepare advantageously 3-substituted benzisothiazole derivatives on an industrial scale. EP-A-536 512 disclosed a process for the production of 3-substituted benzisothiazoles by reacting an orthosulfenylhalide phenacyl with ammonia. FR-A-2 343 734 discloses the reaction of an orthohalobenzonitrile with ammonia and sulfur, to a 3-aminobenzisothiazole. Accordingly, the present invention addresses the problem of providing an industrially advantageous process for preparation of 3-substituted benzisothiazole derivatives. The invention also addresses the problems of providing a useful intermediate which can be used for preparation of a 3-substituted benzisothiazole derivative and a process for preparation of the above intermediate. In view of the above, we conducted intensive research into providing an industrially advantageous process by which a 3-substituted benzisothiazole derivative can be prepared easily and economically without the use of expensive raw materials. As a result, we found that 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide represented by the formula (I) below can be an important intermediate for preparation of a 3-substituted benzisothiazole derivative, investigated the physical properties of the halide and conducted intensive investigations into providing an industrially advantageous and easy process for preparation of the halide and the 3-substituted benzisothiazole derivative. To our knowledge, 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide has never been described in the literature and the physical properties thereof and a process for its preparation are not known. That is, we have found that the present novel 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide can be easily obtained by halogenating a 2-cyanophenylthio derivative represented by the general formula (II) below, and a 3-substituted benzisothiazole derivative can be easily obtained by reacting the 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide with a piperazine compound. Furthermore, we found that the 3-substituted benzisothiazole derivative can be effectively obtained by successively performing the above two reactions, that is, by halogenating a 2-cyanophenylthio derivative to obtain 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide which is subsequently reacted with a piperazine compound. Thus, the present invention provides: (1) 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide represented by the general formula (I): wherein X represents Cl or Br, (2) a process for preparation of a 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide represented by the general formula (I) which comprises halogenating a 2-cyanophenylthio derivative represented by the general formula (II): wherein R 1 represents H, alkali metal, 2-cyanophenylthio group or straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, (3) a process for preparation of a 3-substituted benzisothiazole represented by the general formula (IV): wherein R 2 represents H, alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or substituted alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which comprises reacting 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide represented by the general formula (I) with a piperazine compound represented by the general formula (III): wherein R 2 is as defined in the general formula IV, and (4) a process for preparation of 3-substituted benzisothiazole represented by the general formula (IV) which comprises halogenating a 2-cyanophenylthio derivative represented by the general formula (II) to obtain 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide represented by the general formula (I), then reacting the halide represented by the general formula (I) with a piperazine compound represented by the general formula (III). Embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below. In the 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide represented by the general formula (I), the group represented by X is Cl or Br. That is, the compound represented by the general formula (I) is 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl chloride or 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl bromide. The compound represented by the general formula (I) can be prepared by halogenating a 2-cyanophenylthio derivative represented by the general formula (II). The group R 1 in the compound represented by the general formula (II) is H, alkali metal such as sodium or potassium, a 2-cyanophenylthio group or a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl or t-butyl. Particular examples of compounds represented by the general formula (II) are 2-cyanobenzenethiol, 2,2'-dicyanodiphenyl disulfide, 2-cyanophenyl methyl sulfide, 2-cyanophenyl ethyl sulfide, 2-cyanophenyl n-propyl sulfide, 2-cyanophenyl isopropyl sulfide, 2-cyanophenyl n-butyl sulfide and 2-cyanophenyl t-butyl sulfide. For halogenating the compound represented by the general formula (II), chlorine, sulfuryl chloride, bromine, sulfuryl bromide, and a mixture thereof can be used as a halogenating agent. Among them, chlorine and bromine are preferable. The amount of a halogenating agent to be used varies depending upon the kind of compound represented by the general formula (II) and is usually in a range of 0.5 to 7-fold in mole terms relative to the compound represented by the general formula (II). The reaction temperature for halogenation varies depending upon the kind of the compound represented by the general formula (II) and is usually in a range of -10 °C to 160 °C, preferably -5 °C to 130 °C. When the reaction temperature is too low, the reaction rate becomes slow. On the other hand, when the reaction temperature is too high, side reactions occur, which leads toa decreased yield. The halogenating reaction can be carried out without any solvent or in a solvent. Examples of the solvent are hydrocarbons such as hexane, cyclohexane and heptane, halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichloroethane, dichloromethane and Chloroform, aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene and trichlorobenzene, polar solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide. When a solvent is used, the amount of the solvent to be used is usually 0.1 to 10-fold in weight terms relative to the compound represented by the general formula (II). The 2-Cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide, thus obtained, represented by the general formula (I) can be isolated by a conventional method such as distillation or crystallization. The 2-Cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide, thus obtained, represented by the general formula (I) can be reacted with a piperazine compound represented by the general formula (III) to obtain a 3-substituted benzisothiazole represented by the general formula (IV). Examples of the piperazine compound are piperazine, 1-alkyl-piperazine such as 1-methyl-piperazine, 1-ethyl-piperazine or 1-n-butyl-piperazine, and 1-substituted alkylene-piperazine such as 1-imidobutylene-piperazine, 1-amidobutylene-piperazine or 1-((5-indole)ethylene)-piperazine. The amount of the piperazine compound to be used is usually in a range of 1 to 10-fold, preferably 3 to 6-fold in mole terms relative to the 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide represented by the general formula (I). The reaction temperature is usually in a range of 80 °C to 150 °C, preferably 100 °C to 130 °C. When the reaction temperature is too low, the reaction rate becomes slow. On the other hand, when the reaction temperature is too high, side reactions occur, which leads to the decreased yield. A solvent is not necessarily required and the reaction is preferably carried out without a solvent. Alternatively, the reaction may be carried out in a solvent. Examples of the solvent are hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane and heptane, aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene and trichlorobenzene, and polar solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide. When a solvent is used, the amount of the solvent to be used is usually in a range of 0.1 to 10-fold in weight terms relative to the compound represented by the general formula (I). The 3-Substituted benzisothiazole, thus obtained, represented by the general formula (IV) can be isolated from a reaction mixture and purified by a conventional method such as crystallization. Examples of the particular 3-substituted benzoisothiazole are 3-(1-piperaziny1)-1,2-benzisothiazole, 3-(4-ethyl-1-piperazinyl)-1,2-benzisothiazole, 3-(4-n-butyl-1-piperazinyl)-1,2-benzisothiazole and 3-(4-cyclohexyl-1-piperazinyl)-1,2-benzisothiazole. These compounds can be isolated as a mineral acid salt such as the hydrochloride or sulfate under acidic conditions in the presence of, for example, hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. The 3-Substituted benzisothiazole represented by the general formula (IV) can also be prepared by a process in which the above two reactions are successively carried out in series, that is, by halogenating 2-cyanophenylthio halide represented by the general formula (II) toobtaina 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide represented by the general formula (I) which is subsequently reacted with a piperazine compound represented by the general formula (III). The halogenating reaction and the reaction with the piperazine compound in this process can be carried out as described for each reaction. A compound represented by the general formula (II) used as a raw material for preparation of a compound represented by the general formula (I) can be easily obtained according to our process described in JP-A-06-289763. That is, 2-cyanochlorobenzene is converted into 2-cyanophenyl methyl sulfide with a sodium salt of methylmercaptane, then the methyl group thereof is halogenated and hydrolyzed to obtain 2-cyanobenzenethiol, which is further treated with an alkali to obtain an alkali metal salt thereof, which is oxidized to obtain 2,2'-dicyanodiphenyl disulfide. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are now described in more detail with reference to the following Examples. Example 1 67.5 g (0.500 mol) of 2-cyanobenzenethiol and 150 g of chlorobenzene were placed in a 300 ml four-neck flask equipped with a stirrer, a thermometer, a chlorine blowing inlet and a condenser and 39 g (0.55 mol) of chlorine was blown therein at about 80 °C over 2 hours while stirring. The solvent was distilled, followed by evaporation under reduced pressure to obtain 81.7 g of white crystals, which were identified to be of 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl chloride from the following data. The yield starting from 2-cyanobenzenethiol was 96.4%. Physical properties 2-Cyanobenzenesulfenyl chloride Appearances: white crystals Melting point: 38.5-39.0 °C NMR: δ (ppm) 7.37-8.09 (m) IR: (KBr, cm -1 ) 1595, 1467, 1248, 1012, 760 Elemental analysis: Calculated C:49.56; H:2.38; N:8.26; S:18.90 Found C:49.60; H:2.34; N:8.25; S:18.88 Example 2 67.2 g (0.250 mol) of 2,2'-dicyanodiphenyl disulfide and 150 g of chlorobenzene were placed in a 300 ml four-neck flask equipped with a stirrer, a thermometer, a dropping funnel and a condenser and 84.0 g (0.525 mol) of bromine was added dropwise at about 80 °C over one hour while stirring. The excess bromine was removed with an aqueous sodium carbonate solution, followed by crystallization with cyclohexane to obtain 101.9 g of white crystals, which were identified to be of 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl bromide from the following data. The yield starting from 2,2'-dicyanodiphenyl disulfide was 95.2%. Physical properties 2-Cyanobenzenesulfenyl bromide Appearances: white crystals Melting point: 59.5-60.5 °C NMR: δ (ppm) 7.38-8.07 (m) IR: (KBr, cm -1 ) 1589, 1462, 1242, 958, 760 Elemental analysis: Calculated C:39.27; H:1.88; N:6.54; S:14.98 Found C:39.32; H:1.88; N:6.52; S:15.00 Example 3 74.5 g (0.500 mol) of 2-cyanophenyl methyl sulfide and 250 g of chlorobenzene were placed in a 500 ml four-neck flask equipped with a stirrer, a thermometer, a dropping funnel and a condenser and 96.0 g (0.600 mol) of bromine was added dropwise thereto at about 100 °C over five hours while stirring. The excess bromine was removed with an aqueous sodium carbonate solution, followed by distillation under reduced pressure to obtain 90.4 g of 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl bromide. The yield starting from 2-cyanophenyl methyl sulfide was 84.5%. Example 4 86.2 g (1.00 mol) of piperazine and 7.5 g of chlorobenzene were placed in a 500 ml four-neck flask equipped with a stirrer, a thermometer, a dropping funnel and a condenser and 42.4 g (0.25 mol) of molten 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl chloride was added dropwise thereto at about 130 °C over one hour while stirring, followed by stirring for four hours to complete the reaction. The excess piperazine was removed with water, followed by acidification with hydrochloric acid and extraction into the aqueous layer. The aqueous layer was basified with an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to obtain 40.9 g (m.p.: 89-90 °C) of 3-(1-piperazinyl)-1,2-benzisothiazole as crystals. The yield starting from 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl chloride was 74.7%. Example 5 The method described in Example 4 was carried out except for the use of 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl bromide instead of 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl chloride as a raw material. This afforded, after cooling of an aqueous solution acidified with hydrochloric acid, 46.6 g of 3-(1-piperazinyl)-1,2-benzisothiazole hydrochloride as crystals (decomposition temperature 275-280 °C). The yield starting from 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl chloride was 73.0%. Example 6 74.5 g (0.500 mol) of 2-cyanophenyl methyl sulfide and 250 g of chlorobenzene were placed in a 500 ml four-neck flask equipped with a stirrer, a thermometer, a dropping funnel and a condenser and 96.0 g (0.600 mol) of bromine was added dropwise thereto at about 100 °C over five hours while stirring, followed by stirring for two hours to complete the reaction. The excess bromine was removed with an aqueous sodium carbonate solution and the solvent was distilled off to obtain 92.0 g of crude 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl bromide. Separately, 172.4 g (2.00 mol) of piperazine and 15 g of chlorobenzene were placed in a 1000 ml four-neck flask equipped with a stirrer, a thermometer, a dropping funnel and a condenser and the molten crude 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl bromide obtained above was added dropwise thereto at about 130 °C over one hour while stirring, followed by stirring for five hours to complete the reaction. The excess piperazine was removed with water and the reaction mixture was acidified with hydrochloric acid, followed by extraction into an aqueous layer. The aqueous layer was basified with an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to obtain 65.9 g of 3-(1-piperazinyl)-1,2-benzisothiazole as crystals. The yield starting from 2-cyanophenyl methyl sulfide was 60.2%. Example 7 The method described in Example 5 was carried out except for the use of 100 g (1.00 mol) of N-methylpiperazine instead of piperazine. This afforded 55.9 g of 3-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-1,2-benzisothiazole hydrochloride as crystals, m.p.: 250-252 °C. The yield starting from 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl bromide was 83.0%. As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a novel 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide and a process for its preparation, and by using the compound, a 3-substituted benzisothiazole derivative important as an intermediate for preparation of pharmaceuticals can be industrially prepared advantageously, effectively and economically.

Claims: 2-Cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide represented by the general formula (I): wherein X represents Cl or Br. The compound according to claim 1, which is 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl chloride. The compound according to claim 1, which is 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl bromide. A process for preparation of a 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide represented by the general formula (I), which comprises halogenating a 2-cyanophenylthio derivative represented by the general formula (II): wherein R 1 represents H, alkali metal, 2-cyanophenylthio group or straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The process according to claim 4, wherein halogenation is carried out using chlorine or bromine. The process according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the 2-cyanophenylthio derivative is 2-cyanobenzenethiol. The process according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the 2-cyanophenylthio derivative is 2,2'-dicyanodiphenyl disulfide. The process according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the 2-cyanophenylthio derivative is 2-cyanophenyl methyl sulfide. The process according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the 2-cyanophenylthio derivative is 2-cyanophenyl t-butyl sulfide. A process for preparation of a 3-substituted benzisothiazole represented by the general formula (IV): wherein R 2 represents H, alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which comprises reacting 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide represented by the general formula (I) with a piperazine compound represented by the general formula (III): wherein R 2 is as defined above for the general formula IV. The process according to claim 10, wherein the piperazine compound represented by the general formula (III) is piperazine. A process for preparation of 3-substituted benzisothiazole represented by the general formula (IV), given and defined in claim 10, which process comprises halogenating a 2-cyanophenylthio derivative represented by the general formula (II), given and defined in claim 4, to obtain 2-cyanobenzenesulfenyl halide represented by the general formula (I), then reacting the halide represented by the general formula (I) with a piperazine compound represented by the general formula (III), given and defined in claim 10. The process according to claim 12, wherein the 3-substituted benzisothiazole represented by the general formula (IV) is 3-(1-piperazinyl)-1,2-benzisothiazole.

Inventors: GODA HIROSHI, KAJIHARA SAKAE, SAKAMOTO JUNICHI, SAKAUE SHIGEKI, TODO MIKI, GODA, HIROSHI, KAJIHARA, SAKAE, SAKAMOTO, JUNICHI, SAKAUE, SHIGEKI, TODO, MIKI
Applicants: SUMITOMO SEIKA CHEMICALS, SUMITOMO SEIKA CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: C07C313
IPC codes: C07C313, C07D275