Abstract:
Novel intermediates useful in the preparation of optically active H 3  histamine receptor antagonist 2-(4-imidazoyl)-cyclopropyl derivatives are disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Novel intermediates useful in the preparation of optically active H 3  histamine receptor antagonist 2-(4-imidazoyl)-cyclopropyl derivatives are disclosed.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Histamine plays a role in regulating attentiveness and cognition in the central nervous system (CNS), and histamine levels in the brain are controlled by the histamine H 3  receptor. Moreover, serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine and acetylcholine all have been demonstrated to be regulated by the histamine H 3  receptor. These neurotransmitters are known to play a role in many CNS psychiatric disorders involving higher cognitive function and/or emotion. Consequently, compounds affecting H 3  receptor function could have utility in the treatment of a variety of CNS maladies, including but not limited to dementias, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.  
           [0003]    Histamine is also involved in the control of sleep/wake states and appetite. Accordingly, histamine H 3  receptor ligands might be expected to be useful in treating insomnia, narcolepsy, age-related sleep disorders, obesity and anorexia. Although they exist in low density outside of the brain, histamine H 3  receptors are found on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve terminals in the periphery, including the vasculature and heart. Thus, compounds that alter histamine H 3  receptor activity might also have clinical utility in treating conditions such as migraine and cardiac dysfunction.  
           [0004]    Imidazole compounds are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,559,113; 5,990,317; 6,008,240 and 5,652,258. A synthetic procedure for making 2-(4-imidazolyl)-cyclopropylamine is disclosed in Burger et al.,  J. Med. Chem.  1976, 19, 923. 1H-4(5)-substituted imidazole derivatives are also disclosed in WO 96/40126. Key intermediates for the preparation of potent and chiral histamine H 3  receptor agents are disclosed in Khan et al.,  Bioorganic  &amp;  Medicinal Chemistry Letters,  Vol. 7, No. 23, pp.3017-3022.  
           [0005]    There is a need for new and improved procedures for the preparation of imidazole compounds which have utility as histamine H 3  receptor agents. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide novel intermediates which may be used to synthesize the above-mentioned agents.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The invention is directed to novel compounds of Formula I as follows  
                         
 
           [0007]    wherein Q is —C(R 4 )═C(R 5 )— or  
                         
 
           [0008]    R 1 , R 4  and R 5  at each occurrence are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenoxy, alkynoxy, thioalkoxy, aliphatic acyl, —CF 3 , nitro, amino, cyano, —N(C 1 -C 3  alkyl)-C(O)(C 1 -C 3  alkyl), —C 1 -C 3  alkylamino, alkenylamino, alkynylamino, di(C 1 -C 3  alkyl)amino, —C(O)O-(C 1 -C 3  alkyl), —C(O)NH-(C 1 -C 3  alkyl), —CH═NOH, —PO 3 H 2 , —OPO 3 H 2 , —C(O)N(C 1 -C 3  alkyl) 2 , haloalkyl, alkoxylcarbonyl, alkoxyalkoxy, carboxaldehyde, carboxamide, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, aroyl, aryloxy, arylamino, biaryl, thioaryl, heterocyclyl, alkylaryl, aralkenyl, aralkyl, alkylheterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, sulfonyl, sulfonamido, carbamate, aryloxyalkyl, carboxyl and —C(O)NH(benzyl);  
           [0009]    n is an integer of zero to four;  
           [0010]    R 2  is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenoxy, alkynoxy, aliphatic acyl, —C 1 -C 3  aminoalkyl, aminoalkenyl, aminoalkynyl, di(C 1 -C 3  alkyl) aminoalkyl, —C(O)O-(C 1 -C 3  alkyl), —C(O)NH-(C 1 -C 3  alkyl), —CH═NOH, —C(O)N(C 1 -C 3  alkyl) 2 , haloalkyl, alkoxylcarbonyl, alkoxyalkoxy, carboxaldehyde, carboxamide, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, aroyl, aryloxy, aminoaryl, biaryl, heterocyclyl, alkylaryl, aralkenyl, aralkyl, alkylheterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, carbamate, aryloxyalkyl, carboxyl, and —C(O)NH(benzyl); and,  
           [0011]    R 3  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —OR 6 , —R 13  and —NR 7 R 8 ;  
           [0012]    wherein R 6  and R 7  are chiral moieties;  
           [0013]    R 13  is a bicyclic chiral moiety;  
           [0014]    R 8  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenoxy, alkynoxy, aliphatic acyl, —C 1 -C 3  alkylamino, alkenylamino, alkynylamino, di(C 1 -C 3  alkyl)amino, —C(O)O-(C 1 -C 3  alkyl), —C(O)NH-(C 1 -C 3  alkyl), —CH═NOH, —C(O)N(C 1 -C 3  alkyl) 2 , haloalkyl, alkoxylcarbonyl, alkoxyalkoxy, carboxaldehyde, carboxamide, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, aroyl, aryloxy, arylamino, biaryl, heterocyclyl, alkylaryl, aralkenyl, aralkyl, alkylheterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, carbamate, aryloxyalkyl, carboxyl, and —C(O)NH(benzyl);  
           [0015]    wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8  and R 13  are unsubstituted or substituted with at least one electron donating or electron withdrawing group, and salts thereof,  
           [0016]    with the proviso that when R 2  is —C(C 6 H 5 ) 3 , each R 1  or R 4  and R 5  are H, and R 3  is —OR 6 , R 6  is not —CH(CH 3 )(C 2 H 5 );  
           [0017]    and the proviso that when R 2  is —C(C 6 H 5 ) 3 , and Q is  
                         
 
           [0018]    wherein n is 4 and R 1  is H, R 3  is not H or R 13  when R 13  is (1R)-(+)-2,10-camphorsultam.  
           [0019]    More specifically, the compounds of this invention may be described by Formula II below  
                         
 
           [0020]    wherein R 2  is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenoxy, alkynoxy, aliphatic acyl, —C 1 -C 3  aminoalkyl, aminoalkenyl, aminoalkynyl, di(C 1 -C 3  alkyl) aminoalkyl, —C(O)O-(C 1 -C 3  alkyl), —C(O)NH-(C 1 -C 3  alkyl), —CH═NOH, —C(O)N(C 1 -C 3  alkyl) 2 , haloalkyl, alkoxylcarbonyl, alkoxyalkoxy, carboxaldehyde, carboxamide, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, aroyl, aryloxy, aminoaryl, biaryl, heterocyclyl, alkylaryl, aralkenyl, aralkyl, alkylheterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, carbamate, aryloxyalkyl, carboxyl, and —C(O)NH(benzyl);  
           [0021]    R 3  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —OR 6 , —R 13  and —NR 7 R 8 ;  
           [0022]    wherein R 6  and R 7  are chiral moieties;  
           [0023]    R 13  is a bicyclic chiral moiety;  
           [0024]    R 8  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenoxy, alkynoxy, aliphatic acyl, —C 1 -C 3  alkylamino, alkenylamino, alkynylamino, di(C 1 -C 3  alkyl)amino, —C(O)O-(C 1 -C 3  alkyl), —C(O)NH-(C 1 -C 3  alkyl), —CH═NOH, —C(O)N(C 1 -C 3  alkyl) 2 , haloalkyl, alkoxylcarbonyl, alkoxyalkoxy, carboxaldehyde, carboxamide, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, aroyl, aryloxy, arylamino, biaryl, heterocyclyl, alkylaryl, aralkenyl, aralkyl, alkylheterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, carbamate, aryloxyalkyl, carboxyl and —C(O)NH(benzyl); and,  
           [0025]    R 9 , R 10 , R 11  and R 12  are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenoxy, alkynoxy, thioalkoxy, aliphatic acyl, —CF 3 , nitro, amino, cyano, —N(C 1 -C 3  alkyl)—C(O)(C 1 -C 3  alkyl), —C 1 -C 3  alkylamino, alkenylamino, alkynylamino, di(C 1 -C 3  alkyl)amino, —C(O)O-(C 1 -C 3  alkyl), —C(O)NH-(C 1 -C 3  alkyl), —CH═NOH, —PO 3 H 2 , —OPO 3 H 2 , —C(O)N(C 1 -C 3  alkyl) 2 , haloalkyl, alkoxylcarbonyl, alkoxyalkoxy, carboxaldehyde, carboxamide, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, aroyl, aryloxy, arylamino, biaryl, thioaryl, heterocyclyl, alkylaryl, aralkenyl, aralkyl, alkylheterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, sulfonyl, sulfonamido, carbamate, aryloxyalkyl, carboxyl and —C(O)NH(benzyl);  
           [0026]    wherein R 2 , R 3 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12  and R 13  are unsubstituted or substituted with at least one electron donating or electron withdrawing group,  
           [0027]    and salts thereof,  
           [0028]    with the proviso that when R 2  is —C(C 6 H 5 ) 3 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11  and R 12  are H, and R 3  is —OR 6 , R 6  is not —CH(CH 3 )(C 2 H 5 );  
           [0029]    and the proviso that when R 2  is —C(C 6 H 5 ) 3 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11  and R 12  are H, R 3  is not H or R 13  when R 13  is (1R)-(+)-2,10-camphorsultam.  
           [0030]    For Formula II, R 2  may be alkyl or aryl; and R 9 , R 10 , R 11  and R 12  may each independently be hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or halogen.  
           [0031]    Derivatives of the compounds embodied by Formulae I and II also encompass esters, carbamates, aminals, amides and optical isomers thereof.  
           [0032]    For Formulae I or II, chiral moieties R 6  or R 7  may be amines. A presently preferred compound is N-((1S)-1-Phenylethyl)[(2S,1R)-2-(1-triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)cyclopropyl]carboxamide.  
         DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       Definitions of Terms  
         [0033]    The term “alkyl” as used herein alone or in combination refers to C 1 -C 12  straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted saturated chain radicals derived from saturated hydrocarbons by the removal of one hydrogen atom, unless the term alkyl is preceded by a C x -C y  designation. Representative examples of alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, iso-butyl, and tert-butyl among others.  
           [0034]    The term “alkenyl”, alone or in combination, refers to a substituted or unsubstituted straight-chain or substituted or unsubstituted branched-chain alkenyl radical containing from 2 to 10 carbon atoms. Examples of such radicals include, but are not limited to, ethenyl, E- and Z-pentenyl, decenyl and the like.  
           [0035]    The term “alkynyl”, alone or in combination, refers to a substituted or unsubstituted straight or substituted or unsubstituted branched chain alkynyl radical containing from 2 to 10 carbon atoms. Examples of such radicals include, but are not limited to ethynyl, propynyl, propargyl, butynyl, hexynyl, decynyl and the like.  
           [0036]    The term “lower” modifying “alkyl”, “alkenyl”, “alkynyl” or “alkoxy” refers to a C 1 -C 6  unit for a particular functionality. For example lower alkyl means C 1 -C 6  alkyl.  
           [0037]    The term “aliphatic acyl” alone or in combination, refers to radicals of formula alkyl-C(O)-, alkenyl-C(O)- and alkynyl-C(O)- derived from an alkane-, alkene- or alkyncarboxylic acid, wherein the terms “alkyl”, “alkenyl” and “alkynyl” are as defined above. Examples of such aliphatic acyl radicals include, but are not limited to, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, valeryl, 4-methylvaleryl, acryloyl, crotyl, propiolyl and methylpropiolyl, among others.  
           [0038]    The term “cycloalkyl” as used herein refers to an aliphatic ring system having 3 to 10 carbon atoms and 1 to 3 rings, including, but not limited to cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, norbornyl, and adamantyl among others. Cycloalkyl groups can be unsubstituted or substituted with one, two or three substituents independently selected from lower alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, thioalkoxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, hydroxy, halo, mercapto, nitro, carboxaldehyde, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl and carboxamide. “Cycloalkyl” includes cis or trans forms. Furthermore, the substituents may either be in endo or exo positions in the bridged bicyclic systems.  
           [0039]    The term “cycloalkenyl” as used herein alone or in combination refers to a cyclic carbocycle containing from 4 to 8 carbon atoms and one or more double bonds. Examples of such cycloalkenyl radicals include, but are not limited to, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclopentadienyl and the like. The term “cycloalkylalkyl” as used herein refers to a cycloalkyl group appended to a lower alkyl radical, including, but not limited to cyclohexylmethyl.  
           [0040]    The term “halo” or “halogen” as used herein refers to I, Br, Cl or F.  
           [0041]    The term “haloalkyl” as used herein refers to a lower alkyl radical, to which is appended at least one halogen substituent, for example chloromethyl, fluoroethyl, trifluoromethyl and pentafluoroethyl among others.  
           [0042]    The term “alkoxy”, alone or in combination, refers to an alkyl ether radical, wherein the term “alkyl” is as defined above. Examples of suitable alkyl ether radicals include, but are not limited to, methoxy, ethoxy, -propoxy, iso-propoxy, n-butoxy, iso-butoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy and the like.  
           [0043]    The term “alkenoxy”, alone or in combination, refers to a radical of formula alkenyl-O-, provided that the radical is not an enol ether, wherein the term “alkenyl” is as defined above. Examples of suitable alkenoxy radicals include, but are not limited to, allyloxy, E- and Z- 3-methyl-2-propenoxy and the like.  
           [0044]    The term “alkynoxy”, alone or in combination, refers to a radical of formula alkynyl-O-, provided that the radical is not an -ynol ether. Examples of suitable alkynoxy radicals include, but are not limited to, propargyloxy, 2-butynyloxy and the like.  
           [0045]    The term “carboxyl” as used herein refers to a carboxylic acid radical, —C(O)OH.  
           [0046]    The term “thioalkoxy”, refers to a thioether radical of formula alkyl-S-, wherein “alkyl” is as defined above.  
           [0047]    The term “carboxaldehyde” as used herein refers to —C(O)R wherein R is hydrogen.  
           [0048]    The term “carboxamide” as used herein refers to —C(O)NR a R b  wherein R a  and R b  are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or any other suitable substituent.  
           [0049]    The term “alkoxyalkoxy” as used herein refers to R c O—R d O— wherein R c  is lower alkyl as defined above and R d  is alkylene wherein alkylene is —(CH 2 ) n′ — wherein n′ is an integer from 1 to 6. Representative examples of alkoxyalkoxy groups include methoxymethoxy, ethoxymethoxy, t-butoxymethoxy among others.  
           [0050]    The term “alkylamino” as used herein refers to R e NH— wherein R e  is a lower alkyl group, for example, ethylamino, butylamino, among others.  
           [0051]    The term “alkenylamino” alone or in combination, refers to a radical of formula alkenyl-NH- or (alkenyl) 2 N-, wherein the term “alkenyl” is as defined above, provided that the radical is not an enamine. An example of such alkenylamino radical is the allylamino radical.  
           [0052]    The term “alkynylamino”, alone or in combination, refers to a radical of formula alkynyl-NH- or (alkynyl) 2 N- wherein the term “alkynyl” is as defined above, provided that the radical is not an amine. An example of such alkynylamino radicals is the propargyl amino radical.  
           [0053]    The term “dialkylamino” as used herein refers to R f R g N- wherein R f  and R g  are independently selected from lower alkyl, for example diethylamino, and methyl propylamino, among others.  
           [0054]    The term “amino” as used herein refers to H 2 N—.  
           [0055]    The term “alkoxycarbonyl” as used herein refers to an alkoxyl group as previously defined appended to the parent molecular moiety through a carbonyl group. Examples of alkoxycarbonyl include methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, and isopropoxycarbonyl among others.  
           [0056]    The term “aryl” or “aromatic” as used herein alone or in combination refers to a substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic aromatic group having about 6 to 12 carbon atoms such as phenyl, naphthyl, indenyl, indanyl, azulenyl, fluorenyl and anthracenyl; or a heterocyclic aromatic group selected from the group consisting of furyl, thienyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, 2-pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, 1,3,5-triazinyl, 1,3,5-trithianyl, indolizinyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, 3H-indolyl, indolinyl, benzo[b]furanyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl, benzo[b]thiophenyl, 1H-indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzthiazolyl, purinyl, 4H-quinolizinyl, isoquinolinyl, cinnolinyl, phthalazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, 1,8-naphthridinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, acridinyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, phenoxyazinyl, pyrazolo[1,5-c]triazinyl and the like. “Arylalkyl” and “alkylaryl” employ the term “alkyl” as defined above. Rings may be multiply substituted.  
           [0057]    The term “aralkyl”, alone or in combination, refers to an aryl substituted alkyl radical, wherein the terms “alkyl” and “aryl” are as defined above. Examples of suitable aralkyl radicals include, but are not limited to, phenylmethyl, phenethyl, phenylhexyl, diphenylmethyl, pyridylmethyl, tetrazolyl methyl, furylmethyl, imidazolyl methyl, indolylmethyl, thienylpropyl and the like.  
           [0058]    The term “aralkenyl”, alone or in combination, refers to an aryl substituted alkenyl radical, wherein the terms “aryl” and “alkenyl” are as defined above.  
           [0059]    The term “arylamino”, alone or in combination, refers to a radical of formula aryl-NH-, wherein “aryl” is as defined above. Examples of aminoaryl radicals include, but are not limited to, phenylamino(anilido), naphthlamino, 2-, 3-, and 4-pyridylamino and the like.  
           [0060]    The term “biaryl”, alone or in combination, refers to a radical of formula aryl-aryl, wherein the term “aryl” is as defined above.  
           [0061]    The term “thioaryl”, alone or in combination, refers to a radical of formula aryl-S-, wherein the term “aryl” is as defined above. An example of a thioaryl radical is the thiophenyl radical.  
           [0062]    The term “aroyl”, alone or in combination, refers to a radical of formula aryl-CO-, wherein the term “aryl” is as defined above. Examples of suitable aromatic acyl radicals include, but are not limited to, benzoyl, 4-halobenzoyl, 4-carboxybenzoyl, naphthoyl, pyridylcarbonyl and the like.  
           [0063]    The term “heterocyclyl”, alone or in combination, refers to a non-aromatic 3- to 10-membered ring containing at least one endocyclic N, O, or S atom. The heterocycle may be optionally aryl-fused. The heterocycle may also optionally be substituted with at least one substituent which is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, amino, nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, alkyl, aralkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, cyano, carboxy, carboalkoxy, carboxyalkyl, oxo, arylsulfonyl and aralkylaminocarbonyl among others.  
           [0064]    The term “alkylheterocyclyl” as used herein refers to an alkyl group as previously defined appended to the parent molecular moiety through a heterocyclyl group.  
           [0065]    The term “heterocyclylalkyl” as used herein refers to a heterocyclyl group as previously defined appended to the parent molecular moiety through an alkyl group.  
           [0066]    The term “aminal” as used herein refers to a hemi-acetal of the structure R h C(NR i R j )(NR k R l )- wherein R h , R i , R j , R k  and R l  are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or any other suitable substituent  
           [0067]    Use of the above terms is meant to encompass substituted and unsubstituted moieties. Substitution may be by one or more groups such as alcohols, ethers, esters, amides, sulfones, sulfides, hydroxyl, nitro, cyano, carboxy, amines, heteroatoms, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxyalkoxy, acyloxy, halogens, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethyl, alkyl, aralkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, cyano, carboxy, carboalkoxy, carboxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, alkylheterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, oxo, arylsulfonyl and aralkylaminocarbonyl or any of the substituents of the preceding paragraphs or any of those substituents either attached directly or by suitable linkers. The linkers are typically short chains of 1-3 atoms containing any combination of —C—, —C(O)—, —NH—, —S—, —S(O)—, —O—, —C(O)O— or —S(O)O—. Rings may be substituted multiple times.  
           [0068]    The terms “electron-withdrawing” or “electron-donating” refer to the ability of a substituent to withdraw or donate electrons relative to that of hydrogen if hydrogen occupied the same position in the molecule. These terms are well-understood by one skilled in the art and are discussed in  Advanced Organic Chemistry  by J. March, 1985, pp. 16-18, incorporated herein by reference. Electron withdrawing groups include halo, nitro, carboxyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, carboxaldehyde, carboxyamido, aryl, quaternary ammonium, trifluoromethyl, and aryl lower alkanoyl among others. Electron donating groups include such groups as hydroxy, lower alkyl, amino, lower alkylamino, di(lower alkyl)amino, aryloxy, mercapto, lower alkylthio, lower alkylmercapto, and disulfide among others. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the aforesaid substituents may have electron donating or electron withdrawing properties under different chemical conditions. Moreover, the present invention contemplates any combination of substituents selected from the above-identified groups.  
           [0069]    The most preferred electron donating or electron withdrawing substituents are halo, nitro, alkanoyl, carboxaldehyde, arylalkanoyl, aryloxy, carboxyl, carboxamide, cyano, sulfonyl, sulfoxide, heterocyclyl, guanidine, quaternary ammonium, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, sulfonium salts, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, amino, lower alkylamino, di(lower alkyl)amino, amine lower alkyl mercapto, mercaptoalkyl, alkylthio and alkyldithio.  
           [0070]    As used herein, the term “composition” is intended to encompass a product comprising the specified ingredients in the specified amounts, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from a combination of the specified ingredients in the specified amounts.  
           [0071]    The term “chiral moieties” as used herein refers to substituents having a chiral center. Preferred chiral moieties are amines or bicyclic compounds. Examples of suitable chiral amines include chiral alkyl amines such as (+)- or (−)-2-aminobutane and (+)- or (−)-2-aminoheptane; chiral hydroxy-substituted alkylamines such as (+)- or (−)-2-amino-1-butanol, (+)- or (−)-2-amino-1-propanol, (+) or (−)-2-amino-3-methyl-1-butanol, (+)- or (−)-leucinol, and (+)-isoleucinol; chiral phenyl or naphthyl-substituted alkyl amines such as (+)- or (−)-alpha methyl benzylamine; (+)- or (−)-alpha-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine, and (+)-or (−)-alpha-(2-naphthyl)ethylamine; chiral alkylamines substituted with both hydroxy and phenyl such as (+)- or (−)-2-phenylglycinol, (+)- or (−)-threo-2-amino-1-phenyl-1,3-propanediol, (+)- or (−)-norephedrin, (+)- or (−)-2-amino-3-phenyl-1-propanol and (+)- or (−)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol; and other substituted alkylamines such as (+)- or (−)-alpha-methyl-p-nitrobenzylamine, (+)- or (−)-threo-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediol, (+)- or (−)-norepinephrine, (+)-dehydroabietylamine, (+)-2-amino-3-methoxy-1-phenylpropanol, L-tyrosinol and lower alkyl esters of alpha amino acids such as (+)- or (−)-alanine, (+)- or (−)-valine, (+)- or (−)-leucine, (+)- or (−)-isoleucine, (+)- or (−)-phenylalanine, (+)- or (−)-tyrosine, (+)- or (−)-serine, and (+)- or (−)-threonine. Examples of suitable chiral compounds include benzylamine and derivatives thereof. An example of a suitable bicyclic chiral compound is (1R)-(+)-2,10-camphorsultam. When amine chiral compounds are utilized to make the present imidazoyl derivatives, the chiral moiety is attached through the nitrogen group. A preferred benzylamine is of the structure shown below.  
                         
 
           [0072]    Abbreviations which have been used in the schemes and the examples which follow are: EtOAc for ethyl acetate; DMF for dimethylformamide; THF for tetrahydrofuran; TEA for triethylamine; DMSO for dimethylsulfoxide; DME for dimethoxyethane, and DIBAL-H for diisobutyl aluminum hydride.  
           [0073]    Scheme I shown below, illustrates the synthesis of compound  1 , which is utilized in the synthesis of the present compounds.  
                         
 
           [0074]    The cyclopropyl imidazoles of this invention may be synthesized according to the general synthesis depicted in Scheme II.  
                         
 
           [0075]    An appropriately substituted urocanic acid  6  is converted to an N-methoxy amide  1  in four steps (Scheme I), followed by reacting the resulting olefinic amide  1  with trimethylsulfoxonium iodide in the presence of a base such as tert-butoxide to give rise to the corresponding cyclopropyl amide  2  (Scheme II). Hydrolysis of  2  under basic conditions affords the corresponding acid, which is in turn converted to the chiral amide  3 . Fractional crystallization of the racemic mixture yields the pure enantiomer  4  which may be transformed into an aldehyde or an acid  5  (R 3 =H or OH respectively).  
           [0076]    Antagonists can then be synthesized from  5 , as shown in Scheme III below.  
                         
 
           [0077]    A detailed description of the preparation of representative compounds of the present invention is set forth in the Examples.  
           [0078]    The compounds of the present invention can be used in the form of salts derived from inorganic or organic acids. The salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of the compounds of the invention or separately by reacting a free base function with a suitable organic acid. Representative acid addition salts include, but are not limited to acetate, adipate, alginate, citrate, aspartate, benzoate, benzene sulfonate, bisulfate, butyrate, camphorate, camphor sulfonate, digluconate, glycerophosphate, hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, fumarate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxyethansulfonate (isothionate), lactate, maleate, methane sulfonate, nicotinate, 2-naphthalene sulfonate, oxalate, palmitoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3-phenylpropionate, picrate, pivalate, propionate, succinate, tartrate, thiocyanate, phosphate, glutamate, bicarbonate, p-toluene sulfonate and undecanoate. Also, the basic nitrogen-containing groups can be quaternized with such agents as lower alkyl halides such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl chlorides, bromides and iodides; dialkyl sulfates like dimethyl, diethyl, dibutyl and diamyl sulfates; long chain halides such as decyl, lauryl, myristyl and stearyl chlorides, bromides and iodides; arylalkyl halides like benzyl and phenethyl bromides and others. Water or oil-soluble or dispersible products are thereby obtained. Examples of acids which can be employed to form acid addition salts include such inorganic acids as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulphuric acid and phosphoric acid and such organic acids as oxalic acid, maleic acid, succinic acid and citric acid.  
           [0079]    Basic addition salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of compounds of this invention by reacting a carboxylic acid-containing moiety with a suitable base such as the hydroxide, carbonate or bicarbonate of a metal cation or with ammonia or an organic primary, secondary or tertiary amine. Salts include, but are not limited to, cations based on alkali metals or alkaline earth metals such as lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and aluminum salts and the like and nontoxic quaternary ammonia and amine cations including ammonium, tetramethyl ammonium, tetraethyl ammonium, methyl ammonium, dimethyl ammonium, trimethyl ammonium, triethyl ammonium, diethyl ammonium, and ethyl ammonium among others. Other representative organic amines useful for the formation of base addition salts include ethylenediamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, piperidine, piperazine and the like.  
           [0080]    The present invention contemplates both synthetic compounds of Formulae I and II of the present invention, as well as compounds formed by in vivo conversion to compounds of the present invention.  
           [0081]    Compounds of the present invention may exist as stereoisomers wherein asymmetric or chiral centers are present. These stereoisomers are “R” or “S” depending on the configuration of substituents around the chiral carbon atom. The present invention contemplates various stereoisomers and mixtures thereof. Stereoisomers include enantiomers and diastereomers, and mixtures of enantiomers or diastereomers. Individual stereoisomers of compounds of the present invention may be prepared synthetically from commercially available starting materials which contain asymmetric or chiral centers or by preparation of racemic mixtures followed by resolution well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art. These methods of resolution are exemplified by (1) attachment of a mixture of enantiomers to a chiral auxiliary, separation of the resulting mixture of diastereomers by recrystallization or chromatography and liberation of the optically pure product from the auxiliary or (2) direct separation of the mixture of optical enantiomers on chiral chromatographic columns.  
           [0082]    The compounds of the invention can exist in unsolvated as well as solvated forms, including hydrated forms, such as hemi-hydrates. In general, the solvated forms, with pharmaceutically acceptable solvents such as water and ethanol among others are equivalent to the unsolvated forms for the purposes of the invention.  
       
    
    
       [0083]    The Examples which follow are presented to describe preferred embodiments and utilities of the invention and are not meant to limit the invention unless otherwise stated in the claims appended hereto.  
       EXAMPLE 1  
       [0084]    N-Methoxy-N-methyl[2-(1-triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)cyclopropyl]carboxamide  10 , was synthesized in the following manner.  
         [0085]    First, n-butyl (2E)-3-(imidazol-4-yl)prop-2-enoate  11  was prepared in the following manner. A mixture of n-butanol (11 L) and urocanic acid (2.988 kg, 21.6 mol) was heated at 60-80° C. while p-toluene sulfonic acid monohydrate (4.5 kg, 23.7 mol) was added in 5 portions over a period of 1 hour. Next, the mixture was heated to reflux and water was removed from the reaction mixture by azeotropic distillation with n-butanol at atmospheric pressure. After 2 hours (approximately 4 L distillate collected), additional n-butanol (2 L) was added to the mixture and distillation was continued for another 1.5 hours (approximately 8.5 L distillate collected). Distillation was continued at reduced pressure until approximately 13 L of distillate was collected. Then toluene (16 L) was slowly added to the residue while keeping the temperature at 80-100° C. The mixture was then allowed to cool to room temperature over a period of 12 hours, giving rise to a suspension which was filtered. Then the solid obtained was washed with toluene (6 L) and dried in a tray dryer at 50° C. to give the p-toluene sulfonic acid salt of n-butyl urocanate as an off-white solid (7.4 kg, 93%), which was mixed with water (45 L). The pH of the resulting mixture was adjusted to 10.5 with aqueous sodium hydroxide (27.65%, approximately 3.0 kg) at 10-15° C. The mixture was then extracted twice with CH 2 Cl 2  (27 L+8 L). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (10 L), dried over Na 2 SO 4  and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated to approximately 15 L at atmospheric pressure to remove traces of water to give a residue of compound  11 .  
         [0086]    Next, n-butyl (2E)-3-(1-triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)prop-2-enoate  12  was prepared as follows. To the residue  11 , CH 2 Cl 2  (25 L) was added, followed by the addition of Et 3 N (2.2 kg, 21.8 mol). Triphenylmethyl chloride (5.7 kg, 20.4 mol) was added to the mixture, which had been cooled at 8-12° C., in six portions over a period of approximately 30 minutes. The resulting mixture was stirred at 10-15° C. for 30 minutes. Water (15 L) was then added to the mixture and the organic layer was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 , and filtered. Next, the filtrate was concentrated to a volume of approximately 29 L. Heptanes (bp 80-100° C., 50 L) were then added over a period of approximately 30 minutes, and the resulting suspension was cooled to −5 to 0° C. The solid was isolated on a centrifuge and washed with heptanes (10 L), then dried in a tray dryer at 50° C. to give compound  12  (8.1 kg, 85% from urocanic acid).  
         [0087]    (2E)-3-(1-Triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)prop-2-enoic acid,  13 , was then prepared as follows. A mixture of  12  (11.2 kg, 25.7 mol) was heated to 45-50° C. Then a solution of KOH (5.6 kg) in water (42 L) was added and the resulting mixture was heated to 60-65° C. and stirred at this temperature for 1.5 hours. After cooling to approximately 40° C., and acidifying to pH 3.3 by adding aqueous HCl (12.3 %, approximately 26 kg), the resulting suspension was diluted by water (35 L), cooled to 20-25° C., and filtered. The solid was then washed with water (3×10 L) and dried in a tray dryer at 70° C. to afford  13  (9.7 kg, 99%) as an off-white solid.  
         [0088]    (2E)-N-Methoxy-N-methyl-3-(1-triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)prop-2-enamide  14  was then prepared as follows. To a mixture of  13  (8.0 kg, 21.0 mol), triethylamine (2.35 kg, 23.3 mol) and CH 2 Cl 2  (105 kg), under a nitrogen atmosphere, cooled at −5-0° C., was added isobutyl chloroformate (3.15 kg, 23.1 mol). After stirring was continued at −5-0° C. for 30 minutes, N,O-dimethylhydroxylamine hydrochloride (2.25 kg, 23.1 mol) was added followed by triethylamine (2.35 kg, 23.3 mol) at −5-0° C. The mixture was then stirred at 10° C. for 3 hours and cooled to −5-0° C. Additional amounts of triethylamine (260 g, 2.6 mol) and isobutyl chloroformate (350 g, 2.6 mol) were added at −5-10° C., and after 15 minutes of stirring, more triethylamine (260 g, 2.6 mol) and N, O-dimethylhydroxylamine hydrochloride (250 g, 2.6 mol) were added at −5-0° C. The mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred overnight. After adding water (15 L), the organic phase was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4  with the addition of triethylamine (0.4 kg), and filtered through a silica gel pad (10 kg). Next, the filtered cake was washed successively with CH 2 Cl 2  (18 L), a solution of EtOAc: CH 2 Cl 2  (4:1; 20 L), EtOAc: CH 2 Cl 2  (9:1; 20 L), and EtOAc (20 L). The combined filtrates were concentrated at atmospheric pressure to approximately 25 L. EtOAc (38 L) and heptanes (48 L) were added at 65-75° C., and the resulting suspension was allowed to cool to room temperature overnight. A solid was isolated on a centrifuge and washed with heptanes:EtOAc (4:1; 2×9 L) and dried in a tray dryer at 70° C. to give  14  (7.9 kg, 89%).  
         [0089]    Lastly, N-Methoxy-N-methyl [2-(1-triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)cyclopropyl]carboxamide  10  was prepared as follows. A mixture of trimethylsulfoxonium iodide (4.95 kg, 22.5 mol), potassium tert-butoxide (2.55 kg, 22.7 mol), and DMSO (56 kg) under a nitrogen atmosphere was stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature. Compound  14  (7.9 kg, 18.7 mol) was added and the resulting mixture was stirred at 0-55° C. for 5 hours, allowed to cool to room temperature overnight, and diluted with water (115 kg) at 25-30° C. The solid product was isolated on a centrifuge, washed with water (55 kg), and dried in a tray dryer at 70° C. to give  10  as an off-white solid (7.75 kg, 95%).  
       EXAMPLE 2  
       [0090]    2-(1-Triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)cyclopropanecarboxylic acid  15 , was synthesized in the following manner. To a mixture of tetrahydrofuran (51.5 kg) and water (652 g), potassium tert-butoxide (13.3 kg mol) was added in three portions while keeping the temperature at 20-30° C. Compound  10  (7.7 kg, 17.6 mol) was then added in four portions while keeping the temperature at 20-25° C. After stirring the mixture at 20-25° C. for 1.5 hours, it was diluted with water (26 kg) over a period of 15 minutes, and concentrated under reduced pressure until 60 L of distillate was collected. After diluting with ethanol (30 kg), the pH of the solution was adjusted to 4.4 with aqueous HCl (3 N, approximately 39.5 L) at 30-35° C. The resulting suspension was cooled to 20° C., stirred at that temperature for 30 minutes, and centrifuged to provide a solid which was washed with water (50 L) and dried in a tray dryer at 70° C. to give  15  (6.4 kg, 92%).  
       EXAMPLE 3  
       [0091]    N-((1S)-1-Phenylethyl)[(2S,1R)-2-(1-triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)cyclopropyl]carboxamide  16 , was prepared in the following manner. To a mixture of compound  15  (6.4 kg, 16.2 mol) and triethylamine (1.80 kg, 17.8 mol) in methylene chloride (78 kg) at 0-5° C., was added isobutyl chloroformate (2.43 kg, 17.8 mol) with stirring. After 30 minutes, (R)-(+)-α-methylbenzylamine (available from Aldrich) was added at 0-5° C. over a period of approximately 30 minutes. Stirring was then continued at this temperature for another hour, after which water (20 L) was added to the mixture and the organic phase was separated, dried over Na 2 SO 4 , and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated first at atmospheric pressure, and later at reduced pressure to remove methylene chloride from the mixture. Methanol (41 kg) was added to the residue and the resulting mixture was cooled to approximately 20° C. and seeded. After crystallization started, the mixture was slowly heated to 50° C. and then allowed to cool to 26-28° C. overnight. Next, the suspension was filtered and the crystals were washed with MeOH (15 L, 25° C.). The solid was then dried in a tray dryer at 70° C. to give compound  16  as an off-white solid (2.3 kg, 58%).  
       EXAMPLE 4  
       [0092]    (2S,1R)-2-(1-Triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)cyclopropanecarbaldehyde  17 , was prepared as follows. A mixture of compound  16  (1090 g, 2.19 mol) and toluene (7.5 L) was heated to reflux and concentrated to remove traces of protic solvents. After collecting approximately 5.5 L of distillate, the distillation was stopped and the residue was cooled to approximately 60° C. under a nitrogen atmosphere. Tetrahydrofuran (7.5 L) was then added to give a clear solution. Next, the solution was transferred into a 20 L stainless steel reactor and cooled to approximately −50° C. by means of dry ice/acetone under a nitrogen atmosphere. After adding butyl lithium in hexanes (15%, 960 g, 2.25 mol) over a period of 30 minutes at −50° C., the mixture was stirred for 10 minutes, followed by the addition of methyl iodide (342 g, 2.41 mol) in one portion. The resulting mixture was stirred overnight under nitrogen at room temperature.  
         [0093]    Into a separate flask, containing a mixture of tetrahydrofuran (2 L) and DIBAL in toluene (25%, 1850 g, 3.25 mol) at 0° C. under a nitrogen atmosphere, was added butyllithium in hexanes (15%, 1390 g, 3.25 mol) over a period of 1 hour. The resulting mixture was stirred at this temperature for another 30 minutes, and was then added to the above reaction mixture at 15-20° C. over a period of 2 hours. After stirring at room temperature overnight, the mixture was cooled to 5-10° C. Then an aqueous solution of NaCl (20%, 2 L) was slowly added to give a mixture of two phases, which were separated. Silica gel (800 g) and celite (500 g) were then added to the organic phase with stirring. The suspension was filtered through a silica gel pad (1600 g) and the filter cake was washed with a mixture of toluene:EtOAc (3:1; 13 L). The filtrate was concentrated using a rotary evaporator to give the crude compound  17  (995 g) as a sticky off-white solid.  
       EXAMPLE 5  
       [0094]    2-(1-Triphenylmethyl-4-imidazolyl)-2-methyl-2-cyclopropylcarboxylic acid,  18 , was synthesized in the following manner.  
         [0095]    First, butyl 2-(1-triphenylmethyl-4-imidazol)-2-methyl-2-cyclopropylcarboxylate,  19 , was synthesized in the following manner.  
         [0096]    To a mixture of Me 2 SO +  I −  (2.4 mmol) and NaH (60% in mineral oil, 2.4 mmol) was added dropwise with stirring under nitrogen dry DMSO (10 ml), and the resulting mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. After the addition of 3-(1-triphenylmethyl-5-imidazolyl)-2-methyl-2-propenyl-butyl ester (1.0 g, 2.22 mmol) in dry DMSO/THF (20 ml, 1/1), the reaction mixture was heated at 60° C. for 24 hours, cooled, poured into cold 1 M HCl (25 ml), and extracted with ether (2×100 ml). The ether layer was then dried (MgSO 4 ) filtered, and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography using ethyl acetate/hexanes:4/6 to afford compound  19  (0.85 g).  
         [0097]    Next, 2-(1-triphenylmethyl-4-imidazolyl)-2-methyl-2-cyclopropylcarboxylic acid  18  was prepared as follows. To a solution of compound  19  (1.4 g, 30 mmol) in EtOH (15 ml), aqueous KOH (12%, 15 ml) was added in portions with stirring at 40-50° C. After stirring at 60° C. for 24 hours, the solution was cooled, diluted with water (30 ml), extracted with ether and then acidified to pH=6.0 with 0.5 M HCl. The precipitate obtained was filtered off and dried to give compound  18 .  
       EXAMPLE 6  
       [0098]    tert-Butyl 2-(1-triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)-3-methylcyclopropanecarboxylate  20 , was synthesized in the following manner. A solution of diphenylethylsulphonium tetrafluoroborate (10.39 g, 34.38 mmol) and dry CH 2 Cl 2  (2.72 ml, 42.50 mmol) in anhydrous DME (300 ml) was cooled to −70° C. under N 2 . In a separate flask, lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) was prepared by the addition of n-BuLi (13.6 ml, 2.5 M in hexanes, 34.0 mmol) to neat diisopropylamine (4.78 ml, 34.0 mmol) at 0° C. under N 2 . After 30 minutes, dry DME (50 ml) was added to the solid LDA and the resulting solution was cooled to −78° C. The DME solution of LDA was added via cannula to the DME solution of diphenylethylsulphonium tetrafluoroborate and CH 2 Cl 2  to form a solution containing the corresponding ylide. After 30 minutes, a solution of tert-butyl (2E)-3-(1-triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl) prop-2-enoate (5.0g, 11.4 mmol) in THF (50 ml) and DME (20 ml) was added via cannula to the ylide solution. The resulting mixture was stirred at −70° C. for 3 hours, allowed to slowly warm to 0° C. over 6 hours, quenched by the addition of saturated ammonium chloride (200 ml), and extracted with ethyl acetate (200 ml). The ethyl acetate layer was separated, dried (MgSO 4 ), filtered, and evaporated in vacuo to give a white solid which was purified by flash chromatography using ethyl acetate/hexanes: 1/9 to afford compound  20  (530 mg). NMR ( 1 H, CDCl 3 ): δ: 7.31(m, 9H), 7.11 (m, 7H), 6.55 (s, 1H), 2.50 (dd, 1H, J=4.8Hz, J=4.8 Hz), 1.68 (m, 1H), 1.59 (m, 1H), 1.41 (s, 9H), 0.96 (d, 3H, J=6.3 Hz).  
       EXAMPLE 7  
       [0099]    2-(1-Triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)-3-methylcyclopropanecarbaldehyde  21 , was synthesized according to the following procedure.  
         [0100]    First, [2-(1-Triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)-3-methylcyclopropyl]methan-1-ol  22  was prepared as follows. A solution of tert-butyl 2-(1-triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)-3-methylcyclopropanecarboxylate (0.42 g, 0.91 mmol) in dry THF (15 ml) was cooled to 0° C. under N 2 . LiAlH 4  (0.12 g, 3.1 mmol) was added as a solid and the resulting mixture was stirred for 5 hours at room temperature. To the reaction mixture was added slowly and sequentially water (0.3 ml), 10% sodium hydroxide solution (0.3 ml), and more water (0.9 ml). The reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of celite, which was subsequently washed with ethyl acetate (50 ml). The filtrate was partitioned between water and ethyl acetate (50 ml: 50 ml). The ethyl acetate layer was separated, dried (MgSO 4 ), filtered, and evaporated in vacuo to give a white solid which was purified by flash chromatography, using ethyl acetate/hexanes: 6/4 to give  22  (368 mg) as a white solid. NMR ( 1 H, CDCl 3 ): δ: 7.30 (m, 9H), 7.11 (m, 7H), 6.47 (s, 1H), 3.56 (m, 2H), 1.82 (dd, 1H, J=4.8Hz, J=5.1Hz), 0.98 (m, 1H), 0.93 (m, 1H), 0.88 (d, 3H, J=6.0 Hz).  
         [0101]    Then 2-(1-Triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)-3-methyl cyclopropanecarbaldehyde  21  was prepared as follows. To a solution of oxalyl chloride (0.69 ml, 1.37 mmol, 2.0M in CH 2 Cl 2 ) in dry CH 2 Cl 2  (15 ml) under N 2  at −78° C. was added dry DMSO (0.2 ml, 2.74 mmol). After 30 minutes, compound  22  (0.36 g, 0.91 mmol) in CH 2 Cl 2  (5 ml) was added. Next, TEA (0.51 ml, 3.65 ml) was added after the resulting mixture was stirred for an additional 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was then warmed to −20° C., and after the addition of a saturated aqueous ammonium chloride solution (50 ml), the CH 2 Cl 2  layer was separated, dried (MgSO 4 ), filtered, and evaporated in vacuo to give a light yellow sticky solid. Purification of the solid on a flash chromatography column using ethyl acetate/hexanes: 15/85, then 30/70 gave  21  as white foam (275 mg. 76%). NMR ( 1 H, CDCl 3 ): δ: 9.27 (d, 1H, J=4.8 Hz), 7.32 (m, 9H), 7.10 (m, 7H), 6.56 (s, 1H), 2.70 (dd, 1H, J=4.8 Hz, J =4.6 Hz), 2.05 (m, 1H), 1.82 (m, 1H), 1.06 (d, 1H, 6.3 Hz).  
       EXAMPLE 8  
       [0102]    2-(1-Triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)-3-methylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid  23 , was synthesized according to the following procedure. To a solution of compound  21  (0.275 g, 0.70 mmol) in acetone (25 ml), was added at room temperature sequentially t-butanol (35 ml), Na 2 HPO 4  (0.49M, 7 ml), and an aqueous potassium permanganate solution (5 ml, 0.6 g, 3.8 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hours before the addition of a saturated aqueous sodium bisulfite solution (30 ml). The pH was then adjusted to 3.0 with 10% aqueous HCl, and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (100 ml). The organic layer was separated, dried (MgSO 4 ), filtered, and evaporated in vacuo to give  23  (335 mg) as a white foam. NMR ( 1 H, CDCl 3 ): δ: 7.88 (s, 1H), 7.36 (m, 1H), 7.06 (m, 6H), 6.61 (s, 1H), 2.57 (dd, 1H, J=4.8 Hz, J=3.9 Hz), 1.91 (m, 1H), 1.81 (m, 1H), 0.94 (d, 3H, J=6.3 Hz).  
       EXAMPLE 9  
       [0103]    2-(1-Triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)-1-methylcyclopropanecarbaldehyde  24 , was synthesized in the following manner.  
         [0104]    First, (2E)-3-(1-Triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)-2-methylpropanol  25  was prepared as follows. To a solution of ethyl (2E)-3-(1-triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)-2-methylprop-2-enoate (6.0 g, 14.2 mmol) in dry THF (120 ml) under N 2  at −78° C., was added DIBAL-H (1.0M in toluene, 70 ml, 70 mmol) dropwise via syringe. After the addition was complete, the reaction mixture was stirred for an additional hour, then quenched by the dropwise addition of methanol (8 ml), followed by the addition of an aqueous solution of potassium tartrate along with ethyl acetate (200 ml). The mixture was stirred overnight and then the organic layer separated, dried (MgSO 4 ), filtered, and evaporated in vacuo to give  25  (5.2 g) as a fluffy white solid, used without further purification. NMR ( 1 H, CDCl 3 ): δ: 7.43 (s,1H), 7.31 (m,9H), 7.13 (m,6H), 6.74 (s,1H), 6.37 (s,1H), 4.11 (s,2H), 1.90 (s,3H).  
         [0105]    Next, (2E)-3-(1-Triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)-2-methyl-1-(tert-butyldiphenylsiloxy)-propane  26  was prepared as follows. Compound  25  (2.0 g, 5.26 mmol) was dissolved in dry DMF (30 ml) and the solution cooled to 0° C. under N 2 . Imidazole (0.43 g, 6.3 mmol) was added followed by tert-butyldiphenylsilyl chloride (1.64 ml, 6.32 mmol). The reaction was warmed to room temperature and stirred overnight. Next, saturated sodium chloride solution was added (100 ml) and the resulting mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×100 ml). The ethyl acetate layer was separated, washed with saturated sodium chloride solution (3×50 ml), dried (MgSO 4 ), filtered, and evaporated in vacuo. Purification by flash chromatography using ethyl acetate/hexanes: 5/95 gave  26  (2.6 g) as a white solid. NMR ( 1 H, CDCl 3 ): δ: 7.65 (m, 4H), 7.35(m, 14H), 7.13 (m, 8H), 6.74 (s, 1H), 6.49 (s, 1H), 4.14 (s, 2H), 1.80 (s, 3H), 1.05 (s, 9H).  
         [0106]    Next, 1-[2-(1-Triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)- 1-methylcyclopropyl]-1-(tert-butyldiphenylsiloxy)-methane  27  was synthesized according to the following procedure. Compound  26  (0.64 g, 1.03 mmol) was dissolved in dry 1,2-dichloroethane (30 ml) and the resulting solution was cooled to 0° C. under N 2 . To a solution of iodochloromethane (0.30 ml, 4.14 mmol) in dry 1,2-dichloroethane (20ml) at 0° C. under N 2 , diethylzinc (1.0M in ether, 2.27 ml, 2.27 mmol) was added followed by the silyl ether solution via cannulation over 15 minutes. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1.5 hours, quenched by the addition of saturated ammmonium chloride (50 ml), and then extracted with ethyl acetate (100 ml). The ethyl acetate layer was separated, dried (MgSO 4 ), filtered, and evaporated in vacuo to give  27  (0.74 g) as a white foam which was used without further purification. NMR ( 1 H, CDCl 3 ): δ: 7.62 (m, 6H), 7.31(m, 12H), 7.11 (m, 6H), 7.00 (m, 2H), 6.44 (s, 1H), 3.61 (d, 1H, J=10.2 Hz), 3.48 (d, 1H, J=10.2Hz), 1.82 (m, 1H), 1.00 (s, 9H), 0.92 (s, 3H), 0.88(m, 2H). MS: (M+1)=633.23 (Electrospray)  
         [0107]    Next, [2-(1-Triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)-1-methylcyclopropyl]methan-1-ol  28  was prepared in the following manner. To a solution of compound  27  (2.24 g, 3.54 mmol) in dry THF (30 ml) at room temperature under N 2 , was added N-butyl ammonium fluoride (1.0M in THF, 15 ml, 15 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated at 70° C. for 3 hours, cooled, diluted with water (50 ml), and extracted with ethyl acetate (50 ml). The ethyl acetate layer was separated, dried (MgSO 4 ), filtered, and evaporated in vacuo to give a brown oil. Purification using flash chromatography with ethyl acetate/hexanes: 6/4 gave  28  (1.24 g) as a light yellow foam. NMR ( 1 H, CDCl 3 ): δ: 7.62 (m, 6H), 7.31(m, 12H), 7.11 (m, 6H), 7.00 (m, 2H), 6.44 (s, 1H), 3.61 (d, 1H, J=10.2 Hz), 3.48 (d, 1H, J=10.2Hz), 1.82 (m, 1H), 1.00 (s, 9H), 0.92 (s, 3H), 0.88(m, 2H).  
         [0108]    Finally, 2-(1-Triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)-1-methylcyclopropanecarbaldehyde  24  was prepared as follows. To a mixture of oxalyl chloride (2.0 M in CH 2 Cl 2 , 1.98 ml, 3.95 mmol) in dry CH 2 Cl 2  (30 ml) at −78° C. under N 2  and dry DMSO (0.56 ml, 7.89 mmol) stirred for 20 minutes, was added  28  (1.04 g, 2.63 mmol) in dry CH 2 Cl 2  (15 ml). After an additional 30 minutes stirring, TEA (1.48 ml, 10.52 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was warmed to −20° C. and then quenched by the addition of a saturated aqueous ammonium chloride solution (50 ml). The CH 2 Cl 2  layer was separated, dried (MgSO 4 ), filtered, and evaporated in vacuo to give a white foam. Purification by flash chromatography using ethyl acetate/hexanes 2/8 gave  24  (620 mg) as a white foam. NMR ( 1 H, CDCl 3 ): δ: 8.84 (s, 1H), 7.31(m, 9H), 7.11 (m, 7H), 6.61 (s, 1H), 2.54 (m, 1H), 1.58 (m, 1H), 1.07 (s, 3H), 0.92 (m, 1H).  
       EXAMPLE 10  
       [0109]    2-(1-Triphenylmethylimidazol-4-yl)-1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid  29 , was synthesized according to the following procedure. To a solution of compound  24  (0.45 g, 1.15 mmol) in tert-butanol (20 ml) and acetone (10 ml) at room temperature, was added sodium dibasic buffer (0.42M, 14 ml) followed by potassium permanganate (0.6 g dissolved in 25 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hour, and quenched by the addition of a solution of sodium hydrogen sulfite (10 ml). The pH of the mixture was adjusted to 2 with aqueous HCl (1M), and then the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (50 ml). The ethyl acetate layer was separated, dried (MgSO 4 ), filtered, and evaporated in vacuo to give compound  29  (392 mg) as a white solid. NMR ( 1 H, CDCl 3 ): δ: 7.42 (s, 1H), 7.31(m, 9H), 7.09 (m, 6H), 6.43 (s, 1H), 2.71 (m, 1H), 1.60 (m, 1H), 1.08 (s, 3H), 0.75 (m, 1H).  
         [0110]    All references cited are hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0111]    The present invention is illustrated by way of the foregoing description and examples. The foregoing description is intended as a non-limiting illustration, since many variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art in view thereof. It is intended that all such variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims be embraced thereby.  
         [0112]    Changes can be made in the composition, operation and arrangement of the method of the present invention described herein without departing from the concept and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims: