Patent GB-1152895-A (GB)
Title: Novel Phenylalanine Derivatives and a process for the manufacture thereof
IPC: C07D233/78
Filed: 1967-06-07
Abstract: 1,152,895. Phenylalanine derivatives. F. HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE & CO. A.G. 7 June, 1967 [7 June, 1966]. No. 26340/67. Heading C2C. Novel compounds of the general formula wherein R<SP>1</SP> represents a lower-alkyl or loweralkanoyl group, R<SP>2</SP> represents a lower-alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower-cycloalkyl, lower-cycioalkenyl, phenyl or phenyl-(lower alkyl) group, R<SP>3</SP> represents a loweralkyl group, R<SP>4</SP> and R<SP>5</SP> each represent a lower-alkanoyl group and R<SP>6</SP> represents a hydroxy, lower-alkoxy, amino or lower-alkanoylamino group, and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof, (lower indicates groups containing from 1 to 7 carbon atoms in the aliphatic portion thereof) are prepared by either hydrolytically cleaving a hydantoin of the general Formula (II) (wherein R<SP>1</SP>, R<SP>2</SP> and R<SP>3</SP> have the significance given earlier) or by saponifying a nitrile of the general Formula (III) (wherein R<SP>1</SP>, R<SP>2</SP> and R<SP>3</SP> have the significance given earlier) or by reducing a nitro compound of the general Formula (IV) (wherein R<SP>1</SP>, R<SP>2</SP>, R<SP>3</SP> and R<SP>6</SP> have the significance given earlier) or by hydrolysing an isocyanate of the general Formula (V) (wherein R<SP>1</SP>, R<SP>2</SP> and R<SP>3</SP> have the significance given earlier and R<SP>60</SP> represents a hydroxy or lower-alkoxy group) and, where required, subjecting the resulting product in any desired sequence to one or more of the steps of ether cleavage, esterification at free hydroxy groups, acylation of the free amino group, saponification of the alkoxycarbonyl group and esterification or amidation of the carboxy group and, if desired, converting the product into a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt. Hydantoins of Formula (II) above are prepared by condensing an aldehyde of the general formula with a nitro-alkane of the formula R<SP>3</SP>-CH 2 -NO 2  to give a nitro compound of the formula which is then reduced to yield a ketone of the general formula which is then converted into the hydantoin by reaction with a mixture of an alkali cyanide and ammonium carbonate in alcohol solution. Nitriles of Formula (III) above are prepared by reaction of the ketone of the last general formula above with an alkali cyanide and ammonia. Nitro compounds of Formula (IV) above are prepared by reacting an alkali salt of an alphanitro-carboxylic acid ester of the formula (wherein R<SP>3</SP> has the significance given earlier and R<SP>61</SP> represents a lower-alkoxy or benzyloxy group) with a compound of the general formula (wherein R<SP>1</SP> and R<SP>2</SP> have the significance given earlier and X represents a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom or a lower-alkylsulphonyloxy, phenylsulphonyloxy, lower alkylphenylsulphyloxy or lower-dialkylamino group) in an alkanol containing from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, dimethyl sulphoxide or N,N-dimethyl-formamide at room temperature or slightly elevated temperatures. The product of this reaction is an ester of Formula (IV). This ester can be saponified to the carboxylic acid with dilute alkali. The resulting acid can subsequently be amidated with a suitable amine and a dehydrating agent [for example, dicyclohexyl-carbodi-imide or carbonyl-bis (imidazole)] in a non-polar solvent such as N,N-dimethyl-formamide or a mixture of methylene chloride and dioxane at room temperature or slightly elevated temperatures. Isocyanates of Formula (V) above are prepared by reacting a compound of the last general formula above with an alkali salt of a compound of formula and then saponifying the product with an alkali hydroxide to give a half ester of formula and the carboxyl group of this half-ester can be converted into a carbonyl halide group and then into the isocyanate group by reaction with sodium azide so as to yield isocyanates of Formula (V). In order to convert the halfester of Formula (XII) into the isocyanates of Formula (V), the alkoxycarbonyl group can be converted into the carbamoyl group by treatment with ammonia or into the hydrazinocarbonyl group by treatment with hydrazine. The resulting products are subsequently degraded to the isocyanate by the HOFMANN reaction (e.g. treatment with an alkali hypohalite such as sodium hypobromite or chlorite) or by the CURTIUS reaction (e.g. treatment with nitrous acid and heating of the resulting azide). Pharmaceutical compositions in conventional forms for oral or parenteral administration and which inhibit the sympathetic nervous system or are active as tyrosinhydroxylase inhibitors comprise an above novel compound or a salt thereof and one or more carriers or excipients. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 1,108,756.