A diastereoselective synthesis of boceprevir's gem-dimethyl bicyclic [3.1.0] proline intermediate from an insecticide ingredient cis-cypermethric acid

Abstract

An efficient multi-gram synthesis of (1R,2S,5S)-methyl 6,6-dimethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2-carboxylate, a key chiral bicyclic proline fragment employed in the construction of the potent anti-HCV drug boceprevir, has been presented. The synthetic route commences with the readily available cis-cypermethric acid, a cheap source of the cyclopropane ring required in the targeted compound, and utilizes the cis-orientation of the 2,2-dichlorovinyl and carboxylic acid side arms, already present in the starting material, to effect a diastereoselective construction of the proline moiety.