Regioselective synthesis of 3‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐5‐(1H‐indole‐3‐carbonyl)‐4‐hydroxyfuroic acids: route to hydroxyfuroic acid‐based insulin receptor activators

Abstract

AbstractA new class of insulin receptor activator with a hydroxyfuroic acid in place of a hydroxyquinone moiety is reported. The synthesis of 3‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐5‐(1H‐indole‐3‐carbonyl)‐4‐hydroxyfuroic acids (26–30) requires seven major steps. Key elements in the syntheses include (1) sequential preparation of two 4‐(N‐protected indole)‐3‐methoxy‐furoic 2,5‐dicarboxylic esters (4 and 6); (2) regioselective conversion of the furoic diacid 8 into its C‐5 methyl ester 10 with methyl chloroformate; and (3) acylation of 10 by a 7‐substituted indole under a mild condition. This study demonstrates a feasible route of synthesizing insulin receptor activators with a hydroxyfuroic acid scaffold. Among those hydroxyfuroic acid compounds, compound 28 demonstrates insulin receptor activation potential comparable to Merck's compound 2 with a dihydroxybenzoquinone scaffold. Drug Dev Res 72: 247–258, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.