Merck + Co., Inc.

Eric T Pisk

Gregory L Tewalt

Steven J Cianciosi

Michael J Conder

Rebecca L Dabora

Robert W Stieber

William H Cover

Glenn A Hulvey

Ilia A Zavialov

Bogdan Tehlewitz

Acetonides are obtained in a one-step reaction of a carboxylic acid halide, a 1,2-aminoalcohol, and 2-alkoxypropene or 2,2-dialkoxypropane in an ether solvent and in the presence of an inorganic base. Acetonides are also obtained in a two-step reaction scheme in which an acid halide and 1,2-aminoalcohol are reacted in an ether solvent in the presence of LiOH to form a hydroxyamide, which is then reacted with 2-alkoxypropene or 2,2-dialkoxypropane in the presence of acid to form the acetonide. The acetonides resulting from the one-step and two-step protocols can be further reacted with an allylating agent such as an allyl halide in the presence of a strong base to provide the corresponding allyl acetonide. The acetonides and allyl acetonides can serve as intermediates in the production of certain HIV protease inhibitors which are useful for treating HIV infection and AIDS.

Process for preparing acetonides

Biosynthetic production of 7-[1',2',6',-7',8',8a'(R)-hexahydro-2'(S),6'(R)-dimethyl-8'(S)-hydroxy-1'( S)-naphthyl]-3(R),5(R)-dihydroxyheptanoic acid, 'triol acid', is accomplished by enzymatic hydrolysis of lovastatin acid or a salt thereof, by treating it with Clonostachys compactiuscula ATCC 38009 or ATCC 74178, or mutants thereof, or a cell-free extract derived therefrom, or a hydrolase derived therefrom. The triol acid and its lactone form are both inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase and thus useful as anti-hypercholesterolemic agents, and may also serve as intermediates for preparation of other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Also, in the synthesis of simvastatin by direct methylation of lovastatin, selective hydrolysis of residual lovastatin salt by treatment with Clonostachys compactiuscula ATCC 38009 or ATCC 74178 or mutants thereof or a cell-free extract derived therefrom, or a hydrolase derived therefrom yields the 'triol' salt which can be easily separated from simvastatin.

Biosynthetic production of

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Harrisonburg, VA, United States of America

Eric T Pisk