Technical scale synthesis of a new and highly potent thrombin inhibitor

In this account, we describe the development of an efficient and convergent process for the peptidomimetic thrombin inhibitor 1 on production plant scale. Starting from nicotinonitrile (13), (2S,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid (5) and (2R)-2-amino-3-cyclohexylpropanoic acid (29) compound 1 was obtained in 16 chemical steps. New methods had been developed for the preparation of the key intermediate dehydroproline 22 and the transformation of nitriles into amidines. The thrombin inhibitor 1 was isolated by special techniques (nanofiltration and spray drying). Almost all salts of 1 are amorphous, however, a crystalline complex was obtained with 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one 1,1-dioxide (Saccharin(C)).