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Synfacts 2006(3): 0197-0197  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-931926
Synthesis of Natural Products and Potential Drugs
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Synthesis of mGluR2/3 Agonists

Contributor(s): Philip Kocienski
L. Tan*, N. Yasuda*, N. Yoshikawa, F. W. Hartner, K. K. Eng, W. R. Leonard, F.-R. Tsay, R. P. Volante, R. D. Tillyer
Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, USA
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Publication History

Publication Date:
21 February 2006 (online)

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Significance

The target molecule is a constrained glutamic acid analogue that mimics L-glutamate, a major excitory neurotransmitter. Potential applications include schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, addiction, pain, epilepsy and neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s). This short, large-scale synthesis (10 steps, 43% overall) features the creation of a cyclopropane ring by an intramolecular epoxide opening by the enolate of an α-fluoro ester (D → E).