FIELD OF THE INVENTION [02] The present invention relates to a process for producing an aziridine-1- carboxamide compound, and a process for producing a 4-imin-1, 3-diazabicyclo [3.1. 0] - hexan-2-one compound from the aziridine-l-carboxamide compound.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [03] Aziridine-1-carboxamide compounds and derivatives thereof have a variety of therapeutical useful activities such as immunostimulant activities. See, for example, U. S. Patent No. 4,376, 731. In addition, aziridine-1-carboxamide compounds are useful intermediates for a wide variety of pharmaceutically active compounds including 4- <BR> <BR> imino-1, 3-diazabicyclo [3.1. 0] -hexan-2-one and its derivatives. See, for example, U. S. Patent No. 4, 083, 987. As these references show, 2-cyanoaziridine-1-carboxamide or its derivatives are particularly useful both as a pharmaceutical agents and as intermediates for other pharmaceutically useful compounds.

[04] However, some of the conventional methods for producing 2- cyanoaziridine-1-carboxamide involve generation of a toxic reagent and/or potentially explosive reaction conditions. For example, a synthetic method for producing 2- cyanoaziridine-1-carboxamide as disclosed by Uwe Bicker in East German Patent 110,492 involves passing a hot toxic isocyanic acid into ether which is generated from pyrolysis of cyanuric acid. This is a dangerous procedure because high flammability of ether and generation of a highly toxic blistering agent isocyanic acid. Moreover, due to the dangerous conditions, a special apparatus is generally required for this process.

[05] Therefore, there is a need for a safer alternative method for producing aziridine-l-carboxamide compounds. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [06] One aspect of the present invention provides a process for producing an aziridine-1-carboxamide of the formula : said process comprising: (a) contacting an aziridine of the formula: with an isocyanate of the formula RS-N=C=O under conditions sufficient to produce an N- acylated aziridine of the formula : wherein each of Rl, R2 and R3 is independently hydrogen or Cl-C6 alkyl ; R4 is cyano, carboxamide or carboxylic acid ester; and R5 is a moiety of the formula-C (=O)-R6, where R6 is haloalkyl, and (b) removing the Rs group by contacting the N-acylated aziridine with a nucleophilic reagent under conditions sufficient to produce the aziridine-1-carboxamide of Formula I.

[07] Another aspect of the present invention provides a process for producing a 4-imin-1, 3-diazabicyclo [3.1. 0] -hexan-2-one of the formula: from the aziridine-l-carboxamide of Formula I, where Rl, R2 and R3 are those defined above.

DEFINITIONS [08]"Alkyl"refers to a linear fully-saturated hydrocarbon moiety having one to ten, preferably one to six, carbon atoms or a branched fully saturated hydrocarbon moiety having three to ten, preferably three to six, carbon atoms.

[09] "Carboxamide"refers to a moiety of the fonnula-C (=O) NRaRb, where each of Ra and Rb is independently hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl.

[10]"Carboxylic acid ester"refers to a moiety of the formula-C (=O) ORa, where Ra is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl.

[11]"Haloalkyl"refers to an alkyl moiety, as defined above, in which one or more hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon backbone have been replaced with one or more halides, preferably chloride, bromide or fluoride. Exemplary haloalkyl groups include mono-, di-and trichloromethyl, mono-, di-and trifluoromethyl and the like.

[12] When referring to a chemical reaction, the terms"treating", "contacting"and"reacting"are used interchangeably herein and refer to adding or mixing two or more reagents under appropriate conditions to produce the indicated and/or the desired product. It should be appreciated that the reaction which produces the indicated and/or the desired product may not necessarily result directly from the combination of two reagents which were initially added, i. e., there may be one or more intermediates which are produced in the mixture which ultimately leads to the formation of the indicated and/or the desired product.

[13] As used herein, the terms"those defined above"and"those defined herein"when referring to a variable incorporates by reference the broad definition of the variable as well as preferred, more preferred and most preferred definitions, if any.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [14] One aspect of the present invention provides a process for producing an aziridine-1-carboxamide of the formula: where Rl, R2, R3 and R4 are those defined above. The processes of the present invention comprise contacting an aziridine of the formula: with an isocyanate of the formula R5-N=C=o under conditions sufficient to produce an N- acylated aziridine of the formula : where Rl, R2, R3, R4 and Rs are those defined herein.

[15] The processes of the present invention also comprise removing the R5 group by contacting the N-acylated aziridine of Formula III with a nucleophilic reagent under conditions sufficient to produce the aziridine-1-carboxamide of Formula I.

[16] Preferably, Rs is haloacetyl. More preferably Rs is trichloroacetyl, dichloroacetyl, chloroacetyl, trifluoroactetyl or tribromoacetyl. More preferably, Rs is trichloroacetyl.

[17] Preferably, R4 is cyano.

[18] In one particular embodiment, Rl, R2 and R3 are hydrogen.

[19] The reaction between the aziridine-1-carboxamide of Formula II and the isocyanate can be conducted at a wide range of reaction temperature in an inert solvent, i. e. , a solvent that is non-reactive to the starting materials. Conveniently, however, the reaction is conducted at room temperature or less. Typically, the reaction temperature range is from about-10 °C to about 5 °C. Suitable reaction solvents include inert aprotic solvents <BR> <BR> such as aromatic solvents, e. g. , toluene, xylenes, benzene, and the like; ethers, e. g. , diethyl<BR> ether, tetrahydrofuran, and the like; and halogenated solvents, e. g. , dichloromethane, chloroform, and the like.

[20] The resulting N-acylated aziridine of Formula III can be purified prior to removing the Rs group. Often, however, the N-acylated aziridine of Formula III can be used directly on the next step without further purification.

[21] The Rs group can be removed from the N-acylated aziridine of Formula III by reacting with a nucleophilic reagent to produce the aziridine-1-carboxamide of Formula I. The reaction is conveniently carried out in an anhydrous alcoholic solvent, such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and propanol. Suitable nucleophilic reagents include

ammonia and amines. Typically, a mixture of ammonia in methanol is used to remove the Rs group from the N-acylated aziridine of Formula III. Often, the reaction is conveniently conducted at about 0 °C.

[22] The processes of the present invention provide the aziridine-1- carboxamide of Formula I from the aziridine of Formula II in an overall yield of at least about 70%. Preferably, in an overall yield of at least about 75%, and more preferably at least about 80%.

[23] One of the advantages of processes of the present invention includes eliminating a need for potentially flammable conditions because no pyrolysis of any starting material is needed. In addition, processes of the present invention avoid generating toxic isocyanic acid. Furthermore, starting materials for the present invention are commercially available or can be readily prepared without requiring any special apparatus.

[24] When at least one of R1, R2, R3 and R4 is cyano, the aziridine-1- <BR> <BR> carboxamide of Formula I can be converted to a 4-imin-1, 3-diazabicyclo [3.1. 0] -hexan-2- one. For example, 2-cyanoaziridine-1-carboxamide of the formula : can be prepared using the processes described above. This 2-cyanoaziridine-1-carboxamide of Formula IV can be converted to a 4-imin-1, 3-diazabicyclo [3.1. 0]-hexan-2-one of the formula : by reacting with a base.

[25] The 4-imino-1,3-diazabicyclo [3.1. 0] -hexan-2-one of Formula V can exist in one or more tautomeric form as shown below:

Thus, the term"4-imino-1, 3-diazabicyclo [3.1. 0] -hexan-2-one of Formula V"includes all of the tautomers shown above.

[26] Typically, the above described cyclization is conducted in a substantially anhydrous, polar, organic solvent, preferably in an alcohol solvent such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and propanol. In some cases, and in particular where Rl, R2 and R3 are hydrogen, the resulting 4-imin-1, 3-diazabicyclo [3.1. 0] -hexan-2-one of Formula V crystallizes readily from the reaction solvent, thereby making the isolation of the product simple and facile.

[27] While any base having a sufficient pKa to promote the cyclization can be used, the present inventors have found that surfactants comprising alcohol and ethoxylates, alkoxylates, in particular triton Bo (Union Carbide), are particularly useful in producing the 4-imin-1, 3-diazabicyclo [3.1. 0] -hexan-2-one of Formula V from the 2-cyanoaziridine-1- carboxamide of Formula IV.

[28] Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following examples thereof, which are not intended to be limiting.

EXAMPLES Example 1: [29] This example illustrates synthesis of 2-cyanoaziridine-1- [N- (trichloroacetyl)]-carboxamide.

[30] A 1-L, three-neck flask fitted with a mechanical stirrer, thermocouple, and a nitrogen inlet was charged with 200 mL of toluene and 80 g of trichloroacetylisocyanate. The mixture was cooled to-10 °C with dry-ice/ethanol bath and a suspension of 28.6 g of 2-cyanoaziridine (Aldrich Chemical Co. , Milwaukee, WI) in toluene was added over 1 hr in portions while maintaining the temperature of the mixture between- 10 °C and 5 °C. After the addition was complete, the reaction mixture was stirred at 0 °C for 1 hr. It was then stored in a refrigerator overnight at 5 °C. The solid that separated was collected by filtration and washed with toluene. It was then triturated with 300 mL of methyl

tert-butyl ether for 1 hr. The mixture was filtered and the solid was dried under vacuum to provide 90 g (83 % yield) of 2-cyanoaziridine-1- [N- (trichloroacetyl)]-carboxamide.

NMR (CDC13) 8 : 1.6 (bs, 1H), 2.87 (d, 1H), 2.97 (d, 1H), 3.35 (q, 1H) and 8. 75 (bs, 1H).

Example 2 [31] This example illustrates synthesis of 2-cyanoaziridine-1-carboxamide.

[32] A 1-L, round bottom flask fitted with a magnetic stirrer and a nitrogen inlet was charged with 350 mL of methanol and 154 mL of 7N ammonia in methanol. The mixture was cooled to 0 °C and 102 g of 2-cyanoaziridine-1- [N- (trichloroacetyl)]- carboxamide (see Example 1) was added in portions over 5-10 min. The reaction mixture was stirred at 0 °C for 1.5 hr. The reaction mixture was then concentrated by removing ammonia and methanol in vacuum. The resulting residue solid was treated with toluene to dissolve the trichloroacetamide by-product. The solid residue contained 45. 8 g of the title compound, which was used without further purification in the next step (see Example 3).

NMR (CDC13) 8 : 1.7 (bs, 1H), 2.55 (d, 1H), 2.58 (d, 1H), 3.06 (dd, 1H) and 8.75 (bd, 2H).

Example 3 [33] This example illustrates synthesis of 4-imino-1, 3-diazabicyclo [3.1. 0] -<BR> hexan-2-one, i. e. , Imexon.

[34] A 1-L, round bottom flask fitted with a magnetic stirrer and a nitrogen inlet was charged with 400 mL of methanol and 45. 8 g of 2-cyanoaziridine-1-carboxamide (See Example 2). To this mixture was added a solution of 40% of triton Bo in 10 mL of methanol. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight and then cooled to 0 °C. The solid product was then filtered, washed successively with ethanol and methanol, and dried under vacuum to provide 27 g (61% yield from 2-cyanoaziridine-1-[N- <BR> <BR> (trichloroacetyl) ] -carboxamide) of the title compound, which had a NMR spectrum identical with that of an authentic sample of Imexon.

It is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application and scope of the appended claims. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.