W097/23478 published July 3,1997 discloses the preparation of an intermediate useful in the preparation of FPT inhibitors. The intermediate is prepared by reacting with diisobutylaluminum hydride followed by separation of the racemic mixture using a chiralpak AD column.

Processes which provide improved yields of the above intermediate would be a welcome contribution to the art. This invention provides such a process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a process for producing a compound of the formula: comprising: (1) separating the atropisomers of to obtain the atropisomers (2) heating the atropisomer of formula 2. OB at a suitable temperature in a suitable solvent to obtain a mixture of atropisomers of formulas 2. 0A and 2. OB ; (3) separating the atropisomers of formulas 2. 0A and 2. OB of step (2); and (4) reducing the atropisomer of formula 2. 0A to obtain a compound of formula 1.0 ; wherein: R', R2, and R3 are independently selected from halogen (i. e., Cl, Br, or I), C1 to C6 alkyl or -OR4 wherein R4 is a C1 to C6 alkyl.

Preferably, R1 is Br, R2 is Cl and R3 is Br--i. e., preferably this invention provides a process for producing a compound of the formula: comprising: (1) separating the atropisomers of to obtain the atropisomers (2) heating the atropisomer of formula 2. 1B at a suitable temperature in a suitable solvent to obtain a mixture of atropisomers of formulas 2. 1A and 2. 1B ;<BR> (3) separating the atropisomers of formulas 2. 1A and 2. 1B of step (2); and (4) reducing the atropisomer of formula 2. 1A to obtain a compound of formula 1. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The process of this invention provides the compound of formula 1.0 (preferably 1.1) as the specific (R) -isomer--i. e., no

racemic mixture (based on C-ll) is produced in the reduction step. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that C-ll position in the tricyclic ring is The intermediate compound of formula 1. 1 is useful in the preparation of FPT inhibitors disclosed, for example, in W097/23478. Thus, the compound of formula 1.1 is useful in the preparation of: In the process of this invention atropisomer 2. 0A obtained in step 1 above can be reduced while additional atropisomer 2. 0A is being obtained in steps 2 and 3 above. Thus, atropisomer 2. 0A from step 1 above can be reduced as soon as it is obtained.

Alternatively, atropisomer 2. 0A obtained from step 1 above can be combined with atropisomer 2. 0A obtained from steps 2 and 3 above, and the total amount of atropisomer 2. 0A can be reduced at one time. Steps 2 and 3 above can be repeated to obtain additional atropisomer 2. 0A from atropisomer 2. OB.

Preferably, formula 2.0 is separated, in step 1, into its atropisomers using HPLC and a suitable column (i. e., a column that will provide the desired degree of separation in a reasonable amount of time). Preferably, for separating compound 2.1, the column is packed with amylose tris (3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate) coated on a 10 micron silica gel. This column is commercially available under the tradename Chiralpak AD.

A suitable elution solvent is used to obtain separation of the atropisomers. A suitable solvent is one which provides the desired degree of polarity to sufficiently separate the isomers in a reasonable amount of time. For example, the solvent can

comprise: (1) a low boiling alcohol (e. g., isopropanol, methanol, ethanol, mixtures thereof, or the like); (2) a low boiling organic <BR> <BR> co-solvent (e. g., hexane, pentane, heptane, mixtures thereof, or<BR> <BR> <BR> the like); and (3) an organic base (e. g., diethylamine, diisopropyl- amine, triethylamine, mixtures thereof, or the like). The solvent, for example, can comprise from about 15 to about 35% alcohol, and about 40 to about 85% organic co-solvent, and about 0.1 to about 1% base, such that the total amout equals 100%v/v. For example, the elution solvent can comprise about 15 to about 35% isopropyl alcohol, and about 40 to about 85% hexane, and about 0.1 to about 1% diethylamine such that the total amout equals 100%v/v. Preferably, for compound 2.1, the elution solvent comprises 35% isopropyl alcohol and 0.2% diethylamine in hexane.

To convert atropisomer 2. OB to a mixture of atropisomers 2. 0A and 2. OB, atropisomer 2. OB is heated at a suitable temperature in a suitable organic solvent. For example, atropisomer 2. OB can be heated to 100 to 200°C in an appropriate high boiling solvent. Generally, atropisomer 2. OB is heated to reflux in the solvent. Examples of solvents include dimethyl formamide, toluene, and and 1,2-dichlorobenzene. <BR> <BR> <P>Preferably, atropisomer 2. 1B is heated in 1,2-dichlorobenzene at a temperature of about 150°C.

The atropisomer of formula 2. 0A is reduced using a suitable reducing agent. Preferably, diisobutylaluminum hydride is used.

The reduction is carried out using conditions well known to those skilled in the art. For example, atropisomer 2. 0A can be <BR> <BR> dissolved in a suitable organic solvent (e. g., toluene) to which a suitable amount of diisobutylaluminum hydride is added to effectively reduce 2. 0A. The solution is then refluxed under nitrogen. The desired product can then be isolated by known separation procedures.

This invention is exemplified by the following example, which should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure.

EXAMPLE 1 Step 1 To 8 mL of concentrated HCl was added the compound of formula 3.0 (0.7 g, 1.4 mmol). The reaction mixture was refluxed for 16 hours. The reaction mixture was then cooled, poured into an ice bath and basified to pH 10 with aqueous 50% NaOH. The aqueous phase was extracted with CHZCl. Concentration of the organic phase afforded 0.59 g of the compound of formula 2.0. mp=123.9-124.2°C. ¹H NMR (200MHz, CDCl3)#1.99-3.60 (m, 13H), 7.20 (s, 1H), 7.50 (s, 1H), 7.51 (s, 1H), 8.50 (s, 1H). MS m/z (rel intens) 688 (100, MH+).

Step 2 The compound of formula 2.0 obtained in Step 1 was loaded on a Chiracel AD column (in HPLC) and eluted with 35% isopropyl alcohol-hexane-containing 0.2% diethylamine to give 4.28 g of atropisomer of formula 2. 0A (eluting at retention time 13.04 minutes) and 3.56 g of atropisomer 2. OB (eluting at retention time 51.18 minutes).

Physical chemical data for isomer 2. 0A : mp=92-93°C, MS m/z 470 (MH+) ; [C (] D = +166. 3° (10.02 mg/2mL MeOH).

Physical chemical data for isomer 2. OB : mp=96-97°C, MS m/z 470 (MH+) ; [a] DS - -190. 2° (9.62 mg/2mL MeOH).

Step 3 To a solution of atropisomer 2. 0A (0.38 g, 0.8 mmol) dissolved in toluene (10 mL) was added 0.8 mL (1 eq) of diisobutylaluminum hydride (1 M solution in toluene). the solution was brought to reflux under nitrogen and an additional 1.04 mL (1.3 eq) of 1 M diisobutylaluminum hydride in toluene

was added dropwise over 15 minutes. the solution was cooled in an ice-water bath, then mixed with 1 M hydrochloric acid (10 mL). The organic phase was discarded and the aqueous phase was washed with dichloromethane which was also discarded.

The aqueous phase was basified with 1 N aqueous sodium hydroxide., extracted with dichloromethane and dried over anhydrous MgS04. Filtration and concentration in vacuo afforded 0.27 g of compound 1.0 as a white solid. mp=95-96°C. MS (Cl) m/z 469 (MH+). [α]D25 = +51.9° (7.71 mg/2mL MeOH). 1H NMR (200MHz, CDCl3) 6 (ppm) 1.16-1. 83 (m, 5H), 2.16-2. 57 (m, 3H), 2.69-3. 17 (m, 1 H), 3. 65 (m, 1 H), 4.91 (d, 1H, J=10Hz), 7.13 (d, 1H, J=2Hz), 7.50 (d, 1H, J=2Hz), 7.54 (d) 1H, J=2Hz), 8.45 (d, 1H, J=2Hz).

Step 4 Atropisomer 2. OB (0.25g) was converted to atropisomer by heating in 4 mL of 1,2-dichlorobenzene at 150°C. After 7 days 45% of atropisomer was converted to atropisomer 2. 0A.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments set forth above, many alternatives, modifications and variations thereof will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. All such alternatives, modifications and variations are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.