Issue 28, 2019

Catalytic synthesis of 9-cis-retinoids: mechanistic insights

Abstract

The regioselective Z-isomerization of thermodynamically stable all-trans retinoids remains challenging, and ultimately limits the availability of much needed therapeutics for the treatment of human diseases. We present here a novel, straightforward approach for the catalytic Z-isomerization of retinoids using conventional heat treatment or microwave irradiation. A screen of 20 transition metal-based catalysts identified an optimal approach for the regioselective production of Z-retinoids. The most effective catalytic system was comprised of a palladium complex with labile ligands. Several mechanistic studies, including isotopic H/D exchange and state-of-the-art quantum chemical calculations using coupled cluster methods indicate that the isomerization is initiated by catalyst dimerization followed by the formation of a cyclic, six-membered chloropalladate catalyst–substrate adduct, which eventually opens to produce the desired Z-isomer. The synthetic development described here, combined with thorough mechanistic analysis of the underlying chemistry, highlights the use of readily available transition metal-based catalysts in straightforward formats for gram-scale drug synthesis.

Graphical abstract: Catalytic synthesis of 9-cis-retinoids: mechanistic insights

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 May 2019
Accepted
10 Jun 2019
First published
10 Jun 2019

Dalton Trans., 2019,48, 10581-10595

Catalytic synthesis of 9-cis-retinoids: mechanistic insights

S. Kahremany, A. Kubas, G. P. Tochtrop and K. Palczewski, Dalton Trans., 2019, 48, 10581 DOI: 10.1039/C9DT02189B

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