[0001] The present invention concerns a process for the preparation of 5-substituted-8-alkoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amines.
[0002] U.S. Patent 6,005,108 describes certain substituted 5,8-disubstituted-[1,2,4]-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine
compounds and their use as intermediates for the preparation of sulfonamide herbicides.
5,8-Dimethoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine is a useful intermediate for
the preparation of penoxsulam.
Monatsh. Chem. 1983,
114, 789 describes the preparation of certain (amino)carbonothioylcarbamates followed
by their reaction with hydroxylamine and subsequent cyclization to [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]-pyrimidin-2-amines.
WO 2009/047514 A1 describes the preparation of certain (amino)-carbonothioylcarbamates followed by
their reaction with hydroxylamine and subsequent cyclization to [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine
and [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine compounds.
US 6,559,101 B2 describes the preparation of certain (amino)carbonothioylcarbamates followed by their
reaction with hydroxylamine and subsequent cyclization to pyrimidine substituted [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-2-amines.
[0003] 5,8-Dimethoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine is produced from 2,4-dichloro-5-methoxypyrimidine
in a multistep process that involves both hydrazine and a cyanogen halide. Hydrazine
presents a severe explosion hazard and is toxic by ingestion, inhalation and skin
adsorption. It is classified as a carcinogen and has a TLV of 0.1 ppm in air. Cyanogen
halides are highly irritating and very poisonous. It would be advantageous to produce
5-substituted-8-alkoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amines efficiently and in
high yield by a manufacturing process that avoids hydrazine and cyanogen halide.
[0004] The present invention concerns the preparation of 5-substituted-8-alkoxy-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amines
from 2-substituted-4-amino-5-methoxy-pyrimidines. More particularly, the present invention
concerns a process for the preparation of 5-substituted-8-alkoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amines
of the formula (I),

in which
X represents halogen or OR; and
R represents C1-C4 alkyl;
which comprises:
- i) contacting a 2-substituted-4-amino-5-alkoxypyrimidine of the formula

in which X and R are as previously defined
with an isothiocyanatidocarbonate of the formula

in which R is as previously defined,
in a polar aprotic solvent to provide a (pyrimidinylamino)carbonothioylcarbamate of
the formula

in which X and R are as previously defined;
- ii) contacting the (pyrimidinylamino)carbonothioylcarbamate with hydroxylamine in
the presence of a base to provide a (pyrimidinylamino)hydroxy-imino)methylcarbamate
of the formula

in which X and R are as previously defined; and
- iii) cyclizing the (pyrimidinylamino)hydroxyimino)methylcarbamate by heating in an
inert solvent to provide the 5-substituted-8-alkoxy-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]-pyrimidin-2-amine.
5-Halo-8-alkoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]-pyrimidin-2-amines can be converted into the
corresponding 5,8-dialkoxy[1,2,4]triazolo-[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amines by displacement
of the halogen by an alkali metal alkoxide in an alcoholic solvent.
[0005] Another embodiment of the invention comprises a (pyrimidinylamino)carbono-thioylcarbamate
of the formula

in which
X represents halogen or OR; and
R represents C1-C4 alkyl.
[0006] A further embodiment of the invention comprises a (pyrimidinylamino)-hydroxyimino)methylcarbamate
of the formula

in which
X represents halogen or OR; and
R represents C1-C4 alkyl.
[0007] The material may exist as a pair of geometric isomers (E and Z), as well as in various
tautomeric forms.
[0008] A further embodiment of the invention comprises a 5-halo-8-alkoxy-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amines
of the formula

in which
X represents halogen; and
R represents C1-C4 alkyl.
[0009] The term alkyl and derivative terms such as alkoxy, as used herein refer to straight
chain or branched chain groups. Typical alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl,
butyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl and 1-methylpropyl. Methyl and ethyl are often preferred.
The term halogen, as used herein, refers to fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.
A chloro group is often preferred.
[0010] The 2-substituted-4-amino-5-alkoxypyrimidine and the alkyl isothiocyanatidocarbonate
starting materials are known compounds or can be prepared by procedures well known
to those of ordinary skill in the art.
[0011] The present invention concerns the preparation of 5-substituted-8-alkoxy-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amines
from 2-substituted-4-amino-5-methoxy-pyrimidines.

[0012] The first step of the present invention (α) concerns the conversion of a 4-aminopyrimidine
in which
X represents halogen or OR and
R represents C
1-C
4 alkyl
to a (pyrimidinylamino)carbonothioylcarbamate. This is accomplished using at least
one equivalent and preferably an excess of isothiocyanatidocarbonate in a polar aprotic
solvent, preferably acetonitrile or ethyl acetate. It is also possible to perform
the reaction in the presence of additional diluents, provided those diluents do not
interfere with the desired reaction and are chemically inert to the reactants. The
isothiocyanatidocarbonate is added at a temperature from 0 °C to room temperature;
the mixture is generally heated to some temperature between room temperature and reflux
of the diluent added, preferably to reflux. The product is isolated by conventional
techniques, such as by filtration of a precipitated or crystallized material.
[0013] In a typical reaction, the aminopyrimidine is dissolved or suspended in ethyl acetate
and then treated with the appropriate amount of the isothiocyanatidocarbonate. After
heating to reflux, the reaction mixture is cooled to a temperature at which the desired
compound precipitates and is collected by filtration and dried. Optionally, some or
most of the solvent may be removed by distillation prior to filtration to improve
crystal filtration or reduce solubility of the product in the solvent and thereby
improve recovery.
[0014] The second step of the present invention (
b) concerns the conversion of the (pyrimidinylamino)carbonothioylcarbamate to its (pyrimidinylamino)hydroxyimino)-methylcarbamate
equivalent. This is accomplished using at least an equivalent of hydroxylamine, preferably
as a salt, and a base, such as sodium or potassium carbonate, sodium or potassium
hydroxide or a trialkylamine. Sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide are the preferred
auxiliary bases. It is not uncommon to use up to 4 equivalents of hydroxylamine and
base in this reaction. The reaction mixture is diluted with water and a polar solvent,
preferably ethyl acetate or acetonitrile and is stirred at a temperature between 0
°C and 35 °C, preferably at room temperature. It is also possible to perform the reaction
in the presence of additional diluents, provided those diluents do not interfere with
the desired reaction and are chemically inert to the reactants. The product is optionally
cooled and is isolated by conventional techniques, such as collection by filtration
and drying or flash-chromatography. The material may exist as an E/Z isomeric mixture
and/or in various tautomeric forms. Optionally, rather than isolating the (pyrimidinylamino)hydroxyimino)methylcarbamate,
the reaction may be retained as the reaction mixture and heated to effect the cyclization
to the 5-substituted-8-alkoxy[1,2,4]-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amines and isolated
according to the details below.
[0015] In a typical reaction, the (pyrimidinylamino)carbonothioylcarbamate, hydroxylamine
and base are dissolved in water and either acetonitrile or ethyl acetate. The reaction
mixture is stirred at room temperature and then is either heated to convert to the
5-substituted-8-alkoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine, or filtered and recrystallized
from acetonitrile, to isolate the (pyrimidinylamino)hydroxyimino)methylcarbamate.
Optionally, some or most of the solvent may be removed by distillation prior to filtration
to improve crystal filtration or reduce solubility of the product in the solvent and
thereby improve recovery.
[0016] The third step of this invention (
c) concerns the conversion of the optionally isolated (pyrimidinylamino)hydroxyimino)methylcarbamate
to the 5-substituted-8-alkoxy[1,2,4]-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine using heat and
an inert solvent. It is often preferable to convert the (pyrimidinylamino)hydroxyimino)methylcarbamate
to the 5-substituted-8-alkoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine without isolation.
This conversion is accomplished by heating the reaction mixture. The product is optionally
cooled and is isolated by conventional techniques, such as collection by filtration
and drying.
5-Halo-8-alkoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine
[0017]

in which
X represents halogen; and
R represents C1-C4 alkyl
can be converted to its alkoxy analog, 5,8-alkoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine,
using at least one equivalent and preferably an excess of sodium or potassium methoxide
in an alcohol solvent. It is also possible to perform the reaction in the presence
of additional diluents, provided those diluents do not interfere with the desired
reaction and are chemically inert to the reactants. The mixture is stirred at some
temperature between 0 °C and 50 °C, with room temperature being preferred. The product
is optionally cooled and is isolated by conventional techniques, such as collection
by filtration and drying.
[0018] In a typical reaction, the 5-chloro-8-alkoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine
is taken up in acetonitrile at room temperature and treated with 25% sodium methoxide
in methanol. The resulting slurry is stirred at room temperature for several hours
and then filtered and dried to afford 5-methoxy-8-alkoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine.
Optionally, some or most of the solvent may be removed by distillation prior to filtration
to improve crystal filtration or reduce solubility of the product in the solvent and
thereby improve recovery.
[0019] The following examples are presented to illustrate the invention.
EXAMPLES
[0020] All reagents described were obtained commercially and used without additional purification.
HPLC analyses were done on a Perkin Elmer Series 200 instrument with Diode-array ultraviolet
detector. A Zorbax RX-C8 column was used, employing various ratios of acetonitrile-water
modified with 0.1 % phosphoric acid as eluant at a flow rate of 1 mL/min and ultraviolet
detection at 220 nm. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were obtained on a Bruker
AC 300 NMR spectrometer (300 MHz). Mass spectral data was obtained using accurate
mass electrospray liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry (ESI/LC/MS) in the positive
ion (PI) mode and accurate mass electrospray liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry
- mass spectrometry (ESI/LC/MS/MS).
Example 1. Preparation of Ethyl [(2-chloro-5-methoxypyrimidin-4-yl)amino]-carbonothioylcarbamate
(2).
[0021]

[0022] 2-Chloro-5-methoxypyrimidin-4-amine (
1) (6.4 g, 0.040 mol) was suspended in ethyl acetate (100 mL) and heated to near reflux.
Ethyl isothiocyanatidocarbonate (8.9 g, 1.7 eq) was added all at once, and the mixture
was maintained at reflux for 10 hours. The resulting slurry was cooled to 15 °C, and
the solid product was isolated by filtration and the cake washed with fresh ethyl
acetate to afford the title compound in several crops as a solid (7.8 g, 67%): mp
182 °C;
1H NMR (DMSO-
d6): δ 11.97 (s, 1H), 11.72 (s, 1H), 8.50 (s, 1H), 4.22 (q, 2H), 3.72 (s, 3H), 1.17
(t, 3H);
13C NMR (DMSO-
d6): δ 177.82, 153.58, 150.00, 149.01, 144.26, 142.63, 62.76, 57.56, 14.44; Mass spec
(accurate mass): Calcd for C
9H
11ClN
4O
3S: 290.024039; found, 290.0241.
Example 2. Preparation of Ethyl (Z and E)-[(2-chloro-5-methoxypyrimidin-4-yl)-amino](hydroxyimino)methylcarbamate
(3).
[0023]

[0024] Hydroxylamine hydrochloride (280 mg, 4 eq) and sodium bicarbonate (335 mg, 4 eq)
were combined and dissolved in water (6 mL) at room temperature. To this was added
a suspension of ethyl [(2-chloro-5-methoxypyrimidin-4-yl)amino]carbonothioylcarbamate
(
2; 290 mg, 1.0 mmol) in acetonitrile (15 mL). The resulting slurry was stirred at room
temperature for 1 hour, and the solids were then collected by filtration. Recrystallization
from acetonitrile afforded the title compound as a light yellow solid (170 mg, 59
%): mp 183-184 °C (dec);
1H NMR (DMSO-
d6) (mixture of isomers) δ 10.77 (s, 0.6H), 10.5 (s, 0.4H), 9.48 (s, 0.6H), 9.34 (s,
0..4H), 9.09 (s, 0.4H), 8.40 (s, 0.6H), 8.11 (s, 0.6H), 8.11 (s, 0.6H), 7.95 (s, 0.4H)
4.19-3.89 (m, 5H), 1.17-1.09 (m, 3H);
13C NMR (DMSO-
d6): δ: 154.4, 154.0, 149.9, 140.2, 140.0, 139.1, 138.6, 138.0, 61.2, 60.9, 57.3, 56.5,
14.8, 14.5; Mass spec (accurate mass): Calcd for C
9H
12ClN
5O
4 289.05778; found, 289.0577.
Example 3. Preparation of 5-Chloro-8-methoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine
(4) without isolation of (3)
[0025]

[0026] Ethyl [(2-chloro-5-methoxypyrimidin-4-yl)amino]carbonothioylcarbamate (
2) (290 mg, 1.0 mmol), hydroxylamine hydrochloride (143 mg, 2 eq), and sodium bicarbonate
(170 mg, 2 eq) were combined. Water (5 mL) and acetonitrile (5 mL) were added at room
temperature. The resulting slurry was stirred at room temperature overnight, then
treated with 20 drops of saturated aqueous sodium carbonate solution. The resulting
solution was sparged with nitrogen and cooled, producing the product as a chalky precipitate,
which was collected by filtration (in two crops), washed with water, and dried to
obtain the title compound as a solid (139 mg, 68%): mp 251 °C;
1H NMR (DMSO-
d6) δ 7.73 (s, 1H), 3.98 (s 3H); 6.63 (s, 2H);
13C NMR (DMSO-
d6): 166.30, 148.14, 128.91, 124.67, 57.51; Mass spec (accurate mass): Calcd for C
6H
6ClN
5O 199.026087; found, 199.0256.
Example 4. Preparation of 5-chloro-8-methoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine
(4) without isolation of (3)
[0027]

[0028] Hydroxylamine hydrochloride (280 mg, 4 eq), and sodium bicarbonate (210 mg, 2.5 eq)
were combined in water (5 mL) and stirred for 5 minutes. Ethyl [(2-chloro-5-methoxy-pyrimidin-4-yl)amino]carbonothioylcarbamate
(
2) (290 mg, 1.0 mmol), suspended in t-butanol (15 mL) was added at room temperature.
The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 5 hours, and then treated with 10
drops of saturated aqueous sodium carbonate solution. The reaction slurry was then
filtered, and the product solids washed with water and dried to obtain the title compound
as a off white solid (330 mg, 83%) that was identical in HPLC retention to previously
described 5-chloro-8-methoxy[1,2,4]triazolo-[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine (
4).
Example 5. Preparation of 5,8-dimethoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine (5)
[0029]

[0030] 5-Chloro-8-methoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine (
4; 100 mg, 0.50 mmol) was suspended in acetonitrile (5 mL) at room temperature and
treated with 25% sodium methoxide in methanol (200 mg, 2 eq). The resulting slurry
was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hours and then filtered. The solids were washed
with water and dried to afford the title compound as a chalk-colored solid (87 mg,
88%) that was identical in HPLC retention to authentic 5,8-dimethoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine
(
5): mp 185-186 °C;
1H NMR (DMSO-
d6) δ 7.48 (s, 1H), 6.38 (br s, 2H), 4.04 (s, 3H), 3.88 (s, 3H); EIMS
m/
z 195.
Example 6. Preparation of Ethyl [(2,5-dimethoxypyrimidin-4-yl)amino]carbono-thioylcarbamate
[0031]

[0032] 2,5-Dimethoxypyrimidin-4-amine (6) (3g, 0.0193 moles) was dissolved in 18g of ethyl
acetate. Ethyl isothiocyanatidocarbonate (2.77g, 0.0208 moles) was added in one portion.
The solution was heated to 78 °C and held at that temperature for 11 h. An additional
1.4g of the ethyl isothiocyanatidocarbonate was added and the mixture heated for 2.5
h. The mixture was allowed to cool to 22 °C and filtered. The resulting solid was
washed with ethyl acetate (20 mL) and dried to a constant weight in a fume hood to
afford the title compound as a yellow solid (4.81g, 89%):
13C NMR (DMSO-
d6, 100 MHz) δ 177.5, 158.4, 153.3, 149.5, 142.3, 139.5, 62.6, 57.6, 55.2, 14.4; HRMS
(ESI), calcd for C
10H
14N
4O
4S, 286.0736; found, 286.0727.
[0033] Example 7. Hydroxylamine addition to produce 8 and Cyclization to form 5,8-dimethoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine
(5).

[0034] Ethyl [(2,5-dimethoxypyrimidin-4-yl)amino]carbonothioylcarbamate (7; 4.30g, 0.0154
moles) was dispersed in 24g of ethyl acetate. Hydroxylamine hydrochloride (1.28g,
0.0193 moles), water (3.84g), and 2M NaOH (12.61g, 0.0252 moles) were then added to
the stirring slurry. The internal temperature rose to 26 °C after the NaOH was added.
Ethyl (E/Z)-[(2-chloro-5-methoxy-pyrimidin-4-yl)amino](hydroxyimino)-methylcarbamate
(
8) was not isolated but was heated to 50 °C to cyclize. The mixture was cooled to room
temperature and allowed to stir overnight. The slurry was filtered at room temperature
and the cake was washed with water (3 x 8 g) and dried to a constant weight in the
fume hood providing the title compound as a tan solid (3.16 g, 105 % yield by weight).
The major component had a retention time identical to authentic 5,8-dimethoxy[1,2,4]-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amine
(
5). In a separate experiment ethyl (E/Z)-[(2,5-dimethoxy-pyrimidin-4-yl)amino](hydroxyimino)methylcarbamate
(
8) was isolated via chromatography on silica gel (chloroform as the eluent) providing
a white solid (0.4 g, 13 %), which was a ca. 77/23 mixture of geometric isomers:
1H NMR (DMSO-
d6) (mixture of isomers) δ 10.65 (s, 1H), 10.34 (s, 0.3H), 9.56 (s, 1H), 8.98 (s, 0.3H),
8.94 (s, 0.3H), 8.20 (s, 1H), 8.00 (s, 1H), 7.82 (s, 0.3H), 4.25-3.90 (m, 2.6 H),
3.88 (s, 3H), 3.81 (s, 0.9H), 3.78 (s, 3H), 3.22 (s, 0.9H), 1.20-1.15 (m, 3H); Mass
spec (accurate mass): Calcd for C
9H
12ClN
5O
4 289.0578; found, 289.0571.
1. Procédé de préparation de 8-alcoxy-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine-2-amines à substituant
en 5, de formule (I) :

dans laquelle
- X représente un atome d'halogène ou un groupe symbolisé par OR,
- et R représente un groupe alkyle en C1-4,
lequel procédé comporte les étapes suivantes :
i) mettre une 4-amino-5-alcoxy-pyrimidine à substituant en 2, de formule

dans laquelle X et R ont les significations indiquées ci-dessus,
en contact avec un isothiocyanato-formiate, de formule

dans laquelle R a la signification indiquée ci-dessus,
dans un solvant polaire aprotique, pour obtenir un (pyrimidinyl-amino)-thiocarbonyl-carbamate,
de formule

dans laquelle X et R ont les significations indiquées ci-dessus ;
ii) mettre ce (pyrimidinyl-amino)-thiocarbonyl-carbamate en contact avec de l'hydroxylamine,
en présence d'une base, pour obtenir un (pyrimidinyl-amino)(hydroxyl-imino)méthyl-carbamate,
de formule

dans laquelle X et R ont les significations indiquées ci-dessus ;
iii) et cycliser ce (pyrimidinyl-amino)(hydroxyl-imino)méthyl-carbamate, par chauffage
dans un solvant inerte, pour obtenir une 8-alcoxy-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine-2-amine
à substituant en 5.
2. Procédé conforme à la revendication 1, dans lequel X et OR représentent tous les deux
le groupe méthoxy OCH3.
3. Procédé conforme à la revendication 1, dans lequel c'est sans l'isoler que l'on utilise
le (pyrimidinyl-amino)(hydroxyl-imino)méthyl-carbamate de l'étape (ii) pour préparer,
dans l'étape (iii), une 2-amino-8-alcoxy-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine à substituant
en 5.
4. Composé de formule

dans laquelle
- X représente un atome d'halogène ou un groupe symbolisé par OR,
- et R représente un groupe alkyle en C1-4.
5. Composé de formule

dans laquelle
- X représente un atome d'halogène ou un groupe symbolisé par OR,
- et R représente un groupe alkyle en C1-4.
6. Composé de formule

dans laquelle
- X représente un atome d'halogène,
- et R représente un groupe alkyle en C1-4.
7. Procédé conforme à la revendication 1, qui comporte en outre une étape dans laquelle
on convertit une 5-halogéno-8-alcoxy-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine-2-amine, de formule

dans laquelle
- X représente un atome d'halogène,
- et R représente un groupe alkyle en C1-4,
en une 2-amino-5,8-alcoxy-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine correspondante, de formule

dans laquelle R représente un groupe alkyle en C
1-4,
à l'aide d'un alcoolate de métal alcalin, dans un solvant alcoolique.