Journal of Pesticide Science
Online ISSN : 1349-0923
Print ISSN : 1348-589X
ISSN-L : 0385-1559
Review
Synthesis and application of trifluoromethylpyridines as a key structural motif in active agrochemical and pharmaceutical ingredients
Masamitsu Tsukamoto Tadashi NakamuraHirohiko KimuraHitoshi Nakayama
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2021 年 46 巻 2 号 p. 125-142

詳細
Abstract

Herein, we provide a brief overview of the synthesis and applications of trifluoromethylpyridine (TFMP) and its derivatives in the agrochemical and pharmaceutical industries. Currently, the major use of TFMP derivatives is in the protection of crops from pests. Fluazifop-butyl was the first TFMP derivative introduced to the agrochemical market, and since then, more than 20 new TFMP-containing agrochemicals have acquired ISO common names. Several TFMP derivatives are also used in the pharmaceutical and veterinary industries; five pharmaceutical and two veterinary products containing the TFMP moiety have been granted market approval, and many candidates are currently undergoing clinical trials. The biological activities of TFMP derivatives are thought to be due to the combination of the unique physicochemical properties of the fluorine atom and the unique characteristics of the pyridine moiety. It is expected that many novel applications of TFMP will be discovered in the future.

Introduction

Many recent advances in the agrochemical, pharmaceutical, and functional materials fields have been made possible by the development of organic compounds containing fluorine. Indeed, the effects of fluorine and fluorine-containing moieties on the biological activities and physical properties of compounds have earned fluorine a unique place in the arsenal of the discovery chemist. As the number of applications for these compounds continues to grow, the development of fluorinated organic chemicals is becoming an increasingly important research topic.

In the crop protection industry, more than 50% of the pesticides launched in the last two decades have been fluorinated. In addition, around 40% of all fluorine-containing pesticides currently on the market contain a trifluoromethyl group, making these compounds an important subgroup of fluorinated compounds.1) The biological activities of fluorine-containing compounds are considered to be derived from the unique physicochemical properties of fluorine (van der Waals radius, 1.47 Å),2) which, sterically, is the next smallest atom after hydrogen (van der Waals radius, 1.20 Å)2) but the atom with the largest electronegativity (3.98).3) In addition, because the carbon–fluorine bond is relatively short (1.38 Å) compared with the other carbon–halogen bonds, the bond has strong resonance. As a result, the Hammett constant (σp) of fluorine is 0.06,4) which is similar to that of hydrogen. Interestingly, the electronegativity of the trifluoromethyl group is 3.46,5) and its Hammett constant is 0.54,4) indicating that, unlike fluorine, the trifluoromethyl group is strongly electron withdrawing. Therefore, during compound development, the trifluoromethyl group can be treated as a purely electron-withdrawing group.

These unique properties of fluorine mean that substitution with a fluorine or fluorine-containing moiety can have a large impact on the conformation, acid dissociation constant, metabolism, translocation, and biomolecular affinity of a compound. This has meant that bioisosteric replacement of hydrogen with fluorine has become a useful means of designing compounds with unique biological properties. For similar reasons, much effort has been made to develop synthetic methods for introducing trifluoromethyl groups into aromatic rings. The first synthesis of an aromatic compound bearing a trifluoromethyl group was reported in 1898 by Swarts,6) who treated benzotrichloride with antimony trifluoride to afford benzotrifluoride; the same transformation using hydrogen fluoride was subsequently achieved under liquid-phase reaction conditions in the 1930s.7) In 1947, the introduction of a trifluoromethyl group into a pyridine ring to afford trifluoromethylpyridine (TFMP) using a synthetic procedure similar to that used for benzotrifluoride but involving chlorination and fluorination of picoline (Scheme 1) was first reported.8) Comparing the physicochemical properties of TFMP and benzotrifluoride, there is a significant difference in the hydrophobic constant (e.g., 3-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine 1.7 versus benzotrifluoride 3.0), which can be expected to provide TFMP-containing compounds with many advantages, such as novel biological activity, lower toxicity, and advanced systemic and/or good selectivity; therefore, many efforts have been made to achieve the synthesis of TFMP. However, to make enough TFMP for use as a raw material for industrial production, it is important to establish a practical large-scale industrial manufacturing process. Details of the industrial manufacturing of TFMP and its use in the manufacture of various agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals are discussed in this review.

Scheme 1. Liquid-phase synthesis of TFMP.

1. Demand for TFMP isomers and development of TFMP derivatives

1.1. Trends in the demand for TFMP isomers

Figure 1 shows the worldwide demand for TFMP isomers used as intermediates in the production of synthetic pesticides for the period from 2012 to 2018.

Fig. 1. Worldwide demand of TFMP intermediates; alpha (α)-, beta (β)- and gamma (γ)- mean the positions of a trifluoromethyl group from the nitrogen atom in the pyridine ring.

The production volume of each TFMP isomer (Fig. 1) was estimated based on the following data sources: the sales volume of each formulated agrochemical, which was obtained from i-map Sigma (https://kynetecwebsc.com/documentation/i-map/3.29.0/), a database for the crop protection market provided by the market research company Kynetec (Newbury, UK); the concentration of each active ingredient in the formulated product; and the synthetic yield described in the patent for each agrochemical containing a TFMP moiety.

Every year from 2012 to 2018, the demand was greatest for β-TFMP, followed by α-TFMP and γ-TFMP. In addition, the demand for each of the three TFMP isomers increased each year. Examining the sales of the pesticides individually, globally in 2018, fluazinam and haloxyfop were the two top-selling pesticides possessing the β-TFMP moiety. In addition, the total sales volumes of fluopicolide and fluopyram, which also contain the β-TFMP moiety, have gradually increased from 2014 to 2018 and are now around 1,000 tons/year. Picoxystrobin is the only pesticide manufactured using the α-TFMP intermediate with sales of more than 2,000 tons/year. However, sales of bicyclopyrone have markedly increased in the last few years, which has increased demand for α-TFMP. Around 500 tons/year of pesticides containing the γ-TFMP intermediate are manufactured; therefore, the demand for γ-TFMP is relatively small.

1.2. Research and development of TFMP derivatives

Research and development activities (i.e., the outputs of scientific papers and patents) involving TFMP derivatives from 1980 to 2019 were examined using data obtained through crossover analysis of the STN International Registry9) and HCAplus databases10) (CAS, Columbus, Ohio, USA, and FIZ Karlsruhe, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany). Since the development of economically feasible processes for the synthesis of several TFMP intermediates from 3-picoline in the early 1980s, research and development activity involving TFMP derivatives has rapidly and consistently increased each year (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. Research and development activities of TFMP derivatives (1980–2019).

2. Synthesis of TFMP derivatives

There are three main methods for preparing TFMP derivatives: chlorine/fluorine exchange using trichloromethylpyridine; construction of a pyridine ring from a trifluoromethyl-containing building block; or direct introduction of a trifluoromethyl group using a trifluoromethyl active species such as trifluoromethyl copper, which undergoes substitution reactions with bromo- and iodopyridines.11) The first two methods are currently the most commonly used; therefore, the discussion below focuses on those two methods.

2.1. Chlorine/fluorine exchange using trichloromethylpyridine

Among TFMP derivatives, 2,3-dichloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (2,3,5-DCTF), which is used as a chemical intermediate for the synthesis of several crop-protection products, is in the highest demand (production data estimated from the i-map Sigma database). Various methods of synthesizing 2,3,5-DCTF have been reported. For example, 2-chloro-5-methylpyridine or 2-chloro-5-(chloromethyl)pyridine can be chlorinated under liquid-phase conditions to afford the intermediate 2,3-dichloro-5-(trichloromethyl)pyridine (2,3,5-DCTC); subsequent vapor–phase fluorination of 2,3,5-DCTC produces 2,3,5-DCTF (Scheme 2).1214)

Scheme 2. Stepwise liquid-phase/vapor–phase synthesis of 2,3,5-DCTF.

An approach using stepwise vapor–phase chlorination followed by fluorination has also been reported (Scheme 3).15,16)

Scheme 3. Stepwise vapor–phase synthesis of 2,3,5-DCTF.

Another well-known approach is simultaneous vapor–phase chlorination/fluorination at a high temperature (>300°C) with transition metal-based catalysts such as iron fluoride (Scheme 4).17,18) The simultaneous vapor–phase reaction has the advantage that 2-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (2,5-CTF), a key intermediate for the synthesis of fluazifop, can be obtained in good yield via a simple one-step reaction. The number of chlorine atoms introduced to the pyridine ring can be controlled by changing the molar ratio of chlorine gas and the reaction temperature; however, the formation of some multi-chlorinated by-products is unavoidable. Fortunately, these unwanted by-products can be reduced to 3-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (3-TF) by catalytic hydrogenolysis and then fed back into the reactor to reduce overall production costs.

Scheme 4. Simultaneous vapor–phase synthesis of TFMPs.

The vapor–phase reactor used for this approach includes two phases: a catalyst fluidized-bed phase and an empty phase (Fig. 3). In the fluidized-bed phase, fluorination proceeds immediately after chlorination of the methyl group of 3-picoline, resulting in the production of 3-TF. In the next step, further nuclear chlorination of the pyridine ring is performed in the empty phase to give 2,5-CTF as the major product, which can be subsequently converted to 2,3,5-DCTF. At the same time, 2-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (2,3-CTF), which can be used to produce several commercial products, as discussed in sections 3 and 4, is also obtained as a minor product.

Fig. 3. Simultaneous vapor–phase reactor.

Similar reaction conditions can be applied to 2- or 4-picoline; representative products and yields are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1. Substrate scope of various picolines.a)
Substrates and reaction temp. (°C) Products and yields (GC PA%)
CFB phase Empty phase TF type CTF type DCTF type
3-Picoline
335 320 86.4 6.6 0.0
380 380 7.4 64.1 19.1
2-Picoline
350–360 N/A 71.3 11.1 2.4
450 5.4 62.2 13.9
4-Picoline
380 380 7.4 64.1 19.1

a)Abbreviations: CFB, catalyst fluidized bed; PA%, peak area percent; TF, trifluoromethylpyridine; CTF, chloro(trifluoromethyl)pyridine; DCTF, dichloro(trifluoromethyl)pyridine; N/A, data not available.

For lutidines, the reaction proceeds under similar conditions, but the reaction temperature needs to be higher than that for picolines. Several novel compounds with two trifluoromethyl groups, such as chloro-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyridine, can be synthesized in 60 to 80% yield (Table 2).

Table 2. Substrate scope of various lutidines.a)
Substrates and reaction temp. (°C) Products and yields (GC PA%)
CFB phase Empty phase BTF type CBTF type DCBTF type
2,4-Lutidine
420 420 5.8 78.8 13.0
2,5-Lutidine
420 460 14.1 59.0 18.6
2,6-Lutidine
440 N/A 69.6 0.0 0.0
420 520 2.5 45.6 31.4
3,4-Lutidine
420 400 9.0 60.0 16.0
3,5-Lutidine
360 N/A 89.3 10.7 0.0
380 440 14.4 62.2 21.4

a)Abbreviations: CFB, catalyst fluidized bed; PA%, peak area percent; BTF, bis(trifluoromethyl)pyridine; CBTF, chloro-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyridine; DCBTF, dichloro-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyridine; N/A, data not available.

2.2. Cyclocondensation reaction by using a trifluoromethyl-containing building block

A number of cyclocondensation reactions for the synthesis of TFMP derivatives have been reported. The most commonly used trifluoromethyl-containing building blocks are ethyl 2,2,2-trifluoroacetate, 2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl chloride, ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-oxobutanoate, and (E)-4-ethoxy-1,1,1-trifluorobut-3-en-2-one (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4. Common fluorine-containing building blocks.

3. Agrochemicals

3.1. TFMP derivatives as agrochemicals

The ISO common names for 22 agrochemicals containing a TFMP moiety, listed in the Compendium of Pesticide Common Names (http://www.alanwood.net/pesticides/index.html), are shown in Table 3. Prior to 1990, all compounds except dithiopyr employed 3- or 5-trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridines as a partial structure. These compounds are synthesized from 2,5-CTF or 2,3,5-DCTF derived from 3-picoline. However, since 1990, other substitution patterns, mainly 6-trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridine derivatives, have increased. A 4-trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridine moiety is adopted in relatively few agrochemicals, and only flonicamid and pyroxsulam have been commercialized.

Table 3. Trifluoromethylpyridine containing agrochemicals.a)
No. ISO common nameb) CF3 position Indication CAS No. Year of introductionc)
1 Fluazifop β (5) H 69335-91-7 1982 (racemic)
2 Fluazifop-P β (5) H 83066-88-0 1987d)
3 Haloxyfop β (5) H 69806-34-4 1986 (racemic)
4 Haloxyfop-P β (5) H 95977-29-0 1993e)
5 Chlorfluazuron β (5) I 71422-67-8 1989
6 Fluazinam β (5) F 79622-59-6 1988
7 Dithiopyr α (6) H 97886-45-8 1990
8 Flazasulfuron β (3) H 104040-78-0 1989
9 Picoxystrobin α (6) F 117428-22-5 2001
10 Thiazopyr α (6) H 117718-60-2 1997
11 Flupyrsulfuron α (6) H 150315-10-9 1997
12 Flonicamid γ (4) I 158062-67-0 2003
13 Pyridalyl β (5) I 179101-81-6 2004
14 Fluopicolide β (5) F 239110-15-7 2006
15 Bicyclopyrone α (6) H 352010-68-5 2015
16 Pyroxsulam γ (4) H 422556-08-9 2007
17 Fluopyram β (5) F 658066-35-4 2012
18 Sulfoxaflor α (6) I 946578-00-3 2012
19 Fluazaindolizine β f) N 1254304-22-7 N/A
20 Fluopimomide β (5) F 1309859-39-9 2018g)
21 Acynonapyr β (5) I 1332838-17-1 2020h)
22 Cyclobutrifluram α (2) N 1460292-16-3 N/A

a)Abbreviations: H, herbicide; I, insecticide; F, fungicide; N, nematicide; N/A, data not available. b)Compendium of Pesticide Common Names. c)PhillipsMcDougall: Product Directory 2016 Market. d)Fluazifop-P-butyl. e)Haloxyfop-P-methyl, Pesticide Properties DataBase (http://sitem.herts.ac.uk/aeru/ppdb/). f)6-(Trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine. g)2019 China Pesticide Suppliers Guide. h)Launched in Japan (https://www.nippon-soda.co.jp/nougyo/news/pdf/20201014_1.pdf).

3.2. Herbicide

Fluazifop-butyl, the first herbicide incorporating a TFMP substructure, was commercialized by Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd. (ISK), in 1982.19,20) Fluazifop-butyl acts as an acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitor.21) Translocation with foliar application and herbicidal activities were improved by introducing a TFMP moiety into the lead compound, such as nitrofen. These favorable features of the pyridine derivative are far superior to the corresponding benzene analogue and showed excellent herbicidal activity on perennial grass weeds.22) As shown in Scheme 5, 2,5-CTF was employed as a key intermediate for the synthesis. Fluazifop-butyl is known to have an asymmetric center on the propionate moiety, with only the (R)-enantiomer being active. After the commercialization of fluazifop-butyl (racemate), a stereoselective synthetic process for optically active fluazifop-butyl was established, and it is now marketed as fluazifop-P-butyl.

Scheme 5. Synthesis of fluazifop.19)

Haloxyfop-methyl was developed by Dow Chemical for post-emergence grass control in many dicotyledonous crops.23) Like fluazifop-butyl, haloxyfop-methyl targets ACCase enzyme.24) The chemical structures of these two compounds are very close to each other, whereas 2,3,5-DCTF is utilized for the preparation of haloxyfop-methyl (Fig. 5). The herbicidal spectrum of haloxyfop-methyl overlaps that of fluazifop-butyl but exhibits longer residual soil activity.25)

Fig. 5. Chemical structure of haloxyfop, herbicide, 1986.

Flazasulfuron, which was first reported by ISK in 1986,26) is a sulfonylurea-type acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide that is selective on turf, sugarcane, and perennial crops such as citrus and grape.22) In the process of evaluating physicochemical and biological properties, it was found that flazasulfuron was readily decomposed and/or metabolized under various conditions through an intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction triggered by the large electronegativity of the trifluoromethyl moiety on the pyridine ring.27) This observation could be a breakthrough to overcome the carry-over problem with sulfonylurea herbicides and led to the invention of nicosulfuron. 2,3-CTF is employed as a key component in the preparation of flazasulfuron, as shown in Scheme 6.

Scheme 6. Synthesis of flazasulfuron.26)

Dithiopyr, discovered by the Monsanto Company,28) is a pre-emergence and early post-emergence herbicide that is used primarily in turf and ornamentals. Thiazopyr29) is a pre-emergence herbicide and has long residual control of annual grass weeds. According to the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) classification,30) the mode of action of dithiopyr and thiazopyr is classified as Group 3, which inhibits root growth by blocking cell division as a microtubulin assembly inhibitor.31) The summarized synthetic pathways are shown in Scheme 7. The synthesis of both compounds starts with a cyclocondensation reaction of 3-methylbutanal and ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-oxobutanoate as a key trifluoromethyl-containing building block to give tetrahydro-2H-pyran (1). Then 1 is converted to compound 2 as a common intermediate of dithiopyr and thiazopyr.32)

Scheme 7. Synthesis of dithiopyr.28) and thiazopyr.29)

Flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium is an ALS-inhibiting cereal herbicide discovered by DuPont.33) Selective control of Alopecurus myosuroides, Apera spica-venti, and a wide range of broadleaf weeds is obtained through post-emergence application.34) The chemical structure of flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium and a typical preparation method of 2-sulfamoyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)nicotinic acid methyl ester (3) as a key intermediate are shown in Scheme 8.35) Crop selectivity derives from the rapid metabolism degradation of flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium in wheat and very slow metabolism in sensitive weeds.36) Since the electron-deficient pyridine moiety is substituted by strong electron-withdrawing groups, such as trifluoromethyl and methoxycarbonyl moieties, it is susceptible to the aromatic nucleophilic substitution and degrades quickly in soil, water, and sediment.37)

Scheme 8. Synthesis of flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium.33)

Bicyclopyrone38) was discovered as a 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting herbicide for use in corn and launched by Syngenta in 2015. Intermediate 4 was prepared by a cyclization reaction using (E)-4-ethoxy-1,1,1-trifluorobut-3-en-2-one as shown in Scheme 9.39) The pyridyl nitrogen in bicyclopyrone has the effect of reducing hydrophobicity and increasing acidity. It can be inferred that these characteristics may have led to improvement in the bioavailability of pre-emergent applications, compared with the corresponding phenyl analogue.40)

Scheme 9. Synthesis of bicyclopyrone.38)

Pyroxsulam,41) discovered by Dow AgroSciences LLC, is an ALS-inhibiting herbicide with the characteristic triazolopyrimidine and 2-methoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine substructures.42,43) It was developed for the control of key weeds in cereal crops such as wheat. High herbicidal activity on grass species was achieved with 2-methoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl analogues, but these compounds were found to cause significant injury to wheat, unlike pyridine analogues.44) The selectivity of pyroxsulam to wheat relatives is connected primarily with differences in the rate of metabolism.45) As shown in Scheme 10, the pyridone intermediate 5 is synthesized by the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction using (E)-4-ethoxy-1,1,1-trifluorobut-3-en-2-one as a trifluoromethyl-containing building block.46)

Scheme 10. Synthesis of pyroxsulam.41)

3.3. Insecticide

Chlorfluazuron,47) discovered by ISK, has a typical benzoylurea-type structure, which is well known as an insect growth regulator (IGR). Chlorfluazuron exhibits excellent insecticidal activity against specific target insects, such as Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Orthoptera, at their larval stages through the chitin biosynthesis-inhibition mechanism. As shown in Fig. 6, chlorfluazuron showed higher insecticidal activity against the common cutworm as compared with the lead compound diflubenzuron.22) 2,3,5-DCTF was employed as a starting raw material for the synthesis of chlorfluazuron, as shown in Scheme 11.

Fig. 6. Insecticidal activity against 5th instar larvae of common cutworm.
Scheme 11. Synthesis of chlorfluazuron.47)

Flonicamid was discovered by ISK as a novel insecticide to control aphids.48) The initial screening of various TFMP analogues revealed that some nicotinamide derivatives showed interesting activity against aphids, as shown in Fig. 7.49) Structural optimization using compound 6 as a lead compound led to the discovery of flonicamid, which has a unique 4-trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridine moiety. Flonicamid is a chordotonal organ modulator and is classified as Group 29 according to the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) mode of action classification.50) The synthesis route of the 4-(trifluoromethyl)nicotinic acid is shown in Scheme 12.51)

Fig. 7. Chemical structures of the lead compound 6 and flonicamid.
Scheme 12. Synthesis of flonicamid.48)

Pyridalyl was discovered and reported by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.52,53) It has a 5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine moiety as a key substructure in the molecule. According to the IRAC, the mode of action of pyridalyl is classified as unknown (UN).50,54) After structural optimization, the insecticidal activity of TFMP derivatives on lepidopterous pests was found to be superior to that of the corresponding phenyl analogues. The chemical structure and synthetic route of pyridalyl are shown in Scheme 13.55)

Scheme 13. Synthesis of pyridalyl.52)

Sulfoxaflor,56,57) commercialized by Dow AgroSciences LLC in 2012, is an insecticide targeting sap-feeding pests. The sulfoxyimine functional group is rare and characteristic as a pesticide. The IRAC has classified sulfoxaflor as the only insecticide in Group 4, Subgroup 4C.50) At the beginning of the novel sulfoxyimine analogue research, phenyl derivatives that exhibited weak fungicidal activity were explored. However, when the phenyl moiety was replaced with a hetero-aromatic ring such as pyridine, insecticidal activity was observed. As a result of further structural optimization, it was found that the 6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine moiety was the optimal substructure, showing excellent insecticidal activity.58,59) A practical preparation route of sulfoxaflor is shown in Scheme 14. A critical pyridine sulfide intermediate, 7, is prepared via an enamine-mediated cyclocondensation reaction by using (E)-4-ethoxy-1,1,1-trifluorobut-3-en-2-one as a trifluoromethyl-containing building block.60)

Scheme 14. Synthesis of sulfoxaflor.56)

N-phenylsulfonylimidazopyridine-2-carboxamide derivatives were found via high-throughput screening of DuPont’s internal compound libraries against a root-knot nematode. Fluazaindolizine61) was selected as the optimal compound after structural optimization aiming at both the reduction of phytotoxicity and the improvement of biological activity. The trifluoromethyl group at the 6-position of the imidazopyridine moiety is particularly important for nematicidal activity. Therefore, fluazaindolizine shows activity superior to the corresponding unsubstituted or halogen-substituted imidazopyridine derivatives.62) According to the IRAC classification, the mode of action of fluazaindolizine is UN, but it seems to be novel, because there is no activity against the target sites of current commercial nematicides. 2-Amino-3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (2,3,5-ACTF), which can be prepared from 2,3,5-DCTF, was employed as a starting material, as shown in Scheme 15.

Scheme 15. Synthesis of fluazaindolizine.61)

Acynonapyr63) is a new acaricide discovered by Nippon Soda and is active on spider mites of Tetranychus and Panonychus. Acynonapyr has a characteristic chemical structure in which azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane core 864) and the 5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine ring are connected via an ether bond, as shown in Scheme 16. The mode of action of acynonapyr has not yet been classified but is presumed to be disturbance of the neurotransmitter system by acting on inhibitory glutamate receptors.65)

Scheme 16. Synthesis of acynonapyr.63)

The first patent claimed for cyclobutrifluram was published in 2013 by Syngenta.66) Cyclobutrifluram has been reported as a nematicide and is characterized by a novel carboxamide structure that has a cis-substituted four-membered ring comprised of a specific absolute configuration at each of two positions.67,68) Although there is no information on the mechanism of action, its chemical structure is reminiscent of fluopyram, with the same nematicidal effect. 2-(Trifluoromethyl)nicotinic acid is expected to be a critical raw material for the synthesis of cyclobutrifluram. Several preparation methods of 2-(trifluoromethyl)nicotinic acid have been reported in previous literature.6971) One of the representative synthetic methods is a cyclocondensation reaction starting from compound 9, derived from Vilsmeier salt, as shown in Scheme 17.72) Ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoroacetoacetate can be condensed with compound 9 to form compound 10, followed by intramolecular cyclization to obtain 2-(trifluoromethyl)nicotinic acid.

Scheme 17. Synthesis of cyclobutrifluram.66)

3.4. Fungicide

Fluazinam, discovered by ISK,73) is a broad-spectrum fungicide, and its mode of action is the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, classified as Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) code 29.74) Substituent effects on the pyridine ring were examined using the fungicidal activity against Botrytis cinerea. It was found that the trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridine derivative showed higher fungicidal activity than the corresponding chloro-, nitro-, and cyano-substituted derivatives.75) 2,3,5-DCTF is utilized in the synthesis of fluazinam, as shown in Scheme 18.

Scheme 18. Synthesis of fluazinam.73)

Picoxystrobin76) was discovered as a strobilurin fungicide and developed by Syngenta for the European market. After a while, it was passed to DuPont and developed for wheat in North America and Asia and for soybean crops in South America in the mid 2000s. One structural characteristic of picoxystrobin is a pyridine ring in which the 6-position is substituted with a trifluoromethyl group. Two procedures for the preparation of 6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2(1H)-one (11) have been reported: a cyclocondensation method starting from (E)-4-ethoxy-1,1,1-trifluorobut-3-en-2-one and direct fluorination of 2-picoline through a chlorine/fluorine exchange reaction, as shown in Scheme 19.7779)

Scheme 19. Synthesis of picoxystrobin.76)

Bayer’s chemists focused on the 3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine residue based on the “Agrophore Approach”80) and discovered two commercial fungicides.81) It is quite interesting that the same fungicidal mechanism is inferred from the similarity of both chemical structures, but they are different according to the FRAC classification. Fluopicolide induces the delocalization of spectrin-like proteins in oomycete fungi, which is a new mode of action classified as FRAC code 43. On the other hand, fluopyram is a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI, FRAC code 7) fungicide that is effective on ascomycete pathogens and plant-parasitic nematodes.82) Chemical structures and outlines of the synthesis route for both fluopicolide83) and fluopyram84) are shown in Scheme 20.

Scheme 20. Synthesis of fluopicolide83) and fluopyram.84)

Fluopimomide85) was developed by Shandong Sino-Agri United Biotechnology Co., Ltd., and approved in China in 2017. As shown in Fig. 8, it has a chemical structure very similar to the preceding fungicide, fluopicolide, but its EC50 against Pseudoperonospora cubensis is relatively low, and the observed downward transportation is different from that of fluopicolide.86) A nematicidal effect has also been reported for fluopimomide.87) 5-(Trifluoromethyl)pyridine is incorporated as a substructure as well as fluopicolide, whereas the substituents on the benzene ring are characteristic. According to the FRAC classification, both compounds are reported to have the same mode of action and are classified as code 43.

Fig. 8. Chemical structure of fluopimomide, Sino-Agri union, fungicide, 2018.

4. Pharmaceuticals

4.1. Overview of TFMP derivatives in the pharmaceuticals

In 2010, it was estimated that up to 20% of pharmaceuticals prescribed or administered in the clinic contained a fluorine atom.88) More recently, however, this has increased to over 40%. It is noteworthy that 19.2% of those fluorinated drugs contain a trifluoromethyl group.89)

Five pharmaceuticals (Table 4) containing a TFMP moiety as a partial structure have been approved and commercialized so far. Furthermore, since various drug candidates containing a TFMP moiety are currently undergoing clinical trials, new drugs are expected to be introduced to the market in the near future. Representative examples of drugs under development and their common names are listed in Table 5.90)

Table 4. Approved drugs.
No. Development code Common namea) CF3 position Efficacy disease CAS No. Approval dateb,c)
1 PNU-140690 Tipranavir β (5) Antivirals, HIV-1 infection 174484-41-4 2005/6/22 FDA
2005/10/25 EMA
2 AG-221 CC-90007 Enasidenib α (2 and 6) Antineoplastic, Acute myeloid Leukemia 1446502-11-9 2017/8/1 FDA
3 ARN-509 JNJ-927 Apalutamide β (5) Antineoplastic, Prostate Cancer 956104-40-8 2018/2/14 FDA
2019/1/14 EMA
2019/3/26 PMDA
4 MK-1439 Doravirine γ (4) Antivirals, HIV-1 infection 1338225-97-0 2018/8/30 FDA
2018/11/22 EMA
2020/1/14 PMDA
5 PLX3397 Pexidartinib α (6) Antineoplastic, Giant cell tumor of tendon sheath 1029044-16-3 2019/9/5 FDA

a)International Nonproprietary Name (https://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov/drugportal/); b)As of Dec. 2020. c)Abbreviations: FDA, Food and Drug Administration; EMA, European Medicines Agency; PMDA, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency.

Table 5. Drugs in development.
No. Development code Common name CF3 position Efficacy disease CAS No. Development stageb)
1 CVL-751 PF-06649751 Tavapadon β (3) Antiparkinsonians 1643489-24-0 Phase III (USA)
2 CDZ173 Leniolisiba) β (5) Immunodeficiency disorders 1354690-24-6 Phase II/III (USA,EU)
3 CORT125134 Relacorilanta) γ (4) Prostate cancer Cushing syndrome 1496510-51-0 Phase II/III (USA, EU)
4 PQR309 Bimiralisiba) γ (4) Head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) 1225037-39-7 Phase II (USA)
5 QBW-251 Icenticaftora) β (5) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 1334546-77-8 Phase II (USA, EU, JP)
6 SL-801 CBS9106 Felezonexor β (5) Antineoplastic 1076235-04-5 Phase I (USA)
7 LXH254 Naporafenib α (2) Antineoplastic 1800398-38-2 Phase I (USA, EU, JP)

a)International Nonproprietary Name (https://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov/drugportal/); b)As of Dec. 2020.

4.2. Approved drugs

In 2005, Boehringer Ingelheim succeeded in developing and commercializing tipranavir,91) which was discovered by Pharmacia & Upjohn (currently Pfizer, Inc.),92) as a non-peptide anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug.

In the course of structural optimization, for all synthesized compounds, not only the HIV protease binding activity but also the relationship between pharmacokinetic parameters, such as in vitro antiviral activity and half-life in blood, was comprehensively investigated. Tipranavir with a TFMP moiety showed about tenfold higher antiviral activity than the corresponding phenyl analogue.

The first synthesis93) of tipranavir using a chiral auxiliary was reported in 1997, but later, a practical asymmetric synthesis was also reported. The introduction of 5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine-2-sulfonyl chloride (12) prepared from 2,5-CTF is achieved in the final synthesis step, as shown in Scheme 21.94)

Scheme 21. Synthesis of tipranavir.92)

Enasidenib is an oral isocitrate dehydrogenase-2 (IDH2) inhibitor developed by the Celgene Corp. under a global, exclusive license from Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.95)

In 2017, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved enasidenib for adults with relapsed and refractory acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) with an IDH2 mutation.

The synthesis of enasidenib consists of six steps, depicted in Scheme 22.96) One structural characteristic of enasidenib is that two different α-TFMPs are introduced into both ends of the molecule.

Scheme 22. Synthesis of enasidenib.95)

Several synthetic methods of 2-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (13) and 2-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-4-amine (14), shown in Scheme 23, were reported previously.97,98)

Scheme 23. Synthesis of TFMP intermediates.

Apalutamide,99) developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a second-generation nonsteroidal androgen receptor (AR) antagonist with a strong binding affinity to AR. In 2018, it was approved by the FDA for the treatment of non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC). As shown in Fig. 9, the chemical structure of apalutamide is very similar to that of enzalutamide (FDA approved in 2012) with two minor modifications: (a) a gem-dimethyl group on the imidazoline ring of enzalutamide is bonded at each end to form a four-membered cyclic structure, and (b) the benzene ring of enzalutamide is replaced with a pyridine ring. Apalutamide possesses in vitro activity comparable to that of enzalutamide but with greater anti-tumor efficacy in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) xenograft models and lower potential to cause seizures as an adverse effect in the central nervous system.100)

Fig. 9. Chemical structure of enzalutamide and apalutamide.

A detailed review of the development of synthetic approaches to apalutamide has been published.101) An example of the synthetic route is shown in Scheme 24, in which 2,3-CTF is employed as a key intermediate.

Scheme 24. Synthesis of apalutamide.99)

Doravirine,102) developed by the Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., is a new non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), and it was approved by the FDA in 2018 for the treatment of HIV infection in adult patients. Similar to other NNRTIs, doravirine exerts its antiviral effect through a noncompetitive inhibition of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase but has a more favorable drug interaction profile compared with earlier NNRTIs, as it neither inhibits nor induces the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme.103)

In structural optimization, a conversion of the methyl group on the pyridone ring to a trifluoromethyl group was found to improve plasma stability and enzyme inhibition.104,105)

A robust kilo-scale synthesis route of doravirine, shown in Scheme 25, has been reported,106) but details of the preparation method of 2-chloro-3-fluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (15) have not been described in the literature.

Scheme 25. Synthesis of doravirine.102)

As an alternative synthesis route for the key pyridine intermediate of doravirine, a flow reactor makes it possible to use (E)-4-ethoxy-1,1,1-trifluorobut-3-en-2-one as a starting raw material instead of 15, as shown in Scheme 26.107)

Scheme 26. Alternative synthesis route of doravirine.

Pexidartinib,108) discovered by Plexxikon, Inc., is an orally active and potent colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R) kinase inhibitor (IC50 value 13 nM).109)

In 2019, the FDA approved Daiichi Sankyo’s pexidartinib capsules for the treatment of adult patients with symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumors (TGC Ts) associated with severe morbidity or functional limitations and not amenable to improvement with surgery.

As shown in Fig. 10, pexidartinib is the compound in which a chlorine atom is introduced at the 5-position of the 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine moiety of PLX647 (lead compound), and the benzene ring is replaced with a pyridine. The CSF-1R kinase inhibitory activity is about twofold higher, and the nitrogen atom of the pyridine ring contributes to the stabilization of the CSF-1R kinase conformation.

Fig. 10. Chemical structure of PLX647 and pexidartinib.

A novel synthetic route (Scheme 27) was designed and demonstrated.110) 6-(Trifluoromethyl)nicotinaldehyde (16) was used as a key intermediate for the synthesis of pexidartinib.

Scheme 27. Synthesis of pexidartinib.108)

Compound 16 is synthesized by a cyclocondensation reaction using (E)-4-ethoxy-1,1,1-trifluorobut-3-en-2-one, as shown in Scheme 28.111113)

Scheme 28. Synthesis of 6-(trifluoromethyl)nicotinaldehyde (16).

4.3. Drugs in development

Tavapadon (CVL-751),114) discovered by Pfizer, Inc., is a potent partial agonist at the D1/D5 receptors and it is being developed by Cerevel Therapeutics as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease.115) 2,3-CTF is employed as a key intermediate for the preparation of CVL-751 as shown in Scheme 29.

Scheme 29. Synthesis of tavapadon.114)

Leniolisib (CDZ173),116) discovered by Novartis AG, is currently in clinical studies by Pharming in patients suffering from activated PI3Kδ syndrome (APDS)/p110 delta activating mutation causing senescent T cells, lymphadenopathy, and immunodeficiency (PASLI). In structural optimization, conversion of the methyl group on the pyridine moiety to a trifluoromethyl group was found to increase PI3Kδ potency by a factor of five. Leniolisib was found to have the optimal hydrophilic property to ensure good solubility and metabolic stability.117)

2,3-CTF is employed as a key intermediate for the preparation of leniolisib, as shown in Scheme 30.

Scheme 30. Synthesis of leniolisib.116)

Relacorilant (CORT125134)118) is being developed by Corcept Therapeutics, Inc. It is an orally active, high-affinity, selective antagonist of the glucocorticoid receptor that may benefit from the modulation of cortisol activity. In structural optimization, the introduction of a trifluoromethyl group to the 4-position on the pyridyl moiety was found to increase HepG2 tyrosine amino transferase assay potency by a factor of four. Relacorilant is currently being evaluated in a phase II clinical study in patients with Cushing’s syndrome.119)

2-Bromo-4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (17) prepared from (E)-4-ethoxy-1,1,1-trifluorobut-3-en-2-one is employed as a key intermediate for the preparation of relacorilant as shown in Scheme 31.120)

Scheme 31. Synthesis of relacorilant.118)

Bimiralisib (PQR309)121) is being developed by PIQUR Therapeutics AG. It has been selected after structural optimization as the best phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K) inhibitor with a balanced targeting of the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) kinase.122) Bimiralisib evolved as the lead compound of a series of dimorpholinotriazine-based compounds and is currently being tested in phase II clinical trials.

2-Amino-4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (18), which can be prepared from 2,4-CTF, is employed as a key intermediate for the preparation of bimiralisib, as shown in Scheme 32.123)

Scheme 32. Synthesis of bimiralisib.121)

Icenticaftor (QBW-251), which is a potentiator of the cystic fibrosis membrane conductance regulator (CFTR)124) used for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is being developed by Novartis AG.

5-Bromo-2-methoxy-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (the same intermediate of leniolisib), which can be prepared from 2,3-CTF, is employed as a key intermediate for the preparation of icenticaftor, as shown in Scheme 33.125)

Scheme 33. Synthesis of icenticaftor.124)

Chromosome region maintenance 1 (CRM1) plays an important role in the nuclear export of cargo proteins bearing nuclear exporting signal sequences. Felezonexor (CBS9106),126) which was discovered by the CanBas Co., Ltd., is a novel reversible CRM1 inhibitor and a promising clinical candidate developed by Stemline Therapeutics, Inc.127)

2,6-Dichloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (2,6,3-DCTF) is employed as a starting material for the preparation of felezonexor, as shown in Scheme 34.

Scheme 34. Synthesis of felezonexor.126)

RAF709128) was a potent, selective, efficacious rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (RAF) kinase inhibitor and well tolerated in preclinical models, but the high human intrinsic clearance precluded further development and prompted further investigation of close analogues. In further structural optimization studies, the mitigation of human intrinsic clearance and time-dependent inhibition led to the discovery of naporafenib (LXH254), as shown in Fig. 11.129,130) Naporafenib was advanced to human studies and is currently being assessed in phase I trials by the Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

Fig. 11. Chemical structure of RAF709 and naporafenib (LXH254).

An optimized synthetic route for naporafenib, which was used to supply larger quantities of material for in vivo studies, is outlined in Scheme 35. 2-(Trifluoromethyl)isonicotinic acid (19) is introduced in the last step of the synthesis, as shown in Scheme 35.131,132) For the synthesis of compound 19, ethyl 2,2,2-trifluoroacetate is used as a key precursor.

Scheme 35. Synthesis of naporafenib.129)

5. Animal health products

Two animal health products (Table 6) containing a TFMP moiety have been approved and commercialized.

Table 6. Approved animal health products.
No. Development code Common name CF3 position Efficacy disease CAS No. Approved datea)
1 VB0PV6I7L6 Fluazuronb) β (5) Tick control in beef cattle 86811-58-7 1994
2 IS-741 IKV-741 Fuzapladib β (5) Acute pancreatitis drug for dogs 351999-87-6c) 2018

a)As of Dec. 2020; b)International Nonproprietary Name (https://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov/drugportal/); c)Fuzapladib sodium hydrate.

Fluazuron, a benzoyl-phenylurea derivative, is a well-known chemical class of chitin biosynthesis inhibitors and was developed exclusively for veterinary use by Ciba-Geigy.133) It shows good activity against ticks and mites of livestock and pets but none at all against insects. Fluazuron was approved as an animal health product in 1994.134) TFMP is incorporated as a substructure in fluazuron, as shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 12. Chemical structure of fluazuron, Ciba-Geigy, parasiticide, 1994.

Fuzapladib sodium hydrate (IKV-741, IS-741) was discovered and developed by ISK as an acute pancreatitis drug for dogs.

IS-741 had been a clinical candidate for patients with acute pancreatitis,135) but further development was cancelled in phase II. Later, this compound continued to be developed as a veterinary medicine and was approved as fuzapladib sodium hydrate in 2018.136)

Fuzapladib sodium hydrate is synthesized from 2,5-CTF as a starting material, as shown in Scheme 36.137)

Scheme 36. Synthesis of fuzapladib sodium hydrate.137)

Conclusion

Despite not occurring in nature,138) fluorine derivatives have attracted attention as a rich source of bioactive compounds. Herein, we have discussed the synthesis and applications of TFMP derivatives. In the more than 40 years since the first TFMP-based agrochemical was reported, research and development of TFMP derivatives has continued unabated, and many new bioactive molecules have been discovered. Although TFMP derivatives were first applied in the agrochemical industry, their use in the pharmaceutical industry is increasing. Early structural design introduced the TFMP motif into a compound to manipulate its physicochemical properties and obtain better biological activity. There are also reports that TFMP itself has various biological activities. For instance, 2-amino-3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine is expected to show anti-tumor activity,139) and 3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine-2-carboxylic acid, a metabolite of the fungicide fluopyram, is phytotoxic.140) More agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals containing TFMP are expected to be introduced to the market in the near future. For discovery chemists, confirming the biological activity of TFMP derivatives during the structural optimization stage of the design process may open several useful avenues for future research.

References
 
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