Direct B-Alkyl Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling of 2-Halopurines. Practical Synthesis of ST1535, a Potent Adenosine A2A Receptor Antagonist

The scope and limitations of using palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of diverse butyl metal species with two different 2-halopurines were evaluated. While tributylboranes reacted readily and regioselectively with both 2-chloro-6-dibenzylaminopurines and 2-iodo-6-chloropurines, all the other alkyl metal species were much less reactive and gave very poor yield and/or selectivity of the desired product. This protocol was applied to the synthesis of an important adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonist, ST1535.