Industrial Application of the Forster Reaction: Novel One-Pot Synthesis of Cinacalcet Hydrochloride, a Calcimimetic Agent

Described is a new, practical, and one-pot process, based on the Forster reaction, for the synthesis of cinacalcet hydrochloride (1), a calcimimetic agent and calcium-sensing receptor antagonist. The synthesis comprises the condensation of (1R)-(+)-1-naphthylethyl amine (2) with benzaldehyde (3) followed by reaction of obtained Schiff's base 4 with 1-(3-halopropyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-benzene (5) to provide highly unstable iminium salt 6. Subsequent hydrolysis of 6 with water in the same pot yielded cinacalcet. The treatment of cinacalcet with hydrochloric acid during the workup process furnished 1 with an overall yield of around 60%. Our synthetic approach for 1, discussed in this report demonstrates industrial application of the century-old, unexplored name reaction, Forster's Reaction or Forster-Decker synthesis.