Synthesis of a novel pyrrolo[1,2-c][1.3]benzodiazepine analogue of VPA-985

The seven-step synthesis of a novel structural isomer of VPA-985, N-[3-chloro-4-(5H-pyrrolo[1,2-c][1.3]benzodiazepin-6(11H)-ylcarbonyl)phenyl]-5-fluoro-2-methylbenzamide, is described. (2-Aminophenyl)(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methanone was converted with thiophosgene into (2-isothiocyanatophenyl)(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methanone which was cyclised in the presence of base to 5-thioxo-5,6-dihydro-11H-pyrrolo[1,2-c][1.3]benzodiazepin-11-one. The latter underwent desulfurisation with Raney nickel followed by reduction with lithium aluminium hydride in the presence of aluminium trichloride and the resulting 6,11-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[1,2-c][1.3]-benzodiazepine acylated with 2-chloro-4-nitrobenzoyl chloride to afford 6-(2-chloro-4-nitrobenzoyl)-6,11-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[1,2-c][1.3]benzodiazepine. The nitro group in the latter compound was reduced with zinc and ammonium chloride to give the corresponding aniline derivative which was then acylated with 2-methyl-5-fluorobenzoyl chloride to provide the final product.