Alternative route towards the convergent synthesis of a human purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitor—forodesine HCl

Forodesine HCl is being investigated as a potential target for the control of T-cell proliferation. Herein we present an alternative route for the synthesis of the target molecule with addition of lactam to the lithiated deazahypoxanthine (generated in situ). The lactam was synthesized in five steps starting from l-pyroglutamic acid.