Copper-Catalyzed C–N Coupling in the Synthesis of Integrase Inhibitors of Immunodeficiency Viruses

This contribution describes the total synthesis of a complex macrocyclic integrase inhibitor, a key enzyme involved in the infection process of various immunodeficiency viruses. The key transformation of the synthetic strategy was the selective C–N coupling of a sulfonamide to a heteroaryl bromide in the presence of potentially competing amide and carbamate functionalities. The transformation was accomplished with CuI catalysis using bypiridine as the ligand in the presence of base and enabled a convergent approach to the target molecule.