Development of a Novel Pd-Catalyzed N-Acyl Vinylogous Carbamate Synthesis for the Key Intermediate of ICE Inhibitor VX-765

A novel Pd-catalyzed coupling of Cbz-protected proline amide with 4-bromo-5-ethoxyfuran-2(5H)-one was developed for the synthesis of the P1−P2 unit (5) of VX-765. The process afforded quantitative coupling in the presence of water, providing a 1:1 mixture of 5 and its ethoxy epimer epi-5. Compound 5 was isolated as a single diastereomer via fractional crystallization, which was stereoselectively converted to 17 via hydrogenation, and subsequently transformed to VX-765. Nine examples of the Pd coupling are presented with yields ranging from 76−98%.