An improved Balz-Schiemann reaction enabled by ionic liquids and continuous processing

Abstract A Balz-Schiemann reaction was developed to convert 2-cyano-5-aminopyridine to 2-cyano-5-fluoropyridine. The use of an ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, BMIMBF 4 ) as a solvent was found to be critical in achieving high assay yields and high selectivity for the fluorination vs. protonation. A process was developed to recycle and reuse the ionic liquid enabling its cost-effective use as a solvent. Finally, the optimal conditions were demonstrated under as a continuous process to address process safety risks associated with diazonium intermediates and the product was used to access a key intermediate in the synthesis of β-amyloid cleaving enzyme 1 inhibitor, verubecestat.