Synthesis of 6,8,9-Tri- and 2,6,8,9-Tetrasubstituted Purines by a Combination of the Suzuki Cross-coupling, N-Arylation, and Direct C−H Arylation Reactions

Novel practical methodology of synthesis of a several types of di-, tri-, and tetraarylpurine derivatives by a combination of regioselective Suzuki cross-coupling reactions and/or Cu-catalyzed N-arylation with direct C-H arylations was developed. 6,8-Diaryl- and 2,6,8-triaryl-9-isopropylpurines were prepared by one or two cross-couplings of 6-chloro- or 2,6-dichloro-9-isopropylpurine with arylboronic acids followed by Pd-catalyzed C-H arylation by aryl halides to position 8. 6-Chloropurine and adenine underwent Cu-catalyzed N-arylation to position 9 with boronic acids, followed by cross-coupling with AlMe3 and/or C-H arylation to obtain 8,9-diaryl-6-methylpurines or 8,9-diaryladenines (accompanied by products of partial N-arylation of adenine in position 6). The methodology is suitable for construction of small libraries of modified purines.