Novel Synthesis of 1-(1,2,3,5,6,7-Hexahydro-s-indacen-4-yl)-3-[4-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-furan-2-sulfonyl]urea, an Anti-inflammatory Agent

Abstract A novel synthesis of the anti-inflammatory agent 1-(1,2,3,5,6,7- hexahydro-s-indacen-4-yl)-3-[4-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-furan-2-sulfonyl] urea 1 is described. Sulfonamide 5 was prepared starting from ethyl 3-furoate 2. Key steps were a one-pot sulfonylation with chlorosulfonic acid in methylene chloride followed by pyridinium salt formation and reaction with phosphorus pentachloride to provide ethyl 2-(chlorosulfonyl)-4-furoate 7. This sulfonyl chloride was treated with ammonium bicarbonate to form sulfonamide 8, followed by treatment with excess methyl magnesium chloride to provide 4-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-furan-2-sulfonamide 5. 4-Isocyanato-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydro-s-indacene 16 was prepared from indan in five steps. The formation of the desired sulfonyl urea was carried out both with the isolated isocyanate 16 and via an in situ method.