Development of an Early-Phase Bulk Enabling Route to Sodium-Dependent Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Ertugliflozin

The development and optimization of a scalable synthesis of sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, ertugliflozin, for the treatment of type-2 diabetes is described. Highlights of the chemistry are a concise, four-step synthesis of a structurally complex API from known intermediate 4 via persilylation–selective monodesilylation, primary alcohol oxidation, aldol-crossed-Cannizzaro reaction, and solid-phase acid-catalyzed bicyclic ketal formation. The final API was isolated as the l-pyroglutamic acid cocrystal.