The First Large-Scale Synthesis of MK-4305: A Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonist for the Treatment of Sleep Disorder

A new synthetic route to drug candidate 1, a potent and selective dual orexin antagonist for the treatment of sleep disorders, has been developed. The key acyclic precursor 10 was prepared in a one-step process in 75% isolated yield from commercially available starting materials using novel chemistry to synthesize 2-substituted benzoxazoles. A reductive amination was followed by a classical resolution to afford chiral diazepane (R)-11. Finally, coupling of (R)-11 with acid 5 furnished the desired drug candidate 1.