Stereospecific synthesis of mexiletine and related compounds: Mitsunobu versus Williamson reaction

Mexiletine [1-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)-2-propanamine], a chiral, orally effective antiarrhythmic agent, and several analogues substituted on either the stereogenic centre or the xylyloxy moiety, were prepared in both, highly enriched, optically active forms. According to the 'chiral pool' approach, the appropriate amino alcohols, protected as the corresponding phthalimide derivatives, were condensed with the desired phenols under either Mitsunobu (method A) or Williamson (method B) conditions. Generally, method A provided the most efficient route, both in terms of yields and number of steps necessary. Only when an isopropyl group was present on the stereogenic centre, i.e. when 2-amino-3-methylbutanol was used as the starting alcohol, method B proved to be the only available route, method A giving no product other than the starting phthalimide derivative. Regardless of the method used, enantiomeric excesses ranged from 91 to 99%. Given the availability of both variously substituted phenols and optically active amino alcohols, the two methods described herein, taken together, may serve as a versatile approach, useful to meet the needs of new chiral, optically active mexiletine analogues, possibly endowed with higher potency in exerting a use-dependent block on sodium channels and/or more resistant to biotransformations.