The Grignard reaction between 3,5-difluorobenzonitrile [64248-63-1] (1) and ethylmagnesium bromide gives 3,5-difluoropropiophenone [135306-45-5] (2). Halogenation with molecular bromine occurs at the alpha-keto position providing 2-bromo-3',5'-difluoropropiophenone [135306-46-6] (3). Intermolecular ring formation with DL-Alaninol (2-Aminopropanol) [6168-72-5] completed the synthesis of Manifaxine (4).
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^Spraggs CF, Pillai SG, Dow D, Douglas C, McCarthy L, Manasco PK, et al. (December 2005). "Pharmacogenetics and obesity: common gene variants influence weight loss response of the norepinephrine/dopamine transporter inhibitor GW320659 in obese subjects". Pharmacogenetics and Genomics. 15 (12): 883–9. doi:10.1097/01213011-200512000-00006. PMID16272960. S2CID40809351.
^Kelley, J. L., Musso, D. L., Boswell, G. E., Soroko, F. E., Cooper, B. R. (1 January 1996). "(2 S ,3 S ,5 R )-2-(3,5-Difluorophenyl)-3,5- dimethyl-2-morpholinol: A Novel Antidepressant Agent and Selective Inhibitor of Norepinephrine Uptake". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 39 (2): 347–349. doi:10.1021/jm950630p. PMID8558500.
^James Leroy Kelley, et al. EP0426416 (1991 to Wellcome Foundation Ltd).
^Frank Ivy Carroll, et al. US9562001 (2012 to Research Triangle Institute).
^Frank Ivy Carroll, et al. US20180215701 (Research Triangle Institute).