alpha-Biphenylsulfonylamino 2-methylpropyl phosphonates: enantioselective synthesis and selective inhibition of MMPs.

(R)-alfa-Biphenylsulfonylamino 2-methylpropyl phosphonates attain nM potency against several MMPs and are the most effective inhibitors based on phosphonate as zinc binding group. Since their preparation by direct N-acylation of expensive, enantiopure, alfa-aminophosphonic acids proceeds in low yields, we devised and evaluated a stereoselective and straightforward method of synthesis that avoids the unfavourable step of N-acylation. The key intermediate (R)-4-bromophenylsulfonylamino 2-methylpropyl phosphonate 9 was obtained by highly stereoselective addition of dibenzylphosphite to the enantiopure (S)-N-isobutylidene-pbromobenzenesulfinamide 3, followed by oxidation with m-CPBA. Suzuki coupling of 9 with the desired arylboronic acids gave the expected biphenylsulfonylamino derivatives in satisfactory yields. Liberation of the phosphonic group by hydrogenolysis led to the desired (R)-alfa-biphenylsulfonylamino 2-methylpropyl phosphonates 14a–i. Screening of the new compounds on MMP-1, -2, -3, -7, -8, -9, -13 and -14 showed IC50 in the range of nM in most cases.