Integration of high speed microwave chemistry and a statistical ‘design of experiment’ approach for the synthesis of the mitotic kinesin Eg5 inhibitor monastrol

The rapid preparation of the mitotic kinesin Eg5 inhibitor monastrol has been performed using multicomponent chemistry and combining microwave-assisted synthesis and a statistical design of experiments (DoEs) approach. By variation of the solvent, catalyst type and concentration, reaction time, and temperature a matrix of experiments for the DoE method was derived. As a result of 29 experiments with reaction times ranging from 10 to 30 min, an optimized procedure was derived that allowed the preparation of monastrol in 82%.