Synthesis of 1-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)ethane-1,2-diol derivatives:: a novel class of protein kinase C inhibitors

Compounds 6-13 were prepared starting from 1-(triphenlymethyl)-protected 1H-imidazoles 14 and 15 in several steps. Lithiation with BuLi in THF followed by reaction with (triphenylmethoxy)acetaldehyde (16) afforded 17 and 18, respectively. O-Methylation of 17 and 18 gave diethers 19 and 20, respectively. The N- and O-trityl protecting groups of 17-20 were cleaved by acid treatment to give deprotected compounds 21-24. Acylation with equimolar amounts (for mono- or di-O-acylation) of the corresponding acyl chlorides yielded 1H-imidazoles 6-13. Compounds 7, 8, 10, and 11 exhibited moderate protein kinase C inhibition.