Application of an automated synthesis suite to parallel solution-phase peptide synthesis

An in-house developed automated synthesis suite was used to prepare a library of 72 tetrapeptide derivatives, the starting materials for pharmaceutically attractive pentapeptides, employing a convergent strategy. An initial set of 18 dipeptides were synthesized on a large-scale (100-1000 g) using automated synthesis workstations, and then 72 tetrapeptides were synthesized on a medium scale (5-10 g) using an automated system. Each di- or tetrapeptide was prepared in a single operating cycle using a modified methanesulfonic acid method, then a sub-library of 56 pentapeptides were synthesized in parallel, on a small-scale (100 mg-1 g) using a robotic workstation.     

Total synthesis of pyranicin

[Reaction: see text] A stereocontrolled convergent synthesis of the annonaceous acetogenin pyranicin (1) is presented. Asymmetric Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reactions were used to access key intermediates. The tetrahydropyran derivative 2 was obtained via an asymmetric desymmetrization of the meso-dialdehyde 6, and the butenolide fragment was constructed using a stereoconvergent reaction sequence involving a parallel kinetic HWE resolution followed by a Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution. The C10/C15 1,6-diol motif was installed using Carreira's asymmetric acetylide addition methodology.     

Radical-mediated synthesis of 3,4-dihydroisocoumarins: total synthesis of hydrangenol

A radically promoted synthesis of 3,4-dihydroisocoumarins has been achieved in moderate to good yields using titanocene(III) chloride (Cp₂TiCl) as the radical initiator. The total synthesis of (±)-hydrangenol has been completed using this radical technology. Cp₂TiCl was prepared in situ from commercially available titanocene dichloride (Cp₂TiCl₂) and Zn-dust in THF under argon.     

Concise synthesis of dl-febrifugine

Racemic compound (1) of the antimalarial agents febrifugine (d-1) was synthesized using an stereoselective Michael reaction of an omega-amidoenone (5) which was prepared by the Wittig reaction of piperidinediol (7).     

Total synthesis of mangiferaelactone

Herein we document the first total synthesis of mangiferaelactone and thus establish its absolute configuration. The central nonenolide ring was constructed using ring closing metathesis and Yamaguchi esterification. The key alcohol fragment was synthesized by the Bernet–Vasella fragmentation of C-ribofuranoside.     

Formal synthesis of dysiherbaine

A formal synthesis of dysiherbaine was achieved from d-mannitol using Grignard addition on chiral imine, RCM and Michael addition as key steps.     

Convenient synthesis of N-methylamino acids compatible with Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis

N(alpha)-Methylamino acid containing peptides exhibit interesting therapeutic profiles and are increasingly recognized as potentially useful therapeutics. Unfortunately, their synthesis is hampered by the high price and unavaibility of many N(alpha)-methylamino acids. An efficient and practical preparation of N(alpha)-methyl-N(alpha)-(o-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)-alpha-amino acids without extensive purification is described. The procedure is based on the well-known N-alkylation of N(alpha)-arylsulfonylamino esters which was improved by using dimethyl sulfate and DBU as base. Ester cleavage is efficiently achieved by using an S(N)2-type saponification with lithium iodide, avoiding racemization observed with lithium hydroxide hydrolysis. Compatibility of the synthesized N(alpha)-methylamino acids with Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis is demonstrated by using normal coupling conditions to efficiently prepare N-methyl dipeptides. The described procedure allows the preparation of N(alpha)-methylamino acids in a very short period of time and a rapid synthesis of N-methyl peptides using Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis.     

The total synthesis of bistratamides F-I

The total synthesis of bistratamides F-I (2-5) have been achieved in overall yields of 3, 10, 13, and 27%, respectively. The thiazole substructure was prepared utilizing a MnO₂ oxidation of a thiazoline, synthesized from a Val-Cys dipeptide using bis(triphenyl)oxodiphosphonium trifluoromethanesulfonate. The serine-based oxazole substructure was prepared from a Val-Ser dipeptide using literature methods. The threonine-derived oxazole substructure was synthesized from a ketoamide dipeptide using the bisphosphonium salt employed for thiazoline preparation. Most of the amide bonds were formed using HBTU and HOBt in the presence of DIEA. The final macrocyclization step was accomplished efficiently by PyBOP and DMAP in all cases.     

Biomimetic synthesis of diversifolin

The conversion of a germacranolide structure (tagitinin C) into a furanoheliangolide one (diversifolin) was achieved by hydride conjugate addition using Stryker’s reagent.     

Total synthesis of pikromycin

The total synthesis of pikromycin (6), the first isolated macrolide antibiotic, was achieved. The target macrolide was retrosynthetically divided into two parts, pikronolide (6a) (aglycon) and D-desosamine. The aglycon was synthesized using key reactions such as an asymmetric aldol reaction, Yamaguchi esterification, and ring-closing metathesis. The aglycon was coupled successfully with the trichloroacetimidate derivative of D-desosamine under Lewis acidic conditions to afford pikromycin. Narbomycin (5) was also synthesized from narbonolide (5a) under identical conditions.     

Serendipitous synthesis of a cyclic formamidine. Application to the synthesis of polyazamacrocycles

An unexpected synthesis of 4,5,6,7,8,9-hexahydro-1,3-diazonine, using hexamethylenediamine and dimethylformamide, is presented. The cyclization process was explained as a two-step process involving formylation and subsequent intramolecular condensation. The scope of this process was demonstrated through the synthesis of two other nitrogen-containing macroheterocycles.     

Total synthesis of dysiherbaine

An efficient total synthesis of dysiherbaine, a potent and subtype-selective agonist for ionotropic glutamate receptors, has been achieved. An advanced key intermediate in the previous synthesis of neodysiherbaine A and its analogues was selected as the starting point, and cis-oriented amino alcohol functionality on the tetrahydropyran ring was installed by using an intramolecular S_N2 cyclization of N-Boc-protected amino alcohol. The amino acid appendage was constructed by catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of enamide ester.     

Total synthesis of lodopyridone

A convergent total synthesis of the structurally unprecedented alkaloid lodopyridone was achieved using a cross-coupling of an iodopyridone fragment with a quinolinethiazolylstannane. Key features of the syntheses of the pentasubstituted 4-pyridone were a regioselective bromination of a 4-pyridone derived from kojic acid, a subsequent Cu-mediated introduction of the thioether, and a directed lithiation/iodination step. A chemoselective Negishi cross-coupling of a dibromothiazole and a quinolinylzinc reagent was used to assemble the chloroquinolinethiazol moiety.     

Stereoselective synthesis of beta-L-rhamnopyranosides

Stereoselective construction of 1,2-cis-beta-L-rhamnopyranoside was achieved by our effective methodology using naphthylmethyl (NAP) ether-mediated intramolecular aglycon delivery (IAD). The complete stereoselective synthesis of the bacterial extracellular polysaccharide, alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->3)-beta-L-Rhap-(1-->4)Glcp from Sphaerotilus natans, was successfully accomplished, clearly demonstrating that the NAP-IAD methodology is highly versatile.     

Catalytic synthesis of neohexane

Summary A laboratory method was proposed for the preparation of neohexane by the isomerization of n-hexane using technical aluminum chloride and some new initiators.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1699–1701, September, 1965     

HPLC-assisted automated oligosaccharide synthesis

A standard HPLC was adapted to polymer supported oligosaccharide synthesis. Solution-based reagents are delivered using a software-controlled solvent delivery system. The reaction progress and completion can be monitored in real time using a standard UV detector. All steps of oligosaccharide assembly including loading, glycosylation, deprotection, and cleavage can be performed using this setup.     

First total synthesis of murisolin

The first and concise total synthesis of murisolin (1) was accomplished using asymmetric alkynylation and Sonogashira coupling as the key steps. The threo/trans/threo-type THF ring moiety was constructed with excellent stereoselectivity by asymmetric alkynylation of 1,6-heptadiyne to alpha-tetrahydrofuranic aldehyde, which was also prepared via the asymmetric alkynylation.     

Ultrasound-assisted synthesis of C-glycosides

A significant rate enhancement was observed in the preparation of allyl and allenyl-C-glycosides from glycosyl acetate or methyl O-glycoside precursors when ultrasound irradiation was employed as an energy source. The C-glycosides were obtained in 77-96% yields in <20 min using TMSOTf as promoter. These results show that sonication provides rapid and efficient access to useful C-glycoside-based building blocks.     

Total synthesis of coraxeniolide-A

The first total synthesis of optically active coraxeniolide-A (1a) and 4-epi-coraxeniolide-A (1b) is described. The approach is highly stereoselective and flexible in the preparation of a wide variety of members of the xeniolide family. The use of the Grob-fragmentation was pivotal for the stereospecific elaboration of the nine-membered ring. Coraxeniolide-A (1a) was synthesized in 28 steps by using the Hajos-Parrish diketone 2 as starting material which is available enantiomerically pure.     

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of comb polymers

The paper describes the synthesis and characterization of comb polymers by a two-step chemo-enzymatic process. In the first step macromonomers bearing unsaturation at the chain end were prepared by lipase catalyzed ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (CL) and 1,5-dioxepane-2-one (DXO). The ROP was carried out in bulk at 60 °C under anhydrous conditions using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as the initiator. The DP of the macromonomers was controlled by regulating the monomer: HEMA molar feed concentration. The macromonomers were then homo- or co-polymerized in the second step with alkyl methacrylate monomers (methyl methacrylate or HEMA) using AIBN initiated free radical polymerization. Characterization of the polymers was done by ¹H NMR, SEC and DSC techniques.