Enamines of 3-acyltetramic acids from β-enamino amides and amino acids

A novel approach for the synthesis of enamine derivatives of N-protected 3-acyltetramic acids is described. The synthetic procedure relies on α-C-acylation of β-enamino amides with N-protected α-amino acids and subsequent cyclisation of the obtained intermediates in refluxing TFA. The tetramic derivatives are obtained with very good enantiopurity (e.r. ≥95:5). Ring-enlarged analogues (piperidine-2,4-diones) can also be obtained from β-amino acids.     

Synthesis and decarboxylation of N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids: a new synthesis of α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salts

4-Phosphoranylidene-5(4H)-oxazolones 1 undergo hydrolysis in THF in the presence of HBF₄ at room temperature to give N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonioglycines 3 (R² = H) in very good yields. 4-Alkyl-4-triphenylphosphonio-5(4H)-oxazolones 2 react with water in CH₂Cl₂/THF solution without any acidic catalyst at 0-5 °C in a few days yielding N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids 3 (R² = Me) or α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salt 4 (R² = CH₂OMe). α-Triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids 3, on heating up to 105-115 °C under reduced pressure (5 mmHg) or on treatment with diisopropylethylamine in CH₂Cl₂ at 20 °C undergo decarboxylation to give the corresponding α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salts 4, usually in very good yields.     

N-[1-(Benzotriazol-1-yl)alkyl]amides from N-acyl-α-amino acids or N-alkylamides

A variety of N-(1-methoxyalkyl)amides react with benzotriazole in the presence of PPh₃·HBF₄ and organic bases (Hünig's base, DBU or DABCO) or solid-state-supported bases (SiO₂-Pip or IRA-67) in CHCl₃ to give N-[1-(benzotriazol-1-yl)alkyl]amides in good yields. The most convenient and efficient procedure for obtaining N-[1-(benzotriazol-1-yl)alkyl]amides consists, however, of the addition of benzotriazole sodium salt to a solution of crude 1-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salt, obtained in situ from N-(1-methoxyalkyl)amides and PPh₃·HBF₄. A combination of these reactions with the recently described electrochemical decarboxylative α-methoxylation of N-acyl-α-amino acids in the presence of SiO₂-Pip enables an effective two-pot transformation of N-acyl-α-amino acids to N-[1-(benzotriazol-1-yl)alkyl]amides.     

A new convenient synthesis of N-acyl-2-(dimethoxyphosphoryl)glycinates

Easily accessible N-acyl-2-triphenylphosphonioglycinate tetrafluoroborates react smoothly with trimethylphosphite in the presence of methyltriphenylphosphonium iodide to give N-acyl-2-(dimethoxyphosphoryl)glycinates in good or very good yields. The dimethoxyphosphorylglycinates may be isolated by column chromatography, or used directly for the Wadsworth-Emmons synthesis of α,β-dehydro-α-amino acids in a one-pot procedure without purification.     

Synthesis of N-{[(9H-Fluoren-9-yl)methoxy]carbonyl}-Protected (Fmoc) β-Amino Acids (= homo-α-amino acids) by direct homologation

The successful application of the Arndt-Eistert protocol starting from commercially available N-{[(9H-fluoren-9-yl)methoxy]carbonyl}-protected (Fmoc) α-amino acids leading to enantiomerically pure N-Fmoc-protected β-amino acids in only two steps and with high yield is reported.     

Thermogravimetrical investigations of the dealkoxycarbonylation of N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonioglycinates

Thermogravimetrical experiments revealed that immediately after the endothermic process of the melting of N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonioglycinates 1, an exothermic demethoxycarbonylation of phosphonioglycinates commenced, accompanied by the release of CO₂. The residues contained the corresponding N-acylaminomethyltriphenylphosphonium salts 2 (18.3–49.5%), methyltriphenylphosphonium salts 7 (21.8–67.9%), and the corresponding 1,2-di(N-acylamino)fumaric acid dimethyl ester 6 (2.1–26.0%). When the reaction was carried out in the presence of Ph₃P and the corresponding triphenylphosphine hydrobromide, hydroiodide, or tetrafluoroborate, N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphoniumglycinate bromides and iodides 1a–f underwent demethoxycarbonylation to form the corresponding N-acylaminomethyltriphenylphosphonium salts 2a–f at 95–130 °C in good to excellent yields (79–100%). On the other hand, tetrafluoroborates 1g–i underwent corresponding reactions at about 170–175 °C to give phosphonium tetrafluoroborates 2g–i in much lower yields (34–67%). Plausible mechanisms of the investigated reaction are discussed. It was also demonstrated that the obtained crude α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salts 2 could be applied as valuable α-amidoalkylating agents in spite of their contamination with inert methyltriphenylphosphonium salts 7.     

Preparation of N-protected allylic amines and α-methylene-β-amino acids from vinylalumination/Baylis-Hillman products via tandem SN2′ substitution-Overman rearrangement

S_N2′ reaction on the acetates obtained from vinylalumination or Baylis-Hillman products, followed by in situ reduction afforded allylic alcohols. Upon conversion to trichloroacetimidates and [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, the corresponding N-protected β-substituted allylic amines were obtained in good yields. Utilization of hydroxy group as the nucleophile furnished allylic hydroxy esters, which were converted to protected α-methylene-β-amino acids via Overman rearrangement.     

Fluoroalkyl substituted (Z)-dehydro α-amino ester as a building block for the fluorine-containing cyclopropyl α-amino esters and dihydrooxazole

Multi-functionalized β-trifluoromethyl and β-difluoromethyl substituted (Z)-α,β-dehydro α-amino esters have been successfully prepared from N-protected fluorinated threonine ester. Applications of this new fluorine-containing building block to the synthesis of biologically important fluorinated cylcopropyl α-amino esters and dihydrooxazole ester have also been reported.     

Solution-phase synthesis of novel seven-membered cyclic dipeptides containing α- and β-amino acids

A convenient synthetic procedure for the preparation of seven-membered cyclic α,β-dipeptides is described. Following coupling of N-protected α-amino acids with N-substituted β-amino acid tert-butyl esters, that affords linear α,β-dipeptides, the protecting groups at the terminal functionalities were removed and the open-chain dipeptides were cyclized with phenylphosphonic dichloride, PhP(O)Cl₂, to give the desired cyclic α,β-dipeptides in good yields. NMR studies, X-ray diffraction analysis, and DFT calculations provided evidence for the conformation adopted by these cyclic dipeptides in solution, in the solid-state, and in the gas phase.     

Mass spectroscopic investigation of bis-1,3-urea calix[4]arenes and their ability to complex N-protected α-amino acids

We report the ability of urea’s appended onto the upper-rim of conformationally locked ‘cone’ calix[4]arenes to show a preference for binding specific N-protected α-amino acids. Superior complexation (as judged by mass spectroscopy) between N-protected α-amino results and bis-1,3-N-benzylureas calix[4]arenes was observed when methylene bridges were present between the calix[4]arene ‘host’ and the urea motif. Interestingly we also demonstrate that subjecting mixtures of structurally diverse N-Fmoc-α-amino acids to a single bis-1,3-N-benzylurea derived calix[4]arene allows, in some cases, the calix[4]arene ‘host’ to selectively ‘pick out’ and complex a specific N-Fmoc amino acid from the mixture.     

Asymmetric synthesis of α,β-substituted γ-amino acids via conjugate addition

The first conjugate addition reaction of organocuprates to N-enoyl oxazolidinone where a N-protected γ-nitrogen atom and an α-methyl group are present into α, β-unsaturated system is described. This reaction gave anti-products in moderate yields and high diastereomeric ratios. The anti-products have two contiguous stereogenic centers, one formed by the conjugate addition reaction and the other by a diastereoselective protonation reaction. The removal of chiral oxazolidinone moiety and N-deprotection of amino group furnished chiral α, β-disubstituted γ-amino acids.     

A new approach to β-amino acids: biotransformation of N-protected β-amino nitriles

A number of novel N-protected β-amino nitriles were prepared as substrates for two nitrile-converting microorganisms, Rhodococcus sp. R312 and Rhodococcus erythropolis NCIMB 11540. The respective biotransformation products, β-amino acids, are known to be pharmacological very potent compounds.     

Chiron based synthesis of isocoumarins: reactivity of α-substituted carboxylic acids

The asymmetric synthesis of a novel (S)-isocoumarin has been attempted in a single step by the coupling of homophthalic acid with (S)-N-protected amino acids and α-chloroacids at high temperature by exploiting a chiral pool methodology. The coupling of homophthalic acid with N-protected (S)-amino acids gave exclusion of the carboxyl/alkyl group. However, coupling of homophthalic acid with α-chloroacids afforded asymmetric isocoumarins in high yield.     

1-(N-Acylamino)-1-triphenylphosphoniumalkylphosphonates: General synthesis and prospects for further synthetic applications

A general approach for the synthesis of 1-(N-acylamino)-1-triphenylphosphoniumalkylphosphonates from readily accessible alkyl imidate hydrochlorides has been developed. The three-step synthesis involves acylation of the imidate hydrochloride with an acyl chloride, the Michaelis–Becker-like addition of diethyl phosphite to the N–acylimidate and subsequent nucleophilic substitution of the ethoxy group of the 1–ethoxyphosphonate derivative with triphenylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate. 1–(N–Acylamino)-1-triphenylphosphoniumalkylphosphonates were demonstrated to be promising intermediates for further synthetic transformations toward α-functionalized derivatives of α–aminophosphonic acids and α,β-dehydro-α-aminophosphonates.     

Synthesis and enantiomeric recognition studies of a novel 5,5-dioxophenothiazine-1,9 bis(thiourea) containing glucopyranosyl groups

A novel optically active 5,5-dioxophenothiazine-1,9 bis(thiourea) containing glucopyranosyl groups was synthesized and its enantiomeric recognition properties were examined towards the enantiomers of tetrabutylammonium salts of chiral α-hydroxy and N-protected α-amino acids using UV–vis spectroscopy.     

Palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of amino acids (esters) with aryl bromides and chlorides

The bulky and electron-rich MOP type ligands and Pd(dba)₂ combinations showed high efficiency for the coupling reactions of amino acids and inactive aryl halides to give N-aryl amino acids. Under the catalytic conditions, not only α-amino acids, but also β-, γ-, and δ-amino acids have been coupled with aryl chlorides in moderate to high yields; in the case of optically pure β-amino acids as substrates, the optical purities of the coupling products retained.     

One-pot synthesis of N-protected α-amino aldehyde acetals from three-component reaction of fluoroalkanesulfonyl azide, vinyl ether and alcohol

A facile one-step method has been developed for the synthesis of N-protected α-amino aldehyde acetals in moderate to good yields by three-component reaction of fluoroalkanesulfonyl azides, vinyl ethers and alcohol at 0 °C within 10 min. This practical synthetic method provides a convenient and expeditious access to N-per(poly)fluoroalkanesulfonyl α-amino aldehyde acetals.     

Synthesis and reactions of α-fluoro-α-amino amides

N-((S)-1-Phenylethyl)halofluoroethanamides have been investigated as precursors to N-protected α-fluoro-α-amino amides by nucleophilic displacement of halide with nitrogen nucleophiles such as potassium phthalimide, sodium succinimide, sodium glutarimide, trimethylamine and sodium azide. With single diastereoisomers of the iodofluoroethanamide, clean inversion of configuration occurs at room temperature, but subsequent epimerisation may occur as a result of the liberated iodide. The α-fluoro-α-amino amides made underwent a wide variety of reactions depending on conditions, but in many cases the carbon-fluorine bond was compromised. However, reacting trimethylamine and N-((S)-1-phenylethyl)iodofluoroethanamide gave the corresponding α-fluorobetaine amide, and subsequent acidic hydrolysis led to α-fluorobetaine as the first example of an ‘unprotected’ α-fluoroamino acid.     

Asymmetric synthesis of β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products via lithium amide conjugate addition

A three-step protocol for the asymmetric synthesis of a range of β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products has been developed. This procedure involves the diastereoselective conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-methyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to an α,β-unsaturated ester to generate an N-protected β-amino ester in high de. Subsequent asymmetric aldol reaction via deprotonation with LDA, transmetallation with B(OMe)₃ and addition of an aldehyde gives a range of syn-aldol products in moderate to high de. Purification of the syn-aldol products to homogeneity followed by tandem N-oxidation and Cope elimination gives the desired β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products in good yield and high de and ee.     

Synthetic application of in situ generation of N-acyliminium ions from α-amido p-tolylsulfones for the synthesis of α-amino nitriles

In the presence of catalytic amount of bismuth bromide (5 mol %) the α-amido p-tolylsulfones are converted into N-acyliminium ions, which undergo the nucleophilic addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) to provide the N-protected α-amino nitriles in very good yield. A variety of α-amido p-tolylsulfones were prepared from aromatic as well as aliphatic aldehydes for the synthesis of α-amino nitriles.