The ‘Azirine/Oxazolone Method’ on Solid Phase: Introduction of Various α,α‐Disubstituted α‐Amino Acids

Peptides containing various α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acids, such as α‐aminoisobutyric acid (Aib), 1‐aminocyclopentane‐1‐carboxylic acid, α‐methylphenylalanine, and 3‐amino‐3,4,5,6‐tetrahydro‐2H‐pyran‐3‐carboxylic acid have been synthesized from the N‐ to the C‐terminus by the ‘azirine/oxazolone method’ under solid‐phase conditions. In this convenient method for the synthesis of sterically demanding peptides on solid‐phase, 2H‐azirin‐3‐amines are used to introduce the α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acids without the need for additional reagents. Furthermore, the synthesis of poly(Aib) sequences has been explored.     

Synthesis of Poly‐Aib Oligopeptides and Aib‐Containing Peptides via the ‘Azirine/Oxazolone Method’, and Their Crystal Structures

The protected poly‐Aib oligopeptides Z‐(Aib)_n‐N(Me)Ph with n=2–6 were prepared according to the ‘azirine/oxazolone method’, i.e., by coupling amino or peptide acids with 2,2,N‐trimethyl‐N‐phenyl‐2H‐azirin‐3‐amine ( 1a ) as an Aib synthon (Scheme 2). Following the same concept, the segments Z‐(Aib)₃‐OH ( 9 ) and H‐L ‐Pro‐(Aib)₃‐N(Me)Ph ( 20 ) were synthesized, and their subsequent coupling with N,N′‐dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC)/ZnCl₂ led to the protected heptapeptide Z‐(Aib)₃‐L ‐Pro‐(Aib)₃‐N(Me)Ph ( 21 ; Scheme 3). The crystal structures of the poly‐Aib oligopeptide amides were established by X‐ray crystallography confirming the 3₁₀‐helical conformation of Aib peptides.     

Highly Constrained Linear Oligopeptides Containing Heterocyclic α‐Amino Carboxylic Acids

Two spiroheterocyclic 2H‐azirin‐3‐amines, 1f and 1g , were shown to be useful synthons for the dipeptides N‐(4‐aminotetrahydro‐2H‐pyran‐4‐yl)prolinate (Thp‐Pro) and the corresponding thiopyran derivative, Tht‐Pro, respectively. By coupling of 4‐bromobenzoic acid with 1f or 1g and saponification, followed by repeating the coupling and saponification steps, oligopeptides of type 4‐BrBz‐(Thp‐Pro)_n‐OMe and 4‐BrBz‐(Tht‐Pro)_n‐OMe were prepared, and their conformations were evaluated in solution by NMR techniques and in the crystalline state by X‐ray crystallography. All of these sterically highly congested oligopeptides adopt fairly rigid helical conformations. It is interesting to note that the hexapeptide with Thp forms a 3₁₀‐helix, whereas the Tht analog has a β‐bend ribbon spiral confirmation.     

Reaction of γ‐Hydroxy‐N‐[1‐(dimethylcarbamoyl)ethyl]butanamides under the ‘Direct Amide Cyclization’ Conditions

The preparation of the title compounds was achieved via the ‘azirine/oxazolone method’ starting from the corresponding γ‐hydroxy acids. Upon subjecting the γ‐hydroxy‐N‐[1‐(dimethylcarbamoyl)ethyl]butanamides 4 to the so‐called ‘direct amide cyclization’ (DAC) conditions, chlorinated acids 11 or imino lactones 12 were obtained as the sole products instead of the expected cyclodepsipeptides A or their cyclodimers (Scheme 4). Variation of the substituents in 4 did not affect the outcome of the reaction and a mechanism for the formation of both products from the intermediate oxazolone 13 has been proposed. Under the acidic conditions of the DAC, the imino lactones are formed as their HCl salts 12 , which, in polar solvents or on silica gel, reacted further to give the chlorinated acids 11 . Stabilization of the imino lactones was achieved by increasing the substitution in the five‐membered ring, and their structure, in the form of the hydrochlorides, was established independently by X‐ray crystallography (Fig. 4). A derivative 15 of the imino lactone 12a was prepared by the reaction with the 2H‐azirin‐3‐amine 10a ; its structure was also established by an X‐ray crystal‐structure determination (Fig. 3). Furthermore, the structures of the ω‐chloro acids 11a and 11b were determined by X‐ray crystallography (Fig. 2).     

Synthesis of Enniatin‐like Cyclic Depsipeptides via ‘Direct Amide Cyclization’

The synthesis of several 18‐membered cyclodepsipeptides with an alternating sequence of α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acids and α‐hydroxy acids (compounds 14a – 14e ) is described. The ring closure via macrolactonization was accomplished by treatment of a diluted suspension of the corresponding linear precursors 12a – 12e in toluene with HCl gas, i.e., the so‐called ‘direct amide cyclization’. The incorporation of the α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acids was achieved via the ‘azirine/oxazolone method’ with 2H‐azirin‐3‐amines of type 6 and 9 as building blocks. The structure of the cyclic depsipeptide 14a was established by X‐ray crystallography.     

The ‘Azirine/Oxazolone Approach’ to the Synthesis of Aib‐Pro Endothiopeptides

The reaction of methyl N‐(2,2‐dimethyl‐2H‐azirin‐3‐yl)‐L ‐prolinate ( 2a ) with thiobenzoic acid at room temperature gave the endothiopeptide Bz‐AibΨ[CS]‐Pro‐OMe ( 7 ) in high yield. In an analogous manner, (benzyloxy)carbonyl (Z)‐protected proline was transformed into the thioacid, which was reacted with 2a to give the endothiotripeptide Z‐Pro‐AibΨ[CS]‐Pro‐OMe ( 12 ). The corresponding thioacid of 7 was prepared in situ via saponification, formation of a mixed anhydride, and treatment with H₂S. A second reaction with 2a led to the endodithiotetrapeptide 9 , but extensive epimerization at Pro² was observed. Similarly, saponification of 12 and coupling with either 2a or H‐Phe‐OMe and 2‐(1H‐benzotriazol‐1‐yl)‐1,1,3,3‐tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate/1‐hydroxy‐1H‐benzotriazole (TBTU/HOBt) gave the corresponding endothiopeptides as mixtures of two epimers. The synthesis of the pure diastereoisomer BzΨ[CS]‐Aib‐Pro‐AibΨ[CS]‐N(Me)Ph ( 21 ) was achieved via isomerization of 7 to BzΨ[CS]‐Aib‐Pro‐OMe ( 16 ), transformation into the corresponding thioacid, and reaction with N,2,2‐trimethyl‐N‐phenyl‐2H‐azirin‐3‐amine ( 1a ). The structures of 12 and 21 were established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of Z‐Protected Aib‐ and Phe(2Me)‐Containing Pentapeptides and Their Crystal Structures

A series of pentapeptide derivatives containing α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acids have been prepared by a combination of the ‘azirine/oxazolone method’ and segment condensations. X‐Ray crystal‐structure determinations of the molecular structures confirmed the presence of helical conformations stabilized by β‐turns of type III or III′. Pentapeptides containing (R)‐Phe(2Me) form a right‐handed helix, whereas those containing (S)‐Phe(2Me) adopt a left‐handed helical structure.     

Synthesis of Aib‐Pro Oligopeptides by Repeated Azirine Coupling with the Aib‐Pro Synthon

A new synthesis of (Aib‐Pro)_n oligopeptides (n=2, 3, and 4) via azirine coupling by using the dipeptide synthon methyl N‐(2,2‐dimethyl‐2H‐azirin‐3‐yl)‐L ‐prolinate ( 1b ; Fig. 1) is presented. The most important feature of the employed protocol is that no activation of the acid component is necessary, i.e., no additional reagents are required, and the coupling reaction is performed under mild conditions at room temperature. As an attempt to provide an answer to the question of the preferred conformation of the prepared molecules, we carried out experiments by using NMR techniques and X‐ray crystallography. For example, in the case of the hexapeptide 11 , it was possible to compare the conformations in the crystalline state and in solution. After the selective hydrolysis of the methyl ester p‐BrBz‐(Aib‐Pro)₄‐OMe ( 13 ) under basic conditions, the corresponding octapeptide acid was obtained, which was then converted into the octapeptide amide p‐BrBz‐(Aib‐Pro)₄‐NHC₆H₁₃ ( 15 ) by using standard coupling conditions and activating reagents (HOBt/TBTU/DIEA) of the peptide synthesis. The conformation of this compound, as well as those of the tetrapeptides 14 and 18 , was also established by X‐ray crystallography and in solution by NMR techniques. In the crystalline state, a β‐bend ribbon structure is the preferred conformation, and similar conformations are formed in solution.     

2‐Amino‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydro‐6‐oxocyclopenta[c]fluorene‐2‐carboxylic Acid (FlAib), a Completely Rigidified,Fluoren‐9‐one‐Based α‐Amino Acid

The synthesis, optical resolution, determination of absolute configuration and conformational preference, and spectroscopic characteristics of terminally protected (blocked) derivatives and short peptides of 2‐amino‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydro‐6‐oxocyclopenta[c]fluorene‐2‐carboxylic acid (FlAib), a novel, rigid, chiral, cyclized C^α,α‐disubstituted glycine are described.     

Synthesis of Aib‐ and Phe(2Me)‐Containing Cyclopentapeptides

Some recently described pentapeptides containing the α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acids Aib and Phe(2Me) have been cyclized in DMF solution using diphenyl phosphorazidate (DPPA), O‐(1H‐benzotriazol‐1‐yl)‐N,N,N′,N′‐tetamethyluronium tetrafluoroborate/1‐hydroxybenzotriazole (TBTU/HOBt), and diethyl phosphorocyanidate (DEPC), respectively, to give the corresponding cyclopentapeptides in fair‐to‐good yields. In the case of peptides with L ‐amino acids, and (R)‐ and (S)‐Phe(2Me), the yields differed significantly in favor of the L /(R) combination. The conformations in the crystals of cyclo(Gly‐Aib‐(R,S)‐Phe(2Me)‐Aib‐Gly) and cyclo(Gly‐(R)‐Phe(2Me)‐Pro‐Aib‐Gly) have been determined by X‐ray crystallography, leading to quite different results. In the latter case, the conformation in solution has been elucidated by NMR studies.     

The Biomimetic Synthesis and First Characterization of the (+)‐ and (−)‐Isocentrolobines, 2,6‐cis‐ and 2,6‐trans‐Disubstituted Tetrahydro‐2H‐pyrans

The four stereoisomers of the novel title compounds were prepared by oxidative cyclization of their enantiomerically pure diarylheptanoid precursors by means of the straightforward biomimetic approach presented in the preceding article. The isocentrolobines are the methoxy regioisomers of the natural (+)‐ and (−)‐centrolobines and were characterized for the first time. The synthetic procedure established the absolute configurations and the unambiguous correlation with the chiroptical data. The spectroscopic and the chiroptical data of the isocentrolobines are highly similar to those of the natural products. The single diagnostic parameter that would allow a immediate assignment in the presence of only one of the isomers is the higher melting point (ca. 50°) of the cis‐configured isocentrolobines.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Enantiomerically Pure cis‐ and trans‐3‐Fluoro‐2,4‐dioxa‐9‐aza‐3‐phosphadecalin 3‐Oxides as Acetylcholine Mimetics and Inhibitors of Acetylcholinesterase

The title compounds, the P(3)‐axially and P(3)‐equatorially substituted cis‐ and trans‐configured 9‐benzyl‐3‐fluoro‐2,4‐dioxa‐9‐aza‐3‐phosphadecalin 3‐oxides (=9‐benzyl‐3‐fluoro‐2,4‐dioxa‐9‐aza‐3‐phosphabicyclo[4.4.0]decane 3‐oxides=7‐benzyl‐2‐fluorohexahydro‐4H‐1,3,2‐dioxaphosphorino[4,5‐c]pyridine 2‐oxides) were prepared (ee >99%) and fully characterized (Schemes 2 and 4). The absolute configurations were deduced from that of their precursors, the enantiomerically pure ethyl 1‐benzyl‐3‐hydroxypiperidine‐4‐carboxylates and 1‐benzyl‐3‐hydroxypiperidine‐4‐methanols which were unambiguously assigned. Being configuratively fixed and conformationally constrained phosphorus analogues of acetylcholine, the title compounds represent acetylcholine mimetics and are suitable probes for the investigation of molecular interactions with acetylcholinesterase. As determined by kinetic methods, all of the compounds are moderate irreversible inhibitors of the enzyme.     

Reactions of 2‐Unsubstituted 1H‐Imidazole 3‐Oxides with 2,2‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,1‐dicarbonitrile: A Stepwise 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition

The reaction of 1,4,5‐trisubstituted 1H‐imidazole‐3‐oxides 1 with 2,2‐bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,1‐dicarbonitrile ( 7 , BTF) yielded the corresponding 1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐imidazol‐2‐ones 10 and 2‐(1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene)malononitriles 11 , respectively, depending on the solvent used. In one example, a 1 : 1 complex, 12 , of the 1H‐imidazole 3‐oxide and hexafluoroacetone hydrate was isolated as a second product. The formation of the products is explained by a stepwise 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition and subsequent fragmentation. The structures of 11d and 12 were established by X‐ray crystallography.     

The Biomimetic Synthesis and Final Structure Determination of (+)‐ and (−)‐Centrolobine,Naturally Occurring Diarylheptanoid 2,6‐cis‐Disubstituted Tetrahydro‐2H‐pyrans

The enantiomerically pure title compounds were prepared by oxidative cyclization of their optically active diarylheptanoid precursors. The approach is considered as a biomimetic phenol oxidation via an intermediate quinone methide. The absolute configuration of the precursors is retained, and the transition state adopts the sterically most favorable diequatorial arrangement of the 2,6‐substituents to afford the cis‐configured natural products. The outcome unambiguously establishes the absolute configurations and the correlation with the chiroptical data. In addition, a problem of regioisomerism that had not been discussed before was solved, and the original assignment of the position of the MeO group in the natural centrolobines could be confirmed. As such the results are the experimental evidence for the corrections of long‐term inconsistencies we had postulated in an earlier review article.     

Novel N‐(2,2‐Dimethyl‐2H‐azirin‐3‐yl)‐L‐prolinates as Aib‐Pro Synthons

The syntheses of phenacyl N‐(2,2‐dimethyl‐2H‐azirin‐3‐yl)‐L ‐prolinate and allyl N‐(2,2‐dimethyl‐2H‐azirin‐3‐yl)‐L ‐prolinate are reported. Reactions of these 2H‐azirin‐3‐amine derivatives with Z‐protected amino acids have shown them to be suitable synthons for the Aib‐Pro unit in peptide synthesis. After incorporation into the peptide by means of the ‘azirine/oxazolone method’, the C‐termini of the resulting peptides were deprotected selectively with Zn in AcOH or by a mild Pd⁰‐promoted procedure, respectively.     

Selenium‐Containing Heterocycles from Isoselenocyanates: Synthesis of 1,3‐Selenazinane and 1,3‐Selenazinanone Derivatives

The reaction of the intermediate ketene N,Se‐hemiacetal 3 , prepared from cyanomethylene derivatives 1 by treatment with Et₃N and aryl isoselenocyanates 2 , with bis‐electrophiles 6, 7, 9 , and 11 in DMF affords tetrahydro‐1H‐1,3‐selenazine (=1,3‐selenazinane) derivatives 8, 10 , and 12 in good yield (Scheme 2 and Tables 1–3). Chemical and spectroscopic evidence for the structures of the new compounds are described. The structures of 8d and 12e are established by X‐ray crystallography (Figs. 1 and 2).     

cis‐trans Peptide‐Bond Isomerization in α‐Methylproline Derivatives

α‐Methyl‐L ‐proline is an α‐substituted analog of proline that has been previously employed to constrain prolyl peptide bonds in a trans conformation. Here, we revisit the cis‐trans prolyl peptide bond equilibrium in derivatives of α‐methyl‐L ‐proline, such as N‐Boc‐protected α‐methyl‐L ‐proline and the hexapeptide H‐Ala‐Tyr‐αMePro‐Tyr‐Asp‐Val‐OH. In Boc‐α‐methyl‐L ‐proline, we found that both cis and trans conformers were populated, whereas, in the short peptide, only the trans conformer was detected. The energy barrier for the cis‐trans isomerization in Boc‐α‐methyl‐L ‐proline was determined by line‐shape analysis of NMR spectra obtained at different temperatures and found to be 1.24 kcal/mol (at 298 K) higher than the corresponding value for Boc‐L ‐proline. These findings further illuminate the conformationally constraining properties of α‐methyl‐L ‐proline.     

Transformation of 5‐Hydroxy‐ to (5‐Chloropentanoyl)amino Derivatives under ‘Direct Amide Cyclization’ Conditions

The application of the ‘direct amide cyclization’ conditions to the linear δ‐hydroxy diamide 11 is described (Scheme 3). Instead of the cyclization to the expected nine‐membered cyclodepsipeptide, only the chloro acid 12 was obtained. Its formation could be explained by consecutive formation of the 1,3‐oxazol‐5(4H)‐one 16 and the six‐membered imino lactone 17 as intermediates (Scheme 4). The spontaneous isomerization of the latter gave 12 in a good yield.     

Selenium‐Containing Heterocycles from Isoselenocyanates: Synthesis of 5‐Amino‐2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐selones

The reaction of S‐methylisothiosemicarbazide hydroiodide (=S‐methyl hydrazinecarboximidothioate hydroiodide; 1 ), prepared from thiosemicarbazide by treatment with MeI in EtOH, and aryl isoselenocyanates 5 in CH₂Cl₂ affords 3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐selone derivatives 7 in good yield (Scheme 2, Table 1). During attempted crystallization, these products undergo an oxidative dimerization to give the corresponding bis(4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl) diselenides 11 (Scheme 3). The structure of 11a was established by X‐ray crystallography.     

The Structures of Indazolin‐3‐one (=1,2‐Dihydro‐3H‐indazol‐3‐one) and 7‐Nitroindazolin‐3‐one

The existence of polymorphism in parent indazolin‐3‐one (=1,2‐dihydro‐3H‐indazol‐3‐one; 1 ) is reported as well as an X‐ray and NMR CPMAS study establishing that its 7‐nitro derivative 2 exists as the 3‐hydroxy tautomer. Absolute shieldings calculated at the GIAO/B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level were used to determine the tautomeric oxo/hydroxy equilibrium in solution, i.e., always the 1H‐indazol‐3‐ol tautomer predominates.