Asymmetric skeletal rearrangement of symmetrically alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino aldehydes: a new entry to optically active alpha-hydroxy ketones

A unique asymmetric skeletal rearrangement of symmetrically alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino aldehydes has been accomplished for the first time using a chiral organoaluminum Lewis acid 1. For instance, treatment of (S)-2,2'-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonylamino)-1,1'-binaphthyl with Me3Al (1.0 equiv) in toluene at room temperature for 15 min and at 110 degrees C for an additional 15 min produced (S)-1, and a subsequent reaction with alpha -amino aldehyde 2a (R = CH2Ph) at -78 degrees C for 4 h and at -40 degrees C for 12 h resulted in the smooth rearrangement to the zwitterionic iminium intermediate A, which furnished the alpha-hydroxy ketone 3a (R = CH2Ph) in 93% isolated yield with 95% ee (S) after acidic hydrolysis. This result, together with other representative examples, clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the present method for the hitherto difficult asymmetric synthesis of acyloins. Furthermore, we found that the treatment of the in situ generated A with DIBAH afforded the corresponding anti amino alcohol exclusively without loss of enantiomeric excess. Our approach casts light on the previously unexplored yet potential utility of alpha-amino aldehydes as synthetic building blocks and also provides a new entry to optically active alpha-hydroxy ketones and 1,2-amino alcohols.     

Formation and stability of peptide enolates in aqueous solution

Second-order rate constants k(DO) (M(-1) s(-1)) were determined in D(2)O for deprotonation of the N-terminal alpha-amino carbon of glycylglycine and glycylglycylglycine zwitterions, the internal alpha-amino carbon of the glycylglycylglycine anion, and the acetyl methyl group and the alpha-amino carbon of the N-acetylglycine anion and N-acetylglycinamide by deuterioxide ion. The data were used to estimate values of k(HO) (M(-1) s(-1)) for proton transfer from these carbon acids to hydroxide ion in H(2)O. Values of the pK(a) for these carbon acids ranging from 23.9 to 30.8 were obtained by interpolation or extrapolation of good linear correlations between log k(HO) and carbon acid pK(a) established in earlier work for deprotonation of related neutral and cationic alpha-carbonyl carbon acids. The alpha-amino carbon at a N-protonated N-terminus of a peptide or protein is estimated to undergo deprotonation about 130-fold faster than the alpha-amino carbon at the corresponding internal amino acid residue. The value of k(HO) for deprotonation of the N-terminal alpha-amino carbon of the glycylglycylglycine zwitterion (pK(a) = 25.1) is similar to that for deprotonation of the more acidic ketone acetone (pK(a) = 19.3), as a result of a lower Marcus intrinsic barrier to deprotonation of cationic alpha-carbonyl carbon acids. The cationic NH(3)(+) group is generally more strongly electron-withdrawing than the neutral NHAc group, but the alpha-NH(3)(+) and the alpha-NHAc substituents result in very similar decreases in the pK(a) of several alpha-carbonyl carbon acids.     

Preparation of fluoroalkyl imines, amines, enamines, ketones, alpha-amino carbonyls, and alpha-amino acids from primary enamine phosphonates

A simple method for preparation of fluoroalkyl beta-enaminophosphonates 1 from alkylphosphonates 2 and perfluoroalkyl nitriles 3 is reported. Olefination reaction of functionalized phosphates 1 with aldehydes gives alpha,beta-unsaturated imines 5. Acid hydrolysis of these fluoroalkyl derivatives 5 affords alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones 6, while their selective reduction with hydrides leads to the formation of allylamines 7, enamines 8, and saturated ketones 9 or amines 10. Selective oxidative cleavage of the carbon-carbon double bond of allylamines 7 gives fluorinated alpha-amino aldehydes 12, alpha-amino ketones 13, or alpha-amino acid derivatives 14.     

General synthesis of C-glycosyl amino acids via proline-catalyzed direct electrophilic alpha-amination of C-glycosylalkyl aldehydes

Non-natural axially and equatorially linked C-glycosyl alpha-amino acids (glycines, alanines, and CH2-serine isosteres) with either S or R alpha-configuration were prepared by D- and L-proline-catalyzed (de >95%) alpha-amination of C-glycosylalkyl aldehydes using dibenzyl azodicarboxylate as the electrophilic reagent.     

Synthesis of C-protected alpha-amino aldehydes of high enantiomeric excess from highly epimerizable N-protected alpha-amino aldehydes

A new procedure for the preparation of C-protected alpha-amino aldehydes of high enantiomeric excess is illustrated using five differently substituted alpha-(N-Fmoc)amino aldehydes as starting materials. Highly epimerization-prone substrates were converted to the corresponding morpholino nitrile-protected alpha-amino aldehydes with minimal racemization (products >/= 89% ee). Morpholino nitrile derivatives of phenylglycinal were crystallized and subjected to X-ray structural analysis, allowing for definitive determination of the stereochemistry of amino nitrile formation. A rationale for the stereoselectivity of amino nitrile formation is presented.     

Epimerization of diastereomeric alpha-amino nitriles to single stereoisomers in the solid state

[reaction: see text] A diastereomeric mixture of the alpha-amino nitrile prepared by the Strecker reaction of benzaldehyde, (1S,2R)-1-aminoindan-2-ol, and cyanotrimethylsilane thermally epimerizes in the solid state to give a single diastereomer with an (S)-configuration at the alpha position to the nitrile moiety. This shows a sharp contrast to the reaction conducted in DMSO at room temperature, which gives a 1:1 mixture of (S)- and (R)-isomers. Several other alpha-amino nitriles also epimerize in the solid-state toward single diastereomers.     

Stereoselective synthesis of trifluoromethylated vicinal ethylenediamines with alpha-amino N-tert-butanesulfinimines and TMSCF3

Isolable alpha-amino N-tert-butanesulfinimines were prepared through the condensation of Reetz's alpha-amino aldehydes (prepared from alpha-amino acids) with Ellman's (R)-N-tert-butanesufinamide without any racemization, and these were trifluoromethylated with TMSCF3 and TMAF (tetramethylammonium fluoride) to the corresponding vicinal ethylenediamines derivatives. Imines derived from l-amino acids gave exclusively one diastereomer with a very high yield.     

Facile preparation of alpha-amino ketones from oxidative ring-opening of aziridines by pyridine N-oxide

The oxidative ring-opening reaction of a variety of activated aziridines by pyridine N-oxide provided alpha-amino ketones or alpha-amino aldehydes in good yields.     

New chiral didehydroamino acid derivatives from a cyclic glycine template with 3,6-dihydro-2H-1,4-oxazin-2-one structure: applications to the asymmetric synthesis of nonproteinogenic alpha-amino acids

New chiral (Z)-alpha,beta-didehydroamino acid (DDAA) derivatives with 3,5-dihydro-2H-1,4-oxazin-2-one structure 11a-f have been stereoselectively prepared after condensation of chiral glycine equivalent 7 with aldehydes in the presence of K(2)CO(3) under mild solid-liquid phase-transfer catalysis reaction conditions. These new systems have been used in diastereoselective cyclopropanation reactions using Corey's ylide for the asymmetric synthesis of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acids (ACCs) such as allo-corononamic and allo-norcoronamic acids. The hydrogenation reaction of these systems at ambient pressure in the presence of formaldehyde affords saturated oxazinones and N-methylated oxazinones which have been transformed into the N-methyl-alpha-amino acids (N-MAAs) (S)-2-(methylamino)butanoic acid and (S)-N-methylleucine. In addition, the parent alpha, beta-didehydroalanine derivative 11g has been prepared by a direct aminomethylation-elimination sequence from 7 and Eschenmoser's salt and has been used in Diels-Alder cycloaddition with endo selectivity for the synthesis of the enantiomerically pure bicyclic alpha-amino acids (-)-2-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-carboxylic and (-)-2-aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2-carboxylic acids.     

1,5-Dimethyl-4-phenylimidazolidin-2-one-derived iminic glycinimides: useful new reagents for practical asymmetric synthesis of alpha-amino acids

New 1,5-dimethyl-4-phenylimidazolidin-2-one-derived acyclic chiral iminic glycine reagents have been prepared and diastereoselectively alkylated with activated alkyl halides and electrophilic olefins in the presence of lithium chloride under (a) strong bases (LHMDS, KOBu(t)) and low temperature (-78 degrees C) conditions, (b) solid-liquid phase-transfer catalysis reaction (LiOH, TBAB, -20 degrees C) conditions, and (c) in the presence of organic bases (DBU, BEMP, TMG, -20 degrees C). In the case of dielectrophiles C- and N-alkylation takes place to afford heterocyclic derivatives. Hydrolysis of alkylated products has been carried out (a) in two-step procedures with LiOOH or LiOH followed by acidic hydrolysis or Dowex purification, (b) in one single-step under refluxing water to give the corresponding alpha-amino acid, (c) in the presence of DBU in methanol to provide N-protected alpha-amino acids methyl esters, or (d) by a protection-hydrolysis procedure to afford N-Boc-protected alpha-amino acids. The chiral imidazolidinone has generally been recovered in good yield. This methodology has been shown to be useful for the synthesis of acyclic and heterocyclic (S)- and (R)-alpha-amino acids.     

Direct catalytic asymmetric alpha-amination of aldehydes

The first direct catalytic asymmetric alpha-amination of aldehydes is described herein. alpha-Unbranched aldehydes react in this novel proline-catalyzed reaction with dialkyl azodicarboxylates to give alpha-amino aldehydes in excellent yields and enantioselectivities.     

Versatile synthons for optically pure alpha-amino aldehydes and alpha-amino acids: (+)- and (-)-4,5-dialkoxy-2-oxazolidinones

Both enantiomers of trans-5-benzyloxy-4-methoxy- (BMOx) and trans-4,5-dimethoxy-2-oxazolidinones (DMOx), which are readily accessible from simple 2-oxazolone heterocycles, represent good candidates for a new class of chiral synthons for use in the preparation of optically pure alpha-amino aldehydes and alpha-amino acids, respectively.     

Highly enantioselective phase-transfer-catalyzed alkylation of protected alpha-amino acid amides toward practical asymmetric synthesis of vicinal diamines, alpha-amino ketones, and alpha-amino alcohols

Highly enantioselective alkylation of protected glycine diphenylmethyl (Dpm) amide 1 and Weinreb amide 10 has been realized under phase-transfer conditions by the successful utilization of designer chiral quaternary ammonium salts of type 4 as catalyst. Particularly, remarkable reactivity of the chiral ammonium enolate derived from 1b and 4c allowed the reaction with less reactive simple secondary alkyl halides with high efficiency and enantioselectivity. An additional unique feature of this chiral ammonium enolate is its ability to recognize the chirality of beta-branched primary alkyl halides, which provides impressive levels of kinetic resolution and double stereodifferentiation during the alkylation, allowing for two alpha- and gamma-stereocenters to be controlled. Combined with the subsequent reduction using LiAlH4 in cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME), this system offers a facile access to structurally diverse optically active vicinal diamines. Furthermore, the optically active alpha-amino acid Weinreb amide 11 can be efficiently converted to the corresponding amino ketone by a simple treatment with Grignard reagents. In addition, reduction and alkylation of the optically active alpha-amino ketone into both syn and anti alpha-amino alcohols with almost complete relative and absolute stereochemical control have been achieved. With (S,S)- and (R,R)-4 in hand, the present approach renders both enantiomers of alpha-amino amides including Weinreb amides readily available with enormous structural variation and also establishes a general and practical route to vicinal diamines, alpha-amino ketones, and alpha-amino alcohols with the desired stereochemistry.     

2-amino-substituted 1-sulfinylferrocenes as chiral ligands in the addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes

A simple and modulable access to a structural variety of enantiopure amino-substituted ferrocenyl sulfoxides and their use as chiral catalysts in the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes is described. Moderate to high enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee) were obtained in the case of the arylsulfonamide ligands (R(Fc), R(S))-4h and (R(Fc), R(S))-4i. It has been demonstrated that the planar chirality of the ferrocene unit is the decisive chiral element involved in the reaction.     

An extended planar C5 conformation and a 310-helical structure of peptide foldamer composed of diverse alpha-ethylated alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino acids

Optically active peptide foldamers Tfa-[(S)-(alphaEt)Leu]-[(S)-(alphaEt)Nva]-Deg-[(S)-(alphaEt)Nle]-OEt (10) and Tfa-[(S)-(alphaEt)Val]-[(S)-(alphaEt)Leu]-[(S)-(alphaEt)Nva]-Deg-[(S)-(alphaEt)Nle]-OEt (11) composed of diverse alpha-ethylated alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino acids were synthesized. The dominant conformation of these peptides in solution was an unusual, fully extended planar conformation, and that in the crystal state was both right-handed (P) and left-handed (M) 3(10)-helical structures in 10 and a P 3(10)-helical structure in 11, respectively. The preferred planar C(5) conformation of the peptides prepared from chiral alpha-ethylated alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino acids was drastically different from the 3(10)-helical structure of the peptides prepared from chiral alpha-methylated alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino acids.     

A strategy for the asymmetric aminohomologation of alpha, beta-dihydroxy aldehydes: application to the synthesis of the southwest tripeptide segment of echinocandin B

The synthesis of the (2S,3S,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyhomotyrosine amino acid segment, present in echinocandin B, in its activated form ready for peptide coupling is described. The key steps of the approach are the enantioselective AD reaction of 4-methoxycinnamic acid methyl ester, a completely diastereoselective [2 + 2] hydroxyketene-imine cycloaddition, and the TEMPO-assisted cycloexpansion of the resulting 3-hydroxy beta-lactam to the corresponding alpha-amino acid N-carboxy anhydride (NCA). The smooth opening of the latter upon treatment with L-Thr(OSi(t)BuPh(2))OMe and further acylation with the N-Cbz protected L-4-tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxy proline rendered the southwest portion of echinocandin B.     

Synthesis of enantiopure omega-functionalized C15 alpha-amino carboxylates

An efficient route for the synthesis of enantiopure omega-hydroxy, omega-carboxy, omega-oxo, and omega-amino alpha-amino acids and bis-alpha-amino acids was developed. The synthesis of omega-trityloxy delta,epsilon-unsaturated alpha-amino acids was based on the Wittig reaction of methyl (2S)-2-[bis(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-5-oxopentanoate with omega-trityloxy alkylidene triphenylphosphoranes. After hydrogenation, the omega-hydroxy alpha-amino acid was used as starting material for the synthesis of other omega-functionalized alpha-amino acids. The length of the side chain of alpha-amino acids or bis-alpha-amino acids depends on the starting alkanediol or dibromide used to prepare the phosphoranes.     

Combinatorial liquid-phase synthesis of

A new method for the synthesis of [1,4]oxazepin-7-ones from readily available aldehydes and alpha-amino alcohols was developed using the Baylis-Hillman reaction as the key step. To determine the scope and limitations of the method, a mixture library was synthesized from six aldehydes and six alpha-amino alcohols on the soluble polymer support poly(ethylene glycol) 5000 monomethyl ether (MeOPEG) via split synthesis and analyzed by GC-EIMS. Those oxazepines that were formed predominantly were resynthesized in a parallel synthesis and fully characterized. Thus, we have shown that split synthesis on MeOPEG can be an efficient method to rapidly screen the substrate spectrum of a newly developed reaction sequence.     

Molecular recognition of amines and amino esters by zinc porphyrin receptors: binding mechanisms and solvent effects

Zinc porphyrin receptors bearing 12 ester groups in the meso phenyl groups (1-3) were prepared, and binding of amines and alpha-amino esters was studied with emphasis on the binding mechanisms. The X-ray crystallographic analysis of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2, 6-bis(carbomethoxymethoxy)-4-carbomethoxyphenyl)porphyrin (free base of 1) showed that the receptor has a binding pocket above the porphyrin plane. UV-visible titration experiments revealed that the zinc porphyrin receptors bound amines and alpha-amino esters with binding constants (K(a)) ranging from 0.5 to 52 700 M(-1) in CH(2)Cl(2) at 25 degrees C. The ester functional groups of 1 assisted the binding of aromatic alpha-amino esters (K(a) = 8 000-23 000 M(-1) in CH(2)Cl(2) at 25 degrees C) and inhibited the binding of bulky aliphatic alpha-amino esters (K(a) = 460 M(-1) for Leu-OMe in CH(2)Cl(2) at 25 degrees C), indicating that CH-pi type interactions and steric repulsions control the selectivity. The binding of amines and alpha-amino esters was tight both in a nonpolar solvent (CH(2)Cl(2)) and in a polar solvent (water) but loose in a solvent of intermediate polarity (H(2)O-MeOH (1:1)), demonstrating that two competitive driving forces are operating: (1) attractive electrostatic forces between host and guest such as coordination of the amino group to the zinc atom, and (2) entropic forces stemming from desolvation as well as enthalpic forces due to the host-guest dispersion forces. The former forces drive the binding in CH(2)Cl(2) while the latter forces drive the binding in water. The enthalpy changes in the binding in CH(2)Cl(2) and those in water range from -50 to -30 kJ mol(-1) and from -35 to 0 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The entropy changes in CH(2)Cl(2) and those in water range from -120 to -60 J K(-1) mol(-1) and from -50 to +60 J K(-1) mol(-1), respectively. Thus the binding in CH(2)Cl(2) is characterized by large negative enthalpy changes, while that in water by less negative entropy changes. These thermodynamic parameters also indicate that host-guest polar interactions (enthalpic forces) drive the binding in CH(2)Cl(2) while both host-guest dispersion interactions (an enthalpic force) and desolvation (an entropic force) drive the binding in water. Enthalpy-entropy compensation observed for the binding in water indicates that the binding of amines and amino esters in water by zinc porphyrins is associated with conformational changes as well as a high degree of dehydration. In CH(2)Cl(2), no clear compensation was observed, consistent with the mechanism that neither desolvation processes nor conformational changes contribute significantly to the binding energetics.     

(S,S)-(+)-pseudoephedrine alpha-iminoglyoxylamide as a chiral glycine cation equivalent: a modular and flexible approach to enantioenriched alpha-amino ketones

We have studied the ability of an alpha-imino glyoxylamide derived from (S, S)-(+)-pseudoephedrine as a valuable chiral electrophile for the preparation of alpha-amino carbonyl compounds. In this context, the addition of Grignard reagents to the azomethine moiety of this chiral electrophile afforded the expected alpha-amino amide adducts in good yields and diastereoselectivities. Moreover, these adducts have been transformed into enantioenriched alpha-amino ketones by exploiting the ability of pseudoephedrine amides to undergo selective monoaddition to the carbamoyl group with organolithium reagents.