Synthesis of alpha-amino acids by reaction of aziridine-2-carboxylic acids with carbon nucleophiles

A variety of homochiral alpha-amino acids have been prepared in good yield via regioselective reaction of higher order cuprates with (2S)-N-para-toluenesulfonylaziridine-2-carboxylic acid 4. The reaction was much less regioselective and low yielding when higher order cuprates were reacted with the more hindered aziridine carboxylic acid 30, the principal products being protected beta-amino acids. Reaction of lithium trimethylsilylacetylide with the aziridine acid 30, however, gave a protected alpha-amino acid which was converted to the protected isoleucine ester 37.     

1-(Phenylethynyl)aziridine in reactions with amines

The reaction of 1-(phenylethynyl)aziridine with a primary or secondary amine gave 2-benzylimidazoline-2 or N-aminoethyl substituted phenylacetamidine via nucleophilic attack on the aziridine ring. The mechanism of aziridine ring opening by an amine was studied.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 600–603, May, 1989.     

Synthesis of orthogonally protected 1,2-diaminopropanoic acids by ring-opening of 3-unsubstituted N-activated aziridine 2-carboxylates with para-methoxybenzylamine: a study of the regioselectivity of the reaction

Orthogonally protected 1,2-diaminopropanoic acids (DAPs) have been synthesised in good yields by the ring-opening of 3-unsubstituted N-activated aziridine 2-carboxylates with para-methoxybenzylamine. The choice of both the N-activating group and ester alkyl group had a significant influence on the ratio of attack at the α or β positions of the aziridine. However, the regiochemical outcome is not predictable.     

Asymmetric route to pyridines bearing a highly functionalized 2-alkyl substituent by aziridine ring-opening reactions

The aziridine prepared from the 2-pyridineimine derived from (S)-valinol underwent ring-opening by attack of nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen nucleophiles. Complete or prevalent regioselectivity was obtained using cerium trichloride heptahydrate as a catalyst. In some cases, the N-substituent could be removed by an oxidative protocol.     

Nitroalkenes as electrophiles in the asymmetric Michael reaction involving chiral imines/enamino esters

Addition of 2-nitropropene to the chiral imine derived from 2-methylcyclopentanone and (S)-1-phenylethylamine furnished the expected Michael adduct. The latter compound was then efficiently converted into (R)-pentalenone through a Nef reaction. Condensation of the enamino ester derived from 2-carbethoxycyclopentanone and (S)-1-phenylethylamine with 1-nitropropene gave with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity the corresponding Michael adduct.     

Enantiospecific synthesis of the phospholipase A2 inhibitor (-)-cinatrin B

The first enantiospecific synthesis of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor (-)-cinatrin B (2) from the D-arabinose derivative 9 is described. The spirolactone system was formed by an Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of the allyl ester 8 followed by hydrolysis and stereoselective iodolactonization. The stereoselectivity of the rearrangement was controlled by the asymmetry in the allylic alcohol fragment. Ester (S)-8 gave the desired rearrangement product 7 and the epimer 13 in high yield as a 73:27 ratio, respectively. The final stereocenter at C2 was introduced via a chelation-controlled addition of the Grignard reagent derived from trimethylsilylacetylene to alpha-hydroxy ketone 6. Transformation of the terminal alkyne into the methyl ester 21 followed by acetal hydrolysis and selective lactol oxidation afforded cinatrin B methyl ester (22). Base hydrolysis and acid-induced relactonization then gave (-)-cinatrin B (2).     

Catalytic asymmetric Mannich reactions of glycine derivatives with imines. A new approach to optically active alpha,beta-diamino acid derivatives

Imines of glycine alkyl esters react with imines in a diastereo- and highly enantioselective Mannich reaction in the presence of chiral copper(I) complexes as the catalyst to give optically active alpha,beta-diamino acid derivatives. A series of imines of glycine esters derived from glycine and aromatic carbonyl compounds has been screened as substrates for the Mannich reaction with different imines in the presence of various combinations of metal salts and chiral ligands. The benzophenone imine of glycine esters was found to react with N-protected imines in a diastereoselective fashion giving functionalized alpha,beta-diamino acid esters with excellent enantioselectivities. The most effective chiral catalysts are chiral copper(I) complexes having phosphino-oxazoline (P,N)-ligands, and among these ligands, those derived from (1R,2S)-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene gave the best results. The scope of this new catalytic asymmetric reaction of the benzophenone imine glycine esters is demonstrated for the reaction with different N-protected-C-aryl and C-alkyl imines giving the Mannich adducts with excellent optical purity. Furthermore, the synthetic aspects of the reaction are presented by converting the Mannich adducts into alpha,beta-diamino acid derivatives. The relative and absolute configuration of the Mannich adduct have been determined and based on the stereochemical outcome of the reaction a tetrahedral chiral-copper(I)-imino glycine alkyl ester intermediate is proposed. In this intermediate the Re-face of the benzophenone imine glycine ester is shielded by the chiral ligand leaving the Si-face available for approach of the Si-face of the imine. A series of semiempirical calculations has been performed to support the structure of the tetrahedral chiral-copper(I) complex and to account for the influence of the substituents in the chiral phosphino-oxazoline ligands.     

Efficient Regioselective Ring Opening of Activated Aziridine-2-Carboxylates with [18F]Fluoride

Aziridines can undergo a range of ring-opening reactions with nucleophiles. The regio- and stereochemistry of the products depend on the substituents on the aziridine. Aziridine ring-opening reactions have rarely been used in radiosynthesis. Herein we report the ring opening of activated aziridine-2-carboxylates with [¹⁸F]fluoride. The aziridine was activated for nucleophilic attack by substitution of various groups on the aziridine nitrogen atom. Fluorine-18 radiolabelling was followed by ester hydrolysis and removal of the activation group. Totally regioselective ring opening and subsequent deprotection was achieved with tert-butyloxycarbonyl- and carboxybenzyl-activated aziridines to give α-[¹⁸F]fluoro-β-alanine in good radiochemical yield.     

Oxidation of heterocyclic nitrogen Ylids to nitro heterocycles. Comparison of a sulfilimine and a phosphine imine

Oxidation of 3-amino-4-(4-chlorophenyl)furazan ( 1 ) with peroxytrifluoroacetic acid (ptfa) gave azoxy(4-chlorophenylfurazan) ( 6 ) as the major product along with a small amount of 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-nitrofurazan ( 5 ). The dimethylsulfilimine 2 derived from 1 gave near quantitative yields of 5 when subjected to oxidation with either ptfa or m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (mcpba). In contrast, both the trioctylphosphine imine 3 and the triphenylphosphine imine 4 derived from 1 were oxidized by mcpba to give 6 as the exclusive product.     

Practical enantioselective synthesis of beta-substituted-beta-amino esters

[reaction: see text] A practical, large-scale synthesis of a beta-amino ester 1 was developed. A chiral imine derived from (S)-phenylglycinol and 3-trimethylsilylpropanal was coupled with the Reformatsky reagent 3 with high diastereoselectivity (de > 98%) to give (SS)-4a as the major isomer. The amino alcohol residue of the coupling product 4 was oxidatively cleaved with sodium periodate in the presence of methylamine. An unusual selective oxidative cleavage of the (SS)-isomer was observed and the imine 6 was obtained with ee > 99% while the (RS)-4b isomer was not cleaved. Reaction with p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate allowed for the hydrolysis of the imine and the isolation of the amine as its salt. The title compound 1 was then obtained by transesterification, desilylation, and hydrochloride salt formation in a one-pot process. The method was successfully applied toward the synthesis of a wide variety of beta-amino esters.     

Mass Spectral Fragmentation of (S,S)-N,N′-Bis [1-(hydroxymethyl)alkyl]anthracene/Naphthalene-1,8-dicarboxamides under Electron Impact Ionization Conditions

The mass spectrometric fragmentation of(S,S)-N,N′-bis[1-(hydroxymethyl)alkyl]anthracene/naphthalene-1,8-dicarboxamides was investigated with the aid of mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy spectrometry and the elemental compositions of important fragment ions were determined by accurate mass measurement under electron impact ionization conditions. All the compounds could eliminate formaldehyde. The [M-CH2O] ions could also eliminate imine, aziridine, aziridinone,2-amonoalkan-1-ol, water, and other fragments. Several cyclizations were observed under electron impact ionization.     

Some reactions of diazomethane with polyfluoroazaolefins

The reactons of some polyfluoroazaolefins with diazomethane are described. Thus 5-H-decafluoro-2-aza-hex-2-(Z)-ene yields 1-trifluoro-methyl-2-fluoro-2-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropyl)-aziridine as the sole isolable product. However, undecafluoro-2-azahex-2(Z)-ene yields not only the corresponding aziridine, 1-trifluoromethyl-2-fluoro-2-(heptafluoropropyl) aziridine, but also 1-trifluoromethyl-5-(heptafluoropropyl)-1,2,3-triazole, and 1-trifluoromethyl-2-fluoromethyl-2-(heptafluoropropyl) aziridine. 5-H-octafluoro-2-azahexa-2(Z)4(Z)-diene yielded the expected aziridine and 1-trifluoromethyl-2-fluoromethyl-2-(1,1,3,3,-tetra-fluoroprop-2-enyl)aziridine. No products were observed as a result of reactions at the C = C bond and no triazole was isolated in this case. Nonafluoroazacyclohex-1-ene gave the corresponding aziridine and a small amount of a compound believed to be 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoro-1,8,9-triazabicyclo [4,3,0] nonadiene i.e. the triazole product.     

Synthesis of 4-azido-4-deoxy-Neu5,7,8,9Ac42en1Me. A key intermediate for the synthesis of GG167 from D-glucono-delta-lactone

[reaction: see text] Stereoselective synthesis of 5-acetamido-7,8,9-tri-O-acetyl-2,6-anhydro-4-azido-3,4,5-trideoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-non-2-enonic acid methyl ester, an advanced key intermediate for the synthesis of neuraminidase inhibitor GG167 (Zanamivir, Relenza), was accomplished using D-glucono-delta-lactone as starting material. A highly diastereoselective allyllation of an imine intermediate, a regioselective azide-opening of an aziridine, and chemoselective oxidations of vicinal diols served successfully as key steps.     

Aziridine ring-opening reactions with chiral enolates. Stereocontrolled synthesis of 5-substituted-3-methyl-pyrrolidin-2-ones

A procedure for performing stereocontrolled aziridine ring-opening reactions with chiral enolates derived from (S,S)-(+)-pseudoephedrine amides has been developed leading to gamma-aminoamides in good yields. The diastereoselectivity of the reaction becomes controlled by the presence of the chiral auxiliary on the enolate, although the stereogenic center contained in the structure of the aziridine has a striking influence on the stereochemical course of the reaction which results in the presence of the corresponding matched and mismatched combinations. Besides, the sense of the asymmetric induction of the chiral auxiliary has resulted to be the opposite to the one found with other type of electrophiles, although it is in good agreement with the trend observed in the reaction of the same kind of enolates with epoxides. Finally, the obtained gamma-aminoamide adducts were converted into enantiopure gamma-amino acids, gamma-aminoesters, and pyrrolidin-2-ones using easy to perform and high yielding reactions.     

Total synthesis of actinomycin D(C1) via a ring-opening reaction of aziridine

Actinomycin D(C₁) has been synthesized by a route involving the ester formation between two peptide fragments, (2S,3S)-1-(2-nitro-3-benzyloxy-4-methylbenzoyl)-3-methyl-2-aziridine-carbonyl-D-valylproline t-butyl ester and N-benzyloxycarbonylsarcosyl-N-methylvaline, via a ring-opening reaction of aziridine. Cyclization, followed by reduction and oxidation, gave actinomycin D(C₁). The synthetic actinomycin D(C₁) was indistinguishable from natural substance with respect to physical properties and biological activity.     

Synthesis of orthogonally protected (R)- and (S)-2-methylcysteine via an enzymatic desymmeterization and Curtius rearrangement

A synthesis of differentially protected (R)- and (S)-2-methylcysteines is described. Monomethylation of dimethylmalonate followed by alkylation with tert-butylchloromethyl sulfide gave an achiral diester. Desymmeterization by selective hydrolysis of one ester with pig-liver esterase gave the acid in 97% chemical yield and 91% enantiomeric excess. Heating this acid with diphenylphosphoryl azide followed by 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol gave protected (R)-2-methylcysteine. Alternately, the acid and ester groups were interchanged and heated with diphenylphosphoryl azide followed by 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol, giving protected (S)-2-methylcysteine.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of Hydroxyethylene Dipeptide Isostere from Sugar

Regioselective opening of the aziridine ring in the carbohydrate-based precursor led to the stereoselective synthesis of N-Boc-O-benzyl-(4S,5S)-5-amino-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoic acid methyl ester, the hydroxyethylene dipeptide isostere moiety of potent HIV-1 protease inhibitor.     

Silica Supported Catalysis: A Practical use of an Iron Lewis Acid

The silica-supported iron Lewis acid [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂(THF)]⁺ [BF₄]⁺ (1), was found to catalyze the formation of an enol ester, cyclopropane, or aziridine from a diazo compound and an aldehyde, olefin, or imine, respectively. Unlike the non silica-supported iron Lewis acid, the catalyst is recoverable and reusable.     

Diastereoselective one-step synthesis of functionalized cis-aziridinyl alcohols from oxiranyl carbaldimines

[reaction: see text]. Upon treatment with lithiumorganic nucleophiles, trans-configured oxiranyl carbaldimines are transformed into anti-configured cis-aziridinyl alcohols with excellent diastereoselectivity. This conversion may be explained by a new type of the aza-Payne rearrangement, including first a nucleophilic attack on the imine carbon atom with diastereofacial differentiation followed by an intramolecular nucleophilic opening of the oxiranyl ring with simultaneous formation of the aziridine ring.     

Synthesis and resolution of diethyl (1S,2S)-1-amino-2-vinylcyclopropane-1-phosphonate for HCV NS3 protease inhibitors

We herein describe an efficient synthesis of optically active diethyl 1-amino-2-vinylcyclopropane-1-phosphonate (analogous to 1-amino-2-vinylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate). The racemic phosphonate diethyl ester was obtained from an imine derived from aminomethylphosphonate diester and trans-1,4-dibromo-2-butene. Crystallizations of the dibenzoyl-l-tartaric acid salt allowed for separation of enantiomers. The enantiomerically pure material was used to synthesize an extremely potent tripeptide phosphonate inhibitor of HCV NS3 protease. X-ray crystal structure of the inhibitor bound to the HCV NS3 protease confirmed the absolute stereochemistry of the title compound.