Operationally convenient asymmetric synthesis of (S)- and (R)-3-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid: Part II. Enantioselective biomimetic transamination of 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-oxo-N-[(R)-1-phenylethyl]butanamide

An asymmetric synthesis of (S)- and (R)-3-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid via DBU-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-proton shift transfer reaction of (Z)-3-[(R)-1-phenylethylamino]-4,4,4-trifluoro-N-[(R)-1-phenylethyl]but-2-enamide has been developed. The intermediate Schiff base (S,R′)-9 was found to be relatively configurationally stable under the highly basic reaction conditions allowing preparation of the target amino acid in high chemical yield and enantioselectivity. This method was demonstrated to be practical for large (>25 g) scale synthesis of the target β-amino acid.     

Synthesis and spectral analysis of (±)-cis-N-[1-(2-hydroxy-2-phenyl-ethyl)-3-methyl-4-piperidyl]-N-phenylpropanamide and (±)-cis-N-[1-(2-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl)-3-methyl-4-piperidyl]-N-phenylpropanamide

Treatment of (±)-cis-N-(3-methyl-4-piperidyl)-N-phenylpropanamide (2) with styrene oxide (1) yielded a mixture of (±)-cis-N-[1-(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)-3-methyl-4-piperidyl]-N-phenylpropanamide (3) and (±)-cis-N-[1-(2-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl)-3-methyl-4-piperidyl]-N-phenylpropanamide (4) . The structure of compound 3 was confirmed by an unambiguous synthesis via (±)-cis-N-[1-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)-3-methyl-4-piperidyl]-N-phenylpropanamide (6) . The proton and carbon-13 resonances of compounds 3 and 4 were assigned with the aid of two-dimensional heteronuclear correlation experiments.     

(R)- and (S)-N-(Benzyloxycarbonyl)-3,4-epoxybutylamine. New 4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl synthons for the synthesis of hypusine reagents and (R)-6- and (S)-7-hydroxyspermidine

The synthesis and application of the chiral reagents (R)- and (S)-N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-3,4-epoxybutylamine is described for the first time. These 4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl synthons are successfully employed in the assembly of two hydroxylated triamines, (R)-6- and (S)-7-hydroxyspermidine, and a previously described hypusine reagent, (2S,9R)-11-[(benzyloxycarbonyl)amino]-7-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-2-[(9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)amino]-9-(tetrahydropyran-2-yloxy)-7-azaundecanoic acid, useful for solution- and solid-phase peptide synthesis.     

Synthesis of four enantiomers of 2,3-di(N-Boc-amino)-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates

Enantiomerically pure diethyl (1S,2R)-, (1S,2S)-, (1R,2R)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-di(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates were synthesised from diethyl (1S,2R,1′S)-, (1S,2S,1′R)-, (1R,2R,1′S)- and (1R,2S,1′R)-[N-(1-phenylethyl)]-2,3-epimino-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates, respectively, via aziridine ring opening with neat TMSN₃ followed by hydrogenolysis in the presence of Boc₂O. A plausible mechanism for the aziridine ring opening in 2,3-epimino-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates involving the intermediate aziridinium ions was proposed. Significant differences in the rates of the aziridine ring opening between diastereoisomeric phosphonates (1S,2R,1′S) and (1S,2S,1′R) were rationalised taking into account different conformations of the 1-phenylethyl group in both diastereoisomers.     

Enzymatic resolution of (RS)-1-phenylalkyl β-d-glucosides to (R)-1-phenylalkyl β-primeverosides and (S)-1-phenylalkyl β-d-glucosides via plant xylosyltransferase

The stereoselective xylosylation of (RS)-1-phenylalkyl β-d-glucosides was investigated using plant xylosyltransferase isolated from cultured Catharanthus roseus cells. Enzymatic xylosylation of (RS)-1-phenylethyl β-d-glucoside afforded (R)-1-phenylethyl β-primeveroside and (S)-1-phenylethyl β-d-glucoside. The (R)-selective xylosylation of (RS)-1-phenylbutyl β-d-glucoside also occurred to give (R)-1-phenylbutyl β-primeveroside and recovered (S)-1-phenylbutyl β-d-glucoside.     

Synthesis of the four enantiomers of diethyl 1,2-di(N-Boc-amino)propylphosphonates

A simple and efficient synthetic strategy to all four enantiomerically pure diethyl 1,2-di(N-Boc-amino)propylphosphonates has been elaborated starting from the corresponding N-[(R)-(1-phenylethyl)]aziridine-(2S)- and N-[(S)-(1-phenylethyl)]aziridine-(2R)-carboxaldehydes, employing a one-pot three-components Kabachnik-Fields reaction followed by the hydrogenolytic removal of the chiral auxiliary and aziridine ring opening with simultaneous protection of the amino groups as the N-Boc derivatives.     

Enantioselective synthesis of phosphonate analogues of (R)- and (S)-homoserine

The enantioselective synthesis of (R)- and (S)-1-amino-3-hydroxypropylphosphonic acid, the phosphonate analogues of (S)- and (R)-homoserine, has been accomplished in four steps and good overall yield starting from diethyl (3R,5R)- or (3S,5S)-5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-[(S)-1-phenylethyl]isoxazolidinyl-3-phosphonate, respectively.     

First asymmetric synthesis of a C2-symmetric 2-endo,6-endo-disubstituted bispidine

The enantioselective synthesis of a C₂-symmetric 2-endo,6-endo-disubstituted bispidine (3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane) has been accomplished for the first time. The key step was a Michael addition of the protected β-amino ester methyl (R)-3-{N-benzyl-N-[(S)-1-phenylethyl]amino}-3-phenylpropionate to its α-methylene derivative delivering an anti,anti-configured α,α′-methylene-bridged bis(β-amino ester) as the major diastereomer. Deprotection, reduction and cyclisation furnished (1R,2R,5R,6R)-2,6-diphenyl-3,7-bis((S)-1-phenylethyl)-3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane in six steps and 15% overall yield.     

Asymmetric synthesis of spiro 2-pyrrolidin-5-ones, 2-piperidin-6-ones and 1-isoindolin-3-ones. Part 2: N-Acyliminium ion cyclisations with an internal alkene nucleophile

Chiral non-racemic bicyclic and tricyclic oxylactams obtained in two steps from N-(2-hydroxy-1(R)-phenylethyl)-succinimide and phthalimide are cyclised diastereoselectively in formic acid to give spiro[cyclohexane-1,2′-pyrrolidin]-5-ones and spiro[cyclohexane-1,1′-isoindolin]-3-ones, respectively.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to (R)-1-(1-phenylethyl)-3-[(E)-arylmethylidene]tetrahydro-4(1H)-pyridinones: synthesis of enantiomerically pure spiro heterocycles

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of (R)-1-(1-phenylethyl)-3-[(E)-arylmethylidene]tetrahydro-4(1H)-pyridinones to nitrile oxides proceeds chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectively affording moderate yields of enantiomerically pure spiro heterocycles comprising piperidine and isoxazoline/dioxazole rings.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to (R)-1-(1-phenylethyl)-3,5-bis[(E)-arylmethylidene]tetrahydro-4(1H)-pyridinones: synthesis and antimycobacterial evaluation of novel enantiomerically pure di- and trispiroheterocycles

Enantiomerically pure (R)-(1-phenylethyl)-3,5-bis[(E)-arylmethylidene]tetrahydro-4(1H)-pyridinones were synthesized for the first time, and their 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with nitrile oxides affording di- and trispiroheterocycles regio- and stereoselectively in moderate yields was investigated. These compounds were evaluated against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB) and multi-drug-resistant M. tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Among the compounds screened, the dispiroheterocycle, namely, (5R,6R,10S)-3,9-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-10-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-14-[(E)-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)methylidene]-12-[(R)-1-phenylethyl]-1,4,7-trioxa-2,8,12-tri-azadispiro[4.0.4.4]tetradeca-2,8-diene 5m was found to possess the maximum activity with MIC of 0.49 μM against MTB, being 9.6 and 15.6 times more potent than ciprofloxacin and ethambutol, respectively. Against MDR-TB, 5m displayed maximum activity with an MIC of 0.49 μM, with it thus being more active than rifampicin, isoniazid, ciprofloxacin and ethambutol by 7.8, 23, 77 and 124 times, respectively.     

Microbial deracemisation of N-(1-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl)benzamide

Microbial deracemisation of racemic N-(1-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl)benzamide to give the (R)-enantiomer is described using whole cells of Cunninghamella echinulata NRRL 1384. The deracemisation involves fast highly (S)-selective oxidation followed by slower partially (S)-selective reduction of the intermediate ketone. The yield and ee of (R)-N-(1-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl)benzamide were optimised (82%, 98% ee) by removal of a competing extracellular amidase/protease activity by using static cells at pH 5. Use of the protease inhibitor PMSF with growing cells leads to a slower deracemisation (82% ee) but a very high (98%) overall recovery of alcohol and ketone.     

Dithiophosphorylation of racemic and enantiomerically pure trimethyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)silanamine

Trimethylsilyl P-aryl-N-[(RS)-, (S)-(?)-, and (R)-(+)-(1-phenylethyl)]phosphonamidodithioates were synthesized by reactions of 2,4-diaryl-1,3,2λ⁵,4λ⁵-dithiadiphosphetane 2,4-disulfides with racemic and and enantiomerically pure trimethyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)silanamine.     

Synthesis of (S)-, (R)-, and (rac)-2-amino-3,3-bis(4-fluorophenyl)propanoic acids and an evaluation of the DPP IV inhibitory activity of Denagliptin diastereomers

The non-proteinogenic amino acid (2S)-2-amino-3,3-bis(4-fluorophenyl)propanoic acid [(S)-1] is a key intermediate required for the synthesis of Denagliptin (2a). Denagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) inhibitor that is being developed for the treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus. A diastereoselective, cost-efficient synthetic procedure for (S)-1 was developed by alkylating a Ni(II) glycine equivalent derived from (S)-2-[(N-benzylprolyl) amino] benzophenone [(S)-BPB]. The alkylated product was then decomposed to isolate the target amino acid (S)-1 (ee >99%) and ligand (S)-BPB, which can be reused in subsequent reactions. The enantiomer (R)-1 and racemate (rac)-1 were synthesized from their corresponding Ni(II) glycine equivalents. Denagliptin diastereomers (2), derived from the key intermediates (S)-1, (R)-1, and (rac)-1 were synthesized, and their dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory activities were investigated. These findings are important in the design and synthesis of DPP IV inhibitors.     

Synthesis of a conjugate of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-2,2-dichloro- <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(1-phenylethyl)acetamide with fullerene C<Subscript>60</Subscript>

The Bingel–Hirsch reaction of (R)-2,2-dichloro-N-(1-phenylethyl)acetamide with fullerene C₆₀ gave the corresponding methanofullerene, and its electrochemical and physical properties were studied. The electron-acceptor characteristics of the new compound were found to be similar to those of the known methanofullerene [60]PCBM.     

Synthesis of four stereoisomers of protected 1,2-epiimino-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates

Enantiomerically pure protected 1,2-epiimino-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates were synthesised from hydroxy-1-{[(R)- or (S)-1-phenylethyl]aziridin-2-yl}methylphosphonates via regioselective ring opening with acetic acid followed by a stereospecific intramolecular cyclisation of 3-acetoxy-1-mesyloxy-2-(1-phenylethyl)aminopropylphosphonates and hydrogenolytic removal of the 1-phenylethyl group in the presence of Boc₂O. The trans-isomers of 3-acetoxy-[N-(1-phenylethyl)-1,2-epiimino]propylphosphonates exist as a 2:1 mixture of invertomers, which were fully structurally characterised based on their ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic data. Large differences in the ¹J_C-P values in N-(1-phenylethyl)aziridine-2-phosphonates were noticed depending on the spatial arrangement of the nitrogen lone pair and the phosphorus atom (syn-periplanar—ca. 215 Hz; anti-periplanar—182 Hz).     

Stereoconvergent synthesis of N-Boc-(2R,3S)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylpiperidine

The stereoconvergent synthesis of N-Boc-(2R,3S)-3-hydroxy-2-phenylpiperidine from (R)-1-(2-((tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)-1-phenylethyl)piperidin-2-one is described. The key steps involved are α-hydroxylation of quiral lactam with O₂, stereoconvergent reduction of (R)- or (S)-3-(benzyloxy)-piperidin-2-one with Red-Al® which afforded in both cases the trans-bicyclic oxazolidine in high stereoselectivity after chromatographic purification and a stereospecific Grignard addition to chiral bicyclic oxazolidine.     

Multienzymatic preparation of 3-[(1R)-1-hydroxyethyl]benzoic acid and (2S)-hydroxy(phenyl)ethanoic acid

The use of two oxidoreductases (an aldoketo reductase from Escherichia coli JM109 and an alcohol dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus brevis) has demonstrated that it is possible to prepare enatiomerically pure diols in a one-pot operation. The reactions were applied to the synthesis of (1R)-1-[3-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]ethanol and (1S)-1-phenylethane-1,2-diol, using a two-step procedure. The yield is nearly quantitative and the enantiomeric purity is greater than 95%. A third step has been introduced by adding a cell biocatalyst showing dihydrodiol dehydrogenase activity from Pseudomonas fluorescens N3. This allows for the preparation of 3-[(1R)-1-hydroxyethyl]benzoic acid and (2S)-hydroxy(phenyl)ethanoic acid.     

Olefination of methyl (1S,2R,4R)-N-benzoyl-2-formyl-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-carboxylate,a synthetic approach to new conformationally constrained prolines

Wittig olefinations of methyl (1S,2R,4R)-N-benzoyl-2-formyl-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-carboxylate with several phosphoranes and the Horner–Wittig reaction, using methyl diethylphosphonoacetate, have been tested in order to evaluate their utility in the synthesis of β-substituted conformationally constrained prolines. Subsequent elaboration of the resulting alkenes has provided proline–amino acid chimeras [combinations of proline with other α-amino acids, such as l-norvaline, l-norleucine, l-α-(3-phenylpropyl)glycine or l-homoglutamic acid] with the 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane skeleton in an enantiomerically pure form.     

Epoxy derivatives of {(5-[(1-Phenylethyl)aminocarbonyl]-cyclopent-2-en-1-yl}methyl acetates

Diastereoisomeric [(1R,5S)-5-“[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]aminocarbonyl”cyclopent-2-en-1-yl]methyl acetate and [(1S,5R)-5-“[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]aminocarbonyl”cyclopent-2-en-1-yl]methyl acetate reacted with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid to give the corresponding stereoisomeric α- and β-epoxy derivatives, which were identified on the basis of their spectral parameters.