Synthesis of monoacyl A-ring precursors of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 through selective enzymatic hydrolysis

An efficient synthesis of monoacylated 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 A-ring precursors 15, 16, 18, and 19 has been described through an enzymatic hydrolysis process. Candida antarctica A lipase (CAL-A) hydrolyzes the C-5 acetate ester in trans stereoisomers 9 and 13, with complete and high selectivity, respectively. In the case of cis isomers 11 and 14, Chromobacterium viscosum lipase (CVL) is the enzyme of choice, exhibiting opposite selectivity for these two enantiomers. This lipase selectively catalyzes the hydrolysis at the C-3 acetate in diester 11 and at C-5 position in diester 14. It is noteworthy that through a hydrolysis reaction CAL-A and CVL allow the synthesis of the four A-ring monoacetylated precursors of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, precursors which are complementary to those obtained by the enzymatic acylation process. In addition, with excellent yield CVL selectively hydrolyzes the C-3 chloroacetate ester instead of the C-5 acetate in diester 22, a key intermediate in the synthesis of new A-ring modified 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 analogues.     

Thermolysin catalyses the synthesis of cyclodextrin esters in DMSO

Fatty acid esters of cyclodextrins (CDs) were synthesised in a one-step reaction with native CDs as acyl acceptors and vinyl-activated fatty acid esters as acyl donors. Immobilised preparations of thermolysin, subtilisin, the alkaline protease AL-89 and Candida antarctica lipase B were investigated for their catalytic properties regarding transesterification in solvents of increasing hydrophilicity. The synthesis of cyclodextrin fatty acid esters was proved to be catalysed enzymatically by thermolysin in DMSO. The obtained products were analysed by TLC and their structures characterised by NMR, MS and FTIR spectroscopy. With vinyl decanoate as acyl donor β-CD was esterified at all seven glucose C-2 positions resulting in heptakis(2-O-decanoyl)-β-cyclodextrin as the major product. With vinyl butyrate, substitution occurred at all the C-2 and partially at the C-3 or C-6 positions resulting in an average degree of substitution of nine. Between 20% and 25% (w/w) of the acyl donor was converted to esters in 20 h corresponding to an estimated total conversion of the acyl acceptor in the case of maltosyl-β-CD. In the subtilisin and AL-89 catalysed reactions, product formation was simultaneously catalysed non-enzymatically by inorganic buffer salts in aprotic, hydrophilic solvents and with the lipase no products were formed in any of the solvents investigated.     

(R)-(+)-N-methylbenzoguanidine ((R)-NMBG) catalyzed kinetic resolution of racemic secondary benzylic alcohols with free carboxylic acids by asymmetric esterification

(R)-(+)-N-Methylbenzoguanidine ((R)-NMBG) was found to function as an efficient acyl-transfer catalyst for the kinetic resolution of racemic secondary benzylic alcohols in the presence of achiral carboxylic acids and pivalic anhydride. The use of a tertiary amine in this reaction is not necessary to attain good chemical yields of the products. It was determined that diphenylacetic acid could be employed as the most suitable acyl donor for achieving a high enantioselectivity for the kinetic resolution of the racemic secondary benzylic alcohols having normal aliphatic alkyl chains at the C-1 positions. On the other hand, a less-hindered carboxylic acid, such as 3-phenylpropanoic acid, functioned as a better acyl donor for the kinetic resolution of racemic secondary benzylic alcohols having branched aliphatic alkyl chains at the C-1 positions.     

Influence of intramolecular hydrogen bonds in the enzyme-catalyzed regioselective acylation of quinic and shikimic acid derivatives

Selective mono-functionalization of 3-epi, 4-epi-, and 5-epi quinic and shikimic acid derivatives has been accomplished by enzymatic acylation with Candida antarctica lipase A (CAL-A). We propose that the selectivity of this lipase is related to both the inherent receptor selectivity and the degree of intramolecular hydrogen bonding in the ligand. Conformational analysis of the hydroxyl protons has been carried out by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. We have shown that exchange of the hydroxyl protons by acid catalysis provides a useful method for the detection of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The interpretation of exchange rates and coupling constants determines the direction of the H-bonds as conditioned by the relative acceptor and donor properties of the hydroxyl groups. The selectivity of the acylation agrees fully with the effectiveness of H-bonding networks in polyol compounds and with the higher reactivity of the equatorial hydroxyl groups.     

Promiscuity of carbonic anhydrase II. Unexpected ester hydrolysis of carbohydrate-based sulfamate inhibitors

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are enzymes whose endogenous reaction is the reversible hydration of CO(2) to give HCO(3)(-) and a proton. CA are also known to exhibit weak and promiscuous esterase activity toward activated esters. Here, we report a series of findings obtained with a set of CA inhibitors that showed quite unexpectedly that the compounds were both inhibitors of CO(2) hydration and substrates for the esterase activity of CA. The compounds comprised a monosaccharide core with the C-6 primary hydroxyl group derivatized as a sulfamate (for CA recognition). The remaining four sugar hydroxyl groups were acylated. Using protein X-ray crystallography, the crystal structures of human CA II in complex with four of the sulfamate inhibitors were obtained. As expected, the four structures displayed the canonical CA protein-sulfamate interactions. Unexpectedly, a free hydroxyl group was observed at the anomeric center (C-1) rather than the parent C-1 acyl group. In addition, this hydroxyl group is observed axial to the carbohydrate ring while in the parent structure it is equatorial. A mechanism is proposed that accounts for this inversion of stereochemistry. For three of the inhibitors, the acyl groups at C-2 or at C-2 and C-3 were also absent with hydroxyl groups observed in their place and retention of stereochemistry. With the use of electrospray ionization-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance-mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR-MS), we observed directly the sequential loss of all four acyl groups from one of the carbohydrate-based sulfamates. For this compound, the inhibitor and substrate binding mode were further analyzed using free energy calculations. These calculations suggested that the parent compound binds almost exclusively as a substrate. To conclude, we have demonstrated that acylated carbohydrate-based sulfamates are simultaneously inhibitor and substrate of human CA II. Our results suggest that, initially, the substrate binding mode dominates, but following hydrolysis, the ligand can also bind as a pure inhibitor thereby competing with the substrate binding mode.     

Synthesis of alpha-glucuronic acid and amide derivatives in the presence of a participating 2-acyl protecting group

[reaction: see text] Participating acyl groups located at C-2 in glucosyl and related donors generally promote formation of 1,2-trans-glycosides. Reactions of some glucuronic acid donors with TMSN(3)/SnCl(4) or ROH/SnCl(4) gave only the 1,2-cis-glycoside. The stereoselectivity is consistent with participation of the C-6 group. The methodology was used for the synthesis of a Kdn2en mimetic with the alpha-configuration.     

New chiral building blocks from acetovanillone using lipase A and B from Candida antarctica

Acetovanillone has been used as the starting material for the synthesis of a series of secondary alcohols, which were resolved by lipase catalyzed esterification. 1-(4-Benzyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethanol was efficiently resolved using immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica (Novozym 435, CAL-B), whereas immobilized lipase A from C. antarctica (Novozym 735, CAL-A) was the lipase of choice for the resolution of the corresponding 2-bromo- and 2-chloro-derivatives. The enantioenriched alcohols are new building blocks for potential use in the synthesis of bioactive compounds.     

Chemical modification of oleanene type triterpenes and their inhibitory activity against HIV-1 protease dimerization

Oleanolic acid derivatives with different lengths of 3-O-acidic acyl chains were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against HIV-1 protease. The lengths of the acidic chains were optimized to 6 and 8 carbons. Changing a 3-ester bond to an amide bond or dimerization of the triterpenes retained their inhibitory activity against HIV-1 protease. Introduction of an additional acidic chain to C-28 of oleanolic acid increased the inhibitory activity appreciably, though a derivative with only one acidic chain linked at C-28 also showed potent activity against HIV-1 protease. The inhibitory mechanism was proved directly by size exclusion chromatography to be inhibition of dimerization of the enzyme polypeptides. The ester bonds of the triterpene derivatives were found to be stable to lipase under mild alkaline conditions.     

Cal-B-catalyzed alkoxycarbonylation of a-ring stereoisomeric synthons of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-19-nor-previtamin D3: a comparative study. first regioselective chemoenzymatic synthesis of 19-nor-A-ring carbonates

A comparative study of alkoxycarbonylation processes of both 19-nor-A-ring and A-ring stereoisomers of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 analogues catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) has been described. The presence of the methyl group in the A-ring at C-2, as in 3-6, has a determining role in the regioselectivity of the biocatalysis, mainly allowing the hydroxyl group at C-5 position to react. For the 19-nor-A-ring stereoisomers 7-10, which lack the C-2 methyl group, the configurations at C-3 and C-5 have a high influence in the selectivity exhibited by CAL-B. Thus, each couple of enantiomers showed opposing regioselectivities depending on the C-3 configuration. When C-3 possesses an (S)-configuration, enzymatic alkoxycarbonylations took place at the C-5-(R) or C-5-(S) hydroxyl groups. However, if the chiral centers at C-3 are (R), CAL-B alkoxycarbonylated the C-3-(R) hydroxyl group independently of the configuration at C-5. The corresponding carbonates are useful A-ring precursors of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 analogues, selectively modified at the C-1 or C-3 positions. In addition, an improved synthesis of cis A-ring synthons 5 and 6 is described using a Mitsunobu methodology.     

Exploring Leishmania major inositol phosphorylceramide synthase (LmjIPCS): insights into the ceramide binding domain

The synthesis of set of ceramide analogues exploring hydrophobicity in the acyl chains and the degree and nature of hydroxylation is described. These have been assayed against the parasitic protozoan enzyme LmjIPCS. These studies showed that whilst the C-3 hydroxyl group was not essential for turnover it provided enhanced affinity. Reflecting the membrane bound nature of the enzyme a long (C(13)) hydrocarbon ceramide tail was necessary for both high affinity and turnover. Whilst the N-acyl chain also contributed to affinity, analogues lacking the amide linkage functioned as competitive inhibitors in both enzyme and cell-based assays. A model that accounts for this observation is proposed.     

Preparation of the enantiomers of 1-phenylethan-1,2-diol. Regio- and enantioselectivity of acylase I and Candida antarctica lipases A and B

Acylase I and Candida antarctica lipases A (CAL-A) and B (CAL-B) were evaluated for the preparation of the enantiomers of 1-phenylethan-1,2-diol. In the presence of CAL-B, the sequential one-pot methanolysis of the diacetate in acetonitrile allowed the preparation of (S)-diol (e.e. 97%) and (R)-1-acetoxy-1-phenylethanol (e.e. 94%). Base-catalyzed methanolysis of the monoacetate resulted in the corresponding (R)-diol. When one of the diol enantiomers was subjected to Mitsunobu esterification, inversion of configuration occurred, allowing transformation of the initially racemic mixture to one enantiomer. Acylase I-catalysis led to the chemo- and enantioselective formation of (S)-1-acetoxy-1-phenylethanol (e.e. 97%) in the presence of the primary hydroxyl function through acetylation of the secondary hydroxyl group. The low chemical yield (ca. 25%) was due to the moderate enzymatic regioselectivity. CAL-A behaved in a similar way to acylase I.     

An efficient method for the preparation of glycosides with a free C-2 hydroxyl group from thioglycosides

A new and efficient method to produce glycosides with a free C-2 hydroxyl group through 1,2-acyl group migration which occurs during the hydrolysis of 4,6-benzylidene protected thioglycosides has been developed. The acyl transfer products allow for further elaboration.     

Enzymatic acylation reactions on ω-hydroxycyanohydrins

The enzymatic acylation of certain ω-hydroxycyanohydrins protected at the primary alcohol has been studied. The best enantioselectivities are obtained with Pseudomonas cepacia lipase (PSL-C) and Candida antarctica lipase A (CAL-A), for the ω-O-tritylated cyanohydrins. The effect of the protecting group in the enzymatic reactions has been studied using molecular modeling.     

Relation of Certain Infrared Bands to Starch Crystallinity

Starch is a homoglycan composed of but a single type of sugar unit. Nature has chosen the starch granule as an almost universal from for packaging and sturing carbohydrate in green plants. In granule form, starch is quasi-crystalline, water-insoluble, and dense. In structure of amylose, a hydrogen bond exists between the hydroxyl group at C-2 of one α-D-glucopyranosyl unit and the C-3 hydroxyl group of the adjacent ct-D-glucopyranosyl unit with the C-3 hydroxyl group donating the hydrogen atom in the hydrogen bond. The starch chains within the amorphous region are presumable available for reaction. With extensive chemical derivatization of starch in which the granule crystal structure is maintained essentially inact.     

Regioselective acylation of nucleosides and their analogs catalyzed by Pseudomonas cepacia lipase: enzyme substrate recognition

The substrate recognition of Pseudomonas cepacia lipase in the acylation of nucleosides was investigated by means of rational substrate engineering for the first time. P. cepacia lipase displayed excellent 3′-regioselectivities (96 to >99%) in the lauroylation of 2′-deoxynucleosides 1a-1e, while low to good 3′-regioselectivities (59-89%) in the lauroylation of ribonucleosides 1f-1j. It might be due to the unfavorable hydrogen bond interaction between 2′-hydroxyl group of 1f-1j and phenolic hydroxyl group of tyrosine residue present in the alternate hydrophobic pocket of the enzyme, which stabilizes the conformation of 5′-acylation transition state and thus increases the amount of the minor regioisomer. In addition, various ester derivatives of floxuridine were synthesized successfully by the lipase with high conversions (99%) and good to excellent 3′-regioselectivities under mild conditions. The recognition of various acyl donors by the enzyme was examined. The enzymatic recognition of acyl groups was rationalized in terms of the structure of the active site of the lipase, especially the size, shape, and physicochemical properties.     

A new solution for an old problem: the regiochemical distribution of the acyl chains in galactolipids can be established by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization-quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-QITMS), either in positive- or in negative-ion mode, has been used to establish the chemical structures (chain length, degree of unsaturation, positional distribution) of the fatty acids attached to the primary (sn-1) and secondary (sn-2) hydroxyl groups of the glycerol moiety of natural monogalactosyl- (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglycerols (DGDG), isolated from the freshwater dinoflagellate Glenodinium sanguineum and from a marine diatom belonging to the genus Chaetoceros. Fragmentation by collision-induced dissociation of a single component in MGDG and DGDG mixtures, separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and detected on-line by tandem positive-ion ESI-MS, leads to a clear-cut determination of the positional distribution of the sn-glycerol-bound fatty acyl chains. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography allowed a partial resolution of the component mixture before ESI-MS/MS analysis. These results were validated by comparison with ESI-MS data obtained for the sn-2 lysoglyceroglycolipids synthesized via regiospecific enzymatic hydrolysis of the corresponding diacylglycerols by Rhizopus arrhizus lipase.     

分子量及酰基供体对酶促魔芋葡甘聚糖酰化反应的影响

研究了在有机介质叔丁醇中魔芋葡甘聚糖(KGM)的分子量及酰基供体对固定化脂肪酶Novozym 435催化KGM乙酰化反应的影响.KGM的分子量对酶促其酰化反应的活性及产物取代度有显著影响.随着KGM分子量的增大,酶催化反应的速率逐渐下降,产物的取代度逐渐减小.KGM分子量对该反应的影响与不同分子量KGM的溶解度、体系粘度、空间位阻及颗粒形态等因素有关.以不同链长的脂肪酸乙烯酯为酰基供体时,随着酰基供体中脂肪酸碳链的增长,酶促KGM酰化反应速率逐渐下降,产物的取代度逐渐减小,且该酰化反应具有高度的区域选择性,反应均发生在C6-OH上.     

Lipases in beta-dipeptide synthesis in organic solvents

A number of beta-dipeptides were prepared by two-step lipase-catalyzed reactions where N-acetylated beta-amino esters were first activated as 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl esters with Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B). The activated esters were then used to acylate beta-amino ester in the presence of Candida antarctica lipase A (CAL-A) in dry Et2O or i-Pr2O. [reaction: see text].     

Efficient Regioselective Synthesis of Mono-2-O-Sulfonyl-cyclodextrins by the Combination of Sulfonyl Imidazole and Molecular Sieves

Abstract

Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligosaccharides consisting of six or more α-1,4-linked D-glucopyranose units, which possess primary hydroxyl groups at the C-6 positions and secondary hydroxyl groups at the C-2 and C-3 positions. Because cyclodextrins have a hydrophobic and optically active interior, they have been utilized as transporters of hydrophobic molecules and small molecular mimics of enzymes. The chemical modification of cyclodextrins has been investigated in order to improve these characteristics. Sulfonations of the primary or secondary hydroxyl groups of cyclodextrin have been applied for further functionalization of cyclodextrin, and several methods for regioselective sulfonations have been developed. Among these strategies, selective monotosylation of the C-6 hydroxyl group is done relatively easily by reaction of α or β-cyclodextrin and p-toluenesulfonyl chloride in pyridine^1,2 or in alkaline aqueous solution.^3,4 However, sulfonation of the secondary hydroxyl groups is more difficult and new sulfonation methods must be developed to provide precursors for cyclodextrin analogues such as amino and sulfide analogues. Several strategies for the sulfonation of one C-2 hydroxyl group have been reported. However, because reaction conditions can require specific sulfonation reagent,⁵ alkaline condition,^3-7 strict anhydrous conditions,^8,9 or use of protected C-6 hydroxyl groups,^10,11 the methodology is not convenient to employ.     

Removal of the acyl donor residue allows the use of simple alkyl esters as acyl donors for the dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols

The dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols using a lipase and a ruthenium catalyst as developed by Bäckvall required some improvements to make it suitable for its use in an industrial process. The use of p-chlorophenyl acetate as acyl donor is not desirable in view of the toxicity of the side product. We herein report that simple alkyl esters can be used as acyl donors if the alcohol or ketone residue formed during the enzymatic acylation is continuously removed during the reaction. The addition of a ketone speeds up the racemisation process and allowed us to reduce the amounts of enzyme and ruthenium catalyst. The scope of this method was explored and a suitable range of acyl donors found. Various benzylic and aliphatic alcohols were reacted using isopropyl butyrate or methyl phenylacetate as acyl donor and in most cases the ester was isolated in >95% yield and 99% ee. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the alcohol by-products of the enzymatic resolution could be used as the hydrogen source in the asymmetric reductive transesterification of ketones.