Stereocontrolled transformation of nitrohexofuranoses into cyclopentylamines via 2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes. IV: Synthesis of enantiopure methyl (1S,2R,3R,4R,5S)-5-benzyloxycarbonylamino-2,3-isopropylidenedioxy-4-methoxycyclopentanecarboxylate

The first total synthesis of a new enantiopure polyhydroxylated cyclopentyl β-amino acid [methyl (1S,2R,3S,4R,5S)-2-benzyloxy-5-benzyloxycarbonylamino-3-hydroxy-4-methoxycyclopentanecarboxylate] was achieved according to our recent novel strategy for the transformation of nitrohexofuranoses into cyclopentylamines. This approach is based on an intramolecular cyclization leading to 2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives. Epimerization of this amino acid derivative to methyl (1S,2R,3R,4R,5S)-2-benzyloxy-5-benzyloxycarbonylamino-3-hydroxy-4-methoxycyclopentanecarboxylate constitutes the first example of the preparation of one of the members of this family of amino acids with a stereochemistry that is not compatible with the above key cyclization step.     

Reduced collagen cross links: the first synthesis of all the possible (2S,2′S)-stereoisomers of 5-hydroxylysinonorleucine and of 5,5′-dihydroxylysinonorleucine in enantiomerically pure form

The paper reports the first enantioselective synthesis of all the possible collagen reduced cross links as described: (2S,2′S,5R)- and (2S,2′S,5S)-5-hydroxylysinonorleucine 3a and 3b, (2S,2′S,5R,5′R)-5,5′-dihydroxylysinonorleucine 4a, (2S,2′S,5R,5′S)-5,5′-dihydroxylysinonorleucine 4b and (2S,2′S,5S,5′S)-5,5′-dihydroxylysinonorleucine 4c. The Williams’ glycine template methodology was used both for the introduction of a stereogenic at the α-position and for an easy protection of the amino acidic functionalities during the synthesis of the dimeric amino acids.     

A concise synthesis of (2S,4R)- and (2S,4S)-4-methylglutamic acid

A concise, multi-gram scale method for producing the bioactive and enantiomerically pure epimers, (2S,4R)- and (2S,4S)-glutamic acids, in a single synthetic scheme is described.     

Two diasteoisomers of 5-hydroxy-6-methylpipecolic acid from seeds of Fagus silvatica L.

Two diastereoisomers of 5-hydroxy-6-methylpipecolic acid have been isolated from beechnuts. The configurations of the two amino acids have been assigned as (2S, 5S, 6S) (1) and (2S, 5R, 6S) (2). The determination of structure and configuration for the two new amino acids is mainly based on spectroscopic and rotatory evidence. The ¹³C-NMR and ¹H-NMR spectra of the three ionic forms of the two amino acids and of S-pipecolic acid and (2S, 5R)-5-hydroxypipecolic acid and the CD-curves of the cations and amfoions of 1, 2, and (2S, 5R)-5-hydroxypipecolic acid have been recorded.     

Oligomers of β-amino acid bearing non-planar amides form ordered structures

In this report, we explore the feasibility of using bicyclic chiral β-amino acids, (1R,2R,4S)- and (1S,2S,4R)-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid (R-Ah2c and S-Ah2c, respectively), to prepare novel peptides with unique properties. Facile cis-trans isomerization of the non-planar amide bonds of these β-amino acids should result in great flexibility of the backbone structure of β-peptides containing them. Indeed, oligomers of these amino acids showed thermostability and characteristic CD absorptions, which were not concentration-dependent, suggesting that the oligomers remained monomeric. The results indicated the formation of self-organized monomeric structures with chain-length-dependent stabilization. Energy calculations suggested that the peptides can take helical structures in which the energy barriers to cis-trans isomerization are greater for the central amide bonds than for the terminal amides.     

Efficient synthesis of 3,4- and 4,5-dihydroxy-2-amino-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid enantiomers

An efficient method for the synthesis of (1S,2R,4R,5S)- and (1R,2R,4R,5S)-2-amino-4,5-dihydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acids (?)-6 and (?)-9 and (1R,2R,3S,4R)- and (1S,2R,3S,4R)-2-amino-3,4-dihydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acids (?)-15 and (?)-18 was developed by using the OsO₄-catalyzed oxidation of Boc-protected (1S,2R)-2-aminocyclohex-4-enecarboxylic acid (+)-2 and (1R,2S)-2-aminocyclohex-3-enecarboxylic acid (+)-11. Good yields were obtained. The stereochemistry of the synthesized compounds was proven by NMR spectroscopy.     

2-Amino-4-bromobutanoic Acid

(2S)- and (2R)-2-Amino-4-bromobutanoic acid were prepared starting from N-Boc-glutamic acid α tert-butyl ester. The double tert-butyl protection was necessary to prevent a partial racemisation during Barton’s radical decarboxylation used to transform the γ-carboxylic group into a bromide. This bromide reacted with different nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur nucleophiles to give nonnatural amino acids characterised by basic or heterocyclic side chains. The title compound was also used to prepare a conformationally constrained peptidomimetic.     

(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.     

An efficient and stereodivergent synthesis of threo- and erythro-β-methylphenylalanine. Resolution of each racemic pair by semipreparative HPLC

threo and erythro diastereoisomers of the constrained amino acid (βMe)Phe can be obtained separately on a multigram scale through a three-step synthesis from the corresponding Z and E isomers of 2-phenyl-4(α-phenylethylidene)-5(4H)-oxazolone. The 5(4H)-oxazolones are readily available from acetophenone and hippuric acid. The four enantiomerically pure isomers of β-methylphenylalanine, (2R,3R)-(βMe)Phe, (2S,3S)-(βMe)Phe, (2R,3S)-(βMe)Phe and (2S,3R)-(βMe)Phe, have been prepared by HPLC resolution of the racemic precursors methyl threo (or erythro)-2-benzamide-3-phenylbutanoates.     

Synthesis of thienamycin-like 2-iso-oxacephems with optional stereochemistry

All four trans-stereoisomers of 7-(1-hydroxyethyl)-2-iso-oxacephem-4-carboxylic acids, which are the 2-iso-oxacephem analogues of Thienamycin, have been synthesized. (αR,6R,7R)- and (αS,6S,7S)-7-(1-hydroxyethyl)-3-methyl-2-iso-oxacephem-4-carboxylic acids have been prepared starting from l- and d-threonine, the configuration at the α-position was inverted by using Mitsunobu reactions providing the (αS,6R,7R)- and (αR,6S,7S)-diastereomers of the compounds above. A synthetic route to the cis-annelated analogues was also worked out.     

Synthesis and epimerization of phenylalanyl 4-aminocyclophosphamides

Peptide and amino acid conjugates of (4R)- and (4S)-4-aminocyclophosphamides (4-NH₂-CPA, 3) were designed as prodrug forms of phosphoramide mustard. Four diastereomers of Boc-Phe-4-NH-CPA (6) were synthesized stereospecifically from homoserine (R or S) and the protection strategy was optimized for the homoserine hydroxyl group during the construction of the 1,3,2-oxazaphosphorinane ring. The Phe-4-NH-CPA isomers of the trans-configuration ((2S,4R)- and (2R,4S)-) were found to be less stable than the corresponding isomers of the cis-configuration ((2R,4R)- and (2S,4S)-) and to undergo epimerization of the C-4 chiral center in the presence of 25% TFA used during Boc deprotection. The synthetic route developed should be applicable to the synthesis of a variety of peptide and amino acid conjugates of 4-aminocyclophosphamide.     

Asymmetric synthesis of conformationally constrained 4-hydroxyprolines and their applications to the formal synthesis of (+)-epibatidine

This report describes the synthesis of enantiomerically pure (1S,3S,4R)- and (1S,3R,4R)-3-hydroxy-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-carboxylic acids, two new conformationally constrained 4-hydroxyprolines, using a straightforward synthetic route and starting from (−)-8-phenylmenthyl 2-acetamidoacrylate. The easy transformation of the pure (1S,3S,4R)-3-hydroxy-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-carboxylic acid into (1R,4S)-N-Boc-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one constitutes a new formal synthesis of (+)-epibatidine.     

Synthesis of β-phenyl-δ,ε-unsaturated amino acids and stereoselective introduction of side chain groups into [4,3,0]-bicyclic β-turn dipeptides

(2S,3S)- and (2R,3R)-2-amino-3-phenyl-5-hexenoic acids have been synthesized in large scale by using Ni(II)-complexes as a template. The amino acids were used in the synthesis of [4,3,0]-bicyclic β-turn mimetics by a convergent methodology. The unique advantage of this strategy is the convenience of introducing side chain groups with predetermined chiralities on both the five- and six-membered heterocyclic rings.     

Aza variant of intramolecular nucleophile-catalyzed aldol lactonization (NCAL): formal synthesis of (3S,4R) and (3R,4S) 4-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidin-3-ol

Aza variant of intramolecular catalytic, asymmetric nucleophile-catalyzed, aldol lactonization (NCAL) reaction has been explored to synthesize β-lactone fused nitrogen heterocycles as aza sugars’ precursors by employing achiral amino acids. The utility of these bicyclic β-lactones is presented by the formal synthesis of aza sugars, (3S,4R) and (3R,4S) 4-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidin-3-ol.     

Synthesis of novel cyano-cyclitols and their stereoselective biotransformation catalyzed by Rhodococcus erythropolis A4

A variety of novel cyano-cyclitols possessing complex stereochemistry have been synthesized. These compounds were subjected to the biocatalyzed hydrolysis of their nitrile groups. The bacterial strain Rhodococcus erythropolis A4, expressing a nitrile hydratase/amidase bienzymatic system, was able to recognize (1R,2S,3S,4R)/(1S,2R,3R,4S)-1-cyano-2,3,4-trihydroxy-cyclohex-5-ene and trans-3-cyanocyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,2-diol, and catalyze their transformations into the corresponding amides and acids. The kinetic and stereochemical trends of these biotransformations, a rare example of the enantiorecognition of a rigid bulky aliphatic substrate, are discussed.     

Chiral differentiation of some cyclic β‐amino acids by kinetic and fixed ligand methods

Differentiation of β ‐amino acid enantiomers with two chiral centres was investigated by kinetic method with trimeric metal‐bound complexes. Four enantiomeric pairs of β ‐amino acids were studied: cis‐(1R,2S)‐, cis‐(1S,2R)‐, trans‐(1R,2R)‐ and trans‐(1S,2S)‐2‐aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acids (cyclopentane β ‐amino acids), and cis‐(1R,2S)‐, cis‐(1S,2R)‐, trans‐(1R,2R)‐, and trans‐(1S,2S)‐2‐aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acids (cyclohexane β ‐amino acids). The results showed that the choice of metal ion (Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺) and chiral reference compound (α‐ and β ‐amino acids) had an effect on the enantioselectivity. Especially, aromaticity of the reference compound was noted to enhance the enantioselectivity. The fixed‐ligand kinetic method, a modification of the kinetic method, was then applied to the same β ‐amino acids, with dipeptides used as fixed ligands. With this method, dipeptide containing an aromatic side chain enhanced the enantioselectivity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of (3S,3S′,4S,4S′)-1,1′-ethylenedipyrrolidine-3,3′,4,4′-tetraol and related diamino diols: donor–acceptor hydrogen-bonding motifs of the C2 symmetric 3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine unit

Enantiopure 1,1′-ethylenedipyrrolidines possessing 3,4-disubstitution have been prepared from esters of l-(+)-tartaric acid. Although diacylation routes via the diacetoxypyrrolidin-2,5-diones were problematic, N,N-dialkylation protocols proved to be reliable and led to the synthesis of (3S,3S′,4S,4S′)-1,1′-ethylenedipyrrolidine-3,3′,4,4′-tetraol, (3R,3′S,4R,4′S)-3,4-diamino-1,1′-ethylenedipyrrolidine-3′,4′-diol and (3R,3′R,4S,4′S)-3,3′-diamino-1,1′-ethylenedipyrrolidine-4,4′-diol. The tetraol possesses a crystal structure that exhibits an unusual zig-zag intermolecular pattern comprising a network of hydrogen bonds involving the terminal hydroxyl groups and a nitrogen atom of one of the pyrrolidine rings.     

A convenient synthesis of new diamine,amino alcohol and aminophosphines chiral auxiliaries based on limonene oxide

A strategy for the synthesis of new chiral auxiliaries based upon vicinal diamines, amino alcohols and aminophosphines, obtained from limonene oxide, has been developed. The methodology allows the preparation of (1R,2R,4S)-1-methyl-4-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine starting from a commercially available mixture of cis/trans (4S)-(?)-limonene oxides, through a stereoconvergent synthetic sequence. The process starts from an inexpensive naturally occurring material, is amenable to scale-up and allows easy access to highly useful enantiopure building blocks and ligands, employed in asymmetric catalysis.     

Asymmetric synthesis of all isomers of α-methyl-β-phenylserine

This report describes the synthesis of enantiomerically pure (2R,3R)-, (2R,3S)-, (2S,3S)- and (2S,3R)-2-amino-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-phenylpropanoic acids, four quaternary α-amino acids, using a stereodivergent synthetic route and starting from (S)- and (R)-N-Boc-N,O-isopropylidene-α-methylserinals. The key step involves the asymmetric Grignard additions to the above chiral aldehydes, in which high levels of asymmetric induction are observed.     

An efficient and general enantioselective synthesis of some isoxazole-containing analogues of the neuroexcitant glutamic acid

Isoxazole amino acids are an important class of neuroexcitant which are difficult to prepare in enantiopure form. Diastereoselective alkylation of the enantiomerically pure glycine derivative, tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(tert-butyl)-3-methyl-4-oxo-1-imidazolidinecarboxylate (Boc-BMI) with 4-bromomethyl-2-methoxymethyl-5-methylisoxazolin-5-one 5 or 5-bromomethyl-4-bromo-3-methoxyisoxazole, gives intermediates which under mild hydrolysis conditions produce the amino acids (S)- and (R)-bromohomoibotenic acid and (S)- and (R)-2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl) propionic acid with e.e. >99%.