N-methyl-N-nosyl-beta(3)-amino acids

N-Methyl-beta(3)-amino acids are important building blocks in the synthesis of biologically active molecules. A very simple and efficient approach to transform natural alpha-amino acids into their corresponding N-methyl-beta(3)-amino acids is here presented. In the method, the key intermediates N-methyl-N-nosyl-alpha-aminoacyldiazomethanes are prepared in only one step, by a simple treatment of the corresponding N-nosyl-alpha-aminoacyl chlorides with diazomethane. The synthetic route takes advantage from the use of the nosyl group. This N-masking moiety activates the NH function, and the N-methylation can directly occur during the acylation step of diazomethane, rendering useless a second step that instead is shown to be necessary in all the classical procedures already reported for the preparation of N-methyl-beta(3)-amino acids. The Wolff rearrangement of N-methyl-N-nosyl-alpha-aminoacyldiazomethanes provides the corresponding N-methyl-N-nosyl-beta(3)-amino acids with total retention of the chiral configuration of the starting alpha-amino acids. No epimerization of the chiral carbon atom is observed also when N-methyl-N-nosyl-beta(3)-amino acids are transformed into chlorides and coupled with alpha-amino acid methyl esters to achieve model scaffolds for biologically important modified peptides.     

Synthesis of partially modified retro and retroinverso psi[NHCH(CF(3))]-peptides

[reaction: see text] Asymmetric conjugate additions of chiral alpha-amino esters to chiral 4-CF(3) Michael-acceptors were exploited to prepare a small library of enantiomerically pure partially modified retropeptides having a psi[NHCH(CF(3))] unit as a possible mimic of the classical psi(NHCO) retropeptide unit. Yields were nearly quantitative, and the stereoselectivity, which is controlled mainly by the nitrogen nucleophile, was progressively higher with increasing the steric bulk of the alpha-amino ester side-chain R(1).     

Asymmetric synthesis of alpha-amino 1,3-dithioketals from sulfinimines (N-sulfinyl imines). Synthesis of (2S,3R)-(-)-3-hydroxy-3-methylproline

[reaction: see text] N-Sulfinyl alpha-amino 1,3-dithioketals are prepared in high de and good yield by treating sulfinimines with lithio-1,3-dithianes. Selective removal of the N-sulfinyl or the thioketal groups affords stable alpha-amino 1,3-dithioketals and N-sulfinyl alpha-amino ketones, respectively. This new sulfinimine-derived chiral building block is employed in the asymmetric synthesis of polyoxypeptin amino acid (2S,3R)-(-)-3-hydroxy-3-methylproline.     

Methyl 2-((succinimidooxy)carbonyl)benzoate (MSB): a new,efficient reagent for N-phthaloylation of amino acid and peptide derivatives

A new, efficient, and readily available reagent, methyl 2-((succinimidooxy)carbonyl)benzoate (MSB), for N-phthaloylation of amino acids and amino acid derivatives is described. The phthaloylation procedure is simple and racemization-free and gives excellent results with alpha-amino acids, alpha-amino alcohols, dipeptides, alpha-amino carboxamides, and alpha-amino esters.     

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of beta,gamma-alkynyl alpha-imino esters by a Brønsted acid

Asymmetric synthesis of trans-alkenyl alpha-amino esters was realized by chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of beta,gamma-alkynyl alpha-imino esters. Utilizing Hantzsch esters as the hydrogen donor, both the alkyne and imine moieties of beta,gamma-alkynyl alpha-imino esters were reduced to afford trans-alkenyl alpha-amino esters with up to 96% ee.     

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.     

(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.     

Direct catalytic asymmetric mannich reactions of malonates and beta-keto esters

The first catalytic asymmetric direct Mannich reaction of malonates and beta-keto esters has been developed. Malonates react with an activated N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester catalyzed by chiral tert-butyl-bisoxazoline/Cu(OTf)(2) to give the Mannich adducts in high yields and with up to 96% ee. These reactions create a chiral quaternary carbon center and it is demonstrated that this new direct Mannich reactions provides for example a new synthetic procedure for the formation of optically active beta-carboxylic ester alpha-amino acid derivatives. A series of different beta-keto esters with various ester substituents has been screened as substrates for the catalytic asymmetric direct Mannich reaction and it was found that the best results in terms of yield, diastereo- and enantioselectivity were obtained when tert-butyl esters of beta-keto esters were used as the substrate. The reaction of different beta-keto tert-butyl esters with the N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester gave the Mannich adducts in high yields, diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee) in the presence of chiral tert-butyl-bisoxazoline/Cu(OTf)(2) as the catalyst. To expand the synthetic utility of this direct Mannich reaction a diastereoselective decarboxylation reaction was developed for the Mannich adducts leading to a new synthetic approach to attractive optically active beta-keto alpha-amino acid derivatives. Based on the stereochemical outcome of the reactions, various approaches of the N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester to the chiral bisoxazoline/Cu(II)-substrate intermediate are discussed.     

Chiral tricyclic iminolactone derived from (1R)-(+)-camphor as a glycine equivalent for the asymmetric synthesis of alpha-amino acids

The development of a highly efficient and stereoselective methodology for the preparation of alpha-amino acids is described. The chiral template, tricyclic iminolactone 7, was synthesized from (1R)-(+)-camphor in five steps in 50% overall yield. Alkylation of iminolactone 7 afforded the alpha-monosubstituted products in good yields (74-96%) and excellent diastereoselectivities (>98%). Hydrolysis of the alkylated iminolactones furnished the desired alpha-amino acids in good yields and enantioselectivities with nearly quantitative recovery of the chiral auxiliary 4.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of psi[CH(CF3)NH]gly-peptides

[reaction: see text] A novel class of peptidomimetics having a stereogenic [CH(CF(3))NH] replacement for a [CONH] peptide bond has been synthesized. The new compounds have been obtained in a stereocontrolled fashion using a kinetically controlled aza-Michael addition of chiral alpha-amino acid esters to trans-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-nitropropene. The stereoselectivity is strongly influenced by the solvent, the base, its stoichiometry, and the R side-chain. Diastereomeric ratios higher than 11:1 were achieved using H-Val-OtBu.HCl in toluene with 1.1 equiv of DIPEA.     

Liquid chromatographic enantiomer resolution of N-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl alpha-amino acids and their ester derivatives on polysaccharide-derived chiral stationary phases

The liquid chromatographic enantiomer separation of N-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (FMOC) protected alpha-amino acids and their ethyl ester derivatives was performed on polysaccharide-derived chiral stationary phases, Chiralcel OD, Chiralpak AD, and Chiralpak AS. In general, Chiralcel OD and Chiralpak AD showed good performance for resolution of N-FMOC alpha-amino acids and their ethyl esters, respectively. All investigated N-FMOC alpha-amino acid enantiomers were baseline separated on Chiralcel OD or Chiralpak AD, whereas N-FMOC alpha-amino acid ethyl ester enantiomers were baseline resolved (alpha = 1.15-3.03) on Chiralpak AD, except for two analytes. The L-enantiomers of all examined FMOC alpha-amino acid ethyl ester derivatives are preferentially retained on Chiralpak AD, while the elution orders of the other enantiomer separations are not consistent.     

One-step synthesis of O-benzyl hydroxamates from unactivated aliphatic and aromatic esters

We have developed a simple and high yielding one-step method for the synthesis of hydroxamate derivatives directly from a broad range of unactivated esters and the anion of O-benzyl-hydroxylamine generated in situ. The reaction takes place in minutes at -78 degrees C. Very importantly, the method was successfully employed with enolizable esters, including chiral alpha-amino acid esters and peptides, with no trace of racemization/epimerization at the alpha carbon detected.     

Enantioselective hydrolysis of N-acylated alpha-amino esters at a biphasic interface: tandem reaction kinetic resolution using a chiral complexing agent

[reaction: see text] Highly enantioselective hydrolytic kinetic resolutions of esters derived from N-acylated alpha-amino acids proceed rapidly at hydrocarbon/water interfaces in the presence of a proline-derived chiral selector. When performed in tandem with an enantioselective biphasic esterification reaction, esters of 100% enantiomeric excess are obtained     

Application of (1S,2S)- and (1R,2R)-1,3-diacetoxy-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-propylisothiocyanate to the indirect enantioseparation of racemic proteinogenic amino acids

The application of (1S,2S)- or (1R,2R)-1,3-diacetoxy-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-propylisothiocyanate as a new chiral derivatizing agent for the resolution of compounds possessing an amino group is described. The reagent is easily accessible in both enantiomeric forms after a simple two-step synthesis. Its applicability was demonstrated on the example of the resolution of a series of alpha-amino acids. The diastereomeric thiourea derivatives produced were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The effects of pH, temperature and reagent excess on the derivatization kinetics were investigated, as were the effects of pH and organic modifier on the separation.     

Determination of the Absolute Configuration of Amines and alpha-Amino Acids by (1)H NMR of (R)-O-Aryllactic Acid Amides

(R)-O-Aryllactic acid (ROAL) amides derived from alpha-chiral primary amines and alpha-amino acid esters show different chemical shifts in (1)H NMR spectroscopy (300 MHz) depending on their configuration. Molecular mechanics, semiempirical calculations, and (1)H NMR studies suggest that, in solution, these amides prefer an ap-Z conformation with the C(alpha)OAr and C=O groups close to anti-periplanar as in the case of mandelic acid amides. The proposed conformational preference is different from that of the ROAL esters (C(alpha)H and C=O groups in a syn-periplanar conformation). The conformational model for ROAL amides allows the absolute configuration assignment of primary amines and alpha-amino acid esters according to the relative position of the aryl group and the substituents on the amine moiety, and also their enantiomeric composition.     

Effect of the residual silanol group protection on the liquid chromatographic resolution of racemic primary amino compounds on a chiral stationary phase based on optically active (3,3'-diphenyl-1,1'-binaphthyl)-20-crown-6

A liquid chromatographic chiral stationary phase (CSP) based on (3,3'-diphenyl-1,1'-binaphthyl)-20-crown-6, which has been utilized in the resolution of alpha-amino acids, amines and amino alcohols, was treated with excess of n-octyltriethoxysilane to prepare a new improved CSP. The residual silanol groups of the original CSP were protected by n-octyl groups in the new CSP. The chiral recognition ability of the new CSP was superior to that of the original CSP in the resolution of alpha-amino acids, amines and amino alcohols. Retention factors (k1) for the resolution of alpha-amino acids were lower on the new CSP than on the original CSP while those for the resolution of amines and amino alcohols were higher on the new CSP than on the original CSP. The improved chiral recognition ability of the new CSP and the retention behaviors of the two enantiomers on the new CSP have been rationalized to stem from the removal of the non-enantioselective interactions between the analytes and the residual silanol groups of the original CSP and the improved lipophilicity of the CSP.     

Optically active aromatic and heteroaromatic alpha-amino acids by a one-pot catalytic enantioselective addition of aromatic and heteroaromatic C-H bonds to alpha-imino esters

The development of a practical one-pot catalytic enantioselective procedure for the synthesis of non-natural aromatic and heteroaromatic alpha-amino acids is reported. Starting from readily available starting materials and application of a chiral BINAP-Cu(I) catalyst, the optically active products are formed with readily removable N-protecting groups. The scope of the reaction is demonstrated by the addition of substituted furans, thiophenes, pyrroles, and aromatic compounds to N-alkoxycarbonyl-alpha-imino esters in good yields and with enantioselectivities up to 96% ee for the furans, 93% ee for the thiophenes, and 98% for the aromatic compounds. The protecting groups are readily removed, and various transformations of the aromatic and heteroaromatic alpha-amino acids are demonstrated. The coordination of the N-alkoxycarbonyl alpha-imino ester to the chiral BINAP-Cu(I) complex and the enantioselectivity of the catalyst is discussed on the basis of the DFT calculations and X-ray crystallographic data.     

Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure 1-(R)- and 1-(S)-Hydroxymethyl-Dtpa Penta-t-Butyl Esters Via Chiral Aminoalcohols

A convenient synthesis of enantiomerically enriched 1-hydroxymethyl-DTPA (diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid) penta-t-butyl esters 3 has been achieved for the preparation of chiral synthones of new paramagnetic gadolinium complexes.     

Preparation of a new doubly tethered chiral stationary phase based on (+)-(18-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid and its application

A new doubly tethered chiral stationary phase (CSP) based on (+)-(18-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid was prepared by attaching the second tethering group to silica gel through a carbon atom of the first tethering group of the corresponding singly tethered CSP, which was previously developed in our laboratory. The new doubly tethered CSP was applied successfully to the resolution of various racemic alpha-amino acids, amines and amino alcohols containing a primary amino group. In most cases, the chiral recognition efficiency of the new doubly tethered CSP was superior to that of the corresponding singly tethered one in the resolution of alpha-amino acids, amines and amino alcohols. In the resolution of some racemic primary amino compounds, the new doubly tethered and the corresponding singly tethered CSPs were complementary with each other. The chiral resolution behaviors on the new doubly tethered CSP were examined with the variation of the type and content of organic and acidic modifiers in aqueous mobile phase and the column temperature. The chiral resolution behaviors on the new doubly tethered CSP were generally quite similar to those on the corresponding singly tethered CSP. The stability of the new doubly tethered CSP was greater than that of the corresponding singly tethered CSP.     

Practical synthesis of a key intermediate for lactacystin from (R)-4-hydroxymethyl-2-phenyl-4,5-dihydrooxazol-4-ylmethyl acetate

A practical synthesis of a key intermediate for the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin from (R)-4-hydroxymethyl-2-phenyl-4,5-dihydrooxazol-4-ylmethyl acetate was established. (R)-4-Hydroxymethyl-2-phenyl-4,5-dihydrooxazol-4-ylmethyl acetate is a useful chiral building block for the synthesis of biologically active compounds containing alpha-substituted alpha-amino acid moieties.