Chirale Synthesebausteine durch Kolbe-Elektrolyse enantiomerenreiner β-Hydroxy-carbonsäurederivate. (R)- und (S)-Methyl-sowie (R)-Trifluormethyl-γ-butyrolactone und -δ-valerolactone

Chiral Building Blocks for Syntheses by Kolbe Electrolysis of Enantiomerically Pure β-Hydroxybutyric-Acid Derivatives. (R)- and (S)-Methyl-, and (R)-Trifluoromethyl-γ-butyrolactones, and -δ-valerolactones The coupling of chiral, non-racemic R* groups by Kolbe electrolysis of carboxylic acids R*COOH is used to prepare compounds with a 1.4- and 1.5-distance of the functional groups. The suitably protected β-hydroxycarboxylic acids (R)- or (S)-3-hydroxybutyric acid, (R)-4,4,4-trifluoro-3-hydroxybutyric acid (as acetates; see 1 – 6 ), and (S)-malic acid (as (2S,5S)-2-(tert-butyl)-5-oxo-1,3-dioxolan-4-acetic acid; see 7 ) are decarboxylatively dimerized or ‘codimerized’ with 2-methylpropanoic acid, with 4-(formylamino)butyric acid, and with monomethyl malonate and succinate. The products formed are derivatives of (R,R)-1,1,1,6,6,6-hexafluoro-2,5-hexanediol (see 8 ), of (R)-5,5,5-trifluoro-4-hydroxypentanoic acid (see 9,10 ), of (R)- and (S)-5-hydroxyhexanoic acid (see 11 ) and its trifluoro analogue (see 12, 13 ), of (S)-2-hydroxy- and (S,S)-2,5-dihydroxyadipic acid (see 23, 20 ), of (S)-2-hydroxy-4-methylpentanoic acid (‘OH-leucine’, see 21 ), and of (S)-2-hydroxy-6-aminohexanoic acid (‘OH-lysine’, see 22 ). Some of these products are further converted to CH₃- or CF₃-substituted γ- and δ-lactones of (R)- or (S)-configuration ( 14 , 16 – 19 ), or to an enantiomerically pure derivative of (R)-1-hydroxy-2-oxocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid (see 24 ). Possible uses of these new chiral building blocks for the synthesis of natural products and their CF₃ analogues (brefeldin, sulcatol, zearalenone) are discussed. The olfactory properties of (R)- and (S)-δ-caprolactone ( 18 ) are compared with those of (R)-6,6,6-trifluoro-δ-caprolactone ( 19 ).     

α-Alkylation of Amino Acids without Racemization. Preparation of Either (S)- or (R)-α-Methyldopa from (S)-Alanine

Enantiomerically pure cis- and trans-5-alkyl-1-benzoyl-2-(tert-butyl)-3-methylimidazolidin-4-ones ( 1, 2, 11, 15, 16 ) and trans-2-(tert-butyl)-3-methyl-5-phenylimidazolidin-4-one ( 20 ), readily available from (S)-alanine, (S)-valine, (S)-methionine, and (R)-phenylglycine are deprotonated to chiral enolates (cf. 3, 4, 12, 21 ). Diastereoselective alkylation of these enolates to 5,5-dialkyl- or 5-alkyl-5-arylimidazolidinones ( 5, 6, 9, 10, 13a-d, 17, 18, 22 ) and hydrolysis give α-alkyl-α-amino acids such as (R)- and (S)-α-methyldopa ( 7 and 8a , resp.), (S)-α-methylvaline ( 14 ), and (R)-α-methyl-methionine ( 19 ). The configuration of the products is proved by chemical correlation and by NOE ¹H-NMR measurements (see 23, 24 ). In the overall process, a simple, enantiomerically pure α-amino acid can be α-alkylated with retention or with inversion of configuration through pivaladehyde acetal derivatives. Since no chiral auxiliary is required, the process is coined ‘self-reproduction of a center of chirality’. The method is compared with other α-alkylations of amino acids occurring without racemization. The importance of enantiomerically pure, α-branched α-amino acids as synthetic intermediates and for the preparation of biologically active compounds is discussed.     

A Reinvestigation of the α-Alkylation of 4-Monosubstituted 2-phenyloxazol-5(4H)-ones (‘azlactones’): A general entry into highly functionalized α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids

Novel, more reliable and general reaction conditions for the α-alkylation of 4-monosubstituted 2-phenyloxazol-5(4H)-ones ( = 4-monosubstituted 2-phenyl-azlactones) rac- 2 to 4,4-disubstituted 2-phenyloxazol-5(4H)-ones rac- 1 were found (Scheme 2). Thus, a whole range of highly functionalized rac- 1 were prepared in medium-to-good overall yields (40-90%, see Table). Azlactones rac- 1 are ideal precursors for the synthesis of optically pure α,α -disubstituted (R)- and (S)-α-amino acids.     

Über die Stereoselektivität der α-Alkylierung von (1R, 2S) (+)-cis-2-hydroxy-cyclohexancarbonsäureäthylester

The Stereoselectivity of the α-Alkylation of (+)-(1R, 2S)-cis-Ethyl-2-hydroxy-cyclohexanecarboxylate In continuation of our work on the stereoselectivity of the α-alkylation of β-hydroxyesters [1] [2], we studied this reaction with the title compound (+)- 2 . The latter was prepared through reduction of 1 with baker's yeast. Alkylation of the dianion of (+)- 2 furnished (?)- 4 in 72% chemical yield (Scheme 1) and with a stereoselectivity of 95%. Analogously, (?)- 7 was prepared with similar yields. Oxidation of (?)- 4 and (?)- 7 respectively furnished the ketones (?)- 6 (Scheme 3) and (?)- 8 (Scheme 4) respectively, each with about 76% enantiomeric excess (NMR.). It is noteworthy that yeast reduction of rac- 6 (Scheme 3) is completely enantioselective with respect to substrate and product and gives optically pure (?)- 4 in 10% yield, which was converted into optically pure (?)- 6 (Scheme 3). The alkylation of the dianionic intermediate shows a higher stereoselectivity (95%) from the pseudoequatorial side than that of 1-acetyl- or 1-cyano-4-t-butyl-cyclohexane (71% and 85%) [9] or that of ethyl 2-methyl-cyclohexanecarboxylate (82%). The stereochemical outcome of the above alkylation is comparable with that found in open chain examples [1] [2]. Finally (+)-(1R, 2S)- 2 was also alkylated with Wichterle's reagent to give (?)-(1S, 2S)- 9 in 64% yield. The latter was transformed into (?)-(S)- 10 and further into (?)-(S)- 11 (Scheme 5). (?)-(S)- 10 and (?)-(S)- 11 showed an e.e. of 76–78% (see also [11]). Comparison of these results with those in [11] confirmed our former stereochemical assignment concerning the alkylation step.     

Über die Stereospezifität der α-Alkylierung von β-Hydroxycarbonsäureestern. Vorläufige Mitteilung

About the Stereospecific α-Alkylation of β-Hydroxyesters It was found, that dianions derived from β-hydroxyesters with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) at ?50 to ?20° were alkylated stereospecifically (Scheme 1). The stereospecificity was 95–98%, the threo-compound (threo -2, -3 and -4) being the main product. This was proved for threo -2 and -3 by preparing the β-lactones 7 and 8 , respectively, which were pyrolyzed to trans-1, 4-hexadiene (9) and trans-1-phenyl-2-butene (10) , respectively (Scheme 2). Moreover, the acid threo -6 from threo -3 was converted by dimethylformamide-dimethylacetal to cis-1-phenyl-2-butene (11) (s. footnote 6). The alkylation of α-monosubstituted β-hydroxyesters also turned out to be stereospecific. Reduction of 16 and 18 with actively fermenting yeast furnished (+) -17 and (+) -2. respectively (Scheme 4), which were each mixtures of the (2R, 3S)- and the (2S, 3S)-isomers. Alkylation of (+) -17 with allyl bromide yielded after chromatography (2S, 3S) -19 and of (+) -2 with methyl iodide (2R, 3S) -19 , the oxidation of which finally gave (S)-(?) -20 and (R)-(+) -20 , respectively.     

Asymmetrische Micheal-Additionen. Praktisch vollständigdiastereo- und enantioselektive Alkylierungen des Enamins aus Cyclohexanon und Prolinylmethyläther.durch ω-Nitrostyrole zu u-2-(l′-Aryl-2′-nitroäthyl)cyclohexanonen

Asymmetric Michael-Additions Practically Completely Diastereo- and Enantloselective Alkylations of the Enamine from Cyclohexanone and Prolinyl Methyl Ether by ω-Nitrostyrenes to Give u2-(1′-Aryl-2′-nitroethyl)cyclohexanones When the enamine (S)-N-(1′cyclohexenyl)-2-methoxymethyl-pyrrolidine is added to 2-aryl-l-nitroethylenes, only one of the four possible enantiomerically pure diastereomers is formed. Hydrolysis of the crude primary products furnishes α-alkylated cyclohexanones of > 90% e. e. ( 3 , Scheme 3). Their (2S,1′R)-configuration was deduced by chemical correlation with l-cyclohexyl-l-phenyl-ethane and from an X-ray crystal structure analysis of (?)-(2R,3S,6′R1,l″S′)-3-methyl-N-[6′-(2″-nitro-l″-phenylethyl)-l′-cyclohexenyl]-2-phenylmorpholine ( lla , Scheme 5 and Fig. 2). - The relative topicity of reactant approach with the prolinol derivative (see II ) is specified as lkul-l,4. The steric course and the mechanism of the reaction are discussed.     

Diastereoselektive Alkylierung von 3-Aminobutansäure in der 2-Stellung

Diastereoselective Alkylation 3-Aminobutanoic Acid in the 2-Position The enantiomerically pure 3-aminobutanoic acids (R)- and (S)- 6 are readily available by preparative HPLC separation of the two diastereoisomers 5 obtained from addition of (S)-phenethylamine to methyl crotonate and subsequent hydrogenolysis (Scheme 2). (S)-Methyl 3-(benzoylamino) butanoate ((S)- 3 ) is also available by enzymatic kinetic resolution with pig-liver esterase. The N-benzyl- and N- benzyloxycarbonyl derivatives rac 3 , 8 , and 9 of 3-aminobutanoates are doubly deprotonated with LDA and alkylated or aminated in high selectivity (17 examples, relative topicity like; see Tables 1 and 2). The configuration of three of the products is assigned (Schemes 4–6), and in four cases, the free α-substituted β-amino acid is prepared by acidic hydrolysis (see Table 3). It is shown that the doubly lithiated β-amino-acid derivative is solubilized, and its reactivity may be strongly influenced by the presence of 3 equiv. of LiCl.     

Stereoselektive reduktive Dimerisierung von α-Cyan-β-(4-pyridyl)acrylsäurederivaten

Stereoselective Reductive Dimerisation of α-Cyano-β-(4-pyridyl)acrylic Acid Derivatives Catalytic hydrogenation of the α-substituted β-(4-pyridyl)acrylonitriles 3 and 4 (see Scheme 3) yields via stereoselective reductive dimerization the substituted cyclo-pentene derivatives 7 and 8 (see Scheme 4 and 5) instead of the expected dihydro-products 5 and 6 . The mechanism of this reaction is discussed. The structure and relative configuration of 10 have been established by X-ray single crystal analysis.     

Synthese von optisch aktiven,natürlichen Carotinoiden und strukturell verwandten Naturprodukten. V. Synthese von (3R, 3′R)-, (3S, 3′S)- und (3R,3′S; meso)-Zeaxanthin durch asymmetrische Hydroborierung. Ein neuer Zugang zu Optisch aktiven Carotinoidbausteinen. Vorläufige Mitteilung

Synthesis of Optically Active Natural Carotenoids and Structurally Related Compounds. V. Synthesis of (3R, 3′R)-, (3S, 3′S)- and (3R,3′S; meso)-zeaxanthin by Asymmetric Hydroboration. A New Approach to Optically Active Carotenoid Building Units The synthesis of (3R, 3′R)-, (3S, 3′S)- and (3R,3′S; meso)-zeaxanthin ( 1 ), ( 19 ) and ( 21 ) is reported utilizing asymmetric hydroboration as the key reaction. Thus, safranol isopropenylmethylether ( 4 ) is hydroborated with (+)- and (?)-(IPC)₂BH to give the optically pure key intermediates 5 and 7 resp., which are transformed into the above-mentioned C₄₀-compounds.     

Stereoselektive Totalsynthese von natürlichem Phytol und Phytolderivaten und deren Verwendung zur Herstellung von natürlichem Vitamin K1

Steroselective Total Synthesis of Natural Phytol and Derivatives thereof; Use of these Compounds in the Synthesis of Natural Vitamin K₁ The Li₂CuCl₄-catalyzed couplings of the easily accessible bifunctional C₅ allylic acetates (E)- 18a and (E)- 18b with racemic hexahydrofarnesylmagnesium bromide ((3 RS/RS, 7 RS/SR)- 19a ) proceed with high chemo- and stereoselectivity (≥98% (E)-retention) to give the (2E, 7 RS/RS, 11 RS/SR)-phytol derivatives 1a and 1b , respectively, in yields of 72–80% (Scheme 5). The same couplings performed with optically active hexahydrofarnesylmagnesium bromide (3 R, 7 R)- 19a yielded the (E)-phytol derivatives of the natural series (7 R, 11R)- 1a and (7 R, 11 R)- 1b. Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of(2 E, 7 R, 11 R)- 1b gave natural phytol((2 E, 7 R, 11 R)- 1c ) Friedel-Crafts alkylation of ‘menadiol monobenzoate’ 11b with (2 E, 7 R, 11 R)- 1a or (2 E, 7 R, 11 R)- 1b gave the dihydrovitamine K₁ derivative (2 E/Z, 7′ R, 11′R)- 12b ((E/Z)≈? 9:l). Conversion of configurationally pure (2 E, 7′ R, 11′ R)- 12b (yield 73%; obtained after chromatographic removal of the (Z)-isomer) into natural vitamine K₁ ((2 E,7′ R, 11′ R)- 2 ) was achieved in the usual way by saponification and oxidation with air. Some further investigations of the coupling reactions of bifunctional C₅ allylic synthons with hexahydrofarnesylmagnesium bromide (3 RS/RS, 7 RS/SR)- 19a showed the outcome of these reactions to be critically dependent on the nature of the leaving group, the double-bond geometry and the nature and concentration of the catalyst. Thus, the Li₂CuCl₄-catalyzed couplings of (3 RS/RS,7 RS/SR)- 19a with the allylic halides 29a and 29c as well as with p-toluenesulfonate 29b yielded besides the phytol derivatives 1a and 1b - also the S_N2′-type products 30a and 30b (Scheme 8, Table 2); the same result was found for the coupling with the cis-configurated allylic acetates (Z)- 18a and (Z)- 18b (Table 3). A similar loss of chemo selectivity as well as the loss of stereoselectivity in the coupling reactions of 19 with the bifunctional (E)-olefins of type 18 was observed when the Li₂CuCl₄-catalyst concentration was increased from 0.2 to 25 mol-% or upon substitution of Li₂CuCl₄ by copper (I) chloride or iodide (Table 4).     

Stereospezifische Synthese von (+)-(3R, 4R)-4-Methyl-3-heptanol,das Enantiomere eines Pheromons des kleinen Ulmensplintkäfers (Scolytus multistriatus)

Stereospecific Synthesis of (+)-(3R, 4R)-4-Methyl-3-heptanol, the Enantiomer of a Pheromone of the Smaller European Elm Bark Beetle (Scolytus multistriatus) Reduction of 2 with actively fermenting baker's yeast gave (?) -3. Stereospecific alkylation [3] of (?) -3 with propyl iodide furnished ethyl (+)-(2R, 3R)-2-propyl-3-hydroxypentanoate ((+) -4 , 58%) which was converted to the tetrahydropyranyl ether (?) -5 , then the alcohol 6 , the p-toluenesulfonate 7 and the thiophenyl ether 8 to give the title compound (+) -1. The latter consisted of 97% of the threo- and 3% of the erythro-isomer. The above synthesis also correlates the absolute configuration of (?)-(R) -3 with that of (+)-(R)-citronellic acid (see [2]).     

Totalsynthese von natürlichem α-Tocopherol. 2. Mitteilung. Aufbau der Seitenkette aus (−)-(S)-3-Methyl-γ-butyrolacton

Total Synthesis of Natural α-Tocopherol A short and efficient route to optically pure (+)-(3 R, 7 R)-trimethyldodecanol ( 14 ) is demonstrated, 14 serving as side chain unit in the preparation of natural vitamin E. The synthesis of 14 is based on the concept of using a single optically active C₅-synthon of suitable configuration and functionalization to introduce both asymmetric centres in 14 . (?)-(S)-3-Methyl-γ-butyrolacton ( 1 ) and ethyl (?)-(S)-4-bromo-3-methylbutyrate ( 2 ), respectively, is used in a sequence of either two Grignard C,C-coupling reactions 5 → 8 and 12 → 13 or two Wittig reactions 17a → 18 and 20 → 21 to achieve this goal. 14 is converted to (2 R, 4′R, 8′R)-α-tocopherol (= vitamin E) by coupling with a chroman unit in known manner. Optical purity of products and intermediates is established.     

Stereochemische Korrelationen zwischen (2R,4′R,8′R)-α-Tocopherol, (25S,26)-Dihydroxycholecalciferol, (–)-(1S,5R)-Frontalin und (–)-(R)-Linalol

Stereochemical Correlations between (2R,4′R,8′R)-α-Tocopherol, (25S,26)-Dihydroxycholecalciferol, (–)-(1S,5R)-Frontalin and (–)-(R)-Linalol The optically active C₅- and C₄-building units 1 and 2 with their hydroxy group at a asymmetric C-atom were transformed to (–)-(1S,5R)-Frontalin ( 7 ) and (–)-(3R)-Linalol ( 8 ) respectively; 1 and 2 had been used earlier in the preparation of the chroman part of (2R,4′R,8′R)-α-Tocopherol ( 6a , vitamin E), and for introduction of the side chain in (25S,26)-Dihydroxycholecalciferol ((25S)- 4 ), a natural metabolite of Vitamin D₃. The stereochemical correlations resulting from these converions fit into a coherent picture with those correlations already known from literature and they confirm our earlier stereochemical assignments. A stereochemical assignment concerning the C(25)-epimers of 25,26-Dihydroxycholecalciferol that was in contrast to our findings and that initiated the conversion of 1 and 2 to 7 resp. 8 for additional stereochemical correlations has been corrected in the meantime by the authors [26].     

Versatile Stereoselective Synthesis of Completely Protected Trifunctional α-Methylated α-Amino Acids Starting from Alanine

A new route to completely protected α-methylated α-amino acids starting from alanine is described (see Scheme). These derivatives, which are obtained via base-catalyzed opening of the oxazolidinones (2S,4R)- and (2R,4S)- 2 , can be directly employed in peptide synthesis. The synthesis of both enantiomers of Z-protected α-methylaspartic acid β-(tert-butyl)ester (O⁴-(tert-butyl) hydrogen 2-methylaspartates (R) or (S)- 4a ), α-methyl-glutamic acid γ-(tert-butyl) ester (O⁵-(tert-butyl) hydrogen 2-methylglutamate (R)- or (S)- 4b ), and of N^ε-bis-Boc-protected α-methyllysine (N⁶,N⁶-bis[(tert-butyloxy)carbonyl]-2-methyllysine (R)- or (S)- 4c ) is described in full detail.     

Bestimmung des Chiralitätssinns der enantiomeren 2,6-Adamantandiole

Determination of the Chirality Sense of the Enantiomeric 2,6-Adamantanediols The enantiomers of 2,6-adamantanediol ( 1 ) are resolved via the diastereoisomeric camphanoates. The (2R,6R)-chirality sense for (?)- 1 and (2S,6S) for (+)- 1 was determined by chemical correlation with (?)-(1R,5R)-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-2,6-dion ((1R,5R)- 3 ) of known absolute configuration in the following way: alkylation of the bis(pyrrolidine enamine) of (?)-(1R,5R)- 3 with CD₂I₂ and hydrolysis of the product gives the enantiomer 4 of (4,4-D₂)-2,6-adamantanedione. Reduction of 4 with LiAlH₄ leads to one enantiomer (Scheme 2) of each of the three diols 5 – 7 of known absolute configuration. The three diols are themselves configurational isomers due to the presence of the CD₂ group, but correspond otherwise entirely to the enantiomeric diols 1 . Accordingly, they can also be separated by means of their diastereoisomeric camphanoates to give the diols 5 / 6 and 7 . These samples are easily distinguished and identified by their characteristic ¹H-NMR spectra (cf. Fig. 2). This allows to identify the (2R,6R)- and (2S,6S)-enantiomer of 1 on the basis of their behavior in the resolution experiment analogous to that of the diols 5 / 6 and 7 , respectively. The diol (?)- 1 must have the (2R,6R)-configuration because it forms, like the diols 5 / 6 , with (?)-camphanic acid the diastereoisomeric ester less soluble in benzene. The diol (+)- 1 has (2S,6S)-configuration, because it forms, like 7 , with (+)-camphanic acid the diastereoisomeric ester less soluble in benzene. The bis(4-methoxybenzoate) of (?)-(2R,6R)- 1 shows chiroptical properties which are in accordance with Nakanishi's rule for two chromophores having coupled electric dipol transition moments arranged with a left-handed torsion angle.     

Synthesis of (−)-Conduritol C (1L-Cyclohex-5-ene-1,2,3/4-tetrol)

(1R, 2R, 4R)-2-endo-Cyano-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl acetate ((?)-7) has been transformed into the all-cis-configurated 4L -4,5,6/0-trihydroxycyclohex-2-en-1-one derivatives (?)- 12 and (?)- 19 . (?)-Conduritol C ((?)- 3 ) was derived in a stereospecific manner from (?)- 12 .     

Synthesis of cannabinoid model compounds. Part 2: (3R, 4R)-Δ1(6)-Tetrahydrocannabinol-5″-oic acid and 4″(R,S)-Methyl-(3R, 4R)-Δ1(6)-tetrahydrocannabinol-5″-oic Acid

Two novel cannabinoid model compounds, (3R, 4R)-Δ¹⁽⁶⁾-tetrahydrocannabinol-5″-oic acid (22) and 4″(R, S)-methyl-(3R, 4R)-Δ¹⁽⁶⁾-tetrahydrocannabinol-5″-oic acid (23) were synthesized by acid-catalyzed condensation of (+)-trans-p-mentha-2, 8-dien-l-ol (1) with the substituted resorcinols 18 and 19 obtained by a Wittig reaction between 3, 5-bis(benzyloxy)benzaldehyde (7) and methyl 4-bromobutanoate (10) or methyl 4-bromo-2(R, S)-methylbutanoate (11) resp. with subsequent hydrogenation. The resulting methyl esters 20 and 21 were hydrolyzed to give acids 22 and 23 .     

Solution 1H and 13C NMR of new chiral 1,4‐oxazepinium heterocycles and their intermediates from the reaction of 2,4‐pentanedione with α‐L‐amino acids and (R)‐(—)‐2‐phenylglycinol

The reaction of 2,4‐pentanedione ( 1 ) with (R)‐(—)‐2‐phenylglycine methyl ester ( 2 ), (R)‐(—)‐2‐phenylglycinol ( 3 ) and the proteinogenic amino acids (2S,3R)‐(—)‐2‐amino‐3‐hydroxybutyric acid (L ‐threonine) ( 4 ) and (R)‐(—)‐2‐amino‐3‐mercaptopropionic acid (L ‐cysteine) ( 5 ) methyl esters was investigated. The corresponding enamines 6 , 7 and 8 were isolated and characterized spectroscopically whereas 9 , which is unstable, was transformed in situ into 13 . Treatment of 7 , 8 and 9 with boron trifluoride etherate afforded the new [1,4]oxazepines 10 , 11 and [1,4]thiazepine ( 12 ) as their BF₃O^? salts. The structures of the enamines and their corresponding seven‐membered heterocycles were assessed by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Variable‐temperature experiments revealed different molecular mobility behavior among these heterocycles. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Totalsynthese von natürlichem α-Tocopherol 3. Mitteilung. Aufbau der Seitenkette mit (−)-(S)-2-Methyl-γ-butyrolacton als zentralem Baustein

Total Synthesis of Natural α-Tocopherol (?)-(S)-2-Methyl-γ-butyrolactone ( 2 ) represents a versatile chiral C₅-synthon. It serves as key intermediate in one of the syntheses of certain isoprenoid derivatives such as (R)-dihydrocitronellol, (3R, 7R)-hexahydrofarnesol and vitamin E of natural configurations. Their syntheses are described in detail.     

L-Phenylalanine Cyclohexylamide: A simple and convenient auxiliary for the synthesis of optically pure α,α-disubstituted (R)- and (S)-amino acids

This work describes L -phenylalanine cyclohexylamide ( 5c ) as a simple, cheap, and powerful chiral auxiliary for the synthesis of a series of optically pure α,α-disubstituted (R)- and (S)-amino acids of type 1 , such as (R)- and (S)-2-methyl-phenylalanine ( 1a ), (R)- and (S)-2-methyl-2-phenylglycine ( 1b ), and (R)- and (S)-2-methylvaline ( 1c ; Scheme 3). These amino acids were efficiently transformed into the suitably protected and activated amino acid building blocks (R)- and (S)- 12b and (R)- and (S)- 12c (Scheme 4) which are ready for incorporation into peptides by solution or solid-phase techniques. Based on the crystal structures of 6b, 6c , and 7a belonging to the diastereoisomeric peptides series 6 and 7 , the absolute configurations of each member of the series were determined. β-Turn geometries of type II′ and I were observed for 6b and 7a , respectively, whereas 6c crystallized in an extended conformation. The impacts of side-chain variation on conformation and crystal packing of these triamides are discussed.