Reaction kinetics of the esterification of lauric acid in iso-octane using an immobilized biocatalyst

The kinetics of the esterification of lauric acid with geraniol catalyzed by a commercially immobilized lipase preparation fromMucor miehei, Lipozyme, was studied in well-stirred flasks under conditions of no external mass transfer limitations. It was shown that the reaction is inhibited by lauric acid and the reaction mechanism can be described as a Ping-Pong Bi-Bi with Dead-End inhibition caused by lauric acid.     

Syntheses and pharmacological characterization of achiral and chiral enantiopure C/Si/Ge-analogous derivatives of the muscarinic antagonist cycrimine: a study on C/Si/Ge bioisosterism

The C/Si/Ge-analogous compounds rac-Ph(c-C₅H₉)El(CH₂OH)CH₂CH₂NR₂ (NR₂=piperidino; El=C, rac-3a; El=Si, rac-3b; El=Ge, rac-3c) and (c-C₅H₉)₂El(CH₂OH)CH₂CH₂NR₂ (NR₂=piperidino; El=C, 5a; El=Si, 5b; El=Ge, 5c) were prepared in multi-step syntheses. The (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of 3a–c were obtained by resolution of the respective racemates using the antipodes of O,O′-dibenzoyltartaric acid (resolution of rac-3a), O,O′-di-p-toluoyltartaric acid (resolution of rac-3b), or 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl hydrogen phosphate (resolution of rac-3c). The enantiomeric purities of (R)-3a–c and (S)-3a–c were ≥98% ee (determined by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy using a chiral solvating agent). Reaction of rac-3a–c, (R)-3a–c, (S)-3a–c, and 5a–c with methyl iodide gave the corresponding methylammonium iodides rac-4a–c, (R)-4a–c, (S)-4a–c, and 6a–c (3a–c→4a–c; 5a–c→6a–c). The absolute configuration of (S)-3a was determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of its (R,R)-O,O′-dibenzoyltartrate. The absolute configurations of the silicon analog (R)-4b and germanium analog (R)-4c were also determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The chiroptical properties of the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of 3a–c, 3a–c·HCl, and 4a–c were studied by ORD measurements. In addition, the C/Si/Ge analogs (R)-3a–c, (S)-3a–c, (R)-4a–c, (S)-4a–c, 5a–c, and 6a–c were studied for their affinities at recombinant human muscarinic M₁, M₂, M₃, M₄, and M₅ receptors stably expressed in CHO-K1 cells (radioligand binding experiments with [³H]N-methylscopolamine as the radioligand). For reasons of comparison, the known C/Si/Ge analogs Ph₂El(CH₂OH)CH₂CH₂NR₂ (NR₂=piperidino; El=C, 7a; El=Si, 7b; El=Ge, 7c) and the corresponding methylammonium iodides 8a–c were included in these studies. According to these experiments, all the C/Si/Ge analogs behaved as simple competitive antagonists at M₁–M₅ receptors. The receptor subtype affinities of the individual carbon, silicon, and germanium analogs 3a–8a, 3b–8b, and 3c–8c were similar, indicating a strongly pronounced C/Si/Ge bioisosterism. The (R)-enantiomers (eutomers) of 3a–c and 4a–c exhibited higher affinities (up to 22.4 fold) for M₁–M₅ receptors than their corresponding (S)-antipodes (distomers), the stereoselectivity ratios being higher at M₁, M₃, M₄, and M₅ than at M₂ receptors, and higher for the methylammonium compounds (4a–c) than for the amines (3a–c). With a few exceptions, compounds 5a–c, 6a–c, 7a–c, and 8a–c displayed lower affinities for M₁–M₅ receptors than the related (R)-enantiomers of 3a–c and 4a–c. The stereoselective interaction of the enantiomers of 3a–c and 4a–c with M₁–M₅ receptors is best explained in terms of opposite binding of the phenyl and cyclopentyl ring of the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers. The highest receptor subtype selectivity was observed for the germanium compound (R)-4c at M₁/M₂ receptors (12.9-fold).     

The asymmetric hydrogenation of 2-phenethylacrylic acid as the key step for the enantioselective synthesis of Citralis Nitrile

A catalytic approach to the enantioselective synthesis of Citralis Nitrile^® (3-methyl-5-phenyl-pentanenitrile, a citrus-type odorant) is described. The key step is the transition-metal catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of 2-phenethylacrylic acid. Among the different catalysts tested, the most efficient appears to be the one formed by combining in situ [Ru(benzene)Cl₂]₂ with the atropisomeric diphosphine MeOBIPHEP and triethylamine, which allows us to obtain enantiomeric excesses up to 98% under mild conditions. Very good results (ees >80%) have also been obtained using iridium cationic complexes in combination with a phosphinooxazoline ligand.     

Comparative molecular field analysis of CCK-A antagonists using field-fit as an alignment technique. A convenient guide to design new CCK-A ligands

Summary Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) has been used as a three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) method to correlate the affinities of several antagonists towards CCK-A receptors with their steric and electrostatic fields. In this publication, we describe, for the first time, a field-fit operation as an alignment technique. These results could serve as a guide for the design of new non-peptide antagonists.     

Ligand-free palladium catalysed Heck reaction of methyl 2-acetamido acrylate and aryl bromides as key step in the synthesis of enantiopure substituted phenylalanines

A range of substituted aryl bromides were coupled with methyl 2-acetamido acrylate using ligand-free palladium catalysis. Subsequently asymmetric hydrogenation with Rh/MonoPhos yielded substituted phenylalanines in high enantioselectivities (e.e. 92-99%).     

Asymmetric synthesis of the erythrinan alkaloid system using a chiral lithium amide base desymmetrisation as the key step

A new asymmetric approach to the erythrinan alkaloid system is described, which involves chiral base desymmetrisation of a ring fused imide and a 6-exo-trig radical cyclisation as the key steps.     

Total synthesis of (−)-elegansidiol by using an abnormal Beckmann fragmentation of Hajos ketone oxime as a key step

Abnormal Beckmann fragmentation of Hajos ketone oxime regioselectively forms of a chiral 1-oxygenated 2,2-dimethyl-4-methylene-cyclohexan skeleton. Using this transformation as a key step, the total synthesis of (−)-elegansidiol, an oxygenated mono-carbocyclic sesquiterpenoid, was achieved.     

The first asymmetric esterification of free carboxylic acids with racemic alcohols using benzoic anhydrides and tetramisole derivatives: an application to the kinetic resolution of secondary benzylic alcohols

A variety of optically active carboxylic esters are produced by the kinetic resolution of racemic secondary benzylic alcohols using free carboxylic acids with benzoic anhydride and tetramisole derivatives. 4-Methoxybenzoic anhydride (PMBA) is the best reagent to use in producing the corresponding esters in high ee when the reaction is catalyzed by (+)-benzotetramisole (BTM); by contrast, when non-substituted benzoic anhydride is used as a coupling reagent, the resulting optically active alcohols are obtained with high selectivities. This protocol directly produces chiral carboxylic esters from free carboxylic acids and racemic secondary alcohols by utilizing the trans-acylation process to generate mixed anhydrides from acid components and benzoic anhydride derivatives under the influence of chiral catalysts.     

Synthetic studies towards anti-SARS agents: application of an indium-mediated allylation of α-aminoaldehydes as the key step towards an intermediate

AG7088 was identified as a good starting point for modification, leading to an efficient and bio-available inhibitor for the SARS coronavirus main proteinase (SARS-CoV M^pro). Synthesis of intermediate 1 and analogues proceeded via a highly diastereoselective indium-mediated allylation of α-aminoaldehydes.     

A concise enantioselective synthesis of l-(−)-733,061 and (2S,3S)-methyl 3-aminopiperidine-2-carboxylate using catalytic enantioselective aza-Henry reaction as key step

An efficient enantioselective synthesis of l-(−)-733,061 and (2S,3S)-methyl 3-aminopiperidine-2-carboxylate is accomplished by means of catalytic enantioselective aza-Henry reaction. A key feature of this protocol is organocatalysis as genesis of chirality to ensure high degree of distereo- and enantiocontrol.     

Synthesis of 3,7-anhydro-D-glycero-D-ido-octitol 1,5,6-trisphosphate as an IP(3) receptor ligand using a radical cyclization reaction with a vinylsilyl tether as the key step. Conformational restriction strategy using steric repulsion between adjacent bulky protecting groups on a pyranose ring

3,7-Anhydro-D-glycero-D-ido-octitol 1,5,6-trisphosphate (5) was designed as a novel IP(3)-receptor ligand having a C-glycosidic structure and was synthesized via a radical cyclization reaction with a temporary connecting vinylsilyl tether as the key step. The phenyl 2-O-dimethylvinylsilyl-3,4, 6-tri-O-benzyl-1-seleno-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), in the usual (4)C(1)-conformation, was successively treated with Bu(3)SnH/AIBN and under Tamao oxidation conditions to give a mixture of five C-glycosidic products. On the other hand, similar successive treatment of the corresponding 3,4-di-O-TBS-protected substrates 13 and 24, which were in an unusual (1)C(4)-conformaion due to the steric repulsion between the bulky silyl protecting groups, gave the desired 1alpha-C-glycosides 18 and 25, respectively, as the major products. Thus, the course of the radical cyclization was effectively controlled by a change in the conformation of the pyranose ring into a (1)C(4)-form due to steric repulsion between the adjacent bulky TBS-protecting groups at the 3- and 4-hydroxyl groups. From 25, the target 5 was synthesized via phosphorylation of the hydroxyls by the phosphoramidite method. The C-glycoside trisphosphate 5 has significant binding affinity for IP(3) receptor of calf cerebella.     

An efficient synthesis of cyclic IDP- and cyclic 8-bromo-IDP-carbocyclic-riboses using a modified Hata condensation method to form an intramolecular pyrophosphate linkage as a key step. An entry to a general method for the chemical synthesis of cyclic ADP-ribose analogues

An efficient synthesis of cyclic IDP-carbocyclic-ribose (3) and its 8-bromo derivative 6, as stable mimics of cyclic ADP-ribose, was achieved, and a condensation reaction with phenylthiophosphate-type substrate 15 or 16 to form an intramolecular pyrophosphate linkage was a key step. N-1-Carbocyclic-ribosylinosine derivative 28 and the corresponding 8-bromo congener 24 were prepared via condensation between N-1-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)inosine derivative 17 and a known optically active carbocyclic amine 18. Compounds 24 and 28 were then converted to the corresponding 5"-phosphoryl-5'-phenylthiophosphate derivatives 15 and 16, respectively, which were substrates for the condensation reaction to form an intramolecular pyrophosphate linkage. Treatment of 8-bromo substrate 15 with I2 or AgNO3 in the presence of molecular sieves 3A (MS 3A) in pyridine at room temperature gave the desired cyclic product 12 quantitatively, while the yield was quite low without MS. The similar reaction of 8-unsubstituted substrate 16 gave the corresponding cyclized product 32 in 81% yield. Acidic treatment of these cyclic pyrophosphates 12 and 32 readily gave the targets 6 and 3, respectively. This result suggests that the construction of N-1-substituted hypoxanthine nucleoside structures from N-1-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)inosine derivatives and the intramolecular condensation by activation of the phenylthiophosphate group with I2 or AgNO3/MS 3A combine to provide a very efficient route for the synthesis of analogues of cyclic ADP-ribose such as 3 and 6. Thus, this may be an entry to a general method for synthesizing biologically important cyclic nucleotides of this type.