Synthesis of unnatural N-glycosyl α-amino acids via Petasis reaction

A convenient and efficient protocol for the synthesis of unnatural N-glycosyl a-amino acids was developed.Condensation of 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-actyl-β-D-glucosamine hydrochloride,alkenyl boronic acid,and glyoxylic acid was achieved in CH_2C1_2 to give the derivatives of 2-(N-glycosyl)aminobut-3-enoic acid which may find applications in glycobiology research and medicinal chemistry.     

Synthesis of novel carboranyl derivatives of α-amino acids

New routes to closo-carboranyl derivatives of L-lysine and L-glutamic acid with free gA-NH2 groups were proposed.     

Synthesis of novel zerumbone derivatives via regioselective palladium catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reaction: a new class of α-glucosidase inhibitors

A new strategy for the synthesis of novel zerumbone derivatives via a regioselective palladium catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reaction using arene carboxylic acids is described. The current methodology involves the repositioning of endocyclic double bond to exocyclic double bond of zerumbone. Preliminary in vitro analysis revealed that most of the newly synthesized derivatives are potent α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitors.     

Synthesis of novel fullerene α-amino acid conjugates

Aspartic acid and glutamic acid with protected α-amino and α-carboxyl groups had been used to react with the activated hydroxyl group of N-substituted 3,4-fullero pyrrolidine. The products were deprotected, affording two monofuUerene α-amino acids, monofullerene aspartic acid （mFas） and monofullerene glutamic acid （mFgu）. Then a bifullerene glutamic acid conjugate （bFguC） was synthesized by reaction of mFgu containing protected amino group with N-substituted 3,4-fullero pyrrolidine.     

Synthesis of novel fullerene α-amino acid conjugates

Aspartic acid and glutamic acid with protectedα-amino andα-carboxyl groups had been used to react with the activated hydroxyl group of N-substituted 3,4-fullero pyrrolidine.The products were deprotected,affording two monofullereneα-amino acids,monofullerene aspartic acid(mFas)and monofullerene glutamic acid(mFgu).Then a bifullerene glutamic acid conjugate (bFguC)was synthesized by reaction of mFgu containing protected amino group with N-substituted 3,4-fullero pyrrolidine.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel β-amino acid derivatives

In the work discussed in this paper, novel β-amino acid derivatives were prepared by Michael addition between 3-substituted-2-propenic acid and hydrazine hydrate. The optimum reaction conditions were determined by analyzing the effects of the ratio of the starting materials, temperature, and reaction time. The conclusions were: reaction temperature 80 °C, reaction time 8 h, n (3-substituted-2-propenic acid)/n (hydrazine hydrate) = 1:15. Products were characterized by measurement of melting point, elemental analysis, and IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of cyclic α-amino ketones

Summary A simple method is described for synthesizing cyclic -amino ketones by intramolecular cyclization of azlactones under the action of aluminum chloride.     

A highly diastereoselective synthesis of α-hydroxy-β-amino acid derivatives via a Lewis acid catalyzed three-component condensation reaction

A very efficient three-component synthesis of a series of syn α-hydroxy-β-amino esters, obtained in high diastereoselection and yield, was realized starting from an aldehyde, benzylamine, and the ketene silyl acetals derived from Ley's lactones. The synthetic protocol was optimized and the above compounds were obtained without the isolation of intermediates. The origin of the observed diastereoselection was investigated through a computational model of the key reaction step.     

Synthesis of the unusual α-amino acid component of some novel histone deacetylase inhibiting cyclic peptides

A flexible protocol for the synthesis of three lipophilic α-amino acid components of some novel cyclic peptides having important histone deacetylase inhibiting properties has been developed from a common source, which featured a cross-metathesis reaction between two unhindered terminal olefins as the key step.     

Direct asymmetric synthesis of α-deuterated α-amino acid derivatives from the parent α-amino acids via memory of chirality

A method for asymmeyric α-deuteration of α-amino acid derivatives has been developed by a memory of chirality (MOC) strategy. The α-deuterated α-amino acid derivatives with 88–93% D were obtained in 60–98% ee in retention of the configuration (7 examples). The characterisrtic feature of the present procedure is that asymmeric induction was achieved by employing the parent amino acid derivatives as a sole source of chirality without the use of any external chiral souces.     

A novel one-pot synthesis of α-keto-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives based on isocyanide-Nef reaction

Various α-keto-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives were synthesized through a sequential intermolecular dehydrochlorination/intramolecular aza-Wittig reaction of carboxylic acids and imidoyl chloride intermediates, which were generated by isocyanide-Nef reaction of acyl chlorides and (N-isocyanimine) triphenylphosphorane (1) in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature.     

Synthesis of α-sulfanyl-β-amino acid derivatives by using nanocrystalline magnesium oxide

The Mannich-type reaction between alkyl, aryl and heterocyclic aldimines and sulfonium salts for the synthesis of α-sulfanyl-β-amino acid derivatives by using nanocrystalline magnesium oxide (NAP-MgO) is described. These products are obtained in moderate to high yields with moderate diastereoselectivities. The configuration of ethyl-3-{[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]amino}-2-(methylsulfanyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)propanoate (major isomer) has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction technique to be anti, and consistent with the assignment based on ¹H NMR spectroscopy. These α-sulfanyl-β-amino acid derivatives are important building blocks for pharmaceuticals with potent biological activity.     

Asymmetric syntheses of α-methyl γ-amino acid derivatives

This project was undertaken to demonstrate the potential of asymmetric hydrogenations mediated by the chiral, carbene-oxazoline analogue of Crabtree's catalyst "cat" in asymmetric hydrogenations of allylic amine derivatives of amino acids. Peripheral features of the substrates (protecting groups, functional groups related by redox processes, and alkene geometries) were varied to optimize the stereochemical vectors exerted by the substrate and align them with the catalyst vector. N-Acetyl-protected, O-TBDPS-protected allylic substrates 9a-e emerged as the best for this reaction; syn-products were formed from the E-alkenes, while the Z-isomers gave anti-target materials, both with high diastereoselectivities. This study featured asymmetric catalysis to elaborate optically active substrates into more stereochemically complex chirons; we suggest that the approach used, optimization of stereocontrol by varying peripheral aspects of the substrate, tends to be easier than de novo catalyst design for each substrate type. In other words, optimization of the substrate vector is likely to be more facile than enhancement of the catalyst vector via ligand modifications.     

Synthesis of novel 16-E-(arylidene)-3-methoxy-α-estrones via a palladium catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura reaction

The Suzuki-Miyaura reactions of 16-E-(triflyloxymethylidene)-3-methoxy-α-estrone allow for a convenient synthesis of various 16-E-(arylidene)-3-methoxy-α-estrones in good to high yields and with excellent E-selectivity. Both electron-rich and electron-poor boronic acids could be successfully employed.     

Influence of the reaction parameters on the Pd—HCl catalysed synthesis of phenylacetic acid derivatives via reduction of mandelic acid derivatives with carbon monoxide

The catalytic system Pd/C—HCl is highly active in the reduction of mandelic acid derivatives to phenylacetic acid derivatives with carbon monoxide when the aromatic ring is para-substituted with a hydroxy group. Typical reaction conditions are: 70–110 °C, 20–100 atm of carbon monoxide, benzene—ethanol as reaction medium, substrate/Pd=10²–10⁴/1, HCl/substrate=0.3–0.8/1. [Pd] = 10⁻² −10⁻⁴ M. When the catalytic system is used in combination with PPh₃ a slightly higher activity is observed. Comparable results are observed when using a Pd(II) catalyst precursor such as PdX₂, in combination with PPh₃, or PdX₂(PPh₃)₂ (XCl, AcO). When operating at 110 °C, decomposition to metallic palladium occurs. Pd(II) complexes with diphosphine ligands, such as diphenylphosphinemethane, -ethane, -propane or -butane, do not show any catalytic activity and are recovered unchanged. These observations suggest that Pd(0) complexes play a key role in the catalytic cycle. The proposed catalytic cycle proceeds as follows: the chloride ArCHClCOOR, formed in situ upon reaction of ArCHOHCOOR with hydrochloric acid, oxidatively adds to a Pd(0) species with formation of a catalytic intermediate having a Pd—[CH(Ar)COOR] moiety, which inserts a CO molecule, yielding an acyl intermediate of the type Pd—[COCH(Ar)COOR]. The nucleophilic attack of H₂O on the carbon atom of the carbonyl ligand gives back the Pd(0) complex to the catalytic cycle and yields a phenylmalonic acid derivative, which produces the final product, ArCH₂COOR, upon CO₂ evolution. Alternatively, protonolysis of the intermediate having a Pd—[CH(Ar)COOR] moiety yields directly the final product and a Pd(II) species, which is then reduced by CO to Pd(0). Moreover, no catalytic activity is observed when the Pd/C—HCl system is used in combination with any one of the above diphosphine ligands, probably because these ligands block the sites on the catalyst able to promote the catalytic cycle or because they prevent the reduction of Pd(II) to Pd(0). The influence of the following reaction parameters has been studied: concentration of HCl, PPh₃, palladium and substrate, pressure of carbon monoxide, the temperature, reaction time and solvent. The results are compared with those obtained in the carbonylation of aromatic aldehydes to phenylacetic acid derivatives catalyzed by the same system, for which it has been proposed that the catalysis occurs via carbonylation of the aldehyde to a mandelic acid derivative as an intermediate, which is further reduced with CO to yield the final product.     

Synthesis of leucine-enkephalin analogs containing α-amino squaric acid

Novel Leu-enkephalin analogs 10a-c in which the Tyr¹, Gly², or Gly³ residue of Leu-enkephalin 9 was replaced with α-amino squaric acid analog Sq-Tyr 8b or Sq-Gly 8a were synthesized starting from 14 or 18. Conformational analysis of 10a-c together with its model compound 26 and their opioid receptor binding activity were evaluated.     

Intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of α-fluoroacrylate derivatives promoted by novel bidentate aluminum Lewis acid

Intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reaction of α-fluoroacrylate derivatives 1a-e having 1,7,9-decatrienoate system is efficiently promoted by the novel bidentate Lewis acid A generated in situ by mixing 3,3′,5,5′-tetrabromo-1,1′-biphenyl-2,2′-diol (Br₄BIPOL, 1 mol) and trimethylaluminum (2 mol). The IMDA reaction of α-fluoroacrylates proceeds via endo-boat transition state as in the case of the corresponding non-fluorinated acrylate.     

Synthesis of chiral α-amino anilides via a DMEDA-promoted selective C─N coupling reaction of aryl halides and α-aminoamides

A DMEDA-promoted and copper-catalyzed approach has been designed for the coupling of aryl halides and chiral α-aminoamides to afford a range of functionalized chiral α-amino anilides. This method has a higher yield and better reproducibility than those under ligand-free conditions. Of the two amino groups in the same molecule, only the amide NH₂ is observed to react, showing high regioselectivity. In addition, no racemization occurs, and the ee can reach 99%. For certain hydroxyl-containing substrates, such as l-tyrosine amide and l-threonine amide, addition of a phase transfer catalyst (15-Crown-5) is necessary for such a transformation.