Synthesis of cyclic peptides via O-N-acyl migration

We describe here a novel and convenient synthesis of head-to-tail cyclic peptide avoiding racemization. Linear depsipeptides including a serine residue as the key element for ester bond formation and acyl transfer were synthesized on 2-chlorotrityl chloride resin. After cleavage from the resin, intramolecular head-to-tail cyclization was performed in solution by C-terminal activation of urethane protected O-acyl serine residue. After removal of the N^α-serine protecting group, the final step consisted in O-N-acyl migration reaction on the ‘switch’ or ‘click’ element to restore native cyclic peptides.     

Synthesis of an O-acyl isopeptide by using native chemical ligation to efficiently construct a hydrophobic polypeptide

By using dimethylformamide to suppress the O-to-N acyl migration, we efficiently synthesized an O-acyl isopeptide by native chemical ligation of a peptide-thioester and a Cys-O-acyl isopeptide. The reaction mixture was then loaded onto an octadecylsilane reverse-phase HPLC column, and the isopeptide was purified by using a linear gradient of CH₃CN in 0.1% aqueous trifluoroacetic acid. The recovery rate of the O-acyl isopeptide was considerably higher than that of the corresponding native polypeptide. Synthesis of O-acyl isopeptides via native chemical ligation, with O-to-N acyl migration as the final step to give the native form, has potential as an efficient method of constructing hydrophobic polypeptides.     

NBS-mediated practical cyclization of N-acyl amidines to 1,2,4-oxadiazoles via oxidative N‒O bond formation

A reaction involving an efficient NBS-mediated oxidative N?O bond formation has been established for the synthesis of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles from readily accessible N-acyl amidines. The features of this synthetic method include simplicity of operation, mild reaction conditions, short reaction times, high yields, and eco-friendliness. The reaction also works well with crude N-acyl amidines obtained by amidation of simple benzoic acids and amidines to produce biologically relevant 1,2,4-oxadiazoles in a scalable fashion.     

Bu3SnH-mediated radical cyclisation onto azoles

Alkyl radicals have been cyclised onto pyrroles, imidazoles and pyrazoles, and acyl radicals cyclised onto pyrroles, using Bu₃SnH-, (TMS)₃SiH- and Bu₃GeH-mediated aromatic homolytic substitution for the synthesis of bicyclic N-heterocycles. The reactions yield intermediate π-radicals that lose hydrogen in the rearomatisation step of the aromatic homolytic substitution. Mechanistic studies of these rearomatisation steps indicate aromatic homolytic substitution in which the initiator or breakdown products from the inhibitor are responsible for the H-abstraction step.     

PTSA catalyzed straightforward protocol for the synthesis of 2-(N-acyl)aminobenzimidazoles and 2-(N-acyl)aminobenzothiazoles in PEG

An efficient PTSA catalyzed synthesis of 2-(N-acyl)aminobenzimidazoles and 2-(N-acyl)aminobenzothiazoles has been described using S-ethylated-N-acylthioureas as substrates and polyethylene glycol as solvent.     

N-Dimethylphosphoryl-protection in the efficient synthesis of glucosamine-containing oligosaccharides with alternate N-acyl substitutions

Ready transformation of N-dimethylphosphoryl-protection into the corresponding N-acyl derivatives (in the presence of acyl chlorides and DMAP in pyridine) provided an effective approach to the synthesis of glucosamine-containing oligosaccharides with alternate N-acyl substitutions.     

Single step synthesis of 2,3-dialkyl-6-nitro-quinazolin-4(3H)-imines and 3,5-dialkyl-9-nitro-imidazo[1,2-c]quinazolin-2(3H)-ones

A single step synthesis of 2,3-dialkyl-6-nitro-quinazolin-4(3H)-imines and 3,5-dialkyl-9-nitro-imidazo-[1,2-c]-quinazolin-2(3H)-ones from simple carbonyl compounds, primary amines or amino acid methyl esters and 2-azido-5-nitro-benzonitrile was developed. Key intermediates were N,N′-disubstituted amidines obtained by rearrangement of 4,5-dihydrotriazoles; the new heterocyclic rings were formed by spontaneous intramolecular reaction of the amino and cyano groups which are present in the intermediates.     

Oxidative entry to α-oxy N-acyl aminals and hemiaminals: efficient formation of 2-(N-acylaminal) substituted tetrahydropyrans

An efficient new method to synthesize α-oxy N-acyl aminals and hemiaminals in a single step from readily synthesized N-acyl enamines has been developed using PhI(OAc)₂ as the oxidant. The reaction conditions are very mild and the products are obtained in good yields (65-92%). A possible mechanistic pathway is laid out.     

General electrochemical Minisci alkylation of N-heteroarenes with alkyl halides

Herein, we report, a general, facile and environmentally friendly Minisci-type alkylation of N-heteroarenes under simple and straightforward electrochemical conditions using widely available alkyl halides as radical precursors. Primary, secondary and tertiary alkyl radicals have been shown to be efficiently generated and coupled with a large variety of N-heteroarenes. The method presents a very high functional group tolerance, including various heterocyclic-based natural products, which highlights the robustness of the methodology. This applicability has been further proved in the synthesis of various interesting biologically valuable building blocks. In addition, we have proposed a mechanism based on different proofs and pieces of electrochemical evidence.

Herein, we report, a general, facile and environmentally friendly Minisci-type alkylation of N-heteroarenes under simple and straightforward electrochemical conditions using widely available alkyl halides as radical precursors.     

A novel approach for the one-pot synthesis of linear and angular fused quinazolinones

A convenient and inexpensive one step methodology has been developed for the synthesis of linear and angular fused quinazolinones. The protocol, which uses amino heterocycles and o-bromo benzyl/naphthyl bromides as reactants, CuI as catalyst, Cs₂CO₃ as base, l-proline as ligand, and DMF as solvent, proceeds via nucleophilic aromatic substitution of the N-heteroaromatic cationic intermediate followed by in situ aerial oxidation at the benzylic position to the quinazolinone scaffold.     

Synthesis of the sphingolipid activator protein, saposin C, using an azido-protected O-acyl isopeptide as an aggregation-disrupting element

In order to achieve an efficient synthesis of highly hydrophobic proteins by the native chemical ligation (NCL) reaction, we examined to incorporate the O-acyl isopeptide method, which is known to improve the solubility of the segment, to the NCL reaction: a peptide thioester having O-acyl isopeptide structures is prepared by the Boc mode solid-phase method using an azido group as a protecting group for the isopeptide site, and then ligated with C-terminal segment with an in situ reduction of the azido group followed by an O- to N-acyl shift. This method was successfully applied to the synthesis of the sphingolipid activator protein, saposin C.     

Ruthenium tetroxide oxidation of cyclic N-acylamines by a single layer method: formation of ω-amino acids

The ruthenium tetroxide oxidation of cyclic N-acyl amines by a 10% NaIO₄ aqueous solution containing tert-butanol as a single layer system resulted in the endo-cyclic C-N bond cleavage to afford the ω-amino acids as almost sole products in good yields, while a similar oxidation under the double layer using a NaIO₄ aqueous solution, and ethyl acetate gave the N-acyl lactams.     

Selective O-acylation of unprotected N-benzylserine methyl ester and O,N-acyl transfer in the formation of cyclo[Asp-Ser] diketopiperazines

The synthesis of two diastereomeric cyclo[Asp-N-Bn-Ser] diketopiperazines (2a and 2b) was investigated. Initial formation of the Boc-aspartyl-N-benzyl serine isopeptide methyl esters (4a and 4b) was observed, which derive from the selective O-acylation of unprotected (S)- or (R)-N-benzylserine. This unexpected O-acylation is preferred over the formation of the tertiary amide and the resulting ester bond is stable in solution to O,N-acyl transfer. The O,N-acyl migration is then triggered by cleavage of the Boc protecting group and treatment with base, which also promotes immediate cyclization to the diketopiperazines.     

Synthesis of 4-dialkylaminopyridine derivatives through ring-rearrangement of 3-nitro-2H-pyran-2-one acetamidines

A new synthesis of substituted 4-dialkylaminopyridines was developed, starting from 3-nitropyran-2-one N-functionalized amidines. Secondary amines were reacted with the amidines in a sealed tube and in ethanol as the solvent yielding exclusively 4-dialkylaminopyridine derivatives or a mixture with 4-methylpyridine derivative, depending on the C-α-linked substituents of the starting amidine. Structural elucidation of the 4-dialkylaminopyridines revealed their existence as two tautomeric forms, depending on the solvent.     

A novel solid-phase synthesis of di- and trisubstituted N-acyl ureas

A novel, mild method for the synthesis of di- and trisubstituted N-acyl ureas on solid support is described. Addition of carboxylic acids to a resin-bound carbimidoyl chloride gave, initially, an O-acyl isourea which subsequently rearranged to the corresponding N-acyl urea. Trisubstituted N-acyl ureas were assembled on a Wang resin from a wide range of Fmoc amino acids, secondary amines and carboxylic acids. Acid mediated cleavage yielded the products in good yields and excellent purities. In addition, the regioselective synthesis of disubstituted N-acyl ureas is demonstrated with four examples.     

Solid-phase synthesis of benzimidazole N-oxides on SynPhase™ Lanterns

A solid-phase synthesis of benzimidazole N-oxides was developed while attempting to synthesize 1,5-benzodiazepine-2,4-diones. The key step of the synthesis involves the reduction of an arylnitro to a hydroxyamino intermediate which subsequently condenses with an internal carbonyl group to give a benzimidazole N-oxide. A library of nine benzimidazole N-oxides was prepared on SynPhase™ Lanterns using this reduction-cyclization methodology.     

One-pot synthesis of N-alkyl purine and pyrimidine derivatives from alcohols using TsIm: a rapid entry into carboacyclic nucleoside synthesis

A convenient and efficient one-pot N-alkylation of nucleobases from alcohols using N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)imidazole (TsIm) is described. In this method, treatment of alcohols with a mixture of purine or pyrimidine nucleobase, TsIm, K₂CO₃, and triethylamine in refluxing DMF regioselectively furnishes the corresponding N-alkyl nucleobases in good yields. This methodology is highly efficient for various structurally diverse primary alcohols.     

Synthesis of chiral vicinal C2 symmetric and unsymmetric bis(sulfonamide) ligands based on trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine by aminolysis of N-tosylaziridines

The ring opening of N-tosylaziridines with aliphatic amines can be efficiently catalyzed by lithium perchlorate to provide derivatives of the trans-1,2-diamine in high yields. The reaction was used in desymmetrization of several cyclic N-tosylaziridines using chiral amines. Using this strategy, an efficient synthesis of chiral vicinal C₂ symmetric bis(sulfonamide) and unsymmetrical bis(sulfonamide) ligands based on trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine was developed.     

AlCl3 induced C-arylation/cyclization in a single pot: a new route to benzofuran fused N-heterocycles of pharmacological interest

A new and one-pot synthesis of benzofuran fused N-heterocycles has been accomplished via AlCl₃-mediated C-C followed by C-O bond formation between 2,3-dichloropyrazine or its derivatives and phenols. The methodology provided novel compounds as potential inhibitors of PDE4B. The single crystal X-ray data of a synthesized benzofuran derivative are presented. Scope of the methodology, in vitro pharmacological data of some of the synthesized compounds, along with docking study of an active compound are described.     

A mild and efficient chemoselective protection of amines as N-benzyloxycarbonyl derivatives in the presence of La(NO3)3·6H2O under solvent-free conditions

A facile and versatile method for the chemoselective N-benzyloxycarbonylation of amines has been developed by treatment with benzyloxycarbonyl chloride (Cbz-Cl) in the presence of lanthanum(III) nitrate hexahydrate under solvent-free conditions. The method is general for the preparation of N-Cbz derivatives of aliphatic (acyclic and cyclic) and aromatic amines.