Regio- and stereoselective syntheses of l-pentose derivatives from l-arabinose

Novel l-arabinose, l-ribose, 2-deoxy-l-ribose and 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-l-arabinose derivatives were synthesized from readily available l-arabinose. Different synthetic routes to methyl 3,5-di-O-acylated-l-arabino(ribo)furanosides as valued intermediates for the preparation of C-2 functionalized l-pentoses were investigated via regioselective transformations of 1,2-di-O-acetyl-3,5-di-O-pivaloyl-l-arabinofuranose, and selective acylation of methyl l-arabinofuranoside with 4-chlorobenzoyl or pivaloyl chloride. Short three-five-step syntheses of methyl 2-deoxy-α-l-ribofuranoside, its 3,5-di-O-acyl derivatives, valuable precursors for preparation of antiviral 2′-deoxy-l-nucleosides, were accomplished via simple and efficient reduction of methyl 2-O-mesyl-l-arabinofuranoside with L-Selectride or tandem reaction involving a complex hydride 2-deoxygenation/acylation of intermediate 2-deoxysugar. A new synthesis of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-β-l-arabinofuranosyl thymine (l-FMAU) was performed using a mild fluorination of protected l-ribofuranoside and a novel sequence of conversions for the preparation of 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-l-arabinofuranoside derivatives.     

Synthesis and proposed conformations of l-prolyl-l-leucyl-β-alanine alkylamides

The synthesis of H-Pro-Leu-β-Ala-NH₂, H-Pro-Leu-β-Ala-NHCH₃ and H-Pro-Leu-β-Ala-N(CH₃)₂ is described. On the basis of IR and ¹H NMR spectral data, a 7-membered ring including the NH of β-alanine with the CO of proline should be assigned for the H-Pro-Leu-β-Ala-N(CH₃)₂. Consequently, the plausible conformations for H-Pro-Leu-β-Ala-NH₂ and H-Pro-Leu-β-Ala-NHCH₃ derive from the formation of an 11-membered ring, between the trans amide proton and the CO of Pro, or from the formation of an 8-membered ring, between this carboxamide proton and the CO of Leu, plus the aforementioned 7-membered ring.     

Plant tissue-based membrane biosensor for l-ascorbic acid

Coupling of a slice of the mesocarp of squash (Cucurbita pepo) or cucumber (Cucumis sativus) to a Clark-type oxygen electrode allows 0.02–0.57 mmol l^?1l-ascorbic acid to be determined amperometrically. The method is based on monitoring the decrease in the curretn of oxygen at an applied potential of ?650 mV vs. Ag/AgCl; oxygen is consumed in the analyte oxidation catalyzed by ascorbate oxidase in the plant tissue. One tissue slice serves for 50–80 measurements at 30°C and pH 6. Spare slices can be stored for at least a year in aqueous 50% glycerol without substantial loss of enzyme activity. The biosensor is highly selective towards ascorbic acid with a response time of 70–90 s, the relative standard deviation being about 3%. Satisfactory results were obtained in the analysis of some fruit juices and vitamin tablets.     

Mediated amperometric biosensors for d-galactose,glycolate and l-amino acids based on a ferrocene-modified carbon paste electrode

Direct-current cyclic voltammetry is used to investigate the suitability of a ferrocene derivative as a mediator with galactose, glycolate and l-amino acid oxidases. The three enzymes coupled catalytically to ferrocene monocarboxylic acid exhibiting homogeneous second-order rate constants in the range 0.4 × 10⁵ to 8.5 × 10⁵ l mol^?1 s^?1. Enzyme electrodes which responded to d-galactose, glycolate or l-amino acids were constructed. The appropriate oxidase was retained behind a dialysis membrane at a carbon paste electrode containing the poorly soluble derivative 1,1′-dimethylferrocene. All the electrodes responded rapidly to millimolar concentrations of their respective substrates producing 95% of the steady-state current response in <2 min. This general method of biosensor construction should be widely applicable to oxidases and other oxidoreductase enzymes.     

Deuterium isotope effect in l(+)-glutamic acid hydrochloride

A study of the effects of deuterium substitution in l(+)-glutamic acid hydrochloride is described. Solid state vibrational spectra depicting band shifts resulting from deuterium indicate that interatomic bond distances remain virtually unchanged. The cell volume expands only 0.05% upon deuteration, while the macroscopic linear and nonlinear polarizabilities are unaffected. The optical nonlinearity is therefore ascribed to the electronic nature of the hydrogen bonds.     

Improved synthesis of d,l-fluorocitric acid

We propose a decagram synthesis of commercially unavailable fluorocitric acid. The synthesis begins with benzyl fluoroacetate, which is converted to dibenzyl 2-fluoro-3-oxosuccinate, followed by condensation with malonic acid or its monobenzyl ester and subsequent hydrogenolysis.     

Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of monohalopyridines and l-aspartic acid derivative

Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of halogenated pyridines and a borated l-aspartic acid derivative was conducted. The reactivity of chloro-, bromo-, and iodo-pyridines with substituents at the C2, C3, and C4 positions was investigated. Electron density of halogenated pyridines was also estimated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The order of experimental yield of halogen substituents was Br?>?I?>>?Cl and C3?>?C2, C4 whereas the DFT results indicated the reactivity order as I?>>?Br, Cl and C4?>?C2, C3. Optimized experimental conditions (3-bromopyridine) afforded the coupling product quantitatively.     

Enzymatic determination of l-lysine by flow-injection techniques

An enzymatic assay that is highly selective for l-lysine, based on flow-injection techniques combined with spectrophotometric detection, is presented. l-Lysine-α-oxidase (E.C. 1.4.3.14) from Trichoderma viride and horseradish peroxidase were used in a coupled enzyme assay. Peroxide produced in the first reaction was converted by peroxidase with phenol and 4-aminoantipyrine to a quinoneimine dye detectable at 500 nm. An analytical enzyme reactor filled with coimmobilized enzymes was incorporated in the flow-injection system. The assay has a measuring frequency of 30 samples h^?1 and a response time of less than 2 min. To adapt the assay to high concentrations of l-Lysine and to minimize interferences, the injected sample volume was reduced to 2 μ-l, resulting in a linearity range of 1–16 mM l-lysine with a sensitivity of 6–7 mV 1 mmol^?1, a limit of detection (3σ) of 1 mM and a reproducibility of 0.5% (repetitive injection of a 10 mM l-lysine sample). The enzyme cartridge is stable for several months and thousands of measurements.     

Development of a disposable miniature l-lysine sensor

A hybrid l-lysine sensor consisting of an immobilized l-lysine decarboxylase and a miniature bacterial CO₂ sensor was fabricated using semiconductor techniques. The bacteria was immobilized in a calcium alginate gel in a miniature oxygen electrode cell together with the electrolyte. The enzyme was immobilized in a bovine serum albumin matrix on a gas-permeable membrane. The cell was formed on a silicon substrate by anisotropic etching and had a two-gold-electrode configuration. The response time of the l-lysine sensor was 1–3 min. The optimum pH was 6.0 and the optimum temperature was 33°C. The response to l-lysine concentration was linear from 25 to 400 μM. Reproducible responses were obtained by adding more than 1 μM pyridoxal-5′-phosphate. The sensor had excellent selectivity for l-lysine and a stable response for more than 25 repetitive operations.     

Vibrational analysis of l-alanine and deuterated analogs

Raman spectra of the polycrystalline l-alanine analogs CH₃CH(NH⁺₃)COO^?, CH₃CH(ND⁺₃)-COO^?, CD₃CD(NH⁺₃)COO^?, and CD₃CD(ND⁺₃)COO^? have been obtained. A normal coordinate analysis is carried out based on the experimental frequencies of the four isotopic analogs and a 34 parameter valence-type force field defined in terms of local symmetry coordinates. The final refinement, in which five stretching force constants are constrained to fixed values obtained from bond length data, results in an average error of 7 cm^?1 (0.9%) for the observed frequencies of the four isotopically substituted molecules. Band assignments are given in terms of the potential energy distribution for local symmetry coordinates. For non-deuterated l-alanine, the vibrations above 1420 cm^?1 and below 950 cm^?1 may be described as localized group vibrations. By contrast, the eight modes in the middle frequency range, viz. the three skeletal stretching, the COO^? symmetric stretching, one NH⁺₃ rocking, the symmetric CH₃ deformation, and the two methyne CH deformation vibrations, are very strongly coupled to one another. Some decoupling appears to take place in the perdeutero molecule, and all but five modes can be described as localized group vibrations.     

Synthesis of γ-tetrazole analogues of l-glutamic acid and its derivatives

The γ-(5-tetrazolyl)-α-amino-l-butyric acid, an analogue of l-glutamic acid, was synthesized from methyl γ-cyano-α-benzyloxycarbonylamino-l-butyrate by transformation of the nitrile group into tetrazole nucleus by using tri-n-butyl-tin azide and removal of protecting groups. The synthesis of peptide derivatives containing γ-(5-tetrazolyl)-α-amino-l-butyryl residue is also described.     

Intermolecular/interionic interactions in l-isoleucine-, l-proline-, and l-glutamine-aqueous electrolyte systems

Speed of sound and density values for ternary systems (amino acid + salt + water): l-isoleucine/l-proline/l-glutamine in aqueous solutions of 1.5 M KCl, 1 M KNO₃, and 0.5 M K₂SO₄ have been measured for several concentrations of amino acids at different temperatures (303.15, 308.15, 313.15, 318.15, and 323.15 K). Using speed of sound and density data, the thermodynamic parameters such as isentropic compressibility (κ_s), change in isentropic compressibility (Δκ_s) and relative change (Δκ_s/κ₀) in isentropic compressibility have been computed. The isentropic compressibility values decrease with increase in the amino acid concentration as well as with temperature. The decrease in κ_s values with increase in concentration of l-isoleucine/l-proline/l-glutamine in 1.5 M KCl, 1 M KNO₃, and 0.5 M K₂SO₄ has been ascribed to an increase in the number of incompressible zwitterions in solutions, and the formation of ‘zwitterions-ions’ and ‘zwitterions-water dipole’ entities in solutions. The decrease in κ_s values with increase in temperature has been attributed to the corresponding decrease of κ_relax (a relaxational part of compressibility), which is dominant over the corresponding increase of κ_∞ (an instantaneous part of compressibility). The trends of variation of Δκ_s and Δκ_s/κ₀ with variations in solute concentration and temperature have also been discussed in terms of solute-solute and solute-solvent intermolecular/interionic interactions operative in the systems.     

Racemization behavior of l,l-lactide during heating

To control the depolymerization process of poly(l-lactic acid) into l,l-lactide for feedstock recycling, the racemization of l,l-lactide as a post-depolymerization reaction was investigated. In the absence of a catalyst, the conversion to meso-lactide increased with increase in the heating temperature and time at a higher rate than the conversion into oligomers. The resulting high composition of meso-lactide suggests that the direct racemization of l,l-lactide had occurred in addition to the known racemization mechanism that occurs on the oligomer chains. In the presence of MgO, the oligomerization rapidly proceeded to reach an equilibrium state between monomers and oligomers. The equilibrium among l,l-, meso-, and d,d-lactides was found to be a convergent composition ratio l,l-:meso-:d,d-lactides = 1:1.22:0.99 (wt/wt/wt) after 120 min at 300 °C. This composition ratio also indicates that in addition to the known racemization reaction on the oligomer chains, direct racemization among the lactides is also a frequent occurrence.     

Synthesis of l,l-puromycin

l,l-Puromycin, a diastereomer of the natural peptidyl nucleoside antibiotic puromycin, has been synthesized from l-xylose in 13 steps.     

Synthesis of l-aminohomohistidine (l-Ahh)

A short synthesis of l-aminohomohistidine (l-Ahh), which starts from readily available δ-hydroxy-l-lysine is described. The embedding of the basic guanidino moiety in the aromatic imidazole lowers the basicity of the side chain to a pK_a of 8.3. It is proposed that l-Ahh may be employed as an arginine-mimetic in medicinal chemistry.     

Studies towards the synthesis of ertugliflozin from l-Arabinose

A new method for the diastereoselective synthesis of enantiomerically pure ertugliflozin was developed. The crucial step involves an aldol condensation between 1-(4-chloro-3-(4-ethoxybenzyl)phenyl)ethanone and (4R,5R)-5-(((tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)methyl)-2,2-dimethyl-5-((trityloxy)methyl)-1,3-dioxolane-4-carbaldehyde, which was prepared from known 2-C-trityloxymethyl-2,3-O-isopropylidene-l-erythrose (easily accessible in three steps from l-arabinose) by standard reduction/oxidation and protection/deprotection manipulations. Dihydroxylation of the aldol condensation product and further global deprotection led to the formation of the target molecule.     

Bound coefactor/dual enzyme electrode system for l-alanine

A dual enzyme-bound coenzyme electrode system for quantifying l-alanine is described. Commercially available dextran-bound NAD was incorporated into an l-alanine dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.4.1.1)/l-lactate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.27) enzyme system and held at the surface of a potentiometric ammonia gas sensor. Using this system, l-alanine calibration curves with a slope of 45 mV/decade and 10^?5 M detection limit were obtained with a sensor lifetime of at least 10 days. This system is potentially useful for the clinical determination of l-alanine in serum.     

Studies on indolic mould metabolites. Total synthesis of l-prolyl-2-methyltryptophan anhydride and deoxybrevianamide e

Syntheses of l - prolyl - 2 - methyl - l - tryptophan anhydride, l -prolyl - 2 - methyl - d - tryptophan anhydride, deoxybrevianamide E, and l - prolyl - 2 - (1,1 - dimethylallyl) - d- tryptophan anhydride are described. A route for the conversion of deoxybrevianamide E into brevianamide E has also been examined.     

New building blocks for peptide and depsipeptide synthesis: hexafluoroacetone protected l-homoisoserine and d,l-homoisocysteine derivatives

Efficient syntheses of l-homoisoserine and d,l-homoisocysteine derivatives starting from l-malic and d,l-thiomalic acid using hexafluoroacetone as protecting and activating agent are described. The new compounds are interesting building blocks for the preparation of non-natural peptides and depsipeptides as well as for the construction of new GABA derivatives.     

l-Proline catalyzed domino Michael addition of N-substituted anilines

Here we report l-proline catalyzed 3-component reaction of indoles, aldehydes and N-substituted anilines in water as solvent at room temperature for the synthesis of 3-(α,α-diarylmethyl)indoles. The reaction is in fact a Michael addition of N-substituted anilines to alkylideneindolenines. The reaction is very clean, high yielding and having broad substrate scope. A tentative mechanism is proposed.