Rapid and Efficient Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of N‐Carbamoyl‐L‐amino Acids

A rapid and efficient method for the synthesis of N‐carbamoyl‐L‐amino acids is reported. The procedure, involving the reaction between urea and α‐amino acids sodium salts, was performed under microwave conditions using an unmodified domestic microwave oven. A careful study of the operative conditions indicated proline (1d) as the less reactive substrate and phenylglycine (1e) as the more reactive one among all the α‐amino acids tested. Substitution of urea with potassium cyanate produced a low conversion into the corresponding N‐carbamoyl derivative, and a possible explanation of this result is reported.     

Microwave-assisted SNAr reaction of 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine for the rapid synthesis of C3-symmetrical polycarboxylate ligands

The microwave-assisted S_NAr reaction of 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine with various unprotected amino acids was developed for the synthesis of C₃-symmetrical polycarboxylate ligands which can be used as structural directing units in metal-organic frameworks. The reactions were performed in water using a domestic microwave oven as the heating device. In comparison to the reactions performed under conventional heating, the reactions under microwave irradiation proceeded much more rapidly within 20 min to afford the desired ligands in comparative yields to those obtained by conventional heating.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of pyridylpyrroles from N-acylated amino acids

A small library of 3- and 4-pyridyl-substituted pyrroles was prepared from N-acylated amino acids. Nicotinoyl or isonicotinoyl chloride was used for the N-acylation of benzyl esters of amino acids. Debenzylation by palladium-catalyzed hydrogenation gave N-acylated amino acids. Dehydration of the acylated amino acids gave cyclic intermediates, münchnones or azlactones, which were treated in situ with alkynes in 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions. The starting materials were prepared in a parallel fashion, and microwave irradiation was used to facilitate the cycloaddition reactions. The regiochemistry of the cycloaddition was studied.     

Microwave-assisted, zinc-mediated peptide coupling of N-benzyl-α,α-disubstituted amino acids

Incorporation of the extremely hindered amino acid N-benzylaminoisobutyric acid into dipeptides under microwave irradiation with commercial zinc dust is described. A comparative survey of various methodologies for hindered peptide couplings was undertaken. The optimised coupling conditions were free from racemisation and applicable to other hindered amino acids.     

From cyclic dehydrodipeptides to uncommon acyclic peptide mimetics

1-Acetyl-3-arylmethylene-2,5-piperazinediones gave N-3-arylpyruvylamino esters by acid-promoted alcoholysis under thermal conditions or microwave irradiation. Compounds obtained from 1-acetyl-3-(o-nitro)arylmethylene-2,5-piperazinediones gave, after reduction of the nitro group and spontaneous cyclization, N-2-indolylcarbonylamino acid derivatives. A similar alcoholysis/reduction sequence applied to dehydrodipeptides bearing a 3(4)-nitroaryl substituent gave N-3(4)-aminophenyl-α-ketopropionylamino acid derivatives. Coupling of the free amino group with Boc-protected amino acids gave tripeptide mimetics with a 6-aminoindole-2-carboxylic or a 3(4)-aminophenyl-α-ketopropionic acid as the second residue.     

Reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium to formazan by folic acid

The reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) to formazan by folic acid, N-(4-aminobenzoyl) glutamic acid, and other amino acids was studied in this paper. The reduction involves only one of the two tetrazolium rings of NBT. The reaction is considerably more rapid with folic acid and N-(4-aminobenzoyl) glutamic acid than with the other amino acids under study. The electron donor moiety appears to be the carboxylic acid in the alpha position. N-ethyl-N′(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide notably increases the rate of the reaction and promotes the reduction of both tetrazolium rings.     

Novel synthesis of steryl esteryl esters from β-sitosterol and N-phosphoryl amino acid under microwave irradiation

Ten novel N-phosphoryl amino acids β-sitosterol esters were synthesized by coupling the N-phosphoryl amino acids with β-sitosterol under microwave irradiation, and their structures were elucidated by IR, NMR, and HR MS. Various reaction conditions including the catalyst, solvent, temperature and time were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the reaction was finished in 20 min with 60–87% yields by employing DCC/DMAP as a catalyst system at room temperature.     

A convenient synthesis of 4(5)-(hetero)aryl-1H-imidazoles via microwave-assisted Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction

A simple and rapid access to a variety of 4(5)-arylated imidazoles via palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction is described. Coupling parameters were screened for efficient C-4 arylation of N-unprotected 4-iodoimidazole with a broad range of boronic acids under microwave irradiation. Twenty-one imidazole derivatives were synthesized in modest to excellent yields in short reaction times.     

Synthesis of N-arylsulfonyl-2-aryl(hetaryl)aminoacetic acids

Hydrolytic transformations of 4-[2,2,2-trichloro-1-(arylsulfonylamino)-and-(ethoxycarbonylamino)ethyl]phenyloxy(or sulfanyl)acetic acids under microwave irradiation in alkaline medium involve both trichloromethyl group and ester fragment to give N-arylsulfonyl-2-[4-carboxymethyloxy(or sulfanyl)phenyl]-2-aminoacetic acids in good yields. Hydrolysis of methyl 4-[2,2,2-trichloro-1-(arylsulfonylamino)ethyl]phenyloxy(or sulfanyl)acetates without microwave activation occurs only at the ester group with quantitative formation of 4-[2,2,2-trichloro-1-(arylsulfonylamino)ethyl]phenyloxy(or sulfanyl) acetic acids. N-[2,2,2-Trichloro-1-(1-naphthyl, 2-furyl, and 1-methylindol-3-yl)ethyl]-4-chlorobenzenesulfonamides in alkaline medium under microwave irradiation were converted in 10–15 min into the corresponding N-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl)-2-aryl-2-aminoacetic acids in preparative yields.     

Study of intramolecular aminolysis in peptides containing N-alkylamino acids at position 2

Many peptides and proteins, containing N^α-alkylamino acids (including proline) at the second position, are prone to intramolecular aminolysis (IA) with elimination of N-terminal dipeptide sequence as 2,5-diketopiperazines (DKP). We synthesized a series of short peptides, containing N-alkylamino acids at position 2, and studied their stability in the presence of acetic acid and amines. The presence of side chains in the second and the third amino acid residues and alkylation at N^α of the third amino acid residue slowed down IA. N^α-Alkyl residue in the first amino acid residue impeded IA only in peptides, containing three or more residues. Side chains of the first amino acids did not affect significantly the cleavage rates. Acetic acid promoted IA more strongly than aqueous ammonia, while tertiary amines were less effective. Peptides with methionine-S-oxide residues were more labile than the unoxidized analogs, suggesting intramolecular assistance of the S-oxide group in aminolysis. Surprisingly, intermediate compounds of the formula Boc–Met-MeXaa-Sar–NHR underwent rapid cleavage (endopeptolysis) upon attempted acidolytic deprotection.     

A convenient microwave-assisted synthesis of N-glycosyl amino acids

Optimization of coupling reactions of glycosylamines with Fmoc-protected aspartic acid, by microwave approach, is described. Different reaction conditions, quantities of substrates and solvents were tested to develop simple and reproducible methodologies. The best results were obtained using new triazine-based coupling reagents with a monomode microwave Discover® BenchMate™ instrument (CEM). The N-glycosyl amino acids were then deprotected to achieve final products for SPPS.     

Multi-component coupling synthesis of polycyclic pyrrole derivatives via Ir- and Rh-catalyzed cycloisomerizations with microwave heating

CuBr₂-catalyzed three-component coupling of N-benzylallylamine, ethyl glyoxalate, and terminal alkynes afforded glycinate-tethered 1,6-enynes, which were further transformed into polycyclic pyrrole-2-carboxylates via iridium-catalyzed cycloisomerization/Diels-Alder cycloaddition/dehydrogenation sequence under conventional and microwave heating conditions. The corresponding β-amino acid analogues were obtained from the Ir-catalyzed reaction of enynes prepared from lithium amides of allylamines with methyl non-2-en-4-ynoate. The Cu-catalyzed Mannich-type condensation was further extended to the synthesis of the glycinate-tethered dienyne and cyclopropylenyne, which were subjected to Rh-catalyzed cycloisomerizations to furnish bicyclic amino acids.     

Synthesis of N-phosphoryl amino acids using bis(9-fluorenylmethyl)phosphite

Bis(9-fluorenylmethyl)phosphite (BFMP) was found to be an effective reagent for the N-phosphorylation of various amino acid methyl esters. BFMP was prepared from N,N-diisopropyl phosphoramidous dichloride in a one-pot two-step reaction and was obtained as a crystalline solid. N-Phosphorylation of the methyl esters of seven representative amino acids with BFMP was high-yielding and generally resulted in crystalline products. Complete deprotection of both the 9-fluorenylmethylphosphosphate esters and the amino acid methyl esters was accomplished concomitantly with LiOH to give N-phosphoryl amino acids.     

Copper-catalyzed synthesis of 2-imidazolines and their N-hydroxyethyl derivatives under various conditions

A rapid and efficient method for the synthesis of 2-imidazolines and their N-hydroxyethyl derivatives from the reaction of aromatic nitriles with ethylenediamine (EDA) or N-(2-aminoethyl)ethanolamine (AEEA) using cupric indole-3-acetate (Cu(II)-(IAA)₂) as a reusable catalyst under reflux and microwave conditions is reported. And seven new N-hydroxyethyl-imidazolines were reported for the first time.     

Metal catalyst-free amination of meso-bromoporphyrins: an entry to supramolecular porphyrinoid frameworks

meso-Bromoporphyrins can be conveniently substituted by primary and secondary amines in a metal catalyst-free reaction which gives access to a large variety of meso-N-substituted derivatives. In some cases, considerable acceleration of this amination can be effected under microwave irradiation. The amino anchor on the porphyrin skeleton is useful for constructing novel self-assembling porphyrinoids as demonstrated by a single crystal X-ray analysis as well as stationary absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies.     

Dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic N-phthalyl amino acids using (S)-α-methylpantolactone as the chiral auxiliary

A dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic N-phthalyl amino acids by stereoselective esterification was examined using (S)-α-methylpantolactone as the chiral auxiliary. The reaction of various racemic N-phthalyl amino acids with this chiral alcohol in the presence of both DCC and DMAP afforded predominantly the (S,S)-esters in nearly quantitative yield.     

Copper-catalyzed C-N coupling reactions of aryl halides with α-amino acids under focused microwave irradiation

We have developed an efficient method for the preparation of enantiopure N-aryl-α-amino acids via copper-catalyzed N-arylation of α-amino acids and aryl halides under microwave irradiation. This protocol only needs less than 30 min to obtain the products, which are far superior to those obtained under conventional heating.     

Synthesis of dipeptides from N-hydroxy-3-azaspiro[5,5]undecane-2,4-dione activated α-amino acids

A simple two step procedure for the synthesis of a dipeptide from N-hydroxy-3-azaspiro[5,5]undecane-2,4-dione (HO-ASUD) activated α-amino acids is described. In presence of DCC, N-hydroxy-3-azaspiro[5,5]undecane-2,4-dione readily esterifies the carboxylic acid group of all the N-protected amino acids to yield crystalline N-hydroxy-3-aza spiro[5,5]undecane-2,4-dione activated carboxy ester. The N-hydroxy-3-aza spiro[5,5]undecane-2,4-dione activated carboxy esters of N-protected amino acids readily condensed with other amino acids and gave a dipeptide. This new method is effective for the DCC coupling of a variety of chiral amino acids without loss of enantiomeric purity. Synthesis of fifteen dipeptides including the hitherto unreported Fmoc-l-Orn(Boc)-Val-OMe, Fmoc-l-Cys(trt)-Gly-OEt and Boc-l-Tyr-Gly-OEt is presented.     

Isolations and structures of new ureido amino acids,lividine and grateloupine,from red algae Ograteloupia c. agardh genus

Two new ureido amino acids, lividine (1) and grateloupine (2), were isolated from Grateloupia livida and Grateloupia filicina respectively. The structures of both amino acids were assumed mainly by NMR spectra and determined as N^w -carbamoyl-L-citrulline for lividine and as N-carbamoyl-Y-aminobutyric acid for grateloupine by comparison with the synthetic compounds respectively.     

Microwave-promoted <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-arylation of imidazole and amino acids in the presence of Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and CuO in poly(ethylene glycol)

Copper(I)-catalyzed N-arylation of imidazole with iodobenzene, its derivatives, and bromobenzene in poly(ethylene glycol) under microwave irradiation was studied. The influence of the following factors on the yield of arylation product was investigated: the nature of the source of copper and ligand, type of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) used, and substituents in iodoarene. An optimal catalytic system was selected: CuO/l-Hys/Cs₂CO₃/PEG-400, a possibility of recycling of copper-containing catalyst was demonstrated. N-Arylation of eight natural amino acids using catalysis with Cu₂O/Cs₂CO₃/PEG-400 and microwave irradiation was studied, the dependence of the reaction results on temperature, duration of the process, and the ratio of the starting reagents was found. The highest yields of the target products were reached in the case of leucine, valine, and phenylalanine.