Reaction of (S)-homoserine lactone with Grignard reagents: synthesis of amino-keto-alcohols and β-amino acid derivatives

The ring-opening reaction of homoserine lactone with phenylmagnesium bromides was systematically examined. A reliable method to achieve β-amino acid precursors was developed by tuning the reaction conditions to favor mono-addition to the carbonyl moiety of the lactone.     

A versatile and selective chemo-enzymatic synthesis of β-protected aspartic and γ-protected glutamic acid derivatives

Two versatile, high yielding, and efficient chemo-enzymatic methods for the synthesis of β-protected Asp and γ-protected Glu derivatives using Alcalase are described. The first method is based on the α-selective enzymatic hydrolysis of symmetrical aspartyl and glutamyl diesters. The second method involving mixed diesters comprises a three-step protocol using (i) α-selective enzymatic methyl-esterification, (ii) chemical β-esterification, and finally (iii) α-selective enzymatic methyl ester hydrolysis. The yields of the purified β- and γ-esters range from 77% to 91%.     

Asymmetric synthesis of deuterated and fluorinated aromatic α,α-disubstituted amino acid derivatives

We herein present organocatalytic approaches to synthesize fluorinated and deuterated α-substituted phenylglycine derivatives. Whereas the addition of diethyl azodicarboxylate to fluorinated α-substituted aldehydes furnishes chiral non-racemic compounds, the use of chloramine-T as a nitrogen source represents a rapid access to sulfamidated fluorinated amino acid precursors. Additionally, further functionalization was achieved through the palladium-catalyzed coupling of a p-bromosubstituted aldehyde with a range of fluorine or deuterium-containing boronic acids. Oxidation of the aldehyde function and cleavage of the protection group of the nitrogen give way to the free fluorinated unnatural amino acids.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of β,γ-disubstituted and α,β,γ-trisubstituted butyrolactones

β,γ-Disubstituted butyrolactones were produced effectively and steroeselectively from arsonium ylides generated in situ and substituted olefins. The transformation could be realized in one-pot or in two steps, which depended on the electronic properties of the olefins. With the adjustment of the solvent and in the presence of EtOH, α,β,γ-trisubstituted butyrolactones were also obtained in high yield from arsonium ylides and substituted olefins.     

Efficient preparation of β-hydroxy aspartic acid and its derivatives

We reported an efficient and practical synthetic route to various properly-protected erythreo-β-OH-Asp compounds, which are key β-branched a-amino acid units in coralmycin A and other peptide natural products.     

Binding behaviors of scutellarin with α-, β-, γ-cyclodextrins and their derivatives

A series of cyclodextrin/scutellarin inclusion complexes were prepared from α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin with scutellarin (SCU), and their inclusion complexation behaviors, such as stoichiometry, complex stability constants and inclusion mode, were investigated by means of UV/Vis spectroscopy, ¹H NMR and 2D NMR. The results showed that the SCU could be efficiently encapsulated in the cyclodextrin cavity in aqueous solution to produce complexes that were more soluble than free SCU. The enhanced binding ability of cyclodextrins towards SCU was discussed from the viewpoint of the size/shape-fit and multiple recognition mechanism between host and guest.     

Asymmetric synthesis of α,α-disubstituted α-amino alcohol derivatives

Herein we report the asymmetric synthesis of α,α-disubstituted α-amino alcohol derivatives 22, 25 and 26, key intermediates of a novel immunomodulator, using Seebach’s method. This synthetic method can be applied to the large scale synthesis of chiral sphingosine 1-phosphate-1 (S1P₁) receptor agonists, with significant improvements to the previously reported method with regard to the reaction temperature.     

Reaction of Schiff bases anions with 4-halo-2-butenoates: Selective synthesis of α-cyclopropyl and γ,δ unsaturated α-amino acid derivatives.

Copper-catalyzed substitution reactions.     

Expedient synthesis of β,β-disubstituted α-methylenepropionates

Baylis-Hillman alcohols are excellent sources of the allylic halides ArCHCH(CH₂X)(CO₂R) (X=Br, Cl; R¹=Me, Et, Bu^t). The Z double bond isomers are attained in high isomeric purity (>14:1, Z/E). The halides are chemo- and regiospecifically transformed into the acrylates (ArCHR²)C(CH₂)(CO₂R¹) on treatment with Zn(R²)₂ (R²=Me, Et, CH₂TMS, CH₂SiMe₂OMe) or PrZnBr in the presence of catalytic amounts of copper(I) salts (0.5-20 mol%) in high yield.     

Asymmetric synthesis of chiral β-hydroxy-α-amino acid derivatives by organocatalytic aldol reactions of isocyanoesters with β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters

The first organocatalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of isocyanoesters with various β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters has been described. Using cinchona alkaloid-derived bifunctional thiourea as the catalyst, chiral β-hydroxy-α-amino acid derivatives can be obtained in excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to 95% yield and 92% ee) after acidic hydrolysis. This protocol provides a straightforward method to access multiple substituted β-hydroxy-α-amino acid derivatives with high enantiomeric purity.     

Double nucleophilic N-alkylation of α-oxime-esters with Grignard reagents

Double nucleophilic N-alkylation of α-oxime-esters, affording N,N-dialkyl-α-amino acids is herein described. Grignard reagents accomplished double N-alkylations via umpolung and various N,N-dialkylated α-amino acids were successfully synthesized in 15 min. Both electron-withdrawing sulfonyl groups and electron-donating silyl and methyl groups on oximes were available. Alkylmagnesium species and (E)-configuration of α-oxime-ester were essential to this cascade reaction.     

Efficient diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of α,β-disubstituted γ-phosphono sulfonates

The first asymmetric synthesis of α,β-disubstituted γ-phosphono sulfonates is reported. The key step is the Michael addition of a lithiated enantiopure sulfonate bearing an inexpensive chiral sugar auxiliary to α,β-unsaturated phosphonates in good diastereoselectivities. After chromatographic purification, the cleavage of the chiral sugar auxiliary proceeds without any epimerization or racemization to form the corresponding isopropyl sulfonate in very good overall yield (75%) and excellent diastereomeric and enantiomeric excess (de, ee ? 95%).     

One-pot synthesis of α-phenylsulfinyl ketones by reaction of phenyl benzenethiosulfinate with enolate anions,and synthesis of sulfoxides and sulfides by its reaction with Grignard reagents

Phenyl benzenethiosulfinate reacts with enolate anions derived from ketones to give α-phenylsulfinyl ketones directly, together with minor amounts of α-phenylsulfanyl ketones. These are easily separated by forming the water-soluble sodium salts of the sulfinyl compounds. Grignard reagents also react with phenyl benzenethiosulfinate, to give mixtures of sulfoxides and sulfides.     

Stereoselective synthesis of α-hydroxy-β-amino acid derivatives from β-hydroxy-γ,δ-unsaturated sulfilimine

The first report on the use of N-sulfinyl benzylcarbamate for the preparation of N-Cbz sulfilimine from the corresponding sulfoxide is reported. The sulfilimine moiety is utilized as an intramolecular nucleophile for the regio- and stereoselective heterofunctionalization of an alkene to furnish a bromo carbamate which is used as a key advanced intermediate in the synthesis of representative α-hydroxy-β-amino acid derivatives.     

Asymmetric synthesis of α,β-diamino acid derivatives with an aziridine-, azetidine- and γ-lactone-skeleton via Mannich-type additions across α-chloro-N-sulfinylimines

The efficient asymmetric synthesis of new chiral γ-chloro-α,β-diamino acid derivatives via highly diastereoselective Mannich-type reactions of N-(diphenylmethylene) glycine esters across a chiral α-chloro-N-p-toluenesulfinylimine was developed. The influence of the base, LDA or LiHMDS, used for the formation of the glycine enolates, was of great importance for the anti-/syn-diastereoselectivity of the Mannich-type reaction. The γ-chloro-α,β-diamino acid derivatives proved to be excellent building blocks for ring closure towards optically pure anti- and syn-β,γ-aziridino-α-amino esters, and subsequent ring transformation into trans-3-aminoazetidine-2-carboxylic acid derivatives and α,β-diamino-γ-butyrolactones.     

Rapid, one-pot synthesis of α,α-disubstituted primary amines by the addition of Grignard reagents to nitriles under microwave heating conditions

A series of α,α-disubstituted amines have been prepared in a simple and efficient one-pot procedure by the addition of Grignard reagents to a series of aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic nitriles. Key to this reported procedure is the unprecedented addition of the Grignard reagent to the nitrile under heating by microwave irradiation which both significantly improves reaction yields and reduces reaction times. In general, the Grignard addition reaction is complete within 5-10 min at 100 °C followed by rapid reduction with sodium borohydride to give the target amines.     

Highly enantioselective γ-amination of α,β-unsaturated acyl chlorides with azodicarboxylates: efficient synthesis of chiral γ-amino acid derivatives

The cinchona alkaloid-catalyzed γ-amination of α,β-unsaturated acyl chlorides with azodicarboxylates to give the corresponding dihydropyridazinones in good yields with high enantioselectivities has been developed. Reductive ring opening of the dihydropyridazinones afforded series of cyclic and acyclic γ-amino acid derivatives in good yields with high enantiopurity.     

Preparative synthesis of β-amino alcohols from α-amino dicarboxylic acid derivatives

A low-expensive preparative procedure has been developed for the synthesis of protected β-amino alcohols from α-amino dicarboxylic acid derivatives.