Pyrrolidine synthons for β-lactams

Fused tricyclic aziridines, methyl rel-(2R,2aR,3R,4R,4aR,4bS)- and rel-(2S,2aR,3R,4R,4aR,4bS)-4-hydroxy-2,4a-dimethoxyhexahydro-1-oxa-2b-azacyclopropa[cd]pentalene-3-carboxylates, have been synthesized as possible precursors to β-lactams. The product structure has been determined by two-dimensional NMR techniques in combination with computational methods.     

New method of preparing β-lactams

Summary A method has been devised for the synthesis of -lacrams from amides of -ha!ocarboxylic acids. Some new azetidinones with residues containing carboxyl groups on the nitrogen have been piepated. The method permits the conversion of $-amino acids trio difficulty accessible mixed (secondary) amino acids.This paper is publised under the regulations governing Brief Communications.     

New method of preparing β-lactams

Summary A method has been devised for the synthesis of B-lactams from amides of -halocarboxylic acids, Some new azetidinones with residues containing carboxyl groups on the nitrogen have been prepared. The method permits the conversion of -amino acids into difficulty accessible mixed (secondary) amino acids.     

Argentic oxide mediated N-dearylation of β-lactams

A method is described for the N-dearylation of N-(4-methoxy- or 4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-azetidinones with argentic oxide. The yields are good-to-excellent and the reaction is simple, efficient, and fast.     

Synthesis and biology of N-thiolated β-lactams

N-Thiolated β-lactams are an interesting new family of bioactive agents having antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer capabilities. Our interest in these β-lactams stems from their highly unusual structure–activity profiles and selectivity toward only a few genera of pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus anthracis, and Micrococcus. Here, we provide a complete outline on our work in the discovery and ongoing development of these compounds, starting from our initial, unexpected finding of antimicrobial activity for one of the lead compounds, to a more complete understanding of their chemical and biological mode of action and potential utility as antibacterial compounds.     

Synthesis of new nanocopolymer containing β-lactams

Several new monocyclic β-lactam monomers bearing the NO₂ group 2a–g were synthesized via a [2 + 2] ketene–imine cycloaddition reaction (Staudinger reaction). Calculation of coupling constant of H-3 and H-4, and the X-ray crystallography of β-lactam 2e confirmed the cis stereochemistry of these β-lactams. Then aminophenyl β-lactams were synthesized by the reduction of NO₂ to NH₂ group in the presence of Raney Ni and hydrazine hydrate. Treatment of these aminophenyl β-lactams with acryloyl chloride and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), afforded the monomers bearing the NHCOCH=CH₂ group. These acrylated β-lactam monomers were dissolved in a warm mixture of butyl acrylate and styrene and then were converted to the corresponding polyacrylate nano β-lactams by emulsion polymerization in water. A unique feature of this methodology is the ability to incorporate water-insoluble compounds directly into the nanoparticle framework. Structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by physical and spectral analyses. Dynamic light scattering analysis and transmission electron microscopy of the final emulsions show that the nanoparticles were about 50–70 nm in diameter.     

Kinetic resolution of β-lactams via enantioselective N-acylation

Enantioselective N-acylation of 4-aryl-β-lactams in the presence of acyl transfer catalyst Cl-PIQ provides an effective method for their non-enzymatic kinetic resolution.     

Synthesis of β-lactams with π electron-withdrawing substituents

β-Lactams are crucial structural feature of β-lactam antibiotics and important intermediates in synthetic and pharmaceutical chemistry. Synthetic methods for β-lactams with π electron-withdrawing substituents, such as formyl (carbaldehyde), acyl, imino, carboxylic acids, carboxylates, carboxamides, cyano (carbonitriles), and nitro groups, on their 3- and/or 4-position(s) are presented in this review. The methods are divided mainly into intramolecular cyclizations, cycloaddition, and other methods, for example, Ugi-type reaction of β-keto acids, amines, and isonitriles, and modification of β-lactam derivatives. Cyclizations include cyclization of haloacetamidoacetates(malonates), intramolecular carbene insertion of α-diazoalkanamides, ring-opening cyclization of α,β-epoxyalkanamidoacetates, oxidative coupling of 3-oxoalkanamidoacetates, oxidative cyclization of N-p-hydroxyphenyl β-oxoalkanamides, intramolecular cyclization of aspartic acid derivatives or β-hydroxyalkanamides, and radical cyclization of N-vinyl β-oxoalkanamides. Cycloadditions incorporate Staudinger cycloaddition of ketenes and imines, cycloaddition of nitrones and alkynes, cycloaddition of nitrones and alkylidenecycopropanes and subsequent acidic rearrangement, and condensation of imines and enolates (ethers) of esters. The scope, limitation, and stereoselectivity are also discussed for some methods. Most of the β-lactam derivatives are key intermediates or precursors for preparation of β-lactam antibiotics and their analogs.     

C-3 β-lactam carbocation equivalents: versatile synthons for C-3 substituted β-lactams

An efficient and operationally simple strategy for the synthesis of differently C-3 monosubstituted (9) and disubstituted (10) monocyclic β-lactams is described. This involves reaction of β-lactam carbocation equivalents (8) with an active aromatic, aliphatic and heterocyclic substrates in the presence of a Lewis acid.     

N-activated β-lactams as versatile reagents for acyl carrier protein labeling

Acyl carrier proteins are critical components of fatty acid and polyketide biosynthesis. Their primary function is to shuttle intermediates between active sites via a covalently bound phosphopantetheine arm. Small molecules capable of acylating this prosthetic group will provide a simple and reversible means of introducing novel functionality onto carrier protein domains. A series of N-activated β-lactams are prepared to examine site-specific acylation of the phosphopantetheine-thiol. In general, β-lactams are found to be significantly more reactive than our previously studied β-lactones. Selectivity for the holo over apo-form of acyl carrier proteins is demonstrated indicating that only the phosphopantetheine-thiol is modified. Incorporation of an N-propargyloxycarbonyl group provides an alkyne handle for conjugation to fluorophores and affinity labels. The utility of these groups for mechanistic interrogation of a critical step in polyketide biosynthesis is examined through comparison to traditional probes. In all, we expect the probes described in this study to serve as valuable and versatile tools for mechanistic interrogation.     

Synthesis of 4-vinyl substituted β-lactams of the oxamazin family

4-Vinyl-substituted oxamazins 15,16, and 3 have been prepared. Key steps of the synthesis are: the preparation of protected α-amino-β-hydroxyacid 6 through ester enolate condensation of ethyl glycinate STABASE adduct 8 with CH-protected propiolaldehyde 9, the coupling of this acid with an appropriate protected hydroxylamine, the cyclization of resulting hydroxamate, and finally the acylation of the amino-group in 3 with ATMO side chain.     

Triclorosilane-mediated stereoselective synthesis of β-amino esters and their conversion to highly enantiomerically enriched β-lactams

A highly stereoselective trichlorosilane-mediated reduction of N-benzyl enamines was developed; the combination of a low cost, easy to make metal-free catalyst and an inexpensive chiral auxiliary allowed to perform the reaction on substrates with different structural features often with total control of the stereoselectivity. By easy deprotection through hydrogenolysis followed by conversion of β-aminoester to 2-azetidinones, the synthesis of enantiomerically pure β-lactams (>98% e.e.) was successfully accomplished.     

Natural product derivatization with β-lactones, β-lactams and epoxides toward ‘infinite’ binders

β-Lactones, β-lactams and epoxides are privileged structural motifs found in both therapeutics and natural products. Herein we report several strategies for annulation of these motifs onto natural products that are not known to covalently modify their cellular targets. These strategies can facilitate identification of previously unidentified cellular targets or identify novel cellular targets of these natural products. The reported strategies include telescoped synthesis of β-lactones from allylic alcohols, nucleophile-catalyzed Michael aldol-β-lactonizations, and [2 + 2] β-lactam annulations with complex, commercially available alkene-containing natural products as substrates. A novel method for the tagging of phenolic natural products with epoxides is also reported.     

DMF-dimethyl sulfate as a new reagent for the synthesis of β-lactams

A number of 2-azetidinones were synthesized in good to excellent yields by a novel reaction between Schiff bases, substituted acetic acids and alkoxymethylene-N,N-dimethyliminium salts, the adduct formed from DMF and O-alkylating agents. The advantages of this new method are mild reaction conditions, low cost, avoiding the use of chlorinating agents and easy purification of the products. The best results were obtained when DMF and dimethyl sulfate were used at room temperature.     

Assessment of β-lactams retention in hydrophilic interaction chromatography applying Box-Behnken design

In this paper, the retention prediction models for mixture of β-lactam antibiotics analyzed by hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) are presented. The aim of the study was to investigate the retention behavior of some organic acids and amphoteric compounds including cephalosporins (cefotaxime, cefalexin, cefaclor, cefuroxime, and cefuroxime axetil) and penicillins (ampicillin and amoxicillin). Retention of substances with acidic functional group in HILIC is considered to be interesting since the majority of publications in literature are related to basic compounds. In the beginning of the study, classical silica columns were chosen for the retention analysis. Then, preliminary study was done and factors with the most significant influence on the retention factors were selected. These factors with the impact on the retention factors were investigated employing Box-Behnken design as a tool. On the basis of the obtained results the mathematical models were created and tested using ANOVA test and finally verified. This approach enables the presentation of chromatographic retention in many ways (three-dimensional (3-D) graphs and simple two-dimensional graphical presentations). All of these gave the possibility to predict the chromatographic retention under different conditions. Furthermore, regarding the structure of the analyzed compounds, the potential retention mechanisms in HILIC were suggested.     

Advanced procedure for the enzymatic ring opening of unsaturated alicyclic β-lactams

Enantiopure β-amino acids 1a–4a and β-lactams 1b–4b were prepared simultaneously through the lipolase-catalysed enantioselective ring opening of unsaturated racemic β-lactams (±)-1-(±)-4. High enantioselectivities (E>200) were observed when the reactions were performed with 1 equiv of water in iPr₂O at 70 °C. The resolved (1R,2S)-amino acids (yield⩾45%) and (1S,5R)-, (1S,6R)- and (1S,8R)-lactams (yield⩾47%) could be easily separated. The ring opening of lactam enantiomers 1b–4b with 18% HCl afforded the corresponding β-amino acid hydrochlorides 1c·HCl–4c·HCl (ee >95%).     

Diastereospecific synthesis of novel tetracyclic β-lactams via 6-exo-trig radical cyclization

An efficient and diastereospecific synthesis of a tetracyclic, 3.6.6.4 ring system fused to a β-lactam has been achieved in high yield via 6-exo-trig radical cyclization.     

One-pot conversion of carbamates of unsaturated β-aminoesters into unsaturated β-lactams by use of trimethylsilyl iodide

Trimethylsilyl iodide (TMSI) is introduced as an efficient reagent for the one-pot and direct transformation of carbamates of unsaturated β-aminoesters into the corresponding α-methylene-β-lactams and α-arylidene-β-lactams. The mild reaction conditions, excellent yields and easy work-up procedures make it a useful alternative to previously applied procedures for the rapid synthesis of β-lactams from easily available Baylis-Hillman adducts.