Polymer-supported triacetoxyborohydride: a novel reagent of choice for reductive amination

A novel polymer-supported triacetoxyborohydride reagent for reductive amination of aldehydes and ketones is reported. The bound reagent was found to be shelf-stable and provided broad scope and reactivity in reductive amination reactions under mild reaction conditions. Streamlined protocols for its application in reductive amination reactions using both primary and secondary amines are described.     

Reductive Amination by Photoredox Catalysis and Polarity‐Matched Hydrogen Atom Transfer

The excitation of a Ru^II photosensitizer in the presence of ascorbic acid leads to the reduction of iminium ions to electron‐rich α‐aminoalkyl radical intermediates, which are rapidly converted into reductive amination products by thiol‐mediated hydrogen atom transfer (HAT). As a result, the reductive amination of carbonyl compounds with amines by photoredox catalysis proceeds in good to excellent yields and with broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance. The three key features of this work are 1) the rapid interception of electron‐rich α‐aminoalkyl radical intermediates by polarity‐matched HAT in a photoredox reaction, 2) the method of reductive amination by photoredox catalysis itself, and 3) the application of this new method for temporally and spatially controlled reactions on a solid support, as demonstrated by the attachment of a fluorescent dye on an activated cellulose support by photoredox‐catalyzed reductive amination.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic reductive amination

The first enantioselective organocatalytic reductive amination reaction has been accomplished. The development of a new chiral phosphoric acid catalyst has provided a convenient strategy for the enantioselective construction of protected primary amines and provided a highly stereoselective method for the reductive amination of heterocyclic amines. A diverse spectrum of ketone and amine substrates can be accommodated in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity. This new protocol realizes a key benefit of reductive amination versus imine reduction, in that ketimines derived from alkyl-alkyl ketones are unstable to isolation, a fundamental limitation that is comprehensively bypassed using this direct organocatalytic reductive amination.     

Concise synthesis of pyrrolidine and indolizidine alkaloids by a highly convergent three-component reaction

The synthesis of pyrrolidine and indolizidine derivatives through radical carboazidation of alkenes with α-iodoketones, followed by reductive amination, is described. When properly substituted, further lactamization afforded pyrrolizidinones in good yield. This carboazidation/reductive amination sequence was efficiently applied to the total synthesis of three different simple alkaloids, including (±)-monomorine I.     

Reductive aminations by imine reductases: from milligrams to tons

The synthesis of secondary and tertiary amines through the reductive amination of carbonyl compounds is one of the most significant reactions in synthetic chemistry. Asymmetric reductive amination for the formation of chiral amines, which are required for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and other bioactive molecules, is often achieved through transition metal catalysis, but biocatalytic methods of chiral amine production have also been a focus of interest owing to their selectivity and sustainability. The discovery of asymmetric reductive amination by imine reductase (IRED) and reductive aminase (RedAm) enzymes has served as the starting point for a new industrial approach to the production of chiral amines, leading from laboratory-scale milligram transformations to ton-scale reactions that are now described in the public domain. In this perspective we trace the development of the IRED-catalyzed reductive amination reaction from its discovery to its industrial application on kg to ton scale. In addition to surveying examples of the synthetic chemistry that has been achieved with the enzymes, the contribution of structure and protein engineering to the understanding of IRED-catalyzed reductive amination is described, and the consequent benefits for activity, selectivity and stability in the design of process suitable catalysts.

IRED-catalyzed reductive aminations have progressed from mg to ton scale, through advances in enzyme discovery, protein engineering and process biocatalysis.     

Brevibacterium epidermidis催化酮不对称还原胺化合成(S)-手性胺

光学纯手性胺是一类非常重要的手性化学品,作为手性砌块和手性拆分剂广泛用于医药、农业化学品、精细化学品等产品的合成中.据统计,美国FDA近年来批准的约40％药物中都含有一个或多个手性胺结构单元.胺脱氢酶(AmDH)是由氨基酸脱氢酶改造而来的一类催化酮不对称还原胺化的新酶,其在手性胺的合成中展现出较强的潜力,已引起国内外学术界和工业界的广泛关注.这是因为该酶能够利用廉价的无机铵为胺供体,且具有催化效率高、原子经济性好和环境友好等优点.迄今为止已经有数个高效的胺脱氢酶被成功开发和报道,但是这些通过蛋白质工程改造的胺脱氢酶均为(R)-选择性,因此只能合成(R)-选择性的手性胺,遗憾的是还未见有(S)-选择性胺脱氢酶的报道.因此,本文主要目的是期望从自然环境中鉴定能够不对称还原胺化酮合成(S)-手性胺的微生物,进而从中分离得到能够以无机铵作为胺供体合成(S)-手性胺的(S)-选择性酶.本文首先利用苯乙胺作为唯一氮源,从土壤中筛选能够利用苯乙胺生长的菌株,进而利用苯乙酮作为初筛底物对得到的菌株进行胺化能力筛选,再利用(4-氟苯基)丙酮作为模式底物进行进一步的筛选.幸运的是,我们获得了能够利用无机铵作为胺供体催化(4-氟苯基)丙酮不对称还原胺化合成(S)-4-氟-α-甲基苯乙胺的菌株,经过16S RNA鉴定为表皮短杆菌,命名为B.epidermidis ECU1015.接下来,我们对B.epidermidis ECU1015催化的胺化反应中的关键参数如胺基供体及其最适浓度、反应温度、pH值和底物浓度等进行了优化,确定最佳反应条件:胺供体为NH4Cl(1.25 mol/L),反应温度为30°C,KPB缓冲液(200 mmol/L,pH 7.5),底物浓度10 mmol/L.最后,在最适的反应条件下,我们对B.epidermidis ECU1015催化的底物谱进行了研究.结果表明,该微生物不能催化大位阻芳香酮和链状酮的胺化,对位阻较小的苯乙酮及(4-氟苯基)丙酮具有较好的还原胺化能力,而且对苯环上带有吸电子取代基的酮化合物具有更好的转化效果.经手性分析,所有生成的手性胺均为(S)-构型,产品的光学纯度均>99％.B.epidermidis催化酮不对称胺化所形成的产物构型均为(S)-选择性,这不同于已报道的(R)-选择性胺脱氢酶.该菌株的发现为(S)-选择性胺脱氢酶的进一步鉴定奠定了一定的研究基础,相关蛋白的分离纯化工作正在进行.     

(5-甲基-2-烷氧基苯基)-1-烃基胺的合成

以对甲酚(1)为起始原料,经醚化、酰化和还原氨化反应合成了5个(5-甲基-2-乙氧基苯基)-1-烃基胺;1经酯化、Fries重排、醚化和还原氨化反应合成了5个(5-甲基-2-甲氧基苯基)-1-烃基胺.其结构经1H NMR,13C NMR,IR和GC-MS表征.     

Synthesis of [11C]/(13C)amines via carbonylation followed by reductive amination

Twelve 11C-labelled amines were prepared via 11C-carbonylation followed by reductive amination. The 11C-carbonylation was performed in the presence of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium using aryl iodides or aryl triflates, [11C]carbon monoxide and phenyl-/methylboronic acid. The [11C]ketones formed in this step were then transformed directly into amines by reductive amination using different amines in the presence of TiCl4 and NaBH3CN. The 11C-labelled amines were obtained with decay-corrected radiochemical yields in the range 2-78%. The radiochemical purity of the isolated products exceeded 98%. (13C)Benzhydryl-phenyl-amine was synthesised and analysed by NMR spectroscopy for confirmation of the labelling position. Specific radioactivity was determined for the same compound. The reference compounds were prepared by reductive amination of ketones using conventional reaction conditions and three of the compounds were novel. The presented approach is a new method for the synthesis of [11C]/(13C)amines.     

Reductive Amination of Carbonyl Compounds with Ammonia and Hydrogenation of Nitriles to Primary Amines with Heterogeneous Cobalt Catalysts

Reductive amination of aldehydes/ketones with aqueous NH3 and hydrogenation of nitriles to primary amines with Co catalysts were reported. Co@NC-700 exhibited remarkable activity and high selectivity for the reductive amination of aldehydes/ketones with aqueous NH3 and the hydrogenation of nitriles to primary amines. Several primary amines can be obtained with good to excellent yields via the reductive amination of aldehydes/ketones and the hydrogenation of nitriles. The nitrogen-doped carbon(C)-supported Co@NC-700 metal catalyst was prepared via the pyrolysis of bioMOF Co/adenine in activated C. Co@NC-700 can be reused five times without evident loss of activity.     

Efficient Synthesis of Thalifoline and Its Analogs

Thalifoline (1) and its analogs were synthesized from methyl 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzoate by prenyl etherification, Claisen rearrangement, oxidation, imine formation, reductive amination and intramolecular amidation. The last three steps, imine formation, reductive amination, and intramolecular amidation, were completed in one pot at room temperature.     

Synthesis and application of carbohydrate-derived morpholine amino acids

The synthesis of series of diversely functionalized epsilon-morpholine amino acids (MAAs, 5a-h) starting from an epsilon-sugar amino acid and following a two-step oxidative glycol cleavage/reductive amination strategy, is described. In an alternative synthetic scheme, diastereoisomerically pure delta-MAAs (12a,b) were obtained. Oligopeptides containing MAAs were prepared either by direct incorporation of a MAA building block or by subjecting a fully assembled SAA-containing peptide to the two-step glycol cleavage/reductive amination procedure.     

Lithium borohydride: a reagent of choice for the selective reductive amination of cyclohexanones

Traditional reductive amination of substituted cyclohexanones are either selective toward the formation of cis-products or show low selectivity. Herein we report a selective procedure for the reductive amination of substituted cyclohexanones with primary amines using lithium borohydride that is selective toward formation of trans-products.     

Reductive amination of furfural toward furfurylamine with aqueous ammonia under hydrogen over Ru-supported catalyst

Poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-capped ruthenium-supported hydroxyapatite (Ru-PVP/HAP) shows significant activity for the synthesis of furfurylamine (FAM) via the reductive amination of furfural. As-prepared 5 wt% Ru-PVP/HAP affords 50 % yield of FAM in 25 % NH₃ aqueous solution under pressurized H₂ gas (2.5 atm), and the highest yield approaches 60 % at 4.0 H₂ atm. Comparison between the activities over four Ru-supported HAP catalysts prepared with different methods and the results of X-ray absorption spectroscopy suggested that the metallic Ru cluster is the active center for the reductive amination of furfural. Transmission electron microscope and inductively-coupled plasma analysis indicated that the as-prepared 5 wt% Ru-PVP/HAP catalyst possessed 4.0 wt% PVP-capped Ru clusters with average diameter of 1.7 ± 0.3 nm on HAP support. It was also demonstrated that the reductive amination approach with Ru-PVP/HAP catalyst, NH₃ aq. and pressurized H₂ gas has capability for transformation of aromatic aldehydes to the corresponding aromatic amines. According to these results, it is concluded that Ru(0) cluster supported on HAP will represent a suitable catalyst for widely-usable reductive amination to convert an aldehyde functionality towards an amine.     

还原胺化反应的新进展

综述了近几年来各种还原胺化方法的研究进展及其在合成中的应用, 尤其对高效和高选择性的还原胺化进行了重点介绍.     

Synthesis of the aldehyde of oligomeric polyoxyethylene

Conjugates of polyoxyethylene with proteins and surfaces are of much importance in various biotechnical applications. Consequently, methods for preparing the aldehyde of POE are of interest because of the potential ready attachment of this compound to proteins and aminated surfaces by reductive amination. In this work we describe the results of attempts to prepare an oligomeric POE aldehyde by six routes, two of which proved to be effective. Two previously published routes, manganese-oxide and DMSO/Ac₂O oxidation were ineffective. The aldehyde was shown to be unstable in the presence of base and thus of little use for reductive amination. On the other hand, the benzaldehyde derivative, which we also synthesized, is stable, easy to prepare, and undergoes ready reductive amination.     

Fluorescence labelling of carbohydrates with 2-aminobenzamide (2AB)

2-Aminobenzamide (2AB) is a common fluorescence label attached to reducing oligosaccharides by a reductive amination procedure. Chemical investigation of the published literature procedure reveals labelling occurs by the expected mechanism for both protected and unprotected glucose derivatives to yield open-chain carbohydrates rather than result in the formation of any heterocyclic materials. Pentenyl glucosides may also be readily attached to the 2AB label by a sequence of dihydroxylation, periodate cleavage and subsequent reductive amination of the resulting aldehyde. 2AB labelling is compatible with deprotection of both acetate and benzyl protecting groups.     

Highly Active Phosphine‐Free Bifunctional Iron Complex for Hydrogenation of Bicarbonate and Reductive Amination

Based on a “transition metal frustrated Lewis pair” approach, a cyclopentadienone iron tricarbonyl complex has been designed and applied in the reductive amination and hydrogenation of bicarbonate. This well‐defined phosphine‐free complex displays the best activities reported to date for an iron complex in the reduction of bicarbonate into formate and in reductive amination.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives

Five general routes for the preparation of polyoxyethylene [generally referred to as poly(ethylene glycol) or PEG] derivatives are described. These routes are (1) nucleophilic displacements with the alkoxide of PEG, (2) nucleophilic displacement on PEG–tosylate, –mesylate, or –bromide, (3) reductive amination of PEG–aldehyde, (4) reductive amination of PEG–amine, and (5) nucleophilic displacements on the s-triazine derivatives prepared from s-triazine trichloride (cyanuric chloride) and PEG. Eighteen derivatives are prepared and potential applications to catalysis, cell purifications, and other areas are discussed briefly.     

Reductive Amination of Quinoline N-Oxide with Aminopyridines and Their N-Tozyl Derivatives

In reaction of quinoline N-oxide with 2-aminopyridine in the presence of tosyl chloride the substrate undergoes reductive amination into 2-pyridyl(2-quinolyl)amine, and with 3- and 4-aminopyridines reductive tosylamination occurs to furnish N-tosyl derivatives of the corresponding 3- and 4-pyridyl(2-quinolyl)amines. N-tosyl derivatives of aminopyridines also react along reductive tosylamination pathway.     

General and selective synthesis of primary amines using Ni-based homogeneous catalysts

The development of base metal catalysts for industrially relevant amination and hydrogenation reactions by applying abundant and atom economical reagents continues to be important for the cost-effective and sustainable synthesis of amines which represent highly essential chemicals. In particular, the synthesis of primary amines is of central importance because these compounds serve as key precursors and central intermediates to produce value-added fine and bulk chemicals as well as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and materials. Here we report a Ni-triphos complex as the first Ni-based homogeneous catalyst for both reductive amination of carbonyl compounds with ammonia and hydrogenation of nitroarenes to prepare all kinds of primary amines. Remarkably, this Ni-complex enabled the synthesis of functionalized and structurally diverse benzylic, heterocyclic and aliphatic linear and branched primary amines as well as aromatic primary amines starting from inexpensive and easily accessible carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) and nitroarenes using ammonia and molecular hydrogen. This Ni-catalyzed reductive amination methodology has been applied for the amination of more complex pharmaceuticals and steroid derivatives. Detailed DFT computations have been performed for the Ni-triphos based reductive amination reaction, and they revealed that the overall reaction has an inner-sphere mechanism with H₂ metathesis as the rate-determining step.

A Ni-triphos based homogeneous catalyst enabled the synthesis of all kinds of primary amines by reductive amination of carbonyl compounds with ammonia and hydrogenation of nitroarenes.