Quantitation of amino acids in plasma by high performance liquid chromatography: Simultaneous deproteinization and derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl chloride

This paper, as a novelty to this field, presents the deproteinization and derivatization of plasma's free amino acids (PFAAs), simultaneously, in a single step, with the acetonitrile (ACN) containing 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl chloride (FMOC) reagent. Deproteinization and derivatization, were studied with 22 amino acids, applying photodiode array (DAD) and fluorescence (FL) detection, simultaneously. Model investigations have been carried out as a function of the FMOC concentration, reaction time and reaction conditions: with standard solutions, with human plasma samples in its initial condition and fortified with standard amino acids (excluding tryptophan because it co-elutes with the hydrolyzed FMOC). Reproducibilities of 22 amino acids, including both histidine and tyrosine derivatives, obtained under optimum derivatization conditions are presented (at 3.0 mM FMOC concentration, at pH 9; derivatization time = 20 min), and characterized with the relative standard deviation percentages of their responses (≤4.4%, RSD). Quantitation limit (LOQ) of amino acid FMOC derivatives proved to be 2.5 pmol, except for cystine, ornithine (5 pmol) and for the total of tyrosines (N-FMOC-tyrosine and N,O-FMOC-tyrosine 10 pmol).     

Chiral Ligand-Exchange Chromatography for Separation of Three Stereoisomers of Octahydroindole-2-carboxylic Acid

A novel HPLC method is described for separation of the three stereoisomers of octahydroindole-2-carboxylic acid (Oic), an intermediate in the synthesis of perindopril. The chiral mobile phase contained the complex of Cu(II) with the optically active selector L-phenylalaninamide (L-PheA), and an ion-pair reagent, sodium 1-octanesulfonate. The effects of the concentrations of the Cu(II)–L-PheA complex and the ion-pair reagent, mobile phase pH, ionic strength, acetonitrile content, and column temperature were studied. Satisfactory resolution was achieved for three stereoisomers, RRR-, SSS-, and SRR-Oic.     

Analysis of catecholamines and related compounds in one whole metabolic pathway with high performance liquid chromatography based on derivatization

The simultaneous determination of Tyr, catecholamines and their metabolites in one whole metabolic pathway using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (HPLC–FLD) based on pre-column derivatization has been achieved successfully. 1,3,5,7-Tetramethyl-8-(N-hydroxysuccinimidyl butyric ester)-difluoroboradiaza-s-indacene (TMBB-Su), a highly reactive fluorescent reagent synthesized in our previous work, was used for the labeling of tyrosine (Tyr), l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA), dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) and metanephrine (MN). Derivatization conditions including reagent concentration, buffer, reaction temperature and reaction time were also investigated to improve the derivatization efficiency and thus the sensitivity of the detection. The separation of the derivatives was obtained on C₁₈ column with the mobile phase of 20 mM pH 3.5 citric acid (H₃Cit)–sodium hydrogen phosphate (Na₂HPO₄) buffer and methanol. Good linearities with correlation coefficients square (R²) greater than 0.998 in the corresponding concentration ranges were observed and the detection limits (S/N = 3) were found in the range from 0.10 to 0.40 nM (l-DOPA: 1.45 nM). The proposed method has been applied to the detection of catecholamines and related compounds in mice liver and brain samples without tedious extraction or purification procedure, which exhibits excellent selectivity and sensitivity in the analysis of complex samples. This work provides an alternative approach in the metabolic research of catecholamines and is helpful for the study of catecholamine metabolism.     

Chiral 1,4-morpholin-2,5-dione derivatives as α-glucosidase inhibitors: Part 2

A series of chiral 1,4-morpholin-2,5-dione derivatives were synthesized starting from chiral synthons 1 and 2, diastereomeric monolactim ethers derived from l-valine. The compounds investigated, were inactive toward β-glucosidase, α-mannosidase and α-galactosidase but behave as noncompetitive inhibitors against the α-glucosidase (from Saccharomices cervisiae) with some showing a good inhibition ability (0.05 < K_i < 0.18 mM).     

Kinetics of racemization of enantiopure N-imidazole derivatives,aromatase inhibitors: studies in organic,aqueous, and biomimetic media

The configurational stability of N-imidazole derivatives, aromatase inhibitors, was investigated under organic, aqueous, and biomimetic media, by studying the effect of organic solvent, pH, and temperature. Validated chiral HPLC or CD-EKC methods allowed us to quantify the presence of both enantiomers. The rate constants, half-lives, and apparent free energy barriers of the racemization phenomenon were determined using a mathematical model of this first-order reaction.The presence of triethylamine (2000 equiv) at high temperature (70 °C) induces the fastest racemization with a t_1/2 rac less than 7 h. This result can be related to the lability of benzylic proton in these strongly basic conditions. Biomimetic media (the presence of bovine serum albumin in a pH 7.4 buffer at 37.4 °C) do not seem to preserve the initial configuration of each enantiomer.     

Cinchona alkaloids as privileged chiral solvating agents for the enantiodiscrimination of N-protected aminoalkanephosphonates—a comparative NMR study

A series of chiral amines of increasing structural complexity, such as 1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine, ephedrine, quinine, quinidine, 9-O-tert-butylcarbamoylquinine, and 9-O-tert-butylcarbamoylquinidine were studied as chiral solvating agents for the enantiodifferentiation of N-benzyloxycarbonyl derivatives of 1-aminoalkanephosphonic and phosphinic acids by means of ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. Among the cinchona alkaloids, that induced the most significant chemical shift non-equivalences, non-substituted quinidine exhibited the best effectiveness, excellent for analytical purposes (for example Δδ = 0.348 up to 1.008 ppm for phosphinic acid analogs). The signal separation of the diionic phosphonic acid enantiomers could be further optimized by the addition of an excess of the solvating agents. The newly obtained results appeared better when compared to the data set previously reported for the same analytes with the application of cyclodextrins.     

(R)- or (S)-Bi-2-naphthol assisted,l-proline catalyzed direct aldol reaction

Chiral Brønsted acids (R)- and (S)-BINOL were employed as additives in the classic l-proline catalyzed direct aldol reaction. Eighteen substrates were tested with 0.5 mol % (R)-BINOL loading and 1 mol % of (S)-BINOL loading, and the enantioselectivity was improved from 72% ee without additive to 98% ee. In the proposed transition state, the chiral Brønsted acid promoted the reaction through hydrogen bonding, which not only activated the carbonyl group but also stabilized the transition state.     

Preparation of isoxazolidinyl nucleoside enantiomers by lipase-catalysed kinetic resolution

An efficient biocatalytic procedure to obtain chiral N,O-nucleoside derivatives consisting of a lipase-catalysed resolution of the corresponding racemates in organic solvent has been developed. Enantioselective esterification of thymine and cytosine derivatives, (±)-9a and (±)-9b, has been investigated by comparing the efficiency of different lipases and acyl donors. Since esterification of (±)-9a and (±)-9b, occurred with low enantioselectivity (E ? 14) in the presence of the lipases considered, for preparative purposes we resorted, with success, to a double sequential kinetic resolution, using Lipozyme IM as the best catalyst. This approach enables us to obtain all the enantiomers with ee ? 95%. The absolute configuration of the new chiral N-acetyl cytosine derivative 9b was established by circular dichroism spectroscopy.     

Thermodynamic properties of chiral fenchones in some solutions at T = 298.15 K

Excess enthalpies for binary mixtures (S-fenchone + ethanol/benzene/cyclohexane/carbon tetrachloride) were measured over the whole concentration at T = 298.15 K. The experimental results were compared with the values obtained from the UNIFAC, COSMO-RS and regular solution theory. Excess enthalpies of binary mixtures of R-fenchone and S-fenchone in ethanol, benzene, and cyclohexane solution at different specified mole fractions of fenchone have been measured under the same conditions. With the decreasing of the specified mole fraction of fenchone in different solutions, the excess enthalpies of mixing of chiral orientated solutions increased and became close to zero. Results were compared with those of chiral limonene in ethanol solution. Pair interaction energies were also investigated.     

Continuous production of (S)-1-phenylethanol by immobilized cells of Rhodotorula glutinis with a specially designed process

A specially designed process for the continuous production of a chiral alcohol by immobilized Rhodotorula glutinis was prepared and is reported. The performance of the process with immobilized cells was also investigated. The run time of the immobilized cells, the flow rates of the substrate, and tris buffer containing 4% glucose in the process were optimized. The immobilized R. glutinis biocatalyst could be used for 15 days with maximum reaction activity. Under the optimized conditions, the continuous production process was operated for 30 days and resulted in 10.8 mL (S)-1-phenylethanol [(S)-1-PE]. The process has been demonstrated on a multigram scale in 75% overall yield with a purity of >99%.     

A convenient method for the kinetic resolution of racemic 2-hydroxyalkanoates using diphenylacetic anhydride (DPHAA) and a chiral acyl-transfer catalyst

Diphenylacetic anhydride (DPHAA) was found to be a useful reagent for the kinetic resolution of racemic 2-hydroxyalkanoates in the presence of a catalytic amount of (R)-benzotetramisole ((R)-BTM). The combined use of DPHAA and (R)-BTM effectively produced a variety of the optically active 2-hydroxyalkanoates and the corresponding 2-acyloxyalkanoates from racemic 2-hydroxyalkanoates (s-values = 42–177). A fairly broad substrate scope was demonstrated by this novel chiral induction system. We also revealed that the use of only 0.3 equiv of DPHAA is enough to provide the optically active 2-acyloxyalkanoates in good yields and with excellent ee’s by the added use of 0.3 equiv of pivalic anhydride for the kinetic resolution of the racemic 2-hydroxyalkanoates.     

The mechanism of formation of volatile hydrides by tetrahydroborate(III) derivatization: A mass spectrometric study performed with deuterium labeled reagents

In order to clarify the mechanism of hydride formation, the isotopic composition of arsine, stibine, bismuthine, germane, stannane and hydrogen selenide formed by derivatization with either NaBD₄ (TDB) or NaBH₄ (THB) with inorganic As(III), Sb(III), Bi(III), Ge(IV), Sn(IV) and Se(IV) in aqueous reaction media and under various reaction conditions was determined. Batch hydride generation and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were employed. The analyte, present in 0.5–5 ml of acid solution (0.1–10 M in HCl or HNO₃ or HClO₄) was derivatized with 1 ml of 0.25–0.5 M TDB / THB in 0.1 M NaOH solution. For TDB derivatization in H₂O reaction media, almost pure BiD₃ and SbD₃ were always obtained for Bi(III) and Sb(III). Nearly pure AsD₃ could be obtained only under some reaction conditions. In general, for As(III), the isotopic composition of the arsines depends strongly on reaction conditions and included all possible AsH_nD_3−n from almost pure AsD₃ to almost pure AsH₃. For Ge(IV) and Sn(IV), the isotopic composition of generated GeH_nD_4−n and SnH_nD_4−n depends on reaction conditions, but pure GeD₄ and SnD₄ could never be obtained. Pure H₂Se was obtained in all cases, independent of reaction conditions. The occurrence of side reactions involving D–H exchange in TBD during its hydrolysis and before the derivatization step, as well as on recently formed hydrides following derivatization was investigated. D–H exchange in TDB during acid hydrolysis appears to occur to a limited extent. Amongst the hydrides, H₂Se undergoes H–D exchange whereas germane and stannane do not exchange at all. Arsine undergoes D–H exchange at elevated acidities (pH < 0) whereas stibine and bismuthine do not exchange significantly during the generation and stripping steps.A reaction model for hydride generation is proposed accounting for primary reactions giving rise to hydride formation through reaction intermediates, as well as side reactions involving D–H exchange and decomposition of reactive hydroboron species, reaction intermediates and final products. Hydrides are formed by direct hydrogen transfer from boron to the analyte atom, most likely through concerted mechanisms taking place via reaction intermediates.     

Hypervalent iodine(III) catalyzed rapid and efficient access to benzimidazoles,benzothiazoles and quinoxalines: Biological evaluation of some new benzimidazole-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine conjugates

A rapid, simple and highly efficient method for the synthesis of a variety of 2-aryl-benzimidazoles, 2-aryl-benzothiazoles and quinoxalines has been developed using Koser’s reagent [PhI(OH)OTs] as catalyst. The present work highlights the potential of Koser's reagent ([PhI(OH)OTs]) for the synthesis of benzimidazoles, benzothiazoles and quinoxalines, etc. Short reaction time, high yields, importantly low catalyst loading, broad substrate scope and scalability are the salient features of this methodology. Particularly, this method has been employed successfully to synthesize highly structured indole-benzimidazole and quinoxaline-6-carboxamide derivatives as well as biologically important benzimidazole-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine conjugates in moderate to good yields. These remarkable features make the present methodology a valid contribution to the existing precedents for the synthesis of benzimidazoles, etc. In the MTT assay, benzimidazole-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine conjugates 3s, 3t and 3v were found to be active on MCF-7 (IC₅₀ values of 5.10 ± 0.10, 8.23 ± 0.02, and 10.75 ± 0.03 µM, respectively) and MDA-MB-231 cell lines (IC₅₀ values of 10.83 ± 0.13, 7.68 ± 0.05, and 7.87 ± 0.24 µM, respectively). Flow-cytometry analysis revealed that the treatment of MCF-7 cells with compound 3s showed moderate effect on the progression of G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle.     

4-trans-Amino-proline based di- and tetrapeptides as organic catalysts for asymmetric C–C bond formation reactions

4-trans-Amino-proline based di- and tetrapeptides have been successfully applied as chiral organocatalysts in the enantioselective conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to cyclic enones and the direct aldol reaction. Two 4-trans-amino-proline residues were shown to be sufficient enough to catalyze the conjugate addition reactions with up to 88% ee and up to 100% yield. It has been demonstrated that 4-trans-amino-proline based di- and tetrapeptides are significantly more active than l-proline (at 30 mol %) and can catalyze the direct aldol reaction with good yield and enantioselectivity within 3 h and at lower catalyst loading (5 mol %).     

Novel chiral copper complexes of N,P-ferrocenyl ligands with central and planar chirality as efficient catalyst for asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to imines

A new type of chiral copper complexes of N,P-ferrocenyl ligands with central and planar chirality as efficient catalyst was applied to the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to N-diphenylphosphinoylimines. The (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of the addition reaction were obtained for this transformation. In the presence of 6 mol % of bidentate ligand 1 and 12 mol % of Cu(OTf)₂, the asymmetric addition process affords N-diphenylphosphinoylamides in up to 97% ee and 95% yields.     

Asymmetric aza-Friedel–Crafts reaction of indoles induced by O-pivaloylated d-galactosylamine as the chiral auxiliary

The diastereoselective formation of β-N-glycosidically linked 3-indolyl methanamine derivatives 5 has been achieved with high yield via an aza-Friedel–Crafts reaction. The reaction was performed by using O-pivaloylated galactosylamine 1 as a chiral template and SnCl₄ combining TBAI as catalyst in DCM at ?50 °C.     

Efficient synthesis of fumaric amides through cross-metathesis of acrylic amides with the NHC Grubbs ruthenium catalyst

Application of the second generation Grubbs metathesis catalyst for the homo-cross-metathesis of acroyl amides from chiral amines is reported. This efficient and high-yielding reaction provides a side-product free synthesis of fumaric acid diamides which are formed with complete (E)-selectivity under the reaction conditions. In particular, products which cannot be synthesized from the corresponding fumaroyl chloride via classic condensation route can now be provided in excellent yields (88–98%) with a catalyst loading from 2.5 mol% to even 0.375 mol%.     

Enantiomeric recognition of amino acid derivatives by chiral schiff bases of calix[4]arene

Novel calix[4]arene Schiff bases bearing chiral substituents both on the upper and the lower rims have been developed. These chiral receptors exhibit good chiral recognition ability towards α-amino acid ester hydrochlorides (up to K_D/K_L = 4.36, ΔΔG₀ = − 3.65 kJ mol⁻¹) in CHCl₃. The molecular recognition abilities and enantioselectivities for guests are also discussed from a thermodynamic point of view.     

A practical synthesis of optically active arylglycines via catalytic asymmetric Strecker reaction

A practical procedure for catalytic asymmetric synthesis of optically active arylglycine derivatives via optically active α-aminonitriles has been developed. The N-benzhydryl α-arylaminonitrile intermediates were prepared in excellent yield (89–99%) and enantiomeric purity (96 to >98% ee) by enantioselective cyanation of aldimines with TMSCN/ⁱPrOH in the presence of 2.5 mol % of an easily prepared Ti/chiral amino alcohol complex at 0 °C, without requiring slow addition of the cyanating agent. The easily racemized α-aminonitrile intermediates were efficiently hydrolyzed by an aqueous HCl/TFA mixture to give the arylglycine derivatives in good yield (60–92%) and moderate to excellent enantiomeric purity (85–98% ee).     

Synthesis and asymmetric catalytic application of chiral imidazolium–phosphines derived from (1R,2R)-trans-diaminocyclohexane

Reaction between a chiral imidazole–amine precursor derived from (1R,2R)-trans-diaminocyclohexane and P¹Cl (where P¹ = PPh₂, P(1,3,5-Me₃C₆H₃)₂, P(2,2′-O,O′-(1,1′-biphenyl), P((R)-(2,2′-O,O′-(1,1′-binaphthyl))) and P((S)-(2,2′-O,O′-(1,1′-binaphthyl)))) followed by RX (where R = ⁿPr, ⁱPr, CHPh₂, X = Br; R = ⁱPr, X = I), respectively, gives a selection of chiral imidazolium–phosphine compounds. Deprotonation of the imidazolium salt gives the corresponding NHC–P ligands that can be used in metal-mediated asymmetric catalytic applications. Catalytic reactions show that NHC–P ligands give a significantly greater rate of reaction for a palladium catalysed allylic substitution reaction in comparison to analogous di-NHC or NHC–imine ligands and that NHC–P hybrids are also effective for iridium catalysed transfer hydrogenation.