Analysis of amino acids as formamidene butyl esters by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

Amino acid formamidene butyl esters are optimally prepared by heating amino acids with dimethylformamide dimethylacetal (DMF-DMA) for 2 minutes at 65 degrees C and then with n-butanol/hydrogen chloride for 15 minutes at 65 degrees C. The formamidene butyl esters of simple alpha-amino acids and beta-amino acids afford between 1.1 and 20 times the signal intensity of the corresponding butyl esters during electrospray ionization tandem mass spectral analysis. Complex alpha-amino acids, such as ornithine, arginine and citrulline, and gamma-amino acids are better analyzed as butyl esters. Secondary alpha-amino acids, such as proline and sarcosine, give a mixture of two iminium salts with the DMF-DMA derivatization method. A derivative incorporating two molecules of the amino acid predominates at higher derivatization temperatures. Contrary to a previous report, N-formylamino acids were not detected. The presence of secondary amino acids in amino acid mixtures, derivatized as formamidene butyl esters, affords derivatives that incorporate two different amino acids. The new formamidene butylation method is unlikely to replace the butylation procedure used by neonatal blood spot screening programs for amino acid disorders, since a much poorer response was obtained with formamidene butyl esters of arginine and citrulline, important in the diagnosis of arginase deficiency and citrullinaemia.     

Oxathiaphospholane approach to N- and O-phosphorothioylation of amino acids

A method of highly efficient synthesis of N- and O-phosphorothioylated amino acids was developed. N- and O-(2-Thiono-1,3,2-oxathiaphospholanyl)amino acid methyl esters (3) were prepared in high yields in reaction of amino acid methyl esters with 2-chloro-1,3,2-oxathiaphospholane in pyridine in the presence of elemental sulfur. Compounds 3 were converted in high yield into the corresponding methyl or benzyl phosphorothioamides 6 and 7 by DBU-assisted treatment with methanol or benzyl alcohol. When 3-hydroxypropionitrile was used instead of methanol or benzyl alcohol, the corresponding 2-cyanoethylphosphorothioamidates 4 were obtained in high yield, from which the 2-cyanoethyl group was removed with concentrated ammonium hydroxide. The oxathiaphospholane methodology was also applied for the phosphorylation of amino acids. Thus, 2-oxo-1,3,2-oxathiaphospholane derivatives 10 were prepared by oxidation of compounds 3 with SeO(2.) Compounds 10 were transformed into the corresponding phosphate diesters or amidoesters upon treatment with 3-hydroxypropionitrile in the presence of DBU. The DBU-assisted oxathiaphospholane ring-opening process in 3 and 10 did not cause any measurable C-racemization of phosphorothioylated/phosphorylated amino acids.     

Amino acids and peptides. XXIII. Synthesis of N alpha-protected amino acid 6-chloro-2-pyridyl esters and their evaluation for peptide synthesis

6-Chloro-2-pyridyl esters (OPyCl) of N alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl and tert-butyloxycarbonylamino acids were synthesized by the N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) method from the acids and 6-chloro-2-hydroxypyridine in dimethylformamide (DMF). The reactivity of the 6-chloro-2-pyridylester with amino group is much higher than that of the corresponding 2-pyridyl ester (OPy) and p-nitrophenyl esters (ONp) in dioxane and DMF, and a peptide bond is formed without acylation at the side chain hydroxyl group of amino acids. Z-Asp(OBzl)-OPyCl reacted with amino acid methyl esters in dioxane to give the corresponding dipeptide without any detectable aspartimide formation.     

2(1H)-Pyridon als Austrittsgruppe bei Acylierungsreaktionen — Anwendungen in der Peptidchemie

2(1H)-Pyridone as Leaving Group in Acylation Reactions — Applications in Peptide Synthesis Alkyl 2-pyridyl carbonates 3 or mixtures of 3 and the isomeric N-(alkoxycarbonyl)-2-pyridones 3 ′ are useful for the introduction of urethane protective groups into amino acids. The N-protected amino acids 7 – 10 react with 2(1H)-pyridone ( 1a ) using the carbodiimide method to yield 2-pyridyl active esters 11 , which easily undergo coupling reactions with amino acid esters 12 with elimination of 1a to give peptides 13 in good yields as well as high optical purities.     

CeCl3-Catalyzed Reduction of Methyl Esters of Carboxylic Acids to Corresponding Alcohols with Sodium Borohydride

A wide range of methyl esters, including esters of aromatic carboxylic acids, alkenyl carboxylic acids, aliphatic carboxylic acids, and protected amino acids, were reduced to the corresponding alcohols with NaBH₄ in ethanol in the presence of a catalytic amount of CeCl₃. The reaction was completed within 24 h at ambient temperature and showed high functional group compatibility and chemoselectivity. With esters containing nitro, methoxyl, halogen, alkenyl, and protected amino functionalities, only the ester group was reduced. The alcohols were isolated after evaporation of the solvent and routine aqueous workup in good yields (75–95%).     

Determination of absolute configurations of amines and amino acids using nonchiral derivatizing agents (NCDA) and deuterium NMR

Enantiomeric analysis and empirical determination of the absolute configuration of amines and amino acids can be easily performed using acetyl-d(3) chloride as a nonchiral derivatizing agent (deuterium probe) and deuterium NMR in a chiral solvent (Courtieu's method). In the case of amino acids, derivatization to amido esters, performed with methanol-d(4) and acetyl-d(3) chloride, gives a double opportunity for enantiomeric analysis.     

Perylen-3-ylmethyl: fluorescent photoremovable protecting group (FPRPG) for carboxylic acids and alcohols

Perylen-3-ylmethyl demonstrated as a new fluorescent photoremovable protecting group (FPRPG) for carboxylic acids and alcohols. Carboxylic acids including amino acids were protected as their corresponding esters by coupling with FPRPG, perylen-3-ylmethyl. Photophysical studies of caged esters showed that they all exhibited strong fluorescence properties and their fluorescence quantum yields were in the range of 0.85–0.95. Irradiation of the caged esters using visible light (≥410 nm) in aqueous acetonitrile released the corresponding carboxylic acids in high chemical (94–97%) and quantum (0.072–0.093) yields. The results obtained from the photolysis of the caged ester in different solvents indicated that solvent has influence on the rate of photorelease. Further, we also explored the ability of FPRPG, perylen-3-ylmethyl for the protection of alcohols and phenols.     

Supported liquid membrane separation of amine and amino acid derivatives with chiral esters of phosphoric acids as carriers

Studies on the possible use of phosphate and phosphonate esters bearing chiral menthol or nopol moieties as carriers for the transport of amines, amino acids, and amino acid esters through supported liquid membranes (SLM) are presented. Additionally, the enantioselectivity of the SLM transport of alkyl esters of aromatic amino acids and a non‐protein amino acid was also evaluated. It could be concluded that the extent of transport strongly depends on the hydrophobicity of the amino compound. Moreover, the carrier structure also influences the transport of those compounds through SLM: chiral phosphate and phosphonate esters appear to be poor or moderate carriers for enantioselective SLM transport of amino acids and their esters. The transport efficiency and selectivity is strongly dependent on the structure of both the transported compounds and the carrier. However, no meaningful relationship exists between these structural features and transportation or enantioselectivity.     

Complexation of amino acids derivatives in water by calix[4]arene phosphonic acids

Series of the calix[4]arene phosphonic acids with various substituents at the lower rim was synthesized. Complexing properties of these receptors towards methyl esters of six amino acids strongly depended on the calix[4]arene conformation flexibility. The complex formation processes were monitored using ¹H NMR spectroscopy (deuterated phosphate buffer at pD 7.3, 22 °C) and association constant values were evaluated. Inherently mobile calix[4]arene molecule 3 occurred in cone conformation in aqueous solution turned out to be more effective in complexation of the basic amino acids methyl esters compared to the rigid 2 and flexible 4. Mixed 1:2 and 2:1 (host–guest) complexes were observed for compound 1 with all amino acids methyl esters.     

Optimisation of derivatisation procedures for the determination of delta13C values of amino acids by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Compound-specific stable carbon isotope analysis of amino acids by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) is a highly selective and sensitive method for probing the biosynthetic/diagenetic pathways, pool size and turnover rates of proteins, previously intractable to bulk isotope analyses. However, amino acids are polyfunctional, non-volatile compounds which require derivatisation prior to GC analysis. While a wide range of derivatives exist for the GC analysis of amino acids only a handful have been utilised for their GC/C/IRMS analysis. Significantly, none of those derivatives currently employed appear completely satisfactory and a thorough assessment of their relative utility is lacking. Seven derivatives (three previously reported and four novel) for obtaining delta(13)C values of amino acids via GC/C/IRMS analysis were compared. More specifically, standard mixtures of 15 protein amino acids were converted into N-acetylmethyl (NACME) esters, N-acetyl n-propyl (NANP) esters, N-acetyl i-propyl (NAIP) esters, N-trifluoroacetyl-i-propyl (TFA-IP) esters, N-pivaloyl methyl (NPME) esters, N-pivaloyl n-propyl (NPNP) esters and N-pivaloyl i-propyl (NPIP) esters. Each derivative was assessed with respect to its applicability to carbon isotope determinations of all the common alpha-amino acids, reaction yield, chromatographic resolution, stability, analyte-to-derivative carbon ratio, kinetic isotope effects and errors associated with their carbon isotope determinations. The NACME derivative was concluded to be the preferred derivative mainly due to the highest analyte-to-derivative carbon ratio being achieved, resulting in the lowest analytical errors for amino acid delta(13)C value determinations, ranging from +/-0.6 per thousand for phenylalanine, leucine and isoleucine to +/-1.1 per thousand for serine and glycine.     

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.     

Synthesis of Novel 4‐Substituted Coumarins,Docking Studies,and DHODH Inhibitory Activity

Coumarins are the important class of naturally occurring heterocyclic compounds. Activities like antioxidant, antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, and anticancer have been reported for coumarin derivatives. Present work details the synthesis of substituted coumarin‐4‐pyrrolones as well as coumarin‐4‐acetyl amino acids and their DHODH inhibitory activity, which is a dual target for malaria and cancer. Coumarin‐4‐acetic acids ( 2a – c ) were coupled with different methyl esters of α‐amino acids ( 3 ) giving rise to corresponding coumarin‐4‐acetyl amino acid methyl esters ( 4a – o ), which on hydrolysis under basic condition underwent cyclization forming substituted dihydropyrrole‐2‐ones ( 5a – i ), dihydroindolizine‐3‐ones ( 5j – l ), and dihydropyrrolizin‐3‐one ( 5m – o ). Acidic hydrolysis of the compounds ( 4a – o ) yielded corresponding coumarin‐4‐acetyl amino acids ( 6a – f ). The docking study was performed with the protein 4IGH (obtained from PDB) using Surflex–Dock module. The newly synthesized compounds were tested for DHODH inhibitory activity using Brequinar as the standard. Compound 6b showed remarkable inhibition compared with the standard, and the other compounds with terminal COOH showed moderate inhibition.     

Application of the Ester Enolate Claisen Rearrangement in the Synthesis of Amino Acids Containing Quaternary Carbon Centers

Ester enolate Claisen rearrangement of highly substituted amino acid allylic esters 4 allows for the synthesis of sterically demanding amino acids 5 with beta-quaternary carbon centers. Because of enolate fixation by chelation, the rearrangement occurs in a highly diastereoselective fashion. The methodology is suitable not only for glycine derivatives but also for allylic esters of various amino acids. In this case amino acids with two vicinal quaternary carbon centers are created. With unsymmetrically substituted allylic esters like 4k-n the rearrangement proceeds with a high degree of diastereoselectivity.     

Chiral recognition of amines and amino acid derivatives by optically active ruthenium Halterman porphyrins in organic solvents and water

The complexation of optically active or racemic amines, amino esters and amino acids with chiral ruthenium Halterman porphyrins is described. For various amino esters, chiral recognition was observed for the complexation of the ligand with up to 60% enantiomeric excess for 1-(1-naphthyl) ethylamine. A water-soluble ruthenium Halterman porphyrin, due to the presence of four sulfonate groups at the para-positions, was also prepared and used for the chiral recognition of amino acids in water.     

Chinazolincarbonsäuren. VII. Mitteilung. Ein einfacher Zugang zu (4-Oxo-3,4-dihydrochinazolin-3-yl)-alkansäuren, (4-Oxo-3,4-dihydro-1,2,3-benzotriazin-3-yl)-alkansäuren und deren Estern

Quinazoline Carboxylic Acids. An Easy Route to (4-Oxo-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-3-yl)-alkanoic Acids, (4-Oxo-3,4-dihydro-1,2,3-benzotriazin-3-yl)-alkanoic Acids and their Esters A new route was found for the synthesis of (4-Oxo-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-3-yl)-alkanoic acids ( 8 ) and (4-Oxo-3,4-dihydro-1,2,3-benzotriazin-3-yl)-alkanoic acids ( 6 ) by cyclization of the N-(2-aminobenzoyl)amino acids 5 with HCOOH or HNO₂. 2H-3,1-Benzoxazine-2,4(1H)-diones ( 1 ) reacted with glycine esters to 2 , which were cyclized by HNO₂ to the esters 4 . Ester 4 was hydrolyzed to 6 (X = CH₂). Diones 1 reacted with the most common amino acids (as the ammonium salt of tertiary amine) to amino-alkanoic acids 5 , which were cyclized with orthoformate to 7 or 8 depending on the reaction conditions.     

Azides of N-substituted aziridine-2-carboxylic acids. Reaction with methyl esters of amino acids

The corresponding azide was obtained by nitrosation of 1-benzylaziridine-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide. Reaction of the azide with methyl esters of amino acids gave N-(1-benzyl-2-aziridinylcarbonyl)-substituted methyl esters of amino acids.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1350–1352, October, 1980.     

Gas Phase H/D Exchange of Sodiated Amino Acids: Why Do We See Zwitterions?

The gas-phase interaction of sodiated amino acids and sodiated amino acid methyl esters with various deuterium donors is investigated by combining results of H/D exchange reactions with those from density functional theory and molecular dynamics calculations. Discrepancy between experimentally and theoretically obtained structures for sodium cationized amino acids is explained by deuterium donor caused perturbation of the most stable amino acid conformation. Detailed study of H/D exchange mechanism on sodiated amino acids shows that the H/D exchange reaction is preceded by a multistep quasi-isoenergetic transition (perturbation) from a charge solvated to zwitterionic structure in the amino acid. Although the computation refers to the system AlaNa(+) and D(2)O, these mechanisms apply to all amino acids, except those where a functional side-chain group takes part in the perturbation process. The suggested perturbation mechanism applies also for other deuterium donors such as CD(3)OD or even ND(3) and indicates that a single water molecule suffices to convert the sodiated amino acid from charge solvated to zwitterionic form.     

Microwave-Assisted Esterification of Diverse Carboxylic Acids and Chiral Amino Acids

A facile and efficient synthetic method of esters from their corresponding carboxylic acids and amino acids is described. The esterification reaction of carboxylic acids and amino acids could be greatly accelerated under microwave irradiation because the reactions described in this article took place in only 5 min with almost quantitative yields, and distinct acidity of catalytic acids was well tolerated. Unlike the racemation problem in microwave-assisted N-acylation reactions, the esters of chiral amino acids could be achieved with retention of configuration under this condition.     

Enantioseparation of Amino Acids on a Chiral Stationary Phase Derived from L‐α‐Norleucinyl‐ and Pyrrolidinyl‐disubstituted Cyanuric Chloride by High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography

A silica‐based chiral stationary phase (CSP) derived from L‐α‐norleucinyl‐ and pyrrolidinyl‐disubstituted cyanuric chloride was prepared for the enantioseparation of methyl esters of N‐(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl) amino acids by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The chromatographic results show that effective enantioseparation of methyl esters of N‐(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl)amino acids, except for proline, was achieved on this chiral stationary phase. The chromatographic resolution of racemic n‐propyl ester of N‐(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl)valine on CSP‐B is better than that of racemic methyl ester of N‐(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl)valine on CSP‐B or CSP‐A reported previously (J. Chromatogr. A, 676 (1994) 303). The comparison of the chromatographic results obtained in this study with those on CSP‐A reported previously reveals that steric effect, instead of hydrophobic interaction, between the n‐butyl group attached to the chiral center of the chiral selector and the alkyl group attached to the chiral center of the chiral selectand plays a significant role in chiral discrimination. The increase in the selectivity factor of methyl esters of N‐(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl)amino acids with bulky alkyl groups was examined on CSP‐B.     

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.