Synthesis of fluorinated amino acid derivatives through late-stage deoxyfluorinations

Fluorine chemistry has represented a hot topic in drug research over the last decade. Because of their pharmaceutical potential, fluorine-containing amino acids and related derivatives have acquired high importance among medicinal chemists. Therefore their synthesis and the development of various synthetic methods for these types of molecular scaffolds have gained increasing interest in synthetic organic chemistry. The current review focuses on synthetic protocols towards fluorine-containing amino acid derivatives through late-stage fluorination with various nucleophilic reagents, describing the access of various open-chain and cyclic α-, β-, γ-amino acid derivatives.     

Perfluorophenyl phosphonate analogues of aromatic amino acids: Synthesis,X-ray and DFT studies

Novel perfluorophenyl phosphonate analogues of phenylglycine and homophenylalanine were prepared in good to excellent yields, and subjected to solid state characterization by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and to investigations with the use of DFT methods.The α-aminophosphonates have a big potential for biological activity, and through S_NAr reactions may give an entrance to further structurally variable analogues of both amino acids.     

Production and utilization of amino acids.

The amino acid industry has been steadily expanding since monosodium glutamate was first marketed as a flavoring material in 1909. Its production has recently reached almost the 1 billion dollar level. Amino acids are produced by extraction from protein hydrolyzates, by fermentation with the aid of microorganisms, by enzymatic processes, and by chemical synthesis. To obtain natural L-amino acid, chemical synthesis generally requires two additional steps, i.e. optical resolution and racemization of the D isomer. The most important applications of amino acids include the fortification of plant food and feeds by supplementation of the deficient essential amino acid(s). Apart from their uses in the food industry, medical applications of amino acids (nutritional preparations and therapeutic agents) are becoming increasingly important.     

Synthesis of novel fullerene amino acids and their multifullerene peptides

[60]-Fullerene functionalized amino acids with 4-6 methylene spacers from α-carbon to the nitrogen atom of fulleropyrolidine and corresponding multifullerene peptides have been synthesized.     

Influence of fluorinated acids bonding on surface properties of crosslinked epoxy-based polymers

Two series of crosslinked fluorinated epoxy-based materials containing variable fluorine contents (from 0 to 6 wt.% F) were prepared using formulations based on a fluorinated acid (FA), epoxy monomer and a diamine. The epoxy monomer was based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) while the curing agent was propyleneoxide diamine (Jeffamine D-230). The selected FA were: 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7-dodecafluoroheptanoic acid (FA1), perfluoro-heptanoic acid (FA2), and perfluoro-nonanoic acid (FA3). One of the series synthesized, FA-DGEBA/Jeffamine, is characterized by covalent attachment of the FA to the polymer by an ester bond. The other series, FA-Jeffamine/DGEBA, is characterized by ionic interaction between FA and polymer chains. The influence on thermal and surface properties of the architecture and chain-length of FA, and the nature of the linkage between FA and network precursors, was analyzed and discussed. It was found that both series showed high oleophobicity, but depending on the linkage between the fluorinated acid and the network, it was possible to develop hydrophobic or hydrophilic materials. The fluorine enrichment with the perfluoroalkyl substitutions was proved by XPS. By this technique it was possible also to analyze the concentration of ammonium groups at the surface.     

Selectivity control in the non-aqueous capillary electrophoretic separation of amino acids

The separation of dansylated amino acids and underivatized amino acids in non-aqueous electrolytes was evaluated with direct and indirect UV detection. Different migration orders were achieved for dansylated amino acids in methanol compared to aqueous electrolyte systems. A reversed migration order was observed for some dansylated amino acids. Separation selectivity was different under acidic and basic conditions and was also a function of the solvation properties of the solvent. Underivatized amino acids were separated in basic and acidic electrolytes in methanol; different separation selectivities and, for some amino acids, a reversed migration order were also observed in these electrolyte systems. Analytical merits of the separation of both derivatized and underivatized amino acids were briefly evaluated; detection limits for dansylated amino acids were in the range of 2·10⁻⁷–4·10⁻⁷ mol/l and, for underivatized amino acids, were 2·10⁻⁶–4·10⁻⁵ mol/l.     

Synthesis of N-alkylated amino acids using fluorous-tagged hydroxylamines

The development of a new fluorous-tagged ammonia-equivalent for the synthesis of N-alkylated amino acids is described. The required building blocks were readily accessed in high yield and purity using F-SPE purification technique. Coupling of the fluorous-tagged hydroxylamines with a selection of boronic acids and glyoxalic acid gave the desired N-alkylated amino acids. Subsequent removal of the fluorous tag via catalytic hydrogenation was investigated using a number of different catalysts and solvents. A more robust de-tagging procedure involves the transformation of the amino acid to the corresponding methyl ester followed by a Mo(CH₃CN)₃(CO)₃ mediated N-O bond cleavage.     

Low frequency vibrational spectra of some amino acids

Far-IR absorption and reflection spectra, as well as laser Mandelshtam–Brillouin and Raman scattering spectra of -glycine, β-alanine, -histidine, -tryptophane single crystals in the 0.2–400 cm⁻¹ range were investigated. It was revealed that the far-IR and Raman spectra of the amino acids under study contain more bands than predicted by factor-group analysis, thus indicating a possible contribution of low-energy intramolecular vibrations and overtones, as well as an emergence of forbidden vibrations. Some of the low-frequency bands have never, to our knowledge, been detected previously.     

Micellar-mediated shifts of ionization constants of amino acids and peptides

The acid-base dissociation constants, K_a, of amino acids and small peptides were determined in both aqueous and micellar solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide by potentiometric and chromatographic means. The observed differences in pK_a values between micellar media and aqueous solutions ranged between 0.23 and 2.21 units. The micellar-mediated pK_a shifts can be attributed to different solute-micelle interactions, mainly hydrophobic and electrostatic forces. The implications of the change in acid-base behavior on separation selectivity in micellar liquid chromatography and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography are discussed.     

Synthesis of α,α-disubstituted amino acids based on tandem reaction of dehydroamino acid derivatives

The formation of all-substituted sp³-hybridized carbon-center was investigated via tandem reaction of dehydroamino acid derivatives. The diethylzinc-promoted reaction of dehydroamino acid derivatives with acid anhydride or π-allyl palladium complex proceeded smoothly to afford α,α-disubstituted amino acids via a radical and anionic carbon-carbon bond-forming processes. The tandem reductive reaction of N-phthaloyl dehydroalanine also proceeded effectively by using Bu₃SnH and Pd(PPh₃)₄.     

Synthesis and characterization of uranium (IV) complexes with various amino acids

Complexes of uranium in its IV oxidation state, using cysteine, glycine, serine and aspartic acid as ligands, have been synthesized. Semi-microanalysis of the complexes indicate 1:1 metal to ligand ratio for all the synthesized complexes. Infrared spectra of solid complexes have been employed to establish the groups, coordinated to the metal ion. Effective magnetic moment of the complexes were also estimated.     

Differential-pulse polarography of amino acids in acetaldehyde-borax medium

A differential-pulse polarographic method for the determination of amino acids is reported, based on the formation of Schiff's base compounds in borax buffer solution (pH 10.10) containing acetaldehyde. The compounds are reduced at a mercury electrode with peak potentials of about ?1.5 V (vs. SCE) and well defined polarographic waves are obtained which can be used to determine amino acids in borax medium. The differential-pulse polarographic method was found to be the most sensitive and suitable for the determination of amino acids in the concentration range 1 × 10^?6–8 × 10^?4 M (lysine) and 2.8 × 10^?6–1 × 10^?3 M (arginine). The polarographic characteristics of these waves were studied by differential-pulse polarographic and cyclic voltammetric methods. The waves are ascribed to the reduction of the imido group in the Schiff's base compounds. The procedure was applied to the determination of lysine and arginine in foodstuffs and the total proteins in serum samples.     

Synthesis of novel water-soluble linear and heterocyclic phosphino amino acids from 2-phosphinophenols or 2-phosphinophenolethers, formaldehyde and amino acids

Acyclic and cyclic amino acid derivatives of 2-phosphinophenols have been synthesised by reaction of primary phosphinophenols (4-R-2-H₂PC₆H₃OH; R=H, Me, OMe) 1a–c with formaldehyde and amino acids (o- and p-aminobenzoic acid, -lysine) via in situ formed hydroxymethyl species 2a–c. Condensation reactions with glycine did not afford defined products except when the methoxymethyl and tetrahydropyranyl ethers of 1d,e were used instead of the hydroxy compounds. o-Aminobenzoic acid gives rise to linear bis(o-carboxyphenylaminomethyl)phosphines 3a–e. p-Aminobenzoic acid, dependent on the molar ratio, affords bis(p-carboxyphenylaminomethyl)phosphines 4a,d as well as eight-membered heterocyclic 1,5,3,7-diazadiphosphacyclooctanes 5a–e. The aliphatic amino acids glycine and -lysine form six-membered heterocyclic 1,3,5-diazaphosphorinanes 6d and 7a–e, respectively, in presence of excess formaldehyde. -lysine differs from glycine by reaction at the terminal amino group. The structures of the compounds have been elucidated by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The salts of the phosphino amino acids are soluble in water. Water solubility increases with the number of hydrophilic groups, i.e. free phenols are more soluble than their ethers. Ligand concentrations in water from 0.1 to 1 M were observed.     

Ultraviolet thermal lensing detection of amino acids

Thermal lensing (TL) permits ultra-sensitive measurements of optical absorption of analytes in very small liquid volumes. We report the construction and use of a TL detector based on pulsed ultraviolet (UV) laser excitation (266 nm). We applied this detector to quantitate amino acids using capillary electrophoresis (CE) as a means of separation. Sixteen individual amino acids are readily detected, but the signal has a complex dependence on intensity caused by the combination of (1) one-photon absorption; (2) two-photon absorption (TPA); and (3) photodestruction of amino acid molecules in the focus of the laser beam. An aqueous solution containing tyrosine, tryptophan, and cysteine is electrophoretically separated and the individual amino acids are detected by UV TL. The estimated limit of detection is 7 microM for tyrosine, 2.5 microM for tryptophan and 33 microM for cysterine, which translates into 0.35 fmol for tyrosine, 0.125 fmol for tryptophan, and 1.65 fmol for cysteine in the 140pL detection volume. It is found that two-photon absorption of water and the formation of color centers in the fused silica walls of the flowcell can contribute a significant, drifting background signal, but this interference can be minimized by selecting an appropriate focus condition and excitation-detection geometry. We suggest that as UV laser sources become available, UV TL may become a method of choice for measuring the concentrations of many analytes in different separation formats in which the volume is highly limited.     

Use of hydrolases for the synthesis of cyclic amino acids

The synthesis of several cyclic amino acids that have all the necessary structural features to make them ideal scaffolds for use in medicinal chemistry is described. A key step in each synthesis is the use of hydrolase enzymes to define a chiral centre. In order to elaborate these building blocks into more complex molecules, crystallization and asymmetric hydrogenation were used to define further stereocentres.     

Evidence for strong heterodimeric interactions of phenylboronic acids with amino acids

Strong heterodimeric interactions of phenylboronic acids with l-proline or betaine are evident in the solid state. The interaction energy is over 23 kcal/mol (at MP2/6-31+G^∗).     

Synthesis of chiral amino acids with metal ion chelating side chains from l-serine using Negishi cross-coupling reaction

The scope of the Negishi cross-coupling reaction of organozinc compounds derived from chiral amino acids was extended to electron rich iodoanilines and iodobenzylamines as coupling reagents. The protocol allows the direct modification of serine into phenylalanine derivatives bearing metal ion chelating ligands in their side chain, such as amino esters 6 and 7. The preparation of metal complex labeled peptides, the construction of synthetic receptors and hybrid materials are potential applications of the modified chiral amino acids.