Syntheses and lipophilicity measurement of N/N-terminus-1,1-dihydroperfluoroalkylated α-amino acids and small peptides

(1,1-Dihydroperfluoroalkyl)phenyliodonium N,N-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imides (4, n = 0-2) were synthesized and used to transfer the corresponding 1,1-dihydroperfluoroalkyl groups to the α-amino group of (l)tyrosine. The obtained N^α-2,2,2-trifluoroethylated (l)tyrosine (6, n = 0) was further used as the N-terminus in the solid phase peptide synthesis of leucine enkephalin analogue. The lipophilicity of the N^α-1,1-dihydroperfluoroalkylated (l)tyrosines (6, n = 0-2) and N-terminus-2,2,2-trifluoroethylated leucine enkephalin analogue (7), as well as the corresponding parent compounds, was measured.     

Straightforward, racemization-free synthesis of peptides with fairly to very bulky di- and trisubstituted glycines

Several fully protected tri- and pentapeptides containing a central symmetrical α,α-dialkyl glycine residue, with the alkyl group varying from methyl or ethyl to benzyl, were synthesized in good yields by a strategy based on the Ugi-Passerini reaction. Each Ugi-Passerini adduct was selectively cleaved and the product submitted to an assisted N,N′-dicyclohehylcarbodiimide coupling to an amino acid or dipeptide ester, respectively. Tripeptides as the above but containing a 4-methoxybenzyl group at the nitrogen atom of the central residue were also synthesized in fair to good yields by N-[(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-(dimethylamino)methylene]-N-methylmethanaminium hexafluorophosphate N-oxide assisted couplings. The results reported here show that our strategy is appropriate for routine synthesis of peptides incorporating these moieties.     

Synthesis and decarboxylation of N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids: a new synthesis of α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salts

4-Phosphoranylidene-5(4H)-oxazolones 1 undergo hydrolysis in THF in the presence of HBF₄ at room temperature to give N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonioglycines 3 (R² = H) in very good yields. 4-Alkyl-4-triphenylphosphonio-5(4H)-oxazolones 2 react with water in CH₂Cl₂/THF solution without any acidic catalyst at 0-5 °C in a few days yielding N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids 3 (R² = Me) or α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salt 4 (R² = CH₂OMe). α-Triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids 3, on heating up to 105-115 °C under reduced pressure (5 mmHg) or on treatment with diisopropylethylamine in CH₂Cl₂ at 20 °C undergo decarboxylation to give the corresponding α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salts 4, usually in very good yields.     

N-(Benzoyloxy)amines: an investigation of their thermal stability, synthesis, and incorporation into novel peptide constructs

A series of N-benzoyloxyamines were pyrolyzed and their decomposition temperatures correlated well with the amine architecture's ability to stabilize a N-centered radical. A variety of amine substrates were treated with a biphasic mixture of benzoyl peroxide (BPO), CH₂Cl₂ and an aqueous carbonate buffer (at pH 10.5). Primary and secondary amines were successfully N-benzoyloxylated in good yield. Tertiary amines and BPO gave low yields of the corresponding N-oxide and complex product mixtures, presumably via radical decomposition. Electron deficient amines (such as fluorinated aliphatic amines, α-aminoacids, α-aminoesters, and α-aminoamides) were not N-benzoyloxylated under these conditions. Instead, N-benzoylation was observed with the fluorinated amines and the reaction was sensitive to temperature and the pH of the aqueous medium. A one-pot-two-step synthesis of N^α-FMOC-l-Leu-N^β-(benzoyloxy)-β-alanine ethyl ester, a peptide containing both an α- and a novel β-amino acid framework, was also developed.     

N-[1-(Benzotriazol-1-yl)alkyl]amides from N-acyl-α-amino acids or N-alkylamides

A variety of N-(1-methoxyalkyl)amides react with benzotriazole in the presence of PPh₃·HBF₄ and organic bases (Hünig's base, DBU or DABCO) or solid-state-supported bases (SiO₂-Pip or IRA-67) in CHCl₃ to give N-[1-(benzotriazol-1-yl)alkyl]amides in good yields. The most convenient and efficient procedure for obtaining N-[1-(benzotriazol-1-yl)alkyl]amides consists, however, of the addition of benzotriazole sodium salt to a solution of crude 1-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salt, obtained in situ from N-(1-methoxyalkyl)amides and PPh₃·HBF₄. A combination of these reactions with the recently described electrochemical decarboxylative α-methoxylation of N-acyl-α-amino acids in the presence of SiO₂-Pip enables an effective two-pot transformation of N-acyl-α-amino acids to N-[1-(benzotriazol-1-yl)alkyl]amides.     

Elaboration and structural studies of cyclo 1:1-[α/α-N-amino]mers

In order to investigate the ability of self-organization of the alternance of α-amino and α-N-amino-acids the synthesis of cyclo 1:1-[α/α-N-amino]mers has been achieved by an iterative sequence of deprotection and coupling reactions followed by a macrocyclization step. The self-assembling of N-amino deprotected cyclo-oligomers has been characterized using X-ray diffraction experiments and FT-IR analysis.     

Halbsandwich‐Komplexe von Ruthenium(II), Rhodium(III) und Iridium(III) mit Tripeptidestern aus α‐, β‐ und γ‐Aminosäuren als Liganden. — Peptidsynthese und Cyclisierung zu Cyclotripeptiden am Metallzentrum

Metal Complexes with Biological Important Ligands. CXLII. Half Sandwich Complexes of Ruthenium(II), Rhodium(III), and Iridium(III) with Tripeptide Esters from α‐, β‐, and γ‐Amino Acids as Ligands. — Peptide Synthesis and Cyclization to Cyclotripeptides at Metal Centers Halfsandwich complexes of ruthenium, rhodium and iridium with deprotonated N, N', N"‐tripeptide ester ligands were obtained from chloro bridged compounds and tripeptide methyl esters ( 1—6 ) or by peptide synthesis at a metal centre ( 9—15 ). For the peptide synthesis at the complex (C₆Me₆)Ru coordinated dipeptide methyl esters from glycine and β‐alanine or γ‐amino butyric acid were elongated by an a‐amino acid methylester. The tripeptide ester Ru(η⁶‐C₆Me₆) complexes with chiral amino acid components and an “asymmetric” metal atom are formed with high diastereoselectivity. The tripeptide esters Gly‐Gly‐β‐AlaOMe, Val‐Gly‐β‐AlaOMe and Phe‐Gly‐β‐AlaOMe can be condensated at the (C₆Me₆)Ru complex with sodium methanolate to give triple deprotonated cyclic tripeptides.     

Investigation of the effects of various parameters on the synthesis of oligopeptides in aqueous solution

Oligomerization efficiency of amino acids in aqueous solution has been compared under different conditions (temperature, activating agent, etc.) using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and 1,1^′-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) as coupling agents. Glycine (H₂N-CH₂-COOH) and α-alanine (H₂N-CH(CH₃)-COOH) were chosen as α-amino acids and β-alanine (H₂N-CH₂-CH₂-COOH) as the β-amino acid. The coupling reaction between EDC and glycine was shown to occur but does not go to completion either at ambient temperature or at 70 °C. The presence of a carboxylic activating agent such as N-hydroxysuccinimide improves the EDC-mediated coupling reaction, and the amino acid structure (α- or β-) was shown to have an influence on the oligomerization efficiency, with β-alanine polymerisation being more efficient. These findings are explained by reference to the reaction mechanism.     

N-Polyfluoroethyl and N-2-chlorodifluorovinyl derivatives of azoles

Reactions of tetrafluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene and 1,2-dichlorodifluoroethylene with N-potassium salts of imidazole, 2-methylbenzimidazole, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, 1,2,4-triazole, and benzotriazole lead to the formation of the corresponding N-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl), N-(2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl), and N-(2-chloro-1,2-difluorovinyl) azoles. Treatment of N-(2-chloro-1,2-difluorovinyl) and N-(2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl) derivatives of azoles with tetramethylammonium fluoride is a useful synthetic method for the preparation of heterocycles with 1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl group attached to nitrogen.     

Synthesis of protected derivatives and short peptides of antAib, a novel C-tetrasubstituted α-amino acid of the Ac5c type possessing a fused anthracene fluorophore

The N^α-Boc and N^α-Fmoc protected derivatives of 2-amino-2,3-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[b]anthracene-2-carboxylic acid (antAib), a novel fluorescent, achiral, α-amino acid, rigid analogue of the known 9-antAla and 2-antAla residues, and belonging to the class of C_i^α→C_i^α cyclized, C^α,α-disubstituted glycines (strong β-turn and helix inducers in peptides), were synthesized in seven steps from 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene. The UV absorption and fluorescence properties of Boc-antAib-OEt and Boc-antAib-OH are also described. Solution syntheses of the short peptides Boc-antAib-l-Ala-OMe, Fmoc-l-Ala-antAib-l-Ala-OMe, as well as Boc-Aib-antAib-l-Ala-OMe and the side product 2,5-dioxopiperazine cyclo-[antAib-l-Ala], are presented as examples of the coupling ability at both C- and N-termini of the antAib residue.     

Concise and diastereoselective approach to syn- and anti-N-tosyl-α-hydroxy β-amino acid derivatives

The methyl diazoacetate and aryl (N-tosyl)imines can be transformed into syn or anti α-hydroxy β-amino esters with high diastereoselectivities in three steps: the base promoted nucleophilic condensation of the methyl diazoacetate and aryl (N-tosyl)imines to give β-(N-tosyl)amino α-diazoesters, followed by oxidation with Oxone^® to generate α-oxo esters, which were reduced with NaBH₄ to yield the anti-N-tosyl-α-hydroxy β-amino ester, or hydrogenated with Pd/C (10%) as the catalyst to yield corresponding syn isomer, both in high diastereoselectivity.     

A new convenient synthesis of N-acyl-2-(dimethoxyphosphoryl)glycinates

Easily accessible N-acyl-2-triphenylphosphonioglycinate tetrafluoroborates react smoothly with trimethylphosphite in the presence of methyltriphenylphosphonium iodide to give N-acyl-2-(dimethoxyphosphoryl)glycinates in good or very good yields. The dimethoxyphosphorylglycinates may be isolated by column chromatography, or used directly for the Wadsworth-Emmons synthesis of α,β-dehydro-α-amino acids in a one-pot procedure without purification.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (−)-(S,S)-homaline

The asymmetric synthesis of (−)-(S,S)-homaline was achieved in 8 steps from commercially available starting materials using the diastereoselective conjugate addition of the novel lithium amide reagent lithium (R)-N-(3-chloropropyl)-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to methyl cinnamate to install the correct stereochemistry. Subsequent functional group manipulation of the resultant β-amino ester and Sb(OEt)₃-mediated macrolactamisation was followed by homodimerisation to give (−)-(S,S)-homaline in 18% overall yield, representing the first asymmetric, and by far the most efficient synthesis of this natural product reported to date.     

N-Alkylation of N-arylsulfonyl-α-amino acid methyl esters by trialkyloxonium tetrafluoroborates

In this work we present the results obtained for the N-alkylation of a series of N-arylsulfonyl-α-amino acid methyl esters bearing different substituents at the 4-position of the sulfonamide aromatic ring. In particular, we compare the reactivity of these species with diazomethane and trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate in N-methylation processes. Diazomethylation is unsuccessful for N-arylsulfonamide derivatives containing electron-releasing groups on the aromatic ring. In these cases trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate is the reagent of choice for the direct and quantitative N-methylation. Further we extend our evaluation to the use of triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate. This reagent shows to be very efficient in order to prepare N-ethyl derivatives of N-arylsulfonyl-α-amino acid methyl esters. An experimental protocol similar to that used for N-methylation with trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate is applied for the N-ethylation.     

Convenient synthesis of C-terminal di- and tri-peptide amides from N-protected dipeptidoylbenzotriazoles

N-Protected dipeptidoylbenzotriazoles react with aqueous ammonia to give dipeptide primary amides (77-98%) and with N-unprotected α-amino amides to afford tripeptide primary amides (82-86%).     

Highly diastereoselective preparation of anti-α,β-dialkyl β-amino acids containing natural α-amino acid side chains

An efficient synthesis of anti-2-alkyl β³-amino acids was developed starting from the fully protected β³-amino acids. The strategy allows the introduction of the side chain of natural α-amino acids such as Ala, Phe and Ser at the C-2 position, with high diastereoselectivity. The preparation of 2-methyliden-β³-amino acids is also reported. This methodology does not need the use of expensive chiral reagents and/or chiral auxiliaries, and leads to compounds with orthogonal protecting groups.     

Facile rearrangement of N-(α-aminoacyl)cytidines to N-(4-cytidinyl)amino acid amides

Under near neutral and mildly basic conditions, primary N⁴-(α-aminoacyl)cytidines (4a-g) undergo a facile rearrangement to form N-(4-cytidinyl)amino acid amides (5a-g). Secondary aminoacyl derivatives rearrange with other competing pathways. Tertiary aminoacyl derivatives do not rearrange.     

Elimination of benzotriazolyl group in N-(α-benzotriazol-1-ylalkyl)amides and N-(α-benzotriazol-1-ylalkyl)sulfonamides: their self-coupling and cross-coupling reactions with carbonyl compounds

The elimination of benzotriazolyl group from N-(α-benzotriazol-1-ylalkyl)amides and N-(α-benzotriazol-1-ylalkyl)sulfonamides are readily realized with samarium diiodide as a reducing agent. The resulting intermediates undergo a dimerization or cross-coupling reaction with carbonyl compounds, thus affording the corresponding dimers or α-hydroxyalkylated sulfonamides in moderate yields.     

Trimethylsilyl derivatives of N-Boc-cytosine and their effect on I2-mediated nucleosidation of O-MTM ethers

Mono- and bis(trimethylsilyl) derivatives of N⁴-Boc-cytosine were synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR. Only the mono(trimethylsilyl)-N⁴-Boc-cytosine participates in the iodine-mediated nucleosidation of N-Fmoc-O-methylthiomethyl serine benzyl ester to produce the cytosine nucleoamino acid, while the bis(trimethylsilyl) derivative failed to give any product. A tentative mechanistic explanation is proposed.     

Electrogenerated-bases promoted electrochemical synthesis of N-bromoamino acids from imines and carbon dioxide

In this paper, the one-step synthesis of N-bromoamino acids has been developed by electrolyzing imines and carbon dioxide (4 MPa). The electrosynthesis was performed in an undivided cell with Ni cathode and Al sacrificial anode containing n-Bu₄NBr–DMF as supporting electrolyte with a constant current at room temperature. The N-bromoamino acids were afforded in moderate to good yields rather than traditional α-amino acids. To explore the truth, some influenced factors (cathode materials, supporting electrolyte, and electricity etc.) were investigated. The experimental results indicated that the NH group of the α-amino acid could be deprotonated by alkyl anion R⁻ (carbanion, a strong base), followed by the oxidation of hypobromous acid resulted from the two-step oxidation of the bromide ion at the anode, and produced the N-bromoamino acid. Finally, the reaction mechanism was briefly discussed.