Asymmetric synthesis of both the enantiomers of trans-3-hydroxypipecolic acid

Both the enantiomers of trans-3-hydroxypipecolic acid have been synthesized employing the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and epoxidation as the key steps starting from a commercially available starting material 1,4-butanediol.     

Organic base-catalyzed stereodivergent synthesis of (R)- and (S)-3-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acids

Organic base-catalyzed reaction of (S)-N-tert-butanesulfinyl (3,3,3)-trifluoroacetaldimine with dialkyl malonates was found to be effective for synthesis of both (S,S(S)) and (R,S(S)) β-aminomalonates in high yield with good to excellent diastereoselectivity (76-98% de). The products of this Mannich reaction provide direct access to β-trifluoromethyl-β-alanine of either (R) or (S) absolute configuration.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of both enantiomers of 3-hydroxy- and 3-amino-3-phenylpropanoic acid

Ethyl (S)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionate (S)-2 was obtained by the asymmetric reduction of ethyl 3-phenyl-3-oxopropionate 1 with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ATCC 9080). The kinetic resolution of racemic ethyl 2-acetoxy-3-phenyl-propionate rac-3 with the same microorganism, gave after hydrolysis ethyl (R)- and (S)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionates (R)-2 and (S)-2 which were converted by a straightforward series of reactions to the enantiomers of 3-amino-3-phenyl-propionic acids (S)-6 and (R)-6. The asymmetric reduction and hydrolytic kinetic resolution were also tested with several other whole cell systems under a variety of conditions.     

Stereoselective chemoenzymatic synthesis of both enantiomers of protected 4-amino-2-pentanone

An acetal protected 4-amino-2-pentanone was synthesised by two different routes in 10 and seven steps, respectively, the key step being a microbiological reduction. Both enantiomers of the amine were obtained enantiomerically pure.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 2-amino-3-hydroxynorbornene-2-carboxylic acid derivatives

The enantioselective synthesis of 2-amino-3-hydroxynorbornene-2-carboxylic acid derivatives (5) was studied using the Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene and different dienophiles, i.e., alkyl 5-oxo-2-phenyloxazol-4-methylenecarbonates (1) or 2-benzoylamino-3-alkoxycarbonyloxy-acrylates (12), operating with different Lewis acids and both with thermal and with ultrasound conditions. The enantioselective synthesis of the exo/endo compounds 5c,d and 5'c,d was achieved starting from the chiral menthyl acrylates 12b,c using Mg(ClO(4))(2) as the catalyst and ultrasound. The cycloadducts were obtained in very good yield, in mild conditions, in short time, and in good diastereomeric excess (exo, 80%; endo, 87%). Finally, the use of alkylidene-oxazolones or acrylates and EtAlCl(2) or Mg(ClO(4))(2) as the catalyst allowed control of the cycloaddition reaction in favor of the exo or endo products.     

Improvement of the chemoenzymatic synthesis of both enantiomers of keto-protected 4-amino-2-pentanone

An improved enantioselective synthesis (five steps, 37–44% yield versus seven to 10 steps, 13.5 and 12% yield, respectively) of both enantiomers of keto-protected 4-amino-2-pentanone has been realized, the key step being the microbiological reduction of 2,4-pentanedione. This study shows that microbiological reductions of the mono acetal-protected 2,4-pentanedione afforded in most cases the corresponding ketol with moderate to excellent enantiomeric excesses, depending on the microorganism used.     

Efficient synthesis of (2R,3S)-2-amino-3-(benzyloxy)-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid (4,4,4-trifluoro-OBn-d-allothreonine)

An efficient synthesis of the non-proteinogenic amino acid (2R,3S)-4,4,4-trifluoro(OBn)-threonine is described. Starting with commercially available (S)-Garner’s aldehyde, the desired amino acid was prepared as its hydrochloride salt in five steps and an overall yield of 33% (59% based on recovered starting material). The utility of this unusual amino acid was demonstrated by its elaboration into a potent and selective androgen.     

Asymmetric synthesis of both the enantiomers of antidepressant venlafaxine and its analogues

Chemoenzymatic asymmetric synthesis of antidepressant agent venlafaxine and its analogue have been reported in this communication. The main highlight of the reported synthesis is the stereoselective synthesis of cyanohydrins by (S)-hydroxynitrile lyase (Hevea brasiliensis) followed by lipase catalyzed kinetic resolution.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (+)-phosphinothricin and (+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid

Asymmetric synthesis of (+)-phosphinothricin, (+)-2-amino-4-phosphono-butyric acid, and their enantiomers has been achieved by the Michael addition of chiral glycine Schiff bases to vinyl phosphorus compounds.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoate

Asymmetric synthesis of 3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoate, a key component of the natural product bestatin and HIV protease inhibitors of KNI-272 and R-87366, has been achieved from the stereoselective aldimine coupling reaction between 3-phenyl-2-aminopropanenitrile and (Z)-α-methoxy trimethylsilyl ketene acetal in the presence of Lewis acids.     

Asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of α-methyl-α-methoxyphenylacetic acid from l-(+)-tartaric acid: formal enantioselective synthesis of insect pheromone (−)-frontalin

Both antipodes of α-methyl-α-methoxyarylacetic acid derivatives were prepared from a common chiralpool precursor l-(+)-tartaric acid. The key step involves the addition of Grignard reagents to 1,4-diketones derived from tartaric acid. The utility of this strategy was applied in the formal enantioselective synthesis of pine beetle pheromone (−)-frontalin.     

Asymmetric synthesis of syn- and anti-1,3-amino alcohols

The first application of metalloenamines derived from N-sulfinyl imines is reported for the highly diastereoselective addition to aldehydes. Reduction of the beta-hydroxy-N-sulfinyl imine products with catecholborane and LiBHEt3 provides syn- and anti-1,3-amino alcohol derivatives, respectively, with very high diastereomeric ratios.     

Asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of syn-(3-trifluoromethyl)cysteine derivatives

The use of several chiral trifluoromethylated building blocks 1a, 1b, 9a and 9b was attempted to synthesize of syn-(3-trifluoromethyl)cysteine. A novel and efficient enantioselective synthesis of both enantiomers of syn-(3-trifluoromethyl)cysteine derivatives 12a and 12b was successfully achieved.     

Improved synthesis of both enantiomers of trans-cyclohex-4-ene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid

A facile synthesis of both enantiomers of trans-cyclohex-4-ene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid on a multigram scale, that starts from inexpensive, commercially available compounds, is described.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of both enantiomers of cispentacin

Based on the lipase-catalysed kinetic resolution of the silyloxyalcohol (1RS,2SR)-5 by transesterification with vinyl acetate in the presence of lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia a synthesis of both enantiomers of the β-amino acid cispentacin (1R,2S)-1 and (1S,2R)-1 using simple functional group interconversions is described.     

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of both enantiomers of rugulactone

The synthesis of both the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of the natural product rugulactone has been achieved. Candida rugosa lipase hydrolyzes the butyrate ester of the protected 3-hydroxy homoallylic alcohol with very high enantioselectivity (E = 244) and provides the key intermediates with high enantiomeric purity (ee 98–99%) and excellent yields.     

Stereoselective synthesis of both enantiomers of rugulactone

The stereoselective total synthesis of both enantiomers of rugulactone 1 has been completed by applying enantioselective allyl additions as key steps. Two different strategies based on highly stable and enantiomerically pure α-substituted allylboronic esters 2 and 3 were performed starting from boronic ester 4.