Chiral Sulfinimines in Asymmetric Synthesis of Enantiomeric Aminophosphonic Acids

Abstract

Aminophosphonic acids have become important in different fields of chemistry, medicine and agriculture. In this review article, we highlight a new strategy developed in the author's laboratory of asymmetric synthesis of enantiomeric aminophosphonic acid that users chiral sulfinimines as reagents. A key reaction in the synthesis of enantiopure α-, β- and γ-aminophosphonic acids is a highly or fully diastereoselective addition of trivalent phosphorus nucleophiles and α-phosphonate carbanions to enantiopure sulfinimines. The steric course of these addition reactions is rationalized. The usefulness of the sulfinimine methodology is demonstrated by the synthesis of biologically active enantiopure 2-amino-3-phosphonopropanoic acid (AP3), 2-amino-4-phosphonobutanoic acid (AP4) and phosphoemeriamine.     

Novel selenium-containing non-natural diamino acids

The general synthesis of a new class of non-natural diamino acids, 2-amino-3-[(2′-aminoalkyl)seleno]propanoic acids, or Se-(aminoalkyl)selenocysteines, is reported. Under the conditions devised, enantiopure N-Boc-protected β-l-iodoamines, which are readily generated from proteinogenic α-amino acids, were treated with the selenolate anion obtained from NaBH₄ splitting of the Se-Se bond in commercial l-selenocystine. The Se-alkylation products were enantiomerically pure and the reaction is high yielding (92-98%), without any detectable traces of accompanying by-products.     

Asymmetric Alkylation of Cyclic Ketones with Dehydroalanine via H-Bond-Directing Enamine Catalysis: Straightforward Access to Enantiopure Unnatural α-Amino Acids

The growing importance of structurally diverse and functionalized enantiomerically pure unnatural amino acids in the design of drugs, including peptides, has stimulated the development of new synthetic methods. This study reports the challenging direct asymmetric alkylation of cyclic ketones with dehydroalanine derivatives via a conjugate addition reaction for the synthesis of enantiopure ketone-based α-unnatural amino acids. The key to success was the design of a bifunctional primary amine-thiourea catalyst that combines H-bond-directing activation and enamine catalysis. The simultaneous dual activation of the two relatively unreactive partners, confirmed by mass spectrometry studies, results in high reactivity while securing high levels of stereocontrol. A broad substrate scope is accompanied by versatile downstream chemical modifications. The mild reaction conditions and consistently excellent enantioselectivities (>95 % ee in most cases) render this protocol highly practical for the rapid construction of valuable noncanonical enantiopure α-amino-acid building blocks.     

Stereoselective cyanation of chiral α-amino aldehydes by reaction with Nagata's reagent: a route to enantiopure β-amino-α-hydroxy acids

Chiral α-dibenzylamino aldehydes react with diethylaluminum cyanide leading to anti-β-dibenzylamino-α-hydroxycyanides as the major diastereoisomers in good yields and diastereomeric excesses. Hydrolysis of the nitrile derivatives allows the synthesis of enantiopure β-amino-α-hydroxy acids.     

Asymmetric synthesis of fluorine-containing amines, amino alcohols, α- and β-amino acids mediated by chiral sulfinyl group

This review article provides a critical overview of several different synthetic approaches developed for asymmetric preparation of fluorine-containing amines, amino alcohols, α- and β-amino acids. The common feature of these methods is the application of sulfinyl group as a chiral auxiliary to control the stereochemical outcome of the reactions under study. In particular, the following general methods are critically discussed: diastereoselective methylene transfer from diazomethane to the carbonyl of β-keto-γ-fluoroalkyl sulfoxides as a general approach for preparation of various α-fluoroalkyl α-sulfinylalkyl oxiranes. The resulting compounds were used as true chiral synthons for their further elaboration via oxidative or reductive desulfurization, to numerous fluorine-containing and biologically relevant amino- and hydroxy-containing derivatives. Another general approaches discussed here are asymmetric additions to CN double bond. One of them is addition of chiral sulfoxide stabilized carbon nucleophiles to fluorine-containing imines, leading to convenient preparation of alpha-fluoroalkyl derivatives of alpha amino acids and amines. Another approach is asymmetric Reformatsky reaction between N-sulfinyl imines and ethyl bromodifluoroacetate allowing operationally convenient preparation of α,α-difluoro-β-amino acids in enantiomerically pure form. Finally, structurally similar but mechanistically different addition reactions of diethyl difluoromethylphosphonate to N-sulfinyl imines, as a general approach to asymmetric synthesis of α,α-difluoro-β-aminophosphonates and phosphonic acids, are discussed. Effect of fluorine on the mechanism and stereochemical outcome of these reactions is discussed in detail and compared, where it is possible, with that of the analogous reactions of fluorine-free substrates.     

Access to β,γ-diamino acids. Application to the synthesis of 3-deoxyaminostatine

The synthesis of orthogonally protected diastereo- and enantiopure β,γ-diamino acids starting from natural α-amino acids is described, as well as its application to the synthesis of fully protected 3-deoxyaminostatine.     

Asymmetric synthesis of β-trifluoromethylated β-amino aldehyde as well as carboxylic acid derivatives using enantiopure α-trifluoromethylated homoallylamine

Asymmetric synthesis of β-trifluoromethylated β-amino aldehyde and acid derivatives via the oxidation of enantiopure α-trifluoromethylated homoallylamine as a new trifluoromethylated chiral building block is described.     

Trading N and O: asymmetric syntheses of β-hydroxy-α-amino acids via α-hydroxy-β-amino esters

Both diastereoisomers of 2-amino-3-hydroxybutanoic acid and 2-amino-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoic acid have been prepared from enantiopure α-hydroxy-β-amino esters via the intermediacy of the corresponding cis- and trans-aziridines. Aminohydroxylation of two α,β-unsaturated esters produced enantiopure 2,3-anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters in >99:1 dr. Subsequent epimerisation at the C(2)-position via a sequential oxidation/diastereoselective reduction protocol gave the corresponding enantiopure 2,3-syn-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters in >99:1 dr. These syn- and anti-substrates were then converted into the corresponding N-Boc protected cis- and trans-aziridines, respectively, via a three step reaction sequence: (i) hydrogenolysis and in situ N-Boc protection; (ii) OH-activation; and (iii) aziridine formation. Subsequent regioselective ring-opening of the C(3)-methyl-aziridines with Cl₃CCO₂H proceeded with inversion of configuration to give the corresponding 2-amino-3-trichloroacetate esters, whereas the analogous reaction with the C(3)-phenyl-aziridines resulted in rearrangement to the corresponding oxazolidin-2-ones with retention of configuration. In each case, hydrolysis of the products from these ring-opening reactions produced the corresponding enantiopure β-hydroxy-α-amino acids as single diastereoisomers.     

Enantiopure synthesis of side chain-modified α-amino acids and 5-cis-alkylprolines

A short, concise synthesis of enantiopure, side chain-modified α-amino acids such as 4-oxo-L-norvaline, 6-oxo-L-homonorleucine, and 5-cis-alkyl prolines is described. Knoevenagel condensation of l-aminocarboxylate-derived β-ketoesters with aldehydes followed by reductive decarboxylation results in unnatural α-amino acids in good yield. A fluorescent amino acid is synthesized using a similar protocol. These studies show that aminocarboxylate-derived β-ketoesters are very useful intermediates and the method employed is both general and practical for the preparation of γ(δ)-oxo α-amino acids and alkylprolines.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of β2-Aryl Amino Acids through Pd-Catalyzed Enantiospecific and Regioselective Ring-Opening Suzuki–Miyaura Arylation of Aziridine-2-carboxylates

A Pd-catalyzed enantiospecific and regioselective ring-opening Suzuki–Miyaura arylation of aziridine-2-carboxylates was developed. The cross-coupling allows for the asymmetric preparation of enantioenriched β²-aryl amino acids, starting from commercially available enantiopure d - and l -serine esters. The mechanism and selectivity of the reaction was rationalized based on computational models.     

N-Boc-Protected α-Amino Acids by 1,3-Migratory Nitrene C(sp3)−H Insertion

N-Boc-protected α-amino acids are synthesized in two steps from linear or branched carboxylic acid feedstocks. In the first step, the carboxylic acid is coupled with tert-butyl aminocarbonate (BocNHOH) to generate azanyl ester (acyloxycarbamate) RCO₂NHBoc. In the second step, this azanyl ester undergoes a stereocontrolled iron-catalyzed 1,3-nitrogen migration to generate the N-Boc-protected non-racemic α-amino acid. This straightforward protocol is applicable to the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of α-monosubstituted α-amino acids with aryl, alkenyl, and alkyl side chains. Furthermore, α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids are accessible in an enantioconvergent fashion from racemic carboxylic acids. The new method is also advantageous for the synthesis of α-deuterated α-amino acids. N-Boc-protected α-amino acids synthesized using this two-step protocol are ready-to-use building blocks.     

Synthesis and glycosidase inhibitory activity of enantiopure polyhydroxylated octahydroindoles and decahydroquinolines, analogs to castanospermine

The synthesis of new enantiopure polyhydroxylated octahydroindoles and decahydroquinolines, analogs to castanospermine, via a double reductive amination of enantiopure cyclic ketoaldehyde, and their inhibitory activity against α- or β-d-glucosidases, α-d-mannosidase and α-l-fucosidase are described.     

ASYMMETRIC ADDITION OF (+)-CAMPHOR SULFINIMINES WITH DIETHYLALUMINUM CYANIDE

The development of new and improved methods for the asymmetric synthesis of α-amino acids is of considerable current interest because of their importance in biological systems and their exceptional utility as chiral building blocks. Of the many methods used to prepare α-amino acids, the asymmetric Strecker synthesis should hold particular prominence because of its simplicity¹. Recently, F. A. Davis and his coworkers reported that diethylaluminum cyanide (Et₂AlCN) adds to enantiopure p-tolylsulfinimines to give α-sulfinamino nitriles at 82-84% diastereoselectivity. Treatment of α-sulfinamino nitriles with acid removes the chiral auxiliary p-tolylsulfinyl group and hydrolyzes the nitrile to give α-amino acids without epimerization². This research was quoted in Highlight by Chemistry & Industry as an improved asymmetric Strecker synthesis³. However, the diastereoselectivity of this addition reaction needs to be improved more high, and moreover, the preparation of p-tolylsulfinimines from nonracemic p-tolylsulfinamides and aldehydes needs strong organic metallic bases^2b, so it is desirable to design an easier prepared and effective optical sulfinimines.     

Trading N and O. Part 4: Asymmetric synthesis of syn-β-substituted-α-amino acids

A total of nine enantiopure syn-β-substituted-α-amino acids have been synthesised, comprising both syn-β-hydroxy-α-amino acids and syn-β-fluoro-α-amino acids. The key step in the synthetic strategy towards these syn-β-substituted-α-amino acids involves a stereospecific rearrangement, which proceeds via the intermediacy of the corresponding aziridinium ions. The requisite enantiopure syn-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters were prepared via asymmetric aminohydroxylation of the corresponding α,β-unsaturated esters followed by epimerisation of the resultant anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters at the C(2)-position. Subsequent activation of the α-hydroxy moiety as a leaving group followed by displacement by the β-amino substituent gave the corresponding aziridinium species. Regioselective in situ ring-opening of the aziridinium intermediates with either water or fluoride gave the corresponding syn-β-hydroxy-α-amino ester or syn-β-fluoro-α-amino ester, respectively, and N-deprotection and ester hydrolysis afforded the target syn-β-substituted-α-amino acids as single diastereoisomers in good overall yield.     

The first example for the asymmetric synthesis of allenes by the Doering-LaFlamme allene synthesis with enantiopure cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoids

The reaction of lithium α-sulfinyl carbanion of enantiopure dichloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds gave optically active 1-chlorocyclopropyl p-tolyl sulfoxides having a carbonyl group with high asymmetric induction from the sulfur chiral center. Reduction of the carbonyl group followed by treatment with Grignard reagent, the 1-chlorocyclopropyl p-tolyl sulfoxides resulted in the formation of enantiopure allenic alcohols via the Doering-LaFlamme-type rearrangement of enantiopure cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoid intermediates. This is the first example for the asymmetric synthesis of allenes by the Doering-LaFlamme allene synthesis.     

Asymmetric syntheses of the N-terminal α-hydroxy-β-amino acid components of microginins 612, 646 and 680

The asymmetric syntheses of the N-terminal α-hydroxy-β-amino acid components of microginins 612, 646 and 680 are reported. Conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to the requisite (E)-α,β-unsaturated ester followed by in situ enolate oxidation with (?)-(camphorsulfonyl)oxaziridne (CSO) gave the corresponding anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters. Sequential Swern oxidation followed by diastereoselective reduction gave the corresponding syn-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters. Subsequent N-debenzylation (i.e., hydrogenolysis for microginin 612, and NaBrO₃-mediated oxidative N-debenzylation for microginins 646 and 680) followed by acid catalysed ester hydrolysis gave the corresponding syn-α-hydroxy-β-amino acids, the N-terminal components of microginins 612, 646 and 680, in good yield. An analogous strategy for elaboration of the enantiopure anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters facilitated the asymmetric synthesis of the corresponding C(2)-epimeric α-hydroxy-β-amino acids.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of enantiopure (−)-methyl jasmonate via catalytic asymmetric intramolecular cyclopropanation of α-diazo-β-keto sulfone

A new asymmetric total synthesis of enantiopure (−)-methyl jasmonate is described. This synthesis was accomplished starting from the new enantiopure building block prepared via the catalytic asymmetric intramolecular cyclopropanation (IMCP) of the α-diazo-β-keto 1-naphthyl sulfone, which was devised to give good selectivity both in the IMCP reaction and in the C-alkynylation of the intermediate required for the total synthesis of enantiopure (−)-methyl jasmonate.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of β-triazolyl amino alcohols by asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of α-triazolyl amino alkanones

The synthesis of optically active β-triazolyl amino alcohols was carried out via ruthenium catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of α-triazolyl amino alkanones. This reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions with up to 99% yield and 99.9% enantiomeric excess (ee). This protocol was applied to the synthesis of an enantiopure antitubercular agent and its arylated product with retention in enantiomeric purity. The absolute configuration at the stereogenic center of the chiral product as found to be (S).     

Efficient enantioselective synthesis of orthogonally protected (R)-α-alkylserines compatible with the solid phase peptide synthesis

The Schöllkopf methodology for the asymmetric synthesis of α-amino acids, which was previously not applicable to the construction of quaternary α-amino acids, has been rendered not only suitable but also practical for this purpose and applied to a highly efficient enantioselective synthesis of orthogonally protected (R)-α-alkylserines suitable for the solid phase synthesis.     

Combining spiro-fused cyclohexadienone – tetrahydrofuran ring system with glycine: Asymmetric synthesis of a new class of α-amino acid derivatives

Herein, we present the asymmetric synthesis of spiro-fused cyclohexadienone – tetrahydrofuran-embedded glycine derivatives as a new class of nonproteinogenic α-amino acid derivatives. Starting from commercially available 2-allylphenols, key β-hydroxy-α-amino esters were synthesized via high-yielding multi-step reaction sequences involving Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as the chirality induction step. PhI(OAc)₂-mediated oxidative dearomatization – spirocyclization of phenol-tethered β-hydroxy-α-amino esters efficiently produced the corresponding spiro-fused cyclohexadienone – tetrahydrofuran-embedded glycine derivatives, providing a general route to this hitherto-unreported class of compounds that are equipped with three privileged scaffolds (cyclohexadienone – tetrahydrofuran – α-amino ester).