Lipase-Catalyzed Synthesis of Carboxylic Amides: Nitrogen Nucleophiles as Acyl Acceptor

 The lipase-catalyzed aminolysis of carboxylic esters is a fairly general reaction that has been performed with a wide range of esters and amines, generally in anhydrous organic media to avoid undesirable hydrolysis of the ester. Alternatively, carboxylic amides can be synthesized by lipase mediated condensation of carboxylic acids and amines if an excess of either reactant is avoided. Chiral carboxylic esters have been resolved by lipase-catalyzed aminolysis. In the majority of these resolutions, Candida antarctica lipase B has been employed as the catalyst. A range of chiral amines has been resolved by lipase mediated acylation, using mainly the lipases from C. antarctica (B type) and Pseudomonas species. The enantiorecognition was frequently found to depend critically on the acylating agent and the reaction medium.     

Lipase-Catalyzed Resolution of Ibuprofen

Summary.  The resolution of ibuprofen by transesterification of its corresponding vinylester using lipase B from Candida antarctica is described. Compared to transesterification or hydrolysis of the ibuprofen ethyl ester (E < 2, 28–48 h), the reaction with vinylesters occurred significantly faster (1.5–5 h) and with considerably higher enantioselectivity (E = 8–39). Received December 20, 1999. Accepted January 12, 2000     

Synthesis of Amphiphilic Guanylated Polymers as Potential Gene Delivery Carriers

Abstract

We have developed novel polymeric systems that aggregate in aqueous media to form nanospheric particles. Our polymeric system constitutes guanidine functional groups and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) units. The guanidine group is an important structural component in many biologically active compounds. Because of their strongly basic character, guanidines are fully protonated under physiological conditions. The positive charge thus imposed on the molecule forms the basis for specific interactions between the ligand and receptor or the enzyme and substrate. The PEG units may form a characteristic micelle structure with a hydrophilic shell layer surrounding the core of the polyion complex (PIC) formed between DNA and the cation segments (PIC micelles).     

Dimerization of Acetylenic Amides

Summary.  Dimers of substituted acetylenic amides were obtained when triethylamine was used as refluxing solvent and acid acceptor instead of pyridine in the reaction of substituted acetylenic amides with triphosgene. Unsubstituted acetylenic amides resulted in the corresponding quinazolinone. Received October 22, 2001. Accepted (revised) November 22, 2001     

Lipase-Catalyzed Regio- and Stereoselective Acylation of Hydroxy Groups in Steroid Side Chains

Summary.  Lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia (PCL) catalyzes the regio- and stereoselective acylation of primary and secondary hydroxy groups in steroid side chains under irreversible transesterification conditions with vinyl acetate in organic solvents. Received December 20, 1999. Accepted December 31, 1999     

Convenient Synthesis of Thiol Esters from Acyl Chlorides and Disulfides Using Zn/AlCl3

Summary.  Various thiol esters were prepared by condensation of acyl chlorides with disulfides in the presence of Zn/AlCl₃. The advantages of this method are high yields under relatively mild conditions, simple work-up, lack of toxicity, and low costs. Received July, 20, 2001. Accepted September 24, 2001     

Mechanism of the Nickel-Catalyzed Electrosynthesis of Ketones by Heterocoupling of Acyl and Benzyl Halides

Summary.  The mechanism of the nickel-catalyzed electrosynthesis of ketones by heterocoupling of phenacyl chloride and benzyl bromide has been investigated by fast scan rate cyclic voltammetry with [Ni(bpy)²⁺ ₃](BF₄ ⁻)₂ as the catalytic precursor (bpy = 2,2{−}{ bipyridine}). The key step is an oxidative addition of Ni⁰(bpy) (electrogenerated by reduction of the Ni(II) precursor) to PhCH₂Br whose rate constant is found to be 10 times higher than that of PhCH₂COCl. The complex PhCH₂Ni^IIBr(bpy) formed in the oxidative addition is reduced at the potential of the Ni^II/Ni⁰ reduction by a two-electron process which affords an anionic complex PhCH₂Ni⁰(bpy)⁻ able to react with PhCH₂COCl to generate eventually the homocoupling product PhCH₂COCH₂Ph. The formation of the homocoupling product PhCH₂COCOCH₂Ph is prevented because of the too slow oxidative addition of Ni⁰(bpy) to PhCH₂COCl compared to PhCH₂Br. The formation of the homocoupling product PhCH₂CH₂Ph is also prevented because PhCH₂Ni⁰(bpy)⁻ does not react with PhCH₂Br. This explains why the electrosynthesis of the ketone can be performed selectively in a one-pot procedure, starting from an equal mixture of PhCH₂COCl and PhCH₂Br and a nickel catalyst ligated by the bpy ligand. Received June 27, 2000. Accepted July 11, 2000     

Porphyrin-Based Bola-Amphiphiles as Structure-Directing Agents for the Synthesis of Mesostructured Silica

Summary.  Amphiphilic porphyrins with a bola-type arrangement of trimethylammonium headgroups can be used to generate M41S-type silica mesostructures with a lamellar topology and alternating organic–inorganic layers. Within the organic layers, the porphyrin entities are aggregated as shown by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The use of a bola amphiphile as structure-directing agent extends the possibilities of surfactant-controlled assembly of inorganic structures. In addition, the direct functionalization of the organic part of organic–inorganic hybrid nanostructures is possible due to the combination of the amphiphilic function with that of a chromophore. Corresponding author. E-mail: peter.behrens@mbox.acb.uni-hannover.de Received February 22, 2002; accepted May 8, 2002     

A Mild Deoxygenation of Heteroaromatic N-Oxides by Formamidinesulfinic Acid

Summary.  Various heteroaromatic N-oxides were efficiently deoxygenated to the corresponding bases under mild conditions using formamidinesulfinic acid (thiourea S,S-dioxide). Received March 24, 2000. Accepted April 18, 2000     

Fluorophenyl Bilirubins: Synthesis and Stereochemistry

Summary.  Analogs of bilirubin with vinyl groups replaced by symmetrically-disposed o-fluorophenyls (1, bis-exo, and 2, bis-endo) were synthesized and characterized spectroscopically. Their ¹H NMR spectra and NOE data are consistent with an intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded ridge-tile conformation where each propionic acid group embraces an opposing dipyrrinone. Like bilirubin, 1 and 2 exhibit negative chirality induced circular dichroism (ICD) Cotton effects in chloroform containing quinine. Unlike bilirubin, however, in aqueous buffer containing human serum albumin, 2 exhibits a negative exciton chirality ICD, whereas that of 1 is positive. Received May 22, 2001. Accepted May 29, 2001     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Amphiphilic Polymers as Drug Delivery Nano Carriers

Polymer nano-particles have been widely investigated in the last decade due to a variety of potential applications. In particular, polymers which can self assemble into micellar nano-particles can be effectively used as vehicles for drug delivery. Considerable efforts are underway to develop better drug delivery nano carriers for high drug loading capacity for a wide variety of bioactive compounds. In this study, several new polymers were synthesized in bulk (solventless condition) by a chemo-enzymatic methodology using Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozyme 435) and molecular sieves (MS). The synthesized polymers demonstrated high drug loading capacity and the potential to encapsulate drugs which are poorly soluble in aqueous solvents.     

Synthesis of Imidazo[1′,5′:1,2]pyrido[3,4-b]indole Derivatives

Summary.  The reactions of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-1-carboxylic acid and its ethyl ester with alkyl and aryl isothiocyanates under mild conditions resulted in the corresponding thiohydantoin-fused tetrahydro-β-carbolines. Treatment of the ethyl ester with isocyanates furnished ethyl 2-alkyl- or arylcarbamoyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-1-carboxylates which were transformed to hydantoin-fused tetrahydro-β-carbolines. The structures of the thiohydantoin compounds, involving two conformers and the presence of keto-enol tautomerism, were determined by NMR spectroscopy. Corresponding author. E-mail: fulop@pharma.szote.u-szeged.hu Received February 2, 2002. Accepted (revised) March 4, 2002     

Synthesis of the Racemates of the b-Carboline Alkaloid Chrysotricine and its Diastereomer

Summary.  The racemates of the rubiacea alkaloid Chrysotricine (1) and its diastereomer are synthesized from the isomeric mixture of linalyl oxides 3 and tryptamine in six steps, followed by separation of the diastereomers. Received November 11, 1999. Accepted November 25, 1999     

Synthesis of Enantiopure Chiral Perhydrobenzimidazole and Hexahydroquinoxaline Derivatives

Summary.  Starting from 2-anilino-2-ethoxy-3-oxothiobutyric acid anilides and (R, R)-or (S, S)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane, chiral C2-disubstituted perhydrobenzimidazole and trans-4a,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydroquinoxaline derivatives were obtained depending on the polarity of the solvent. Received April 10, 2000. Accepted May 2, 2000     

Synthesis of New Primary-Tertiary Alkyl Bisperoxides by Reaction of Tertiary Hydroperoxides with Bromoalkanesin a PTC System

Summary.  Syntheses of novel primary-tertiary bisperoxides were carried out under phase transfer catalysis conditions. The bisperoxides were obtained in good yields, the reaction times not exceeding four hours. Received January 15, 2001. Accepted (revised) February 9, 2001     

Synthesis and Characterization of New Unsymmetrically Substituted Phthalocyanines

Summary.  Unsymmetric metallophthalocyanines (M=Zn, Co, Ni) carrying alkylthio and acetyloxyethylthio groups on peripheral positions were prepared from 4,5-bis-alkylthio-phthalonitrile, 4,5-bis-(acetyloxyethylthio)-phthalonitrile, and the corresponding anhydrous metal salts Zn(CH₃COO)₂, NiCl₂, and CoCl₂. The extremely soluble compounds were characterized by their IR, ¹H NMR, and UV/Vis spectra. Their long wavelength absorption band was found to be bathochromically shifted; their solubility is superior to that of symmetrical phthalocyanines. Received July 27, 1999. Accepted (revised) September 30, 1999     

Synthesis and Reactivity of Stannyloligosilanes IV [1]: From Hydrido Substituted Stannasilanes Towards Stannasiloxanes

Summary.  Hydrido substituted stannasilanes of the type or (Z = H, Me, Ph; R, R′ = alkyl, Ph) are accessible by reaction of either alkali metal stannides (MSn(Z)R ₂; M = Li, Na) with halogen substituted silanes (; X = F, Cl) or chlorostannanes (R ₂SnCl₂, Ph₃SnCl) and fluorosilanes in the presence of magnesium. Stannasilanes with halogen substituents at the silicon as well as the tin atom are formed by treatment of the hydrido substituted stannasilanes with CHCl₃ or CCl₄. The hydrido substituted stannasilanes decompose in contact with air to distannanes and siloxanes or to the linear ( ^t Bu₂Sn(–O– ^t Bu₂Si–OH)₂) and cyclic ((– ^t Bu₂Sn–O– ⁱ Pr₂Si–O–)₂) stannasiloxanes. Received November 29, 2001. Accepted (revised) January 16, 2002     

Direct Synthesis of Amides by Dehydrogenative Coupling of Amines with either Alcohols or Esters: Manganese Pincer Complex as Catalyst

The first example of base‐metal‐catalysed synthesis of amides from the coupling of primary amines with either alcohols or esters is reported. The reactions are catalysed by a new manganese pincer complex and generate hydrogen gas as the sole byproduct, thus making the overall process atom‐economical and sustainable.     

Novel Functional Fullerene Materials: Fullerenes as Energy Acceptors

Summary.  Fullerene derivatives exhibit absorption throughout the UV/Vis region up to 750 nm. This feature is important for easy excitation. Once excited, fullerenes may become both electron and energy acceptors. The distinction between these two pathways depends strongly on the partner involved (donor) and on the conditions employed (solvent, etc.). Received June 23, 2000. Accepted July 7, 2000     

Chiral Steroidal Phosphines: Synthesis and Platinum Complexes

Summary.  The synthesis of novel 3- and 17-diphenylphosphino-androstane derivatives via homogeneous catalytic P-C coupling is described. The products were characterized by ¹H and ³¹P NMR measurements. According to the NMR investigation of the PtCl₂P₂-type complexes, the steroidal phosphines are trans-coordinated with respect to the Pt-centre exclusively. Received June 14, 2000. Accepted (revised) July 24, 2000