α‐Amino Acid‐Isosteric α‐Amino Tetrazoles

The synthesis of all 20 common natural proteinogenic and 4 otherα‐amino acid‐isosteric α‐amino tetrazoles has been accomplished, whereby the carboxyl group is replaced by the isosteric 5‐tetrazolyl group. The short process involves the use of the key Ugi tetrazole reaction followed by deprotection chemistries. The tetrazole group is bioisosteric to the carboxylic acid and is widely used in medicinal chemistry and drug design. Surprisingly, several of the common α‐amino acid‐isosteric α‐amino tetrazoles are unknown up to now. Therefore a rapid synthetic access to this compound class and non‐natural derivatives is of high interest to advance the field.     

Catalytic Asymmetric 1,2‐Addition of α‐Isothiocyanato Phosphonates: Synthesis of Chiral β‐Hydroxy‐ or β‐Amino‐Substituted α‐Amino Phosphonic Acid Derivatives

α‐Amino phosphonic acid derivatives are considered to be the most important structural analogues of α‐amino acids and have a very wide range of applications. However, approaches for the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of such useful compounds are very limited. In this work, simple, efficient, and versatile organocatalytic asymmetric 1,2‐addition reactions of α‐isothiocyanato phosphonate were developed. Through these processes, derivatives of β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino phosphonic acid and α,β‐diamino phosphonic acid, as well as highly functionalized phosphonate‐substituted spirooxindole, can be efficiently constructed (up to 99 % yield, d.r. >20:1, and >99 % ee). This novel method provides a new route for the enantioselective functionalization of α‐phosphonic acid derivatives.     

The ‘Azirine/Oxazolone Method’ on Solid Phase: Introduction of Various α,α‐Disubstituted α‐Amino Acids

Peptides containing various α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acids, such as α‐aminoisobutyric acid (Aib), 1‐aminocyclopentane‐1‐carboxylic acid, α‐methylphenylalanine, and 3‐amino‐3,4,5,6‐tetrahydro‐2H‐pyran‐3‐carboxylic acid have been synthesized from the N‐ to the C‐terminus by the ‘azirine/oxazolone method’ under solid‐phase conditions. In this convenient method for the synthesis of sterically demanding peptides on solid‐phase, 2H‐azirin‐3‐amines are used to introduce the α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acids without the need for additional reagents. Furthermore, the synthesis of poly(Aib) sequences has been explored.     

Formal Aminocyanation of α,β‐Unsaturated Cyclic Enones for the Efficient Synthesis of α‐Amino Ketones

Installation of amino functionality on organic molecules through direct C N bond formation is an important research objective. To achieve this goal, a 1,2‐aminocyanation reaction was developed. The reaction occurs through the formation of pyrazolines by means of a formal dipolar cycloaddition of cyclic α,β‐unsaturated ketones with lithium trimethylsilyldiazomethane followed by novel protonolytic N N bond cleavage under mild conditions. This two‐step process provides a diverse array of structurally complex free and mono‐alkylated α‐amino ketones in excellent yields.     

Ambidextrous α,γ‐Hybrid Peptide Foldamers

Molecular chirality is ubiquitous in nature. The natural biopolymers, proteins and DNA, preferred a right‐handed helical bias due to the inherent stereochemistry of the monomer building blocks. Here, we are reporting a rare co‐existence of left‐ and right‐handed helical conformations and helix‐terminating property at the C‐terminus within a single molecule of α,γ‐hybrid peptide foldamers composed of achiral Aib (α‐aminoisobutyric acid) and 3,3‐dimethyl‐substituted γ‐amino acid (Adb; 4‐amino‐3,3‐dimethylbutanoic acid). At the molecular level, the left‐ and right‐handed helical screw sense of α,γ‐hybrid peptides are representing a macroscopic tendril perversion. The pronounced helix‐terminating behaviour of C‐terminal Adb residues was further explored to design helix–Schellman loop mimetics and to study their conformations in solution and single crystals. The stereochemical constraints of dialkyl substitutions on γ‐amino acids showed a marked impact on the folding behaviour of α,γ‐hybrid peptides.     

Asymmetric and Geometry‐Selective α‐Alkenylation of α‐Amino Acids

Both E‐ and Z‐N′‐alkenyl urea derivatives of imidazolidinones may be formed selectively from enantiopure α‐amino acids. Generation of their enolate derivatives in the presence of K⁺ and [18]crown‐6 induces intramolecular migration of the alkenyl group from N′ to Cα with retention of double bond geometry. DFT calculations indicate a partially concerted substitution mechanism. Hydrolysis of the enantiopure products under acid conditions reveals quaternary α‐alkenyl amino acids with stereodivergent control of both absolute configuration and double bond geometry.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Quaternary α‐Amino Acids Enabled by the Versatility of the Phenylselenonyl Group

A novel Cinchona alkaloid‐catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of α‐alkyl substituted α‐nitroacetates to phenyl vinyl selenone was developed. The resulting enantio‐enriched α,α‐dialkyl substituted α‐nitroacetates were subsequently converted to various cyclic and acyclic quaternary α‐amino acids, taking advantage of the rich functionalities of the resulting Michael adducts. Novel protocols allowing chemoselective reduction of phenyl selenone to phenyl selenide and reduction of alkyl phenyl selenones to alkanes are also reported.     

Engineered L‐Serine Hydroxymethyltransferase from Streptococcus thermophilus for the Synthesis of α,α‐Dialkyl‐α‐Amino Acids

α,α‐Disubstituted α‐amino acids are central to biotechnological and biomedical chemical processes for their own sake and as substructures of biologically active molecules for diverse biomedical applications. Structurally, these compounds contain a quaternary stereocenter, which is particularly challenging for stereoselective synthesis. The pyridoxal‐5′‐phosphate (PLP)‐dependent L ‐serine hydroxymethyltransferase from Streptococcus thermophilus (SHMT_Sth; EC 2.1.2.1) was engineered to achieve the stereoselective synthesis of a broad structural variety of α,α‐dialkyl‐α‐amino acids. This was accomplished by the formation of quaternary stereocenters through aldol addition of the amino acids D ‐Ala and D ‐Ser to a wide acceptor scope catalyzed by the minimalist SHMT_Sth Y55T variant overcoming the limitation of the native enzyme for Gly. The SHMT_Sth Y55T variant tolerates aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes as well as hydroxy‐ and nitrogen‐containing aldehydes as acceptors.     

The Generation of Difluoroketenimine and Its Application in the Synthesis of α,α‐Difluoro‐β‐amino Amides

Fluorine‐containing β‐amino acids and their derivatives have attracted significant attention due to their importance in life sciences. Herein the previously unknown difluoroketenimine, the analogue of the elusive difluoroketene, has been generated by the reaction of difluorocarbene and isocyanide, which further undergoes [2+2] cycloaddition with imine. The three‐component reaction affords α,α‐difluoro‐β‐amino amides in good yields. Mechanistic studies reveal the unique properties of the difluoroketenimine in the [2+2] cycloaddition with imine.     

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Addition of Oxazolones to 1,1‐Bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethylene: A Convenient Asymmetric Synthesis of Quaternary α‐Amino Acids

A new, easy, and highly enantioselective method for the synthesis of quaternary α‐alkyl‐α‐amino acids based on organocatalysis is reported. The addition of oxazolones to 1,1‐bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethylene is efficiently catalyzed by simple chiral bases or thioureas. The reaction affords α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acid derivatives with complete C4 regioselectivity and with excellent yields and enantioselectivities. This methodology is complementary to previously reported enantioselective approaches to quaternary α‐amino acids and allows the synthesis of α‐phenyl‐α‐alkyl‐α‐amino acids and α‐tert‐butyl‐α‐alkyl‐α‐amino acids. It has distinct advantages in terms of operational simplicity, enviromentally friendly conditions, and suitability for large‐scale reactions.     

Geometry‐Retentive C‐Alkenylation of Lithiated α‐Aminonitriles: Quaternary α‐Alkenyl Amino Acids and Hydantoins

α‐Amino nitriles tethered to alkenes through a urea linkage undergo intramolecular C‐alkenylation on treatment with base by attack of the lithionitrile derivatives on the N′‐alkenyl group. A geometry‐retentive alkene shift affords stereospecifically the E or Z isomer of the 5‐alkenyl‐4‐iminohydantoin products from the corresponding starting E ‐ or Z ‐N ′‐alkenyl urea, each of which may be formed from the same N ‐allyl precursor by stereodivergent alkene isomerization. The reaction, formally a nucleophilic substitution at an sp² carbon atom, allows the direct regioselective incorporation of mono‐, di‐, tri‐, and tetrasubstituted olefins at the α‐carbon of amino acid derivatives. The initially formed 5‐alkenyl iminohydantoins may be hydrolyzed and oxidatively deprotected to yield hydantoins and unsaturated α‐quaternary amino acids.     

Synthesis and Conformational Analysis of Hybrid α/β‐Dipeptides Incorporating S‐Glycosyl‐β2,2‐Amino Acids

We synthesized and carried out the conformational analysis of several hybrid dipeptides consisting of an α‐amino acid attached to a quaternary glyco‐β‐amino acid. In particular, we combined a S‐glycosylated β^2,2‐amino acid and two different types of α‐amino acid, namely, aliphatic (alanine) and aromatic (phenylalanine and tryptophan) in the sequence of hybrid α/β‐dipeptides. The key step in the synthesis involved the ring‐opening reaction of a chiral cyclic sulfamidate, inserted in the peptidic sequence, with a sulfur‐containing nucleophile by using 1‐thio‐β‐D ‐glucopyranose derivatives. This reaction of glycosylation occurred with inversion of configuration at the quaternary center. The conformational behavior in aqueous solution of the peptide backbone and the glycosidic linkage for all synthesized hybrid glycopeptides was analyzed by using a protocol that combined NMR experiments and molecular dynamics with time‐averaged restraints (MD‐tar). Interestingly, the presence of the sulfur heteroatom at the quaternary center of the β‐amino acid induced θ torsional angles close to 180° (anti). Notably, this value changed to 60° (gauche) when the peptidic sequence displayed aromatic α‐amino acids due to the presence of CH–π interactions between the phenyl or indole ring and the methyl groups of the β‐amino acid unit.     

Quaternary β2,2‐Amino Acids: Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis and Incorporation into Peptides by Fmoc‐Based Solid‐Phase Peptide Synthesis

β‐Amino acid incorporation has emerged as a promising approach to enhance the stability of parent peptides and to improve their biological activity. Owing to the lack of reliable access to β^2,2‐amino acids in a setting suitable for peptide synthesis, most contemporary research efforts focus on the use of β³‐ and certain β^2,3‐amino acids. Herein, we report the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of β^2,2‐amino acids and their incorporation into peptides by Fmoc‐based solid‐phase peptide synthesis (Fmoc‐SPPS). A quaternary carbon center was constructed by the palladium‐catalyzed decarboxylative allylation of 4‐substituted isoxazolidin‐5‐ones. The N?O bond in the products not only acts as a traceless protecting group for β‐amino acids but also undergoes amide formation with α‐ketoacids derived from Fmoc‐protected α‐amino acids, thus providing expeditious access to α‐β^2,2‐dipeptides ready for Fmoc‐SPPS.     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Cyclocondensation of α,β‐Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids: Enantioselective Synthesis of Pyrrolidinone and Dihydropyridinone Derivatives

The catalytic cyclocondensation of in situ activated α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids was developed. N‐heterocyclic carbenes efficiently catalyzed the generation of α,β‐unsaturated acyl azolium intermediates from α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids via in situ generated mixed anhydrides for the enantioselective [3+2] and [3+3] cyclocondensation with α‐amino ketones and alkyl(aryl)imines, respectively. The corresponding pyrrolidinones and dihydropyridinones were isolated in good yields with high to excellent enantioselectivities.     

胆甾-4α-甲基-8-烯-3β，7α-二醇二乙酸酯的结构与性质研究

Lophenol, cholest-4α-methyl-7-en-3β-ol (1), obtained from Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. C. Chen, was structurally modified. It was acetylated to protect 3β-hydroxyl group, and then oxidised by selenium dioxide in acetic acid to give cholest-4a-methyl-8-en-3β, Ta-diol diacetate (3). This compound 3 is unstable in chloroform solution or when heated and easily converted to a diene compound, cholest-4a-methyl-7,14-dien-3β-ol acetate (4). The structures of 3 and 4 were elucidated by means of IR, ^1H NMR, ^13C NMR and MS, and the absolute configuration of 3 was established by X-ray crystallography. The property of 3 was also discussed in this paper. Both 3 and 4 are new compounds and were reported for the first time.     

Divergent Reactivity in Palladium‐Catalyzed Annulation with Diarylamines and α,β‐Unsaturated Acids: Direct Access to Substituted 2‐Quinolinones and Indoles

A palladium‐catalyzed C?H activation strategy has been successfully employed for exclusive synthesis of a variety of 3‐substituted indoles. A [3+3] annulation for synthesizing substituted 2‐quinolinones was recently developed by reaction of α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids with diarylamines under acidic conditions. In the present work, an analogous [3+2] annulation is achieved from the same set of starting materials under basic conditions to generate 1,3‐disubstituted indoles exclusively. Mechanistic studies revealed an ortho‐palladation–π‐coordination–β‐migratory insertion–β‐hydride elimination reaction sequence to be operative under the reaction conditions.     

Phosphoryl group differentiating α‐amino acids from β‐ and γ‐amino acids in prebiotic peptide formation

In recent years β‐amino acids have increased their importance enormously in defining secondary structures of β‐peptides. Interest in β‐amino acids raises the question: Why and how did nature choose α‐amino acids for the central role in life? In this article we present experimental results of MS and ³¹P NMR methods on the chemical behavior of N‐phosphorylated α‐alanine, β‐alanine, and γ‐amino butyric acid in different solvents. N‐Phosphoryl α‐alanine can self‐assemble to N‐phosphopeptides either in water or in organic solvents, while no assembly was observed for β‐ or γ‐amino acids. An intramolecular carboxylic–phosphoric mixed anhydride (IMCPA) is the key structure responsible for their chemical behaviors. Relative energies and solvent effects of three isomers of IMCPA derived from α‐alanine (2a–c), with five‐membered ring, and five isomers of IMCPA derived from β‐alanine (4a–e), with six‐membered ring, were calculated with density functional theory at the B3LYP/6‐31G** level. The lower relative energy (3.2 kcal/mol in water) of 2b and lower energy barrier for its formation (16.7 kcal/mol in water) are responsible for the peptide formation from N‐phosphoryl α‐alanine. Both experimental and theoretical studies indicate that the structural difference among α‐, β‐, and γ‐amino acids can be recognized by formation of IMCPA after N‐phosphorylation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 94: 232–241, 2003     

Fluorine in Peptides: The Synthesis of α‐Fluoro‐β‐Amino Dipeptides by Direct Deoxofluorination/Rearrangement of N‐Seryl Dipeptides

This article describes the stereo‐ and regioselectivity of the deoxofluorination of N‐terminal dipeptides bearing a serine residue to generate, after rearrangement, α‐fluoro‐β‐amine‐terminated dipeptides. The ratio of the rearranged α‐fluorinated regioisomer is increased, relative to the non‐rearranged β‐fluoro isomer, with N‐alkylated amides. Otherwise, an intramolecular H‐bond between the free amine and the amide NH suppresses formation of the key aziridinium intermediate required for α‐fluorination. N‐Methyl and N‐allyl amides give exclusively α‐fluorination products. Subsequent deprotection of the N‐allyl amide to give a α‐fluoro‐β‐amino dipeptide product is demonstrated.     

Dye‐Labeled Cα‐Tetrasubstituted α‐Amino Acids

We report the synthesis of pyrene‐ and carboxyfluorescein labeled C^α‐tetrasubstituted amino acids (TAAs). The fluorescent dye can be coupled to the TAA before or after its incorporation into a peptide sequence using a Suzuki‐type C? C bond formation.     

Chiral Auxiliary Based Reductive Alkylation of α,α‐Diallkyl β‐Phosphonyl Esters

Acyclic α,α‐disubstituted β‐phosphonyl esters containing chiral alcoholic auxiliaries were efficiently prepared and evaluated for the lithium naphthalenide‐mediated asymmetric reductive alkylation. Among which, the best diastereoselectivity was received from the substrates bearing a (?)‐phenylmenthyl group in leading to alkylated esters with up to 83:17 dr. The diastereoselectivity is proven to be controlled by the π‐facial differentiation created by the chiral ester as well as the geometry of tetrasubstituted enolates generated by the reductive cleavage of C‐P bond.