Enantioselective synthesis of m-carboranylalanine, a boron-rich analogue of phenylalanine

The enantiomers of the highly lipophilic α-amino acid m-carboranyl-alanine [3-(1,7-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12)-1-yl)-2-aminopropanoic acid], a carborane containing analogue of phenylalanine, have been synthesised via hydroxyamination of the N-acyl derivative formed from 3-(m-carboranyl)propionic acid [3-(1,7-dicarba-closo-dodeca-borane(12)-1-yl)-2-propanoic acid] and Oppolzer's camphor sultam. The enantiomeric excess of both enantiomers of the amino acid was >98%. (S)-Configuration was assigned to the (+)-enantiomer (CH₃OH, 589 nm).     

Diastereoselective synthesis of β-aminocyclopentene sulfonic acid via hetero Diels-Alder reaction

A new cyclopentene GABA analogue was synthesized as a conformationally rigid analogue of the epilepsy drug vigabatrin. N-Sulfinyl dienophile Diels-Alder methodology, followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the corresponding dihydrothiazine oxide, oxidation and deprotection of the amino group gave cis-4-aminocyclopent-2-ene-1-sulfonic acid. The corresponding N,N-dimethylsulfinamide was also obtained.     

Quantum yield improvement of red-light-emitting firefly luciferin analogues for in vivo bioluminescence imaging

The dimethylamino group of AkaLumine ((4S)-2-[(1E,3E)-4-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-1,3-butadien-1-yl]-4,5-dihydro-4-thiazolecarboxylic acid), a red-light-emitting firefly luciferin analogue, was replaced by cyclic amino groups (1-pyrrolidinyl, 1-piperidino, 1-azepanyl, and 4-morpholino) to give AkaLumine analogues exhibiting desirable bioluminescence with emission maxima in the red region (656–667 nm). In particular, a bioluminescence reaction of 1-pyrrolidinyl analogue with a recombinant Photinus pyralis luciferase showed a higher quantum yield than that with AkaLumine, giving an improved bioluminescence intensity. The 1-pyrrolidinyl analogue also showed the strongest luminescence in whole-body luciferase-expressing mice among the analogues, indicating that a quantum yield improvement of a luciferin analogue is effective to increase bioluminescence imaging intensity.     

Induced helix of 2-(2-aminophenoxy)alkanoic acid oligomers as a δ-peptidomimetic foldamer

Peptidomimetic foldamers were synthesized by oligomerizing derivatives of the δ-amino acid analogue, 2-(2-aminophenoxy)alkanoic acid. Single-crystal analysis of the tetramer reveals a 2₁-helical secondary structure stabilized by hydrogen bonding and the coiled stacking of aromatic rings. The M-helicity of 2-aminophenoxyacetic acid oligomers was induced by the incorporation of only a single chiral carbon of the N-terminal (R)-2-(2-nitrophenoxy)propionamide moiety. The solution state CD spectra demonstrated that the resulting helix induced a substantial Cotton effect. The secondary structure was further characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy.     

A stereoselective synthesis of (2S,4R)-δ-hydroxyleucine methyl ester: a component of cyclomarin A

(2S,4R)-δ-Hydroxyleucine methyl ester, the N-demethyl analogue of an amino acid contained within the macrocycle of cyclomarin A, was successfully synthesized using Davis’ asymmetric Strecker reaction.     

Resolution of cis-2-fluorocyclopropanecarboxylic acid by a microbial enantioselective hydrolysis

The important key intermediate of quinolone analogue synthesis, (1S,2S)-2-fluorocyclopropanecarboxylic acid, was prepared enantioselectively by a microbial resolution. One of the strains with the highest enzymatic specificity was selected from soil and when lyophilized cells were treated with corresponding ester, the remaining (1S,2S)-ester was obtained with high enantiomeric purity (98% e.e.).     

A cyclic trimer of 2-(2-aminophenoxy)propionic acid with a bowl-shaped structure

A cyclic trimer of (R)-2-(2-aminophenoxy)propanoic acid, a δ-amino acid analogue, was synthesized. Molecular mechanics calculations on the cyclic trimer predicted that a concave network of sequential hydrogen bonds forms a C₃-symmetric bowl-shaped structure. Evidence for this conformation was found in the NMR spectra of the trimer in d-chloroform. Although the single-crystal structure of the cyclic trimer indicates that chloroform could be included in the bowl-shaped structure, the conformation was not C₃-symmetric and the hydrogen bonding network was of a different mode. These different conformations between solid and solution were reasonably clear from IR spectra.     

Synthesis and conformation of a novel bridged nucleic acid having a trans-fused 3,5,8-trioxabicyclo[5.3.0]decane structure

A novel bridged nucleic acid analogue, 2′-deoxy-trans-3′,4′-BNA thymine monomer, was successfully synthesized. An ab initio calculation and X-ray structure analysis revealed that the trans-fused bicyclo[5.3.0]decane structure of the 2′-deoxy-trans-3′,4′-BNA effectively constrained the sugar puckering in C_2^′-endo with appropriate γ, δ and χ angles.     

Preparation of enantiomerically pure (1S,2S)-1-aminocyclopropanephosphonic acid from methylcyclopropanone acetal via spirophosphonate intermediates

An easy and efficient one-pot reaction from readily available methylcyclopropanone acetal (2S)-4b gave the spirophosphonates 8a–b with excellent diastereoselectivity. These phosphonates, after catalytic hydrogenolysis and hydrolysis, furnished the enantiomerically pure (1S,2S)-1-amino-2-methylcyclopropanephosphonic acid 3b (analogue of (1R,2S)-allo-norcoronamic acid).     

Parallel solid-phase synthesis of 2-arylamino-6H-pyrano[2,3-f]benzimidazole-6-ones

The parallel solid-phase synthesis of a hydrophilic psoralen analogue, 2-arylamino-6H-pyrano[2,3-f]benzimidazole-6-ones (2-arylaminoimidazocoumarins), has been developed. The resin-bound 7-fluoro-4-methyl-6-nitro-2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran-3-carboxylic acid underwent aromatic substitution with primary amines, followed by reduction of the nitro group with tin(II) chloride. The cyclization of the o-dianilino intermediates was accomplished with aryl isothiocyanates in the presence of 1,3-diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC). The final products were released from the resin with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and obtained in high purity and good isolated yield. The 2-arylaminoimidazocoumarins exhibit interesting spectral properties.     

Stereoselective reductions of N-Boc-hexahydro-1H-indolin-5(6H)-ones

We report the divergent effects of a 3a-methyl and 3a-phenyl substituent on the chemoselectivity and stereoselectivity of reduction of the enamide moiety of N-Boc-hexahydro-1H-indolin-5(6H)-ones. Under ionic reduction conditions (triethylsilane/trifluoroacetic acid) the enamide group of 3a-methyl-N-Boc-hexahydro-1H-indolin-5(6H)-one was reduced to afford exclusively a cis ring-fused product. For the 3a-phenyl substituted analogue more forcing conditions (sodium cyanoborohydride at pH 2-2.5) were required and resulted in the selective reduction of the enamide group to give a trans ring-fused product as well as reduction of the ketone group.     

Conformational analysis of methylboronic acid and its acyclic esters

With the use of RHF/6-31G(d) and MP2/6-31G(d)//RHF/6-31G(d) semi-empirical (AMI) and non-empirical quantum chemical approximations conformational isomerization of methylboronic acid and its methyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, and phenyl esters is studied. With the exception of the tert-butyl analogue, the potential energy surface of molecules in these compounds, is shown to contain three minima that correspond to planar and near-planar conformers: cis-cis, trans-trans, and cis-trans, with the latter being the main one. The minima are separated by two conformational isomerization barriers corresponding to the orthogonal arrangement of one of the OH(OR) groups.     

Synthesis of enantiopure (R,R)- and (S,S)-cis-2,3-propanoprolines

A novel approach to the synthesis of an enantiopure bicyclic proline analogue, hexahydrocyclopenta[b]pyrrole-6a(1H)-carboxylic acid (‘2,3-propanoproline’), has been developed. The method relied on tandem Strecker-nucleophilic cyclization reaction of 2-(2-bromoethyl)cyclopentanone. The overall synthetic scheme included six steps and resulted in 18% overall yield of both enantiomers of the title amino acid.     

(3R,4S)-3,4,5-Trihydroxy-4-methylpentylphosphonic acid, an isosteric phosphonate analogue of 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate, a key intermediate in the new pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis

2-C-Methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) is the first intermediate in the mevalonate-independent pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis presenting the branched C₅ isoprene skeleton. Enantiopure (3R,4S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-4-methylpentylphosphonic acid (MEP_N), an isosteric phosphonate analogue of MEP was synthesized from 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-xylofuranose.     

Synthesis of an analogue of the polyoxins: X-ray structure of starting carbohydrate and acetal migration accompanying acetolysis

An analogue of the polyoxins has been prepared from 1,5 - di - O - acetyl - 3 - C - (R) - ethoxycarbonylmethyl -5(R),1′(R) - N - formylepimino - 2,3 - O - isopropylidene - β - d - ribofuranose (13). The structure of 13 was determined by X-ray analysis. Intramolecular acetal migrations were observed during acetolysis under acid conditions.     

Chimeric peptide nucleic acids incorporating (2S,5R)-aminoethyl pipecolyl units: synthesis and DNA binding studies

The design and facile synthesis of a novel chiral six-membered PNA analogue (2S,5R )-1-(N-Boc-aminoethyl)-5-(thymin-1-yl)pipecolic acid, aepipPNA, that upon incorporation into PNA sequences effected stabilization of complexes with target complementary DNA. This is the first example where a six membered-PNA is shown to be capable of forming stable complexes with DNA and further expands the repertoire of cyclic PNA analogues.     

N-Alkyl- and N-aryl-dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole-containing organic dyes for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Two new organic sensitizers, 2-cyano-3-(6-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-4-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrol-2-yl)acrylic acid and 2-cyano-3-(6-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-4-(4-(hexyloxy)phenyl)-4H-dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrol-2-yl)acrylic acid, consisting of electron donating (triphenylamine) and electron accepting (cyanoacrylic acid) functionalities linked by two different rigidified π-spacers, N-alkyl- and N-aryl-dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole, were designed, synthesized and applied for dye-sensitized solar cells, respectively. The materials were successfully synthesized through Knoevenagel condensation reactions. Ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra revealed that the use of either of rigidified π-spacer resulted in similar charge transfer transition, however, enhanced spectral response was observed when compared with an oligothiophene analogue. In terms of their photovoltaic performance, new dyes outperformed the reference bithiophene sensitizer when tested with nitrile-based and ionic liquid-based electrolytes.     

Photoinduced electron transfer cyclizations of aryl-linked phthalimides

The photochemistry of arene-linked phthalimides incorporating the carboxylate or thioether donor group was investigated. Simple N-phthalimidophenyl alkanoates exclusively gave photoreduction (CO₂H/H-exchange) products. In contrast, ω-phthalimido-meta-phenoxy carboxylates underwent photodecarboxylative cyclizations in yields of 6-48%. Likewise, catechol-linked derivatives furnished analogue cyclization products in 18-38% yield. Using the photodecarboxylation protocol, macrocyclic target compounds with ring sizes up to 17 could thus be realized. Two model phthalimides containing a thioether branch at the ortho-position of the arene-linker gave the analogue seven-membered cyclization products in yields of 28% and 35%, respectively.     

Biphenylenes—XXIX: Synthesis of cyclobuta[b]biphenylene-1-carboxylic acid and of cyclopenteno[b]biphenylene-1,2,3-trione

Cyelobuta[b]biphenylene-1-carboxylic acid 3 has been made by photochemical ring-contraction of 2-diazocyclopenteno[b]biphenylene-1-one 10. Evidence for increased strain in the acid 3 compared with 2,3-dimethylbiphenylene is discussed. Cyclopenteno[b]biphenylene-1,2,3-trione 12, an analogue of anhydrous ninhydrin, was obtained by selenium dioxide oxidation of cyclopenteno[b]biphenylene-1-one. The preferred conformation of Z-2-β cyanovinylbiphenylene 19 is such that the cyano group is close to the hydrogen atom at position 1 of the biphenylene ring.     

Synthesis of a tetrasubstituted arylphosphonate via the anionic phospho-Fries rearrangement

The anionic phospho-Fries rearrangement of phosphoric acid (3,5-di-isopropoxy)phenyl ester diethyl ester (11) gave rise to (2-hydroxy-4,6-di-isopropoxy-phenyl)phosphonic acid diethyl ester (12) in excellent yield. The phenol functionality of 12 was converted to the corresponding triflate which was coupled with vinyltributylstannane, under Stille conditions, to give a styrene. This molecule is intended to serve as the aromatic fragment in the synthesis of a phosphorus-based transition-state analogue for the hydrolysis of the S-(−)-zearalenone lactone.