Engineering of Yeast Old Yellow Enzyme OYE3 Enables Its Capability Discriminating of (E)-Citral and (Z)-Citral

The importance of yeast old yellow enzymes is increasingly recognized for direct asymmetric reduction of (E/Z)-citral to (R)-citronellal. As one of the most performing old yellow enzymes, the enzyme OYE3 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288C exhibited complementary enantioselectivity for the reduction of (E)-citral and (Z)-citral, resulting in lower e.e. value of (R)-citronellal in the reduction of (E/Z)-citral. To develop a novel approach for the direct synthesis of enantio-pure (R)-citronellal from the reduction of (E/Z)-citral, the enzyme OYE3 was firstly modified by semi-rational design to improve its (R)-enantioselectivity. The OYE3 variants W116A and S296F showed strict (R)-enantioselectivity in the reduction of (E)-citral, and significantly reversed the (S)-enantioselectivity in the reduction of (Z)-citral. Next, the double substitution of OYE3 led to the unique variant S296F/W116G, which exhibited strict (R)-enantioselectivity in the reduction of (E)-citral and (E/Z)-citral, but was not active on (Z)-citral. Relying on its capability discriminating (E)-citral and (Z)-citral, a new cascade reaction catalyzed by the OYE3 variant S296F/W116G and glucose dehydrogenase was developed, providing the enantio-pure (R)-citronellal and the retained (Z)-citral after complete reduction of (E)-citral.     

Highly stereoselective iminopinacol coupling of chiral aromatic imines derived from di- and tripeptides

The reduction of aromatic imines prepared from (S)-Ile-(S)-Ile-OMe, (S)-Val-(S)-Val-OMe, and (S)-Val-(S)-Val-(S)-Val-OMe with Zn-MsOH in THF gave C₂-symmetric (R,R)-diamines in high yields and stereoselectivities.     

Synthesis of (1R,cis,αS)-cypermethrine via lipase catalyzed kinetic resolution of racemic m-phenoxybenzaldehyde cyanohydrin acetate

A technical scale preparation of optically active (1R,cis,αS)-cypermethrine 4 from racemic m-phenoxybenzaldehyde cyanohydrin acetate (RS)-1 and (1R,cis)-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid chloride (1R,cis)-3 is described. Key steps of the new procedure are a lipase catalyzed enantioselective transesterification of (RS)-1 with n-butanol and direct acylation of the mixture of (R)-1 and (S)-cyanohydrin (S)-2 with (1R,cis)-3 to give enantiomerically pure (1R,cis,αS)-4. The unchanged (R)-1 is removed from (1R,cis,αS)-4 by distillation, and is racemized with triethylamine to give (RS)-1 which is returned to the process. The total yield of (1R,cis,αS)-4 referred to (RS)-1 is 80%.     

Enantioselective synthesis and absolute configuration of the sex pheromone of Hedypathes betulinus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

The male-produced sex pheromone of Hedypathes betulinus was identified as a mixture of (E)-6,10-dimethyl-5,9-undecadien-2-one (geranylacetone) (1) and its respective alcohol (2) and acetate (3). Kinetic resolution of alcohol (2) promoted by CAL-B in organic media provided both, (R)-(−)-(E)-6,10-dimethyl-5,9-undecadien-2-yl acetate (3) and (S)-(+)-(E)-6,10-dimethyl-5,9-undecadien-2-ol (2) in high enantiomeric purity. Comparative GC analysis using a chiral column revealed the natural constituents as being (R)-(3) and a mixture of (R)- and (S)-(2) in a ratio of 82.3% and 17.6%, respectively.     

Enantioselective synthesis of β-amino acids. Part 9: Preparation of enantiopure α,α-disubstituted β-amino acids from 1-benzoyl-2(S)-tert-butyl-3-methylperhydropyrimidin-4-one,

Double alkylation of enantiopure N,N-acetal pyrimidinone (S)-1, a masked chiral derivative of β-alanine prepared from (S)-asparagine, proceeds with high stereoselectivity to give C(5) disubstituted adducts (2S,5R)-6, (2S,5S)-6, (2S,5R)-7, and (2S,5S)-7. Acid hydrolysis of these derivatives affords enantiopure α,α-dialkylated β-amino acids (R)-8, (S)-8, (R)-9, and (S)-9 in very good yields.     

Photochemistry of dienones—X: Photochemistry of (e)-β-ionone oxime ethyl ether

(E)-β-ionone oximc ethyl ether [(E, E)-4] upon direct irradiation with λ either254or 313 nm yields the geometrical isomer (E, Z)-4 and (Z)-retro-γ-ionone oxime ethyl ether (Z,E)-5 as the sole primary products, illustrating (E)-(Z) isomerization (φ₃₁₃ =0.49) and a 1, 5-hydrogen shift (φ313 =0.15) respectively. From studies with triplet photosensitizers and with ethyl iodide (to enhance the singlet-triplet intersystem crossing) it is concluded that these two products in the direct irradiation result only from the singlet excited state, and that the inter-system crossing quantum yield is relatively low. Upon prolonged irradiation of (E,E)-4 with λ 313 nm the eventual products are (Z,E)-5 and (Z,Z)-5, whereas with λ 254 nm they are (E,E)-5 and [(Z,E)-5 and/or (E,Z)-5]. Upon triplet photosensitization (E,E)-4 undergoes only (E)-(Z) isomerization, leading to a mixture of all the four geometrical isomers of4. From the dependence of the geometrical isomer distribution in the photostationary state on the triplet energy of the sensitizer the triplet energies of (E,E)-4, (E, Z)-4, (Z, E)-4, and (Z, Z)-4 have been determined to be ca 55, < 55,57, and 57 $\text{kcal}\text{mol}$ respectively.     

Synthesis of all the stereoisomers of 6-methyl-2-octadecanone, 6,14-dimethyl-2-octadecanone, and 14-methyl-2-octadecanone, the components of the female-produced sex pheromone of a moth, Lyclene dharma dharma

All of the stereoisomers of the components of the female-produced sex pheromone of a moth, Lyclene dharma dharma, were synthesized. They are (R)- and (S)-6-methyl-2-octadecanone, (6R,14R)-, (6R,14S)-, (6S,14R)-, and (6S,14S)-6,14-dimethyl-2-octadecanone, and (R)- and (S)-14-methyl-2-octadecanone. Enantiomers of citronellal and methyl (S)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoate were the starting materials, and olefin cross metathesis was employed as the key reaction.     

Synthesis and odor of optically active trans-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl methyl ketones and their related compounds

The synthesis characterized by cationic olefin cyclizations accomplished using ketone enol esters and odor of novel (1R,6S)- and (1S,6R)-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl methyl ketones (5) are described. The stereoselective syntheses of (E)-(1R,6S)- and (E)-(1S,6R)-1-(2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl)-2-buten-1-one (6) and (1R,6S)-ethyl 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexylcarboxylate (7), useful raw materials for flavor and fragrance, starting from the (1R,6S)- and (1S,6R)-5 are also described.     

Synthesis of novel optical isomers of α-methylpolyamines

Earlier unknown (R)- and (S)-α-methylspermidine, (R)- and (S)-α-methylspermine, (R,R)-, (S,S)-, and (R,S)-α,ω-dimethylspermine were synthesized in gram scale from readily available (R)- and (S)-2-aminopropanols in high overall yields.     

Asymmetric synthesis and retroracemisation of amino acids via copper(II) complexes with schiff bases between chiral 1-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)-2-formylcymantrene and dipeptides

1-(N,N-Dimethylaminomethyl)-2-formylcymantrene (AFCMT) has been resolved into enantiomers through an intermediate formation of diastereomeric complexes with (S)-Ala-(S)-Ala, (S)-Ala-Gly and Gly-(S)-Ala. By the X-ray anomalous dispersion method the absolute configuration of its enantiomers has been determined: (-)₄₃₆ AFCMT-(S), (+)₄₃₆ AFCMT-(R).Alkylation of enantiomeric complexes (R)-and (S)-AFCMT-(GlyGly) Cu(II) with acetaldehyde gives, respectively, (R)-and (S)-Thr with an asymmetric yield of 92–98% and (R)- and (S)-allo-Thr with an asymmetric yield of 95–100%, only the N-terminal glycine being alkylated.The AFCMT enantiomers were also employed for retroracemisation of (R,S)-Ala-(R,S)-Nva; in this case an excess of (S)-Ala and (R)-Nva is obtained for (S)-AFCMT. (R)- and (S)-AFCMT are not liable to racemisation in the course of the threonine synthesis and retroracemisation of depeptides and can be repeatedly employed for these transformations.     

Conduramine F-1 epoxides: synthesis and their glycosidase inhibitory activities

Starting from (±)-7-oxanorbornenone ((±)-14), (±)-(1RS,2RS,3SR,6SR)-6-azidocyclohex-4-en-1,2,3-triol ((±)-24) and (±)-(1RS,2RS,3SR,6RS)-6-azidocyclohex-4-en-1,2,3-triol ((±)-26) were obtained. Epoxidation of the latter cyclohexene derivative gave two epoxides (±)-30 and (±)-31 that were converted into (±)-conduramine F-1 epoxides (±)-10 and (±)-11 and N-substituted derivatives (±)-12 and (±)-13. Compound (±)-(1RS,2SR,3RS,4SR,5RS,6SR)-5-({[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methyl}amino)-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane-2,3,4-triol ((±)-12c) is a good, non-competitive inhibitor of β-xylosidase from Aspergillus niger (K_i=2.2 μM), and (±)-(1RS,2RS,3SR,4RS,5SR,6SR)-5-{[(biphenyl-4-yl)methyl]amino}-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane-2,3,4-triol ((±)-13d) is a good inhibitor of α-glucosidase from brewer's yeast (K_i=2.8 μM, non-competitive).     

Resolution of 1-phenyl-2-(p-tolyl)ethylamine via diastereomeric salt formation

(S)-1-Phenyl-2-(p-tolyl)ethylamine (S)-1, used for the industrial scale resolution of chrysanthemic acids, was obtained via resolution of the racemate with the hemiphthalate of (S)-isopropylidene glycerol (R)-2. The maximum experimental efficiency [69% yield and >99% e.e. of (S)-1] was achieved by a simple precipitation of (S)-1·(R)-2 from the solution of the 1:1 diastereomeric salt mixture in 93/7 isopropanol/water at saturation of the more soluble (R)-1·(R)-2 salt. Such an experimental efficiency was consistent with 0.79 maximum theoretical resolvability, derived from the solubilities of the two diastereomeric salts, and with DSC data, which indicated that the (S)-1·(R)-2/(R)-1·(R)-2 system is a binary mixture exhibiting an eutectic with composition approximately corresponding to a 0.2 molar ratio of (S)-1·(R)-2.     

Enantioselective synthesis of β-amino acids. Part 10: Preparation of novel α,α- and β,β-disubstituted β-amino acids from (S)-asparagine

Perhydropyrimidinone (S)-1 is alkylated with very high diastereoselectivity to give trans products (2S,5R)-3, (2S,5R)–4 and (2S,5R)-5. Dialkylation of (S)-1 also proceeds with complete stereoselectivity to afford adducts (2S,5R)-6, (2S,5S)-6, (2S,5R)-7 and (2S,5S)-7. Hydrolysis (6N HCl, 100°C) of monoalkylated derivative (2S,5R)-3 gives enantiopure α-substituted β-amino acid (R)-8. Hydrolysis of dialkylated adducts 6 and 7 affords enantiopure α,α-disubstituted β-amino acids (R)- or (S)-9 and (R)- or (S)-10. Related iminoester (2S,6S)-2 is alkylated with complete diastereoselectivity to give products (2S,6S)-11–13 whose hydrolysis under relatively mild conditions (2N CF₃CO₂H, CH₃OH, 100°C) affords enantiopure N-benzoylated β,β-disubstituted β-amino acid esters (S)-14–16, with intact double bonds in the olefinic substituents.     

Practical and highly stereoselective method for the preparation of several chiral arylsulfinamides and arylsulfinates based on the spontaneous crystallization of diastereomerically pure N-benzyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)-arylsulfinamides

A novel and simple process for the preparation of enantiomerically pure (S_S)-benzenesulfinamide (S_S)-3a, (S_S)-p-toluenesulfinamide (S_S)-3b, (S_S)-p-chloro-benzenesulfinamide (S_S)-3c and (S_S)-p-fluorobenzenesulfinamide (S_S)-3d has been developed. The treatment of arylsulfinyl chlorides with (R)-N-benzyl-1-phenylethanamine in the presence of excess triethylamine gave diastereomeric mixtures of N-benzyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)-arylsulfinamides 1, which underwent spontaneous crystallization to furnish diastereomerically pure (R,S_S)-N-benzyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)-arylsulfinamides (R,S_S)-1a-1d in 28%, 29%, 27% and 31% yields, respectively. The diastereomerically pure compounds (R,S_S)-1 were then converted into four enantiopure (R_S)-methyl arylsulfinates (R_S)-2, and finally into four enantiopure (S_S)-arylsulfinamides (S_S)-3 in good yields.     

Asymmetric halolactonisation reaction-2 : Elucidation of general applicability and mechanism of the asymmetric bromolactonisation reaction

Detailed studies on the asymmetric bromolactonisation were carried out by employing several structural types of α,β-unsaturated acids (2) as reaction substrates and various (S)-α-amino acids as chiral sources.Following several novel aspects of the asymmetric bromolactonisation were uncovered by combining the results obtained in this study with those of the previous report. Thus, the bromolactonisation of (S)-N-(cis(E)-α,β-disubstituted-α,β-unsaturat acylproline((S)-3a,b) proceeds more stereoselectively than that of the trans(Z)-α,β-disubstituted analogue ((S)-3c), to give the 6-membered bromolactone(4A) via the symmetrical and/or the carbocationic bromonium ions (5AB and/or 5AC). While (S)-N-(trans(E)-β-monosubstituted-α,β-unsaturated)acyl-proline((S)-3d) undergoes no bromolactonisation, (S)-N-(β,β-disubstituted-α,β-unsaturated)acylproline((S)-3e) regiospecifically gives the 7-membered bromolactone(11e) via the carbocationic bromonium ion(5AA) when submitted to the bromolactonisation. (S)-Proline((S)-8) is found to the superior chiral source for the asymmetric bromolactonisation among those examined.     

New synthetic methods for 2,3-diarylacridin-9(10H)-one and (E)-2-aryl-4-styrylfuro[3,2-c]quinoline derivatives

Two new synthetic methodologies for 2,3-diarylacridin-9(10H)-ones were developed. The first one involves the Heck reaction of (E)-3-iodo-2-styrylquinolin-4(1H)-ones with styrenes, leading to (E,E)-2,3-distyrylquinolin-4(1H)-ones, which when heated at high temperatures cyclize in two different ways. Electrocyclization and further in situ oxidation leads to 2,3-diarylacridin-9(10H)-ones, while tautomerization, cyclization by nucleophilic addition and further in situ oxidation produces (E)-2-aryl-4-styrylfuro[3,2-c]quinolines as the main compound. The second method gives only 2,3-diaryl-10-methylacridin-9(10H)-ones and involves the Heck reaction of (E)-3-iodo-1-methyl-2-styrylquinolin-4(1H)-ones and styrenes, leading to (E,E)-1-methyl-2,3-distyrylquinolin-4(1H)-ones, which when heated at high temperatures cyclize through electrocyclization and oxidation processes affording the expected compounds. The structures of all new compounds were established by extensive NMR studies.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (R)-(+)-1-methoxyspirobrassinin, (2R,3R)-(−)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether and their enantiomers or diastereoisomers

Stereoselective synthesis of cruciferous indole phytoalexin (R)-(+)-1-methoxyspirobrassinin and its unnatural (S)-(−)-enantiomer was achieved by spirocyclization of 1-methoxybrassinin in the presence of (+)- and (−)-menthol and subsequent oxidation of the obtained menthyl ethers. Methanolysis of menthyl ethers in the presence of TFA afforded (2R,3R)-(−)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether as well its unnatural (2S,3S)-, (2R,3S)-, and (2S,3R)-isomers.     

First synthesis of (+)- and (−)-elvirol based on an enzymatic function

A highly enantioselective synthesis of versatile chiral synthons possessing one stereogenic center, (S)- and (R)-4-aryl-5-hydroxy-(2E)-pentenoate 3 was achieved based on the enzymatic reaction of (±)-4 with commercially available lipase ‘OF-360’ from Candida rugosa. An application of (S)-3 and (R)-3 to the total syntheses of (S)-elvirol 1 and (R)-elvirol 1, respectively, is described.     

The artificial binaphthyl amino acid 6-amino-6′-carboxyethyl-2-methoxy-2′-hydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl (Bna): synthesis and assembly of Bna peptides

The new binaphthyl-based amino acid 6-amino-6′-carboxyethyl-2-methoxy-2′-hydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl (Bna) is presented, which combines the axially chiral binaphthyl core, a phenolic OH-group as well as terminating amino and carboxyl groups in one structure. The large aromatic rings of the compound provide molecular spacing and π-surface attraction in assembled Bna oligoamides. The synthesis of Bna derivatives is reported, both with the (R)- and with the (S)-binaphthyl skeleton. Several dipeptides of (R)- or (S)-Bna units combined with natural amino acids, were prepared as ‘building blocks’ for the synthesis of extended Bna peptides. The tetrapeptide Boc-(S)-Val-(S)-Bna(OH)-(S)-Val-(S)-Bna(OPiv)-O-n-But (12) and the pentapeptide Boc-(S)-Val-(S)-Bna(OH)-(S)-Val-(S)-Bna(OH)-Gly-OH (13) were prepared via conventional solution phase synthesis and solid phase synthetic techniques, respectively. Compound 12 shows an interesting dynamic ¹H NMR spectrum suggesting compact and aggregated forms in dichloromethane. Compound 13 accelerates the enolisation of acetone. The use of more complex Bna peptides as organo catalysts is proposed.     

Measurement and Identification of (R)- and (S)-6-O-Desmethylnaproxen Enantiomers as Diastereomeric O-Ethoxycarbonyl/(R)-(+)-1-Phenylethylamides in Urine by GC and GC-MS

Enantioseparations of (R)- and (S)-6-O-desmethylnaproxens as O-ethoxycarbonyl/(R)-(+)-1-phenylethylamides and (R)- and (S)-naproxens as (R)-(+)-1-phenylethylamides were achieved by achiral gas chromatography in a single run within 11 min. The characteristic mass spectral patterns facilitated easier peak identification. The method for determinations of (R)-naproxen (1.0 to 50 ng) and (S)-naproxen (100 to 2000 ng) was linear with acceptable repeatability and accuracy. The enantiomeric composition ratios between (R)- and (S)-6-O-desmethylnaproxens and between (R)- and (S)-naproxens in urine sample collected six hours after oral administration of (S)-naproxen tablets were measured to be 2.2 (± 0.2):97.8 (± 0.2) and 2.1 (± 0.1):97.9 (± 0.1), respectively.