Colorimetric enantiodiscrimination of mandelic acid by indicator displacement assay

The colorimetric enantiodiscrimination between mandelic acid and L-proline-Cu(II) is exploited to develop enantioselective indicator displacement assays. The sensitivity of the assay could be tuned by using a colorimetric indicator. The chromophoric ligand, pyrocatechol violet, effectively competes with the mandelic acid guest for open coordination sites on L-proline-Cu(II). The DA could be increased to 0.12 by changing the ratio of(+)- and(à)-mandelic acid concentrations that were found to be optimal from the displacement experiments. The resultant enantiomer excess versus DA relationship is linear. From the calibration curves, the absorbance values of the unknowns may be calculated for the enantiomeric excess value and the colorimetric enantiodiscrimination of mandelic acid can thus be obtained.     

Practical and efficient enantioselective synthesis of alpha-amino acids in aqueous media

Enantiomerically pure natural and unnatural alpha-amino acids have been synthesized from a chiral methyleneoxazolidinone by means of a highly diastereoselective 1,4-conjugate addition of alkyl iodides in aqueous media. The zinc-copper conjugate addition reaction exhibits high chemoselectivity, with the possibility of using functionalized iodides, to afford a single diastereomer in short reaction times and with good yields.     

Enantiomerically pure alpha-amino aldehydes from silylated alpha-amino acids

The disilylation of alpha-amino acids 1 to provide 2 (72-87%) was achieved without racemization. An unprecedented borane-mediated semi-reduction strategy was devised to convert 2 to stable, isolable oxazaborolidines 3 (100%) which were hydrolyzed to provide 5 (49-60%) as pure, stable compounds. Analysis of the Mosher amides (8) of the gamma-amino esters 7 reveals that < or =2% racemization occurs in the 1 --> 8 conversions.     

Asymmetric synthesis of alpha-amino acids: indium-mediated reactions of glyoxylic oxime ether in aqueous media

The indium-mediated allylation and alkylation reactions of the Oppolzer camphorsultam derivative of glyoxylic oxime ether proceeded with excellent diastereoselectivity in aqueous media, providing a variety of enantiomerically pure alpha-amino acids.     

Novel chiral hexaazamacrocycles for the enantiodiscrimination of carboxylic acids

New enantiopure amines (R,R)-1 and (S,S)-1 were obtained from (R)- or (S)-2,2′-diamino-1,1′-binaphthyl and 2,6-diformylpyridine in a synthesis templated by lead(II) or lanthanide(III) ions, reduction with NaBH₄ and subsequent demetallation. Similarly new amines (R,R,R,R)-2 and (S,S,S,S)-2 were obtained from (1R, 2R)- or (1S, 2S)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine. The X-ray crystal structure of the Pb(II) complex with macrocyclic Schiff base precursor of (R,R)-1 indicates helical twisted conformation of this macrocycle, while the ROESY spectrum of R,R-1 suggests less twisted conformation. (R,R)-1 and (R,R,R,R)-2 were tested as chiral shift reagents (chiral solvating agents) for various α-substituted carboxylic acids, including non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Enantiodiscrimination of carboxylate ¹H NMR signals was observed with ΔΔδ values up to 0.1 ppm.     

Synthesis of bicyclic tertiary alpha-amino acids

Novel bicyclic alpha-amino acids, exo and endo-1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid, 1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-7-carboxylic acid, and 1-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane-2-carboxylic acid have been readily synthesized for the generation of neuronal nicotinic receptor ligands. Alkylation of glycine-derived Schiff bases or nitroacetates with cyclic ether electrophiles, followed by acid-induced ring opening and cyclization in NH4OH, allowed for the preparation of substantial quantities of the three tertiary bicyclic alpha-amino acids.     

Zinc-mediated carbon radical addition to glyoxylic imines in aqueous media for the synthesis of alpha-amino acids

The addition of carbon radicals to glyoxylic imines was studied using zinc dust as a radical initiator. The zinc-mediated radical reaction of glyoxylic oxime ethers and hydrazones proceeded smoothly to give the alkylated products via a carbon-carbon bond-forming process in aqueous media. The reaction of the oxime ethers and hydrazones having an Oppolzer's camphorsultam group provided the corresponding alkylated products, which could be converted into enantiomerically pure alpha-amino acids. The diastereoselectivities observed in the reaction of hydrazones were better than those obtained in the reaction of oxime ethers.     

Adamantylation of nitro-substituted aromatic amines in protic acids

Adamantylation of mono-and dinitro-substituted aromatic amines in sulfuric and phosphoric acids and in a mixture of phosphoric and acetic acids gives mainly the corresponding N-adamantyl derivatives. The results of kinetic measurements showed reversible character of the process.     

Steroid-porphyrin conjugate for saccharide sensing in protic media

A new saccharide receptor in protic media has been designed and synthesized. The receptor combines advantages of steroids, which are responsible for saccharide binding, and of the porphyrin moiety acting as a signalling component of the molecule due to changes in UV-vis electronic spectra. The synthesis is based on condensation of steroid aldehyde with pyrrole to form the porphyrin unit with four protected steroid moieties. After deprotection, meso-substituted porphyrin contains 12-hydroxy groups on the steroidal part. The receptor is soluble in aqueous solutions and exhibits high complexation affinity towards saccharides. Because the receptor extensively aggregates in water, most of the experiments were performed in 50% aqueous 2-propanol where aggregation is significantly eliminated. Binding is evidenced by spectral changes in the Soret region of the receptor in UV-vis absorption spectra allowing the evaluation of the binding constants. Additional confirmation of binding is obtained using 1H NMR, Raman and IR spectroscopies and the surface plasmon resonance technique. The receptor exhibits higher selectivity for oligosaccharides over monosaccharide. The results point to the importance of a combination of multiple binding via H-bonding and hydrophobic interactions.     

Reactions of Pd-PEPPSI complexes with protic acids

The Pd-PEPPSI complexes widely used to catalyze numerous reactions eliminate the pyridine ligand on treatment with protic acids to give binuclear complexes [Pd(NHC)X₂]₂ with the Pd–X–Pd (X = Cl, Br, I) bridging bonds. The reaction proceeds with high yields (78–98%) and can be regarded as a preparative approach to binuclear complexes. A prolonged heat treatment of either Pd-PEPPSI complexes or binuclear [Pd(NHC)X₂]₂ complexes in the presence of strong protic acids results in the Pd–NHC bond cleavage to give azolium salts (proligands) and palladium salts.     

A simple preparation of ketones. N-protected alpha-amino ketones from alpha-amino acids

[reaction: see text] Carboxylic acids and amino acids are readily converted, under mild conditions, into the corresponding activated esters, which are reacted with Grignard/CuI reagent to give the corresponding ketones in nearly quantitative yields. The compounds were recovered substantially pure from the reaction mixtures.     

Chemical conversion of cyclic alpha-amino acids to cyclic alpha-aminophosphonic acids

The oxidative decarboxylation of cyclic alpha-amino acids having urethane-type N-protecting groups with lead tetraacetate [Pb(OAc)4] gave 2-hydroxy derivatives, which were transformed into the corresponding alpha-aminophosphonic acid esters by treatment of trialkyl phosphites in the presence of Lewis acids. Deprotection and ester cleavage of the products in the usual manner afforded cyclic alpha-aminophosphonic acids. The convenient chemical conversion of five- and six-membered cyclic alpha-amino acids to the corresponding cyclic alpha-aminophosphonic acids has been accomplished.     

Enantioselective synthesis of non-natural aromatic alpha-amino acids

We present two complementary methods for the stereoselective synthesis of non-natural alpha-amino acids with aromatic or heteroaromatic side chains. One approach is based on the chemical transformation of methionine, whereas the other applies the stereoselective Myers alkylation of glycine. The resulting product types differ in the linker length between glycine and the aromatic substituent. Since methionine and pseudoephedrine are available in both absolute configurations, R- or S-configured enantiopure amino acids with either C(2) or C(3) linkers can be obtained on gram scales. In each case the key step of the synthesis is hydroboration of the unsaturated building blocks 9 and 17, followed by palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling with aryl halides. Attention must in certain cases be paid to the stereochemical integrity when basic Suzuki conditions are applied. Our initial difficulties are reported as well as the final "racemization-proof" procedures. The protecting groups chosen for the alpha-amino acids should be compatible with solid-phase peptide synthesis. This was confirmed by the successful synthesis of a series of tripeptides.     

An Ireland-Claisen approach to beta-alkoxy alpha-amino acids

A diastereoselective Ireland-Claisen approach to beta-alkoxy alpha-amino acid esters is reported. Amino acid esters of enol ethereal allylic alcohols undergo facile syn-selective [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement via silyl ketene acetals. Substrate synthesis, rearrangement development, stereoselectivity, and product elaboration are discussed.     

Modulation of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer by viscosity in protic media

3-Hydroxyquinolones undergo excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), resulting in a dual emission highly sensitive to H-bonding perturbations. Here, we report on the strong effect of viscosity on the dual emission of 2-(2-thienyl)-3-hydroxyquinolone in protic solvents. An increase in viscosity significantly decreases the formation of the ESIPT product, thus changing dramatically the ratio of the two emission bands. Time-resolved studies suggest the presence of solvated species characterized by decay times close to the solvent relaxation times in viscous media. The intramolecular H bond in this species is probably disrupted by the solvent, and therefore, its ESIPT requires a reorganization of the solvation shell for restoring this intramolecular H bond. Thus, the ESIPT reaction of this dye and its dual emission depend on solvent relaxation rates and, therefore, on viscosity. The present results suggest a new physical principle for the fluorescence ratiometric measurement of local viscosity.     

Synthesis of cyclopropene alpha-amino acids via enantioselective desymmetrization

[reaction: see text] The preparation of cyclopropene alpha-amino acids via the enantioselective desymmetrization of cyclopropene bis-carboxylic acid derivatives is described. The amino acids are stable to harsh reaction conditions, and a derivative has been incorporated into a tripeptide using conventional methods for peptide synthesis.     

State of the rare earth elements tetapyrazinoporphyrazinate complexes in protic media

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - The acid-base interactions of tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine erbium(III) and lutetium(III) complexes in the media based on acetic and trifluoroacetic acids were...