A simple method for the oxidation of α-amino acid esters to α-oximino esters

Magnesium bis(monoperoxyphthalate) hexahydrate (MMPP) was found to be an effective reagent for the oxidation of various α-amino acid esters to the corresponding α-oximino acid esters. This transformation could be completed under mild conditions within 2.5 h using 1.1 equiv of MMPP in THF. Clean oximino esters were obtained after quenching and extracting the reaction from sodium thiosulfate solution. The O-phosphorylated derivative of 2-oximinoglutarate exhibited slow binding inhibitory potency for the metallopeptidase prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) with an IC₅₀ value of 58 nM.     

Kinetics of base hydrolysis of α-amino acid esters catalyzed by palladium(II) piperazine complex

The kinetics of base hydrolysis of glycine, histidine, and methionine methyl esters in the presence of [Pd(pip)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ complex, where pip is piperazine, is studied in aqueous solutions, at T = 25°C, and I = 0.1 mol dm⁻³. The rate of ester hydrolysis for glycine methyl ester is studied at different temperature and dioxane/water solutions of different compositions. The kinetic data are fit under the assumption that the hydrolysis proceeds in one step. The activation parameters for the base hydrolysis of the complexes are evaluated      

Glycosylation-induced asymmetric synthesis: β-amino acid esters via Mannich reactions

Activation of Schiff bases by N-glycosylation induces asymmetric Mannich reactions with O-silyl ketene acetals to give β-amino acid esters in good yields.     

Molecular recognition of α-amino acid esters with arylporphyrin zinc complexes

The recognition ability of 10 arylporphyrin zinc complexes with respect to glycine, -alanine, and leucine methyl esters in toluene at 20°C was studied by spectrophotometric titration. The formation of amino acid-porphyrin associates, depending on the substitution pattern in the macroring, was examined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The zinc complex with diarylporphyrin having hydroxy groups in the para positions of the benzene rings was found to be the best recognizing agent with respect to glycine methyl ester, while leucine methyl ester was recognized best by the complex with hydroxy groups in the ortho positions of the benzene rings.Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 74, No. 9, 2004, pp. 1557–1562.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by G. Mamardashvili, Storonkina, N. Mamardashvili.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

First asymmetric synthesis of (R)-(−)-α-phenyl δ-amino valeric acid

An efficient synthesis of the (R)-(−)-α-phenyl δ-amino valeric acid 1 is described starting from commercially available compounds. The key intermediate in this synthesis is the corresponding totally protected prochiral ketene.     

Enantioselective hydrolysis of long chain α-amino acid esters by chiral sulfur-containing macrocyclic metallomicelles

A novel chiral lipophilic sulfur-containing macrocyclic ligand 5 with bis-pendant alcohols in the proximity of the coordination center has been synthesized. Its metal ion complexes have been investigated as catalysts for the enantioselective hydrolysis of long chain α-amino acid esters in aqueous comicellar solution with Brij35. Large rate accelerations (up to 220 times) and moderate enantioselectivities (up to 4.85 (k_S/k_R)) employing the macrocyclic 5-Cu²⁺ have been observed, whereas the acyclic 3-Cu²⁺ exhibits less reactivity and stereoselectivity. Taking the analogous ligand 4, lacking the hydroxy groups leads to a dramatic rate decrease, and an inversion of enantioselectivity is observed. The pKa value of the hydroxyl bound to Cu²⁺ is determined to be pKa=7.2 under our micellar reaction conditions.     

SmI_2-promoted imino-Reformatsky reaction for facile synthesis of enantioenriched β-amino acid esters

A facile and efficient method for the stereoselective synthesis of β-amino acid esters via SmI2-promoted imino-Reformatsky reaction is described.Asymmetric addition of tert-butyl bromoacetate to N-tert-butanesulfinyl aldimines afforded β-amino acid esters in moderate to high yields with excellent diastereoselectivities.The synthetic utilities of the tert-butyl β-amino acid esters were expanded by the preparation of β-lactams and 3-aminoindan-1-ones derivatives.     

Synthesis of α-amino acids using transition metal catalysis - alkylation of schiff bases derived from α-amimo acid esters (regio,stereo - selectivity)

A general approach to the synthesis of γ,δ-unsaturated α-amino acid esters is described. Schiff bases derived from glycine and alanine esters were alkylated in the presence of palladium or molybdenum catalysts under neutral or basic conditions using allylic carbonates, esters or halides, (20–95% yield). These less stabilized nucleophiles reacted with the η³ allyl species on the side opposite to the palladium and they can be classified as soft nucleophiles. The regioselectivity was studied with various unsymmetrical electrophiles. After hydrolysis, several functionalized α-amino acids of biological interest (enzymes inhibitors) were obtained. Asymmetric palladium allylic alkylation of the benzophenone imine glycine methyl ester using Pd(OAc)₂ + (+)DIOP was achieved with up to 68 % ee ; the enantioselective Pd-promoted alkylation of this new and useful prochiral nucleophile for the synthesis of α-amino acids is one of the highest ee known.     

Spirodiketopiperazines of mannofuranose: carbopeptoid α-amino acid esters at the anomeric position of mannofuranose

Epimeric mannofuranose anomeric aminoesters are prepared from readily available azidolactones and can act as building blocks for the incorporation of mannofuranose units into peptide chains [carbopeptoids]; alternative acylating conditions allow either rapid acylation of the more stable but kinetically hindered amine or reaction with the less hindered but less stable amine to allow control of the anomeric configuration of the products. This is exemplified by coupling of the aminoesters with glycine derivatives to give dipeptide equivalents, and subsequent cyclization to spiro diketopiperazines. Anomers with the nitrogen function cis to the 2,3-diol are more stable than those with nitrogen trans; mannofuranose derivatives are more stable than the mannopyranose isomers.     

Interconversion of (R) and (S)-α-hydroxy esters: precursors of (S) and (R)-o-benzyl-α-hydroxylamino acid esters of high optical purity

(R)- and (S)-α-hydroxy esters 5 are interconverted via their triflates 6 in high chemical as well as optical yields by reaction with dimethylformamide. The same triflates are efficiently converted into N-hydroxy-α-amino acid derivatives 7 of high optical purity.     

Enantiodivergent synthesis of cyclobutyl-(Z)-α,β-dehydro-α-amino acid derivatives from (−)-cis-pinononic acid

The two enantiomers of the title dehydroamino acids (DHAAs) have been synthesized through respective Wadsworth–Emmons condensations of a suitable phosphonate with enantiomeric cyclobutyl aldehydes. These compounds, in turn, were prepared by selective manipulation of the functional groups starting from (−)-cis-pinononic acid as the common chiral precursor. The CD spectra of the prepared DHAAs are described. These products are suitable for the stereocontrolled synthesis of diferent types of saturated cyclobutyl amino acids and their derivatives.     

A novel oxidative ring-opening reaction of isoxazolidines: syntheses of β-amino ketones and β-amino acid esters from secondary amines

A novel oxidative ring-opening reaction of isoxazolidines upon treatment with an electrophile and subsequently with a basegives β-amino ketones and β-amino acid esters highly efficiently.     

Stereocontrolled transformation of cyclohexene β-amino esters into syn- or anti-difunctionalized acyclic β-amino acid derivatives

A stereocontrolled approach to functionalized acyclic β^2,3-amino acid derivatives was accomplished from cis- or trans-2-aminocyclohexenecarboxylates derived from bicyclic β-lactam regioisomers. The transformations were based on oxidative ring cleavage through the ring C–C double bond of the cyclohexene β-amino esters, followed by functionalization of the dialdehyde intermediates with different phosphoranes. This stereospecific and stereocontrolled procedure was applied to the synthesis of acylic β^2,3-amino acid derivatives functionalized with ester, nitrile, keto, alkyl or arylalkyl groups.     

Synthesis of novel chiral lipophilic pyridyl-containing β-amino alcohol ligands and enantioselective hydrolysis of α-amino acid esters by chiral metallomicelles

Seven novel chiral lipophilic pyridyl-containing β-amino alcohol ligands have been synthesized by coupling of 6-alkoxymethyl-2-chloromethylpyridine 3 with the corresponding chiral β-amino alcohols or l-cysteine. Their metal ion complexes have been investigated as catalysts for the enantioselective hydrolysis of N-protected α-amino acid esters in aqueous comicellar solution. The results indicate that the hydrophobic interactions between substrate and metallocatalyst, the rigidity of the ligand, the hydroxyl group of the ligand acting as a nucleophile for the transacylation process, and the micellar microenvironment are important factors for the activity and enantioselectivity. Large rate accelerations (up to three orders of magnitude) and moderate enantioselectivities (up to 7.81 (k_R/k_S)) employing 4a–Cu²⁺ have been observed.     

Dinuclear Ni2-Schiff base complex-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of β-keto esters to nitroethylene toward γ(2,2)-amino acid synthesis

A homodinuclear Ni(2)-Schiff base 1 complex (1-10 mol%) promoted the catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions of β-keto esters and an N-Boc oxindole to nitroethylene, giving products in 98-75% ee.     

Electroreductive five- and six-membered cyclization of aromatic β- and γ-imino esters derived from (S)-aspartic acid and (S)-glutamic acid

The electroreduction of aromatic β-dimethylcarbamoyl-β-imino esters, prepared from (S)-aspartic acid, in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane gave five-membered cyclized products, 1-benzoyl-4-hydroxy-5-aryl-N,N-dimethylpyrrolidine-2-carboxamides and 5-(dimethylcarbamoyl)-2-aryl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl benzoates, depending on the post-treatment after the electroreduction. The electroreduction of aromatic γ-dialkylcarbamoyl-γ-imino and γ-methoxylmethyl-γ-imino esters, prepared from (S)-glutamic acid, and following transformation gave six-membered cyclized products, 1-benzoyl-5-hydroxy-N,N-dialkyl-6-phenylpiperidine-2-carboxamides and 3-hydroxy-6-(methoxymethyl)-2-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)(phenyl)methanones, respectively.     

Synthesis of N-(methoxycarbonyl or isopropylcarbamoyl- methoxyphosphonyl)-α-amino acid ester and their stereomers

N-(methoxycarbonyl-methoxyphosphonyl)-α-amino add esters (I) were synthesized via the reaction of the corresponding phosphonyl chloride with amino acid ester hydrochlorides in the presence of a base. Compound I was aminated to yield N-(isopropylcarbainoyl-methoxyphosphonyl)-α-amino acid esters (II). With l-amino acids as starting materials, the isomers of products I and II were separated and their configurations were confirmed by the single crystal X-ray diffraction of II.     

Synthesis of (R)-(-)-γ-amino β-hydroxy Butyric Acid (GABOB)

An efficient enantiospecific synthesis of a neuromodulator, antiepileplic and hypotensive drug (R)-(-)-γ-amino-β-hydroxybutyric acid (1) starting from (+) tartaric acid is described.     

Thermal stability of Pd(1,4-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine)Cl2 and its role in the catalysis of base hydrolysis of α-amino acid esters

Pd(BHEP)Cl₂ was synthesized and characterized (BHEP = 1,4-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine). The complex decomposes in two steps, leaving a residue of palladium metal. Amino acid ester (L) reacts with [Pd(BHEP)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ (BHEP = 1,4-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine), giving mixed-ligand complexes, [Pd(BHEP)L]²⁺. The kinetics of hydrolysis of [Pd(BHEP)L]²⁺ have been studied by pH-stat technique, and rate constants were obtained. Rate acceleration observed for glycine methyl ester is high. The effect with methionine methyl ester is much less marked, as the mixed-ligand complexes with these ligands do not involve alkoxycarbonyl donors. Possible mechanisms for these reactions are considered.