Regioselective biocatalytic hydrolysis of (E,Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile for production of (E)-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid

Acidovorax facilis 72W nitrilase catalyzed the regioselective hydrolysis of (E,Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile, producing only (E)-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid with no detectable conversion of (Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile. (E)-2-Methyl-2-butenoic acid, produced in aqueous solution as the ammonium salt, was readily separated from (Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile, and isolated in high yield and purity. The combination of nitrile hydratase and amidase activities of several Comamonas testosteroni strains were also highly regioselective for the production of (E)-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid from (E,Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile.     

(+)-Sorangicin A: evolution of a viable synthetic strategy

An effective, asymmetric total synthesis of the antibiotic (+)-sorangicin A (1) has been achieved. Central to this venture was the development of first- and second-generation syntheses of the signature dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core, the first featuring chemo- and stereoselective epoxide ring openings facilitated by a Co₂(CO)₆-alkyne complex, the second involving a KHMDS-promoted epoxide ring formation/opening cascade. Additional highlights include effective construction of the dihydro- and tetrahydropyran ring systems, respectively, via a stereoselective conjugate addition/α-oxygenation protocol and a thioketalization/hydrostannane reduction sequence. Late-stage achievements entailed two Julia-Kociénski olefinations to unite three advanced fragments with high E-stereoselectivity, followed by a modified Stille protocol to introduce the Z,Z,E trienoate moiety, thereby completing the carbon skeleton. Mukaiyama macrolactonization, followed by carefully orchestrated Lewis and protic acid-promoted deprotections that suppressed isomerization and/or destruction of the sensitive (Z,Z,E)-trienoate linkage completed the first, and to date only, total synthesis of (+)-sorangicin A (1).     

(E)-Selective hydrolysis of (E,Z)-α,β-unsaturated nitriles by the recombinant nitrilase AtNIT1 from Arabidopsis thaliana

From stereoisomeric α,β-unsaturated nitriles (E,Z)-1, the recombinant nitrilase AtNIT1 from Arabidopsis thaliana hydrolyses the (E)-isomers exclusively to the corresponding (E)-carboxylic acids (E)-2 with high specificity. The (E)-selectivity can also be utilised for the preparation of the isomerically pure nitriles (Z)-1. From (E,Z)-2-hydroxycinnamonitrile (E,Z)-3, the otherwise difficult obtainable (Z)-3 was prepared in 66% isolated yield. With β,γ-unsaturated (E,Z)-3-heptenenitrile (E,Z)-4, however, (E)-selectivity was not observed. AtNIT1 exhibits not only diastereoselectivity but also regioselectivity. From a mixture of the four isomers A–D of 3-(2-cyanocyclohex-3-enyl)propenenitrile 6, exclusively isomer D ((E)-cis-6) was hydrolysed to 3-(2-cyanocyclohex-3-enyl)propenoic acid (E)-cis-7, as stated by X-ray crystal structure. Only after complete conversion of D and high enzyme concentrations, isomer C ((E)-trans-6) was hydrolysed to a small extent.     

A scalable chemoenzymatic process for 7-amino-3-[Z-2-(4-methylthiazol-5-yl)vinyl]-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid (ATCA)

An efficient chemoenzymatic process has been developed for preparation of 7-amino-3-[Z-2-(4-methylthiazol-5-yl)vinyl]-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid, featuring removal of para-methoxybenzyl by trichloroacetic acid and cleavage of phenylacetyl E-isomer by immobilized penicillin acylase enzyme. The E-isomer of 7-amino-3-[Z-2-(4-methylthiazol-5-yl)vinyl]-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid could be easily decreased to less than 0.2 % by salt formation. Importantly, trichloroacetic acid and immobilized penicillin acylase enzyme could be recovered and reused. The enzyme reaction could be run in a flow reactor. Only two crystallizations are involved as the purification procedure in the six-step sequence.     

Synthesis and optical properties of a poly(2′,5′-dioctyloxy-4,4′,4″- terphenylenevinylene) with high content of (Z) vinylene units

Poly(2′,5′-dioctyloxy-4,4′,4″-terphenylenevinylene) with (E) configuration of the vinylene double bonds was prepared by Suzuki-Miyaura polymerization of (E)-4,4′-dibromostilbene and 2,5-dioctyloxy-1,4-benzenediboronic acid. Attempts to extend this simple procedure to the synthesis of the polymer with (Z) configuration, starting from (Z)-4,4′-dibromostilbene, were unsuccessful. However, the use of (Z)-4,4′-diiodostilbene and a careful choice of Pd catalyst and experimental conditions, lead to a material with a >95/<5 (Z)/(E) ratio of vinylene units. The investigation of optical properties of both the (E) and (Z) polymers evidenced that (Z) linkages act as defects which reduce the effective conjugation length in the polymer backbone.     

Synthesis of 2E,4E,6E,11Z-octadecatetraenoic acid of the Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae Nod factor

2E,4E,6E,11Z-Octadecatetraenoic acid was synthesized in a good yield and in a stereospecific manner by coupling a vinylborane compound and ethyl trans-3-iodoacrylate. The trienic system (E,E,E) was obtained by successive use of metal-catalyzed coupling and hydro-metallation reactions.     

First total synthesis of the E- and Z-isomers of cytospolide-D

A simple, convergent, and efficient approach for the total synthesis of the bioactive E- and Z-isomers of cytospolide-D is described. The key features of the synthetic strategy include stereoselective methylation, regioselective epoxide opening, olefin cross-metathesis, and a Yamaguchi protocol reaction for the formation of the E-olefinic geometry of the 10 membered ring; Steglich esterification and ring-closing metathesis reaction for the formation of the 10 membered ring with a Z-olefinic geometry in the skeleton. l-Malic acid was used as a chiral pool starting material for the construction of the olefinic acid fragment while d-mannitol was used as a chiral pool starting material for the building of the olefinic alcohol fragment.     

Stereoselective synthesis of insect sex pheromone analogs having a fluorine atom on their double bonds

Insect sex pheromone analogs having a fluorine atom on their double bonds, (9E,11E)-1-acetoxy-9-fluorotetradecadiene, (10E,12E)-13-fluorohexadecadien-1-ol, (9Z,11E)-1-acetoxy-9-fluorotetradecadiene, (10E,12Z)-13-fluorohexadecadien-1-ol were stereoselectively synthesized using cross-coupling reactions of alkenylboranes with (E)- or (Z)-2-fluoro-1-iodo-1-alkenes, stereoselectively prepared from 1-alkynes by our currently developed methods.     

In situ alcohol oxidation-Wittig reactions using N-methoxy-N-methyl-2-(triphenylphosphoranylidine)acetamide: application to the synthesis of a novel analogue of 5-oxo-eicosatetraenoic acid

Benzylic, allylic, propargylic and unactivated alcohols can be oxidised with activated manganese dioxide in the presence of N-methoxy-N-methyl-2-(triphenylphosphoranylidine)acetamide to generate directly the corresponding α,β-unsaturated Weinreb amides. Elaboration of the resulting Weinreb amides is also described, in particular as part of a new route to analogues of the arachidonic acid metabolite 5-oxo-6E,8Z,11Z,14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid.     

π-Extended conjugate phenylacetylenes. Synthesis of 4-[(E) and (Z)-2-(4-ethenylphenyl)ethenyl]pyridine. Dimerization, quaternation and formation of charge-transfer complexes

The conjugate (E)- and (Z)-(4′-pyridylethenyl)-4-phenylethyne (E-4 and Z-4) has been satisfactorily prepared by two different routes: (a) by dehydrohalogenation of 4′-pyridylethenyl-4-phenyl-β-chloroethene; (b) by the Wittig reaction between p-(iodobenzyl)(triphenyl)phosphine ylide and 4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde, E/Z isomer separation, and cross-coupling with 2-methyl-but-3-yn-2-ol followed the propanone elimination. The Glaser oxidative dimerization of (Z)-4 yields (Z,Z)-1,4-di[(4′-pyridylethenyl)-4-phenyl]-buta-1,3-diyne in good yield, (Z,Z)-5. (E,E)-5 was obtained by phase transfer oxidative dimerisation of (E)-4 in presence of their N-methyl salt (E)-10. Mono- and di-N-methylated salts of conjugate (E,E)-5 and (Z,Z)-5, were obtained by quaternation with iodomethane. The (Z,Z)-5 di-N-methylated salt forms charge-transfer complexes with TCNE, TCNQ and TMPD.     

Reaction of trialkylboranes with 2-bromo-6-lithiopyridine: Stereospecific alkylative cleavage of pyridine ring

Reaction of 2-bromo-6-lithiopyridine with trialkylboranes affords 5-alkyl-5-dialkylboryl-2-(Z), 4(E)- pentadienenitriles by stereospecific alkylative cleavage of the pyridine ring. These intermediary vinylboranes are versatile reagents for the preparation of 5-alkyl-2(Z), 4(E)-pentadienenitriles, 5,5-dialkyl-4-pentenenitriles and 5,5-dialkyl-2,4-pentadienenitriles.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 4-fluoro-1,3-alkadienylboronates and their application in the stereoselective synthesis of fluoropolyenes

(1E,3E)- and (1E,3Z)-4-fluoro-1,3-alkadienylboronates were stereoselectively prepared by the Heck-reaction of a vinylboronate with (E)- or (Z)-2-fluoro-1-alkenyliodonium salts, and applied to the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction for the synthesis of fluoropolyenes.     

The geometric isomers of methyl-2,4,6-decatrienoate, including pheromones of at least two species of stink bugs

All eight geometric isomers of methyl 2,4,6-decatrienoate were synthesized from readily accessible starting materials by fully exploiting Wittig-type olefinations, and taking advantage of an easy separation of 2E and 2Z unsaturated esters. The aggregation pheromone of the brown-winged green bug, Plautia stali, methyl (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate (also a cross-attractant for the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys), was expediently produced in two easy steps from (E)-4,4-dimethoxy-2-butenal in 55% yield. The sex pheromone of the red-shouldered stink bug, Thyanta pallidovirens, methyl (E,Z,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate, was conveniently synthesized from 2,4-octadiyn-1-ol in 32% yield using in situ manganese dioxide oxidation-Wittig condensation in a key step.     

Convenient synthesis of t-butyl Z-3-substituted glycidates under conditions of phase-transfer catalysis

Reactions of mixtures of t-butyl E- and Z-3-substituted glycidates 1a-h with 50% aq. sodium hydroxide and a catalyst, benzyltriethylammonium chloride, TEBAC in dichloromethane (phase-transfer catalysis, PTC) led to preferential hydrolysis of the E-isomers to afford pure (90-98%) t-butyl Z-3-substituted glycidates 1a-i in good yields; PTC cleavage of glycidates additionally substituted at C-2, 1g or C-3, 1h,i suggests that an aryl group in the Z isomers hampers attack of HO⁻ on the carbonyl carbon atom. As described in the literature, the diastereoselective PTC synthesis of Z-3-substituted glycidates and glycidonitriles consists of fast hydrolysis of E isomers present in mixtures with Z ones.     

Stereochemical assignment by mass spectrometry : Double bond geometrical isomers of 3,5-dialkylcyclohexylidene acetic acid esters and 3-alkyl-2-alkenoates

Mass spectrometry is the best physical method for the configurational assignment of E- and Z-3,5-dialkylcyclohexylidene acetic acid esters 1 and E- and Z-3-alkyl-2-alkenoates 2. The homoallylic cleavage resulting in the loss of the C-3 and C-5 alkyl groups from 1 and of the two δ-alkyls from 2 is a stereospecific process: the loss of the group which is adjacent to the carbonyl is significantly preferred. The stereospecificity of this fragmentation is interpreted in terms of a hidden hydrogen transfer preceding the carbon-carbon bond cleavage.     

Leiopathic Acid,a Novel Optically Active Hydroxydocosapentaenoic Acid,and related compounds,from the black coral Leiopathes sp. of Saint Paul Island (S. Indian Ocean)

The antipatharian Leiopathes sp., collected around Saint Paul Island, is shown here to contain, in relatively high amounts, the novel fatty acid leiopathic acid ( = (+)-(10R,7Z,11E,13Z,16Z,19Z)-10-hydroxy-7,11,13,16,19-docosapentaenoic acid; (+)- 1 ), besides (+)-(8R,5Z,9E,11Z,14Z,17Z)-8-hydroxy-5,9,11,14,17-icosapentaenoic acid ((+)- 11 ) and (+)-(8R,5Z,9E,11Z,14Z,)-8-hydroxy-05,9,11,14-icosatetraenoic acid ((+)- 16 ) and their ethyl ester (+)- 2 , (+)- 12 , and (+)- 17 .     

Synthetic studies aimed at the elucidation of the stereostructure of the aggregation pheromone, 2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenebicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl)hept-2-en-1-ol,produced by the male stink bug Erysarcoris lewisi

The male-produced aggregation pheromone of the stink bug Erysarcoris lewisi Distant was shown to be one of the two diastereomers of (2Z,6R)-2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenebicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl)hept-2-en-1-ol by synthesizing and bioassaying (2E,6R)-, (2E,6S)-, (2Z,6R)-, and (2Z,6S)-isomers. These were synthesized from the enantiomers of citronellal by employing an intramolecular α-ketocarbene addition to a double bond and the E-selective or Z-selective olefination of a formyl group as the key steps. A reliable method was developed for the preparation of ethyl 2-(di-o-tolylphosphono)propanoate, Ando’s reagent for Z-selective olefination.     

New stereoselective methodology for the synthesis of dihydroxerulin and xerulin, potent inhibitors of the biosynthesis of cholesterol

A new stereoselective methodology for the synthesis of both dihydroxerulin and xerulin has been devised. The key step required cross-coupling reactions between the bromo trienyne, (1E,3E,5E)-1-bromo-8-trimethylsilyl-1,3,5-octatrien-7-yne and the appropriate conjugated diynes. The palladium-catalyzed tandem cross-coupling/cyclization reaction of the resulting polyenynes with (Z)-3-iodo-2-propenoic acid led directly to dihydroxerulin or xerulin with a high degree of stereoselectivity.     

Stereospecific synthesis of conjugated (1E,3E)- and (1Z,3Z)-1,4-di(n-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-1,3-butadienes from 2-chloro-1-(n-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)ethenes: fluorescence properties

The conjugated 1,4-di(n-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-1,3-butadienes (n=o-, m-, p-) were efficiently synthesised by homocoupling of the appropriate 2-chloro-1-(n-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)ethene (n=o-, m-, p-) with stoichiometric amounts of zerovalent nickel complexes. The 1,3-butadienes were obtained as a mixture of stereoisomers, with independence of the starting E or Z chlorovinyl isomer. Moreover, the stereospecific (Z,Z) stereoisomer was obtained by partial hydrogenation of the corresponding 1,3-butadiyne, while the stereospecific (E,E) stereoisomer was obtained by exposure to the sunlight radiation of the (Z,Z) or the (Z,E) compound in ethanol.     

Palladium-catalyzed stereoselective intramolecular cyclization and Suzuki coupling of N-arylsulfonyl-α-chloroenamides promoted by a γ-hydroxy group

The Suzuki reaction of both (E)- and (Z)-α-chloro-γ-hydroxyenamides with benzeneboronic acid by using Pd₂(dba)₃, tBu₃P, and Cs₂CO₃ proceeded stereoselectively to afford only (E)-trisubstituted enamides. Also, palladium-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of (E)- and (Z)-α-chloro-γ-hydroxyenamides bearing an N-arylsulfonyl group took place stereoselectively to give the corresponding (E)-2,3-dihydrobenzoisothiazole 1,1-dioxides. The γ-hyroxy group in α-chloroenamides was found to accelerate the present palladium-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond forming reactions.