New chiral phase-transfer catalysts possessing a 6,6′-bridged ring on the biphenyl unit: application to the synthesis of α,α-dialkyl-α-amino acids

A new chiral phase-transfer catalyst possessing a 6,6′-bridged ring on the biphenyl unit has been developed for the practical synthesis of α,α-dialkyl-α-amino acids. This catalyst shows very high activity for the asymmetric alkylation of an alanine derivative to give α,α-dialkyl-α-amino acid derivatives with high enantioselectivities.     

Polymeric chiral phase-transfer catalysts derived from cinchona alkaloids for enantioselective synthesis of α-amino acids

A series of dimeric/trimeric chiral quaternary ammonium salts derived from cinchona alkaloids were designed as efficient and practical chiral phase-transfer catalysts (PTCs). Presented are the details on the development of the dimeric PTCs for the synthesis of optically active α-amino acid derivatives and the optimization of the reaction variables suitable for the dimeric PTCs. The 1,3-phenyl- and the 2,7-naphthyl-linked dimeric PTCs showed excellent catalytic capability on the reactivity and enantioselectivity in the catalytic phase-transfer alkylation of N-(diphenylmethylene)glycine tert-butyl ester (1). A variety of α-amino acid derivatives were obtained with high enantiopurities using the dimeric PTCs, especially the 2,7-naphthyl-dimer 41, in a very practical manner.     

New polymer-supported chiral phase-transfer catalysts in the asymmetric synthesis of α-amino acids: the role of a spacer

Polymer-supported cinchona alkaloid salts with different spacers were used as phase-transfer catalysts in the asymmetric C-alkylation of N-diphenyl methylene glycine tert-butyl ester. Various catalysts and alkylation conditions were studied, the best result being 81% e.e. with cinchoninium iodide bound to polystyrene with a four-carbon spacer.     

Synergistic chiral ion pair catalysts for asymmetric catalytic synthesis of quaternary α,β-diamino acids

The combination of a chiral phosphate anion with a silver ion has been demonstrated as a powerful and synergistic ion pair catalyst for the aza-Mannich reaction. A series of valuable quaternary α,β-diamino acid derivatives was obtained in high yield, and with excellent diastereo- (up to 25:1 dr) and enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee). The adducts can be smoothly transformed into the corresponding protected chiral quaternary α,β-diamino acids by a one-pot hydrolysis reaction.     

Asymmetric synthesis of α-amino acids using polymer-supported Cinchona alkaloid-derived ammonium salts as chiral phase-transfer catalysts

Cinchonidine and cinchonine have been N-alkylated with Merrifield resin and employed as chiral phase-transfer catalysts for the enantioselective alkylation of enolates from N-(diphenylmethylene)glycine esters with activated electrophiles (up to 90% ee). The use of the polymer-supported cinchonidine ammonium salt afforded the corresponding (S)-isomers, whereas the (R)-isomers were obtained using related cinchonine-supported polymers.     

New approaches to the asymmetric synthesis of non-proteinogenic α-amino acids and dipeptides through chiral β-lactam intermediates

Novel and effective routes to optically pure aromatic α-amino acids, α-methyl-α-amino acids and their derivatives including dipeptides are developed via homochiral β-lactams which are obtained through asymmetric [2+2] cycloadditions of ketenes to imines.     

The preparation and alkylation of a butanedione-derived chiral glycine equivalent and its use for the synthesis of α-amino acids and α,α-disubstituted amino acids

A benzyloxycarbonyl protected glycine equivalent 2 has been prepared in enantiopure form and has been used in the synthesis of both α-substituted amino acids and α,α-disubstituted amino acids. The process involved deprotonation to form the corresponding enolates which underwent stereoselective alkylation with various electrophiles and upon hydrolysis gave the corresponding amino acid derivatives as enantiomerically pure products.     

Stoichiometric and catalytic methods of asymmetric synthesis of nonproteinogenic α-and β-amino acids via transition metal coordination compounds

The complexes of glycine, -alanine, and -alanine with (S)-[N-(N-benzylprolyl)amino] benzophenone formed by Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions and Schiff bases enter into different nucleophilic and electrophilic reactions with the formation of diastereoisomeric complexes which decompose into proteinogenic and nonproteinogenic L-amino acids with a high chemical yield and elevated optical purity (70–90%). Optically pure amino acids can be obtained from diastereoisomerically pure complexes after the complexes are separated by recrystallization of the mixture of diastereoisomeric complexes formed. A new type of interphase catalysts of C-alkylation of achiral Schiff bases was proposed. The catalysts are positively charged Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of Schiff bases of chiral diamines. In some cases, these complexes have a higher activity and capacity to execute asymmetric alkylation than traditional chiral interphase catalysts based on cinchonidine.Based on materials in the section report by Yu. N. Belokon' to the 7th European Symposium on Organic Chemistry, ESOC-7.A. N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelemental Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117813 Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1106–1127, May, 1992.     

Highly diastereoselective synthesis of quaternary α-trifluoromethyl α-amino acids by addition of benzylzinc reagents to chiral imines of trifluoropyruvate

An effective and facile method for highly diastereoselective synthesis of quaternary α-trifluoromethyl α-amino acids was developed in good yields with high diastereoselectivity (dr >20:1) via MgCl₂-accelerated addition of benzylzinc reagents (Knochel type organozinc reagents) to (R)-phenylglycinol methyl ether based imines of trifluoropyruvate.     

Synthesis and application of C2-symmetric diamino FERRIPHOS as ligands for enantioselective Rh-catalyzed preparation of chiral α-amino acids

C₂-Symmetrical ferrocenyl diamino diphosphines (diamino FERRIPHOS ligands) proved to be excellent ligands for the rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective reduction of methyl α-acetamidoacrylates. The straightforward synthesis, their air stability and the easy modification of their structure makes these ligands especially interesting for transition metal-catalyzed hydrogenations. α-Amino acids with enantioselectivities greater than 95% (and up to 99.3% ee) were obtained with no need of further recrystallization.     

Reaction of catalytic enantioselective reductive aminolysis of δ2-oxazolin-5-ones as a method of asymmetric synthesis of α-amino acids

This investigation is devoted to the interaction of Δ²-oxazolin-5-ones, S(—)-α-phenylethy lamine and H₂ in the presence of PdCl₂ which yields α-phenylethylamides of acylamino acids of the S,S configuration, hydrolysis of the latter compounds resulting in the formation of optically pure amino acids and providing for chiral amine recycling. In DME, double bond saturation and ring opening in Δ²-oxazolin-5-one occur within the catalytic complex sphere without the intermediate formation of saturated oxazolinones or unsaturated amides. In t-BuOH, saturated oxazolinones are formed as intermediates. The catalyst formed in situ was shown to be a zero-valent Pd complex with S(—)-α-phenylethylamine stabilized by substrate coordination. The stereochemical pathway of the reactions has been traced. Reductive aminolysis involves cis-addition of H₂, while in reductive methanolysis H₂ trarns-addition occurs. The suggested process mechanism accounts for the ratio of aminolysis and racemization rates for saturated oxazolinones and the ratio of diastereomers of α-phenylethylamides of acylamino acids obtained by reacting unsaturated Δ²oxazolin-5-ones with S(—)-α-phenyl-ethylamine. In agreement with the postulated mechanism, the catalyst enantioselectivity is observed at the steps of substrate addition to the catalyst and proton transfer to the α-C-center, provided the process is carried out in DME. In the case of t-BuOH, the enantiodifferentiating action of the catalyst vanishes as a result of racemization, and process stereo selectivity appears at the step of saturated oxazolinone aminolysis with a chiral amine.     

Rearrangement of oxazolidinethiones to thiazolidinediones or thiazinanediones and their application for the synthesis of chiral allylic ureas and α-methyl-β-amino acids

A novel rearrangement has been found between oxazolidinethiones and acyl halides under N-acylation reaction conditions to afford N-substituted 2,4-thiazolidinediones and N-substituted 1,3-thiazinane-2,4-diones. These heterocycles were used for the synthesis of chiral allylic ureas and α-methyl-β-amino acids.     

Asymmetric synthesis of allylic secondary alcohols: a new general approach for the preparation of α-amino acids

A new general approach for the synthesis of optically active α-amino acids has been developed. The key steps involve a ruthenium catalysed cross-coupling reaction to give a range of α,β-unsaturated ketones, which were then reduced to allylic secondary alcohols in the presence of a chiral CBS oxazaborolidine. A thermal Overman rearrangement was used to prepare a series of allylic trichloroacetimidates and these were converted under standard conditions to the target α-amino acids in good overall yields.     

A catalytic asymmetric ring-expansion reaction of isatins and α-alkyl-α-diazoesters: highly efficient synthesis of functionalized 2-quinolone derivatives

Asymmetric expansion: A catalytic asymmetric ring-expansion reaction of the title compounds occurs in the presence of a Sc(OTf)(3) catalyst bearing an N,N'-dioxide-based ligand. Highly functionalized 2-quinolone derivatives containing a chiral C4-quaternary stereocenter were obtained in high yields and high levels of selectivity under mild reaction conditions (see scheme; Tf=trifluoromethanesulfonyl).     

One-pot highly enantioselective catalytic Mannich-type reactions between aldehydes and stable α-amido sulfones: asymmetric synthesis of β-amino aldehydes and β-amino acids

A highly enantioselective catalytic route to carbamate- and benzoate-protected β-amino aldehydes and β-amino acids is presented. The amino acid-catalyzed one-pot asymmetric reaction between unmodified aldehydes and α-amido sulfones gives the corresponding β-amino compounds with up to 95:5 dr and 97->99% ee.     

Asymmetric halogenation of chiral imide enolates. A general approach to the synthesis of enantiomerically pure α-amino acids.

The chiral N-acyl oxazolidones 2, as the derived dibutyl boron enolates, have been demonstrated to undergo diastereoselective bromination and subsequent azide displacement to give the α-azido carboximides 4a (5 cases). These adducts may be hydrolyzed under mild conditions to the enantiomerically pure α-azido carboxylic acids 5a.     

Nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling reaction of monofluoroalkyl triflates with alkyl carboxylic acids toward the synthesis of α-alkyl-α-fluoro-alkylketones

The synthesis methods of α-fluoro-arylketones were well-established through electrophilic/nucleophilic fluorination and transition metal catalyzed cross-coupling. However, due to the site selectivity and substrate restriction, only a few cases have been developed to afford α-alkyl-α-fluoro-alkylketones. Herein, we report a general and efficient method of preparing diverse α-alkyl-α-fluoro-alkylketones via nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling reaction of monofluoroalkyl triflates with low-cost industrial raw material alkyl carboxylic acids. These transformations demonstrate high efficiency, mild conditions, and excellent functional group compatibility. This strategy provides a general and efficient method for the synthesis of α-alkyl-α-fluoro-alkylketones.     

Roof shape amines: synthesis and application as NMR chiral solvating agents for discrimination of α-functionalized acids

A series of new chiral roof shape amines have been prepared from anthracene involving simple chemical steps and enzymatic resolution of isomers. The amines were screened as chiral solvating agents for the discrimination of enantiomers of several α-functionalized acids by the ¹H NMR analysis. The system can also be used to accurately measure enantiomeric excess of mandelic acid by ¹H NMR analysis. The roof shape CSAs were capable of detecting the shift in the signals for the standard four nuclei of ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F and ³¹P of various optically active acids.     

Development of metallocomplex amino acids synthons for the asymmetric preparation of α-amino acids by stereoselective introduction of a side chain. Evaluation of the model asymmetric preparation of alanine and β-13C monolabelled α-aminoisobutyric acid

In this communication the evaluation of eleven new metallocomplex alanine synthons bearing C₂-symmetric benzyl groups with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents is described. α-Methylated glycine synthons (alanine complexes) were evaluated alongside alanine synthons in order to obtain a deeper understanding of the relationship between their structures and stereochemistry of monoalkylated products and to choose several candidates for their further tests for stereospecific preparation of 6-[¹⁸F]FDOPA. Glycine-derived analogues of the complexes 3–5 are the best candidates for the development of a 6-[¹⁸F]FDOPA preparation procedure. In the model epimerisation reaction they demonstrated the best performance, much better compared to the previously described compound 2. Complexes 3, 5 and 8 are the best in asymmetric preparation of β-¹³C monolabelled α-aminoisobutyric acid. They have to be tested in the preparation of α-methyl amino acids like 6-[¹⁸F]-α-methylDOPA and 2-[¹⁸F]-α-methyltyrosine.