Synthesis of optically active vicinal fluorohydrins by lipase-catalyzed deracemization

Three microbial lipases have been used to deracemize trans-2-fluorocycloalkanols 2 both by hydrolysis of the corresponding acetates 3 or chloroacetates 4 and by esterification of the fluorohydrins 2 using vinyl acetate and vinyl chloroacetate, respectively. Pseudomonas cepacia lipase was the most selective for the six- and the seven-membered-ring compounds, while the lipase from Candida rugosa was most useful for the eight-membered-ring compounds. Both lipases transform the (R)-enantiomers preferentially. In contrast the lipase from Candida antarctica hydrolyzed the esters of trans-2-fluorocyclohexanol 2a and esterified the fluorohydrin itself with very low enantiopreference for the (R)-isomers. The seven- and the eight-membered ring esters and the corresponding fluorohydrins were also transformed with low, but reverse, enantioselectivity.     

Synthesis of optically active polymers bearing amino acid moieties by atom transfer radical polymerization

We report here an approach toward the synthesis of optically active polyacrylamide bearing amino acid moieties, poly[N- methacryloyl L-leucine methyl ester] (PMALM), with controlled average number molecular weight (Mn) and relatively narrow polydispersity index (PDI, Mw/Mn < 1.3) by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using initiating system methyl 2- bromopropionate/CuBr/tris(2-dimethylaminoethyl) amine. The optical properties of the resulting polymers were evaluated fromspecific optical rotation value and CD spectra.     

Synthesis of optically active alpha-methylene beta-lactams through lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution

A convenient method for the preparation of the hitherto unknown chiral alpha-methylene beta-lactam derivatives 5a,b is reported. The optically active alpha-methylene beta-lactams 5a-c, and their corresponding amino acids 6a-c have been readily made available through lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution in high enantiomeric purity (up to 99% ee). The N-substituted beta-lactam derivatives 4a, b and 10 are not accepted by the lipases and were prepared in optically active form by chemical transformation.     

Synthesis and characterization of optically active helical vinyl polymers via free radical polymerization

A facile synthetic route to prepare the dual‐functional molecule, 2,5‐bis(4′‐carboxyphenyl)styrene, was developed. The esterification of this compound with chiral alcohols, that is, (S)‐(+)‐sec‐butanol/(R)‐(?)‐sec‐butanol, (S)‐(+)‐sec‐octanol/(R)‐(?)‐sec‐octanol, and D ‐(+)‐menthol/L ‐(?)‐menthol, respectively, yielded three enantiomeric pairs of novel vinyl monomers, which underwent radical polymerization to obtain helical polymers with an excess screw sense. These polymers exhibited optical rotations as large as fourfold those of the corresponding monomers. Their helical conformations were quite stable as revealed by the almost unchanged chiroptical properties measured at different temperatures. The polymers with linear alkyl tails in the side‐groups formed irreversibly columnar nematic phases in melt although the corresponding monomers were not liquid crystalline. Whereas, the polymers with cyclic tails generated no mesophase. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2408–2421, 2009     

Synthesis of an optically active electron-acceptor tetracyanoanthraquinodimethane (TCAQ) main-chain polyester

The first main-chain copolymer containing TCAQ and enantiomerically pure binaphthyl moieties connected at 2,6 positions of the TCAQ ring was successfully synthesized by means of a polycondensation reaction. Cyclic voltammetry investigations show that TCAQ preserves its acceptor ability in the polymer system and preliminary photophysical investigations show fluorescence quenching in mixtures containing the acceptor polymer and fluorescent conjugated polymers.     

Syntheses of optically active polymers by condensation polymerization of d-tartaric acid with some diamines

In order to synthesize optically active polymers which have asymmetric carbon atoms in the polymer main chain, polyamides were synthesized at high temperatures by the condensation of the salt prepared from d-tartaric acid with diamines, such as hexamethylenediamine, o-, m-, and p-phenylenediamine. Effects of the solvent, polymerization time, intrinsic viscosity, and pH on the degree of the specific rotation of polyhexamethylene-d-tartaramide, were investigated. From the results of hydrolyses of the polymers, it was found that d-tartaric acid is not racemized during condensation polymerization.     

Chemoenzymatic asymmetric synthesis of optically active pentane-1,5-diamine fragments by means of lipase-catalyzed desymmetrization transformations

A novel family of prochiral pentane-1,5-diamines has been efficiently synthesized, possessing stabilities significantly higher than those of corresponding propane-1,3-diamine analogues. Diamines have been later desymmetrized using Pseudomonas cepacia lipase as an efficient biocatalyst for the mono- but also stereoselective protection of one of their amino groups. Reaction parameters such as type and loading of enzyme, temperature, solvent, and acyl donor have been exhaustively analyzed, searching for optimal conditions for the production of interesting optically active nitrogenated compounds. Thus, acylation and alkoxycarbonylation processes have been compared in terms of conversion and enantiomeric excess values. The best results were found in the reaction of prochiral diamines with ethyl methoxyacetate as acyl donor and 1,4-dioxane as solvent, yielding (S)-monoamides in 33-59% isolated yield and 54-99% ee, depending on the aromatic pattern substitution.     

Synthesis of functional polycarbonates by lipase-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization

Poly(5-benzyloxy-trimethylene carbonate) (PBTMC), a new functional polycarbonate was synthesized by enzymatic ring-opening polymerization in bulk at 150°C using Porcine pancreas lipase (PPL) or Candida rugosa lipase (CL) as catalyst. Influences of different polymerization conditions such as the source of enzyme, enzyme concentration and polymerization time on the molecular weight and yield were studied. The results showed that PPL exhibited higher activity than CL. Both higher molecular weight(Mn, 18953) and yield(98%) could be obtained by the use of PPL as catalyst. ¹H NMR spectrum showed no decarboxylation occurrence during the ring-opening polymerization.     

Facile synthesis of optically active gamma-lactones via lipase-catalyzed reaction of 4-substituted 4-hydroxybutyramides

Lipase-catalyzed transesterification of racemic 4-substituted 4-hydroxybutyramides with succinic anhydride proceeded enantioselectively to afford (S)-succinic acid monoester and unreacted (R)-4-hydroxybutyramide derivative, which were separated easily by treatment with an alkaline solution. Both enantiomers were converted easily to optically active gamma-substituted gamma-butyrolactones.     

Enantioselective ester synthesis in the presence of optically active polymers

Enantiomer-differentiating ester syntheses from acid salts, chlorides, and an anhydride were studied in the presence of optically active polyamines. Enantiomer selection occurred in reactions of a racemic salt with an achiral alkyl bromide and vice versa, which is good evidence of the importance of activation of the carboxylate group by complexation of the counterion and activation of alkyl bromide by the formation of a quaternary salt with polyamine under solid–liquid, phase-transfer reaction conditions. Only small optical activity was observed in the products of acid anhydride or chloride with alcohol.     

Synthesis of optically active polymers using P-chiral bisphosphines as anionic initiators

Anionic polymerization of triphenylmethyl methacrylate was performed by using P-chiral bisphosphine initiators. According to the optical rotation analysis and circular dichroism measurements, the polymer obtained by using the initiator (S,S)-1,2-bis(boranato(tert-butyl)methylphosphino) ethane exhibited one-handed helical conformation induced by the chirality of phosphorus atoms in the polymer terminal. The enantiomer (R,R)-1,2-bis(boranato(tert-butyl)methylphosphino) ethane gave the opposite one-handed helical polymer. Optically active bisphosphine (S,S)-1,2-bis(boranatomethylphenylphosphino) ethane was employed for the helix-sense-selective polymerization of triphenylmethyl methacrylate in order to obtain the polymer with the same helix sense as the polymer obtained from the initiator (S,S)-1,2-ethane bis(t-butylm-ethylphosphineborane). Further, removal of the coordinated boranes and complexation with platinum(II) on the chiral phosphorus atoms were carried out in order to yield the corresponding polymer-platinum(II) complex without loss of its chiral higher-ordered structure.     

Anionic polymerization of optically active oxiranes

The anionic bulk polymerization of optically active (2R, 3S)-3,4-epoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidenebutane-1,2-diol ( 1 ) and its (2 S, 3 S) diastereomer 2 was studied. Molecular weights and optical activity measurements as well as carbon and proton NMR spectra are reported. The polymers show solvent dependent inversion of the sign of optical rotation. The NMR spectra are consistent with isotactic polymer chains.     

Stereochemical studies-LVIII: Synthesis of optically active compounds by the novel use of meso-compound-2. efficient synthesis of an optically pure steroid intermediate

In order to explore the general application of a novel method for preparing optically active compounds, synthesis of the optically pure steroid intermediate((?)-1) has been examined by employing the diol(2) as a meso-compound and N-mesyl-(S)-phenylalanyl chloride(3) as a source of the optically active functional group.     

Helix-sense selective polymerization of carbodiimides: building permanently optically active polymers from achiral monomers

The helix-sense selective polymerization of achiral monomers by homochiral catalysts was investigated. Polymerization of chiral carbodiimides (N-(R)-2,6-(dimethylheptyl)-N'-phenylcarbodiimide) by achiral catalysts yields polymers that undergo mutorotation at elevated temperatures, thus illustrating that these chains are formed under kinetic rather than thermodynamic control. Building on this observation, the polymerization of achiral carbodiimides by (S-BINOL)Ti(OiPr)2, I, was studied. Monomers (N-hexyl-N'-(X)carbodiimide, where X = isopropyl (3), hexyl (4) or phenyl (5)), N-methyl-N'-(2-methyl-6-isopropylphenyl)carbodiimide, 6, and N-dodecyl-N'-(1-naphthyl)carbodiimide, 7, were all polymerized with I in good yields (86-95%), and all showed varying degrees of asymmetric induction. Poly-3, -4, and -5 racemized upon heating at elevated temperatures, but poly-6 and poly-7, bearing nonsymmetric phenyl groups, yielded optically active polymers that could not be racemized even at elevated temperatures. Thin films of poly-7 were found to be highly opalescent.     

Living cationic ring-opening polymerization by water-stable initiator: synthesis of a well-defined optically active polythiourethane

Living cationic ring-opening polymerization under air and water was achieved using a well-defined water-resistant cationic initiator in dichloromethane without purification at ambient temperature.