Preparation of (R)- and (S)-6-hydroxybuspirone by enzymatic resolution or hydroxylation

6-Hydroxybuspirone is an active metabolite of the antianxiety drug buspirone. The (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of 6-hydroxybuspirone were prepared using an enzymatic resolution process. l-Amino acid acylase from Aspergillus melleus (Amano Acylase 30000) was used to hydrolyze racemic 6-acetoxybuspirone to (S)-6-hydroxybuspirone in 95% ee after 45% conversion. The remaining (R)-6-acetoxybuspirone with 88% ee was converted to (R)-6-hydroxybuspirone by acid hydrolysis. The ee of both enantiomers could be improved to 99% by crystallization as a metastable polymorph. (S)-6-Hydroxybuspirone was also obtained in 88% ee and 14.5% yield by hydroxylation of buspirone using Streptomyces antibioticus ATCC 14890.     

Influence of the position of the substituent on the efficiency of lipase-mediated resolutions of 3-aryl alkanoic acids

Hydrolase-catalysed kinetic resolutions to provide enantioenriched α-substituted 3-aryl alkanoic acids are described. (S)-2-Methyl-3-phenylpropanoic acid (S)-1a was prepared in 96% ee by Pseudomonas fluorescens catalysed ester hydrolysis, while, Candida antarctica lipase B (immob) resolved the α-ethyl substituted 3-arylalkanoic acid (R)-1b in 82% ee. The influence of the position of the substituent relative to the ester site on the efficiency and enantioselectivity of the biotransformation is also explored; the same lipases were found to resolve both the α- and β-substituted alkanoic acids. Furthermore, the steric effect of substituents at the C2 stereogenic centre relative to that for their C3 substituted counterparts on the efficiency and stereoselectivity is discussed.     

A chemoenzymatic synthesis of both enantiomers of a cis-lignan lactone

The stereoselective acetylation of meso-2,3-bis(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)butanediol by vinyl acetate in the presence of Candida antarctica lipase in benzene gave the corresponding (+)-(2S,3R) monoester (ee ≥98%). Transesterification of meso-2,3-bis(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)butyl diacetate, in the presence of the same enzyme, by ethanol in benzene/isopropyl ether gave the corresponding (−)-(2R,3S) monoester (ee ≥98%). Both enantiomers of the known cis-2,3-bis(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)butyrolactone were synthesized from these monoesters.     

Synthesis of diastereo- and enantiomerically pure anti-3-methyl-1,4-pentanediol via lipase catalysed acylation

Racemic trans-4,5-dimethylhydrofuran-2(3H)-one was synthesised from 5-methyl-furan-2(3H)-one, (α-angelica lactone). The key reaction in the synthesis was the 1,4-conjugate addition of an organocuprate to 5-methylfuran-2(5H)-one (β-angelica lactone). Different types of organocuprates were tested with the highest anti:syn ratio of 99.4:0.6 being obtained by the use of a Gilman organocuprate reagent. The enantioselective acylation of racemic 3-methyl-pentan-1,4-diol, catalysed by a variety of lipases in organic media, was investigated. The highest enantioselectivity (E > 400) was obtained when Novozyme 435 was used as the catalyst at a water activity of a_w ∼ 0. Thus, both enantiomers, (3S,4R)- and (3R,4S)-3-methyl-pentan-1,4-diol, were obtained in very high diastereomeric (>99% de) and enantiomeric purities (>99.8% and >97.4% ee, respectively).     

Synthesis of (1S,4R)-4-isopropyl-1-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol,the aggregation pheromone of the ambrosia beetle Platypus quercivorus,its racemate, (1R,4R)- and (1S,4S)-isomers

(S)-Perillyl alcohol was converted to (R)-cryptone (91.5–93% ee) in six steps, which was then treated with methyllithium to give (1S,4R)-4-isopropyl-1-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol, the aggregation pheromone of the ambrosia beetle Platypus quercivorus. The racemic pheromone was also prepared by methylation of (±)-cryptone. Both (1R,4R)- and (1S,4S)-isomers (98% ee) of the pheromone were synthesized from the enantiomers of dihydrolimonene oxide.     

An efficient preparative scale resolution of 3-phenylbutyric acid by lipase from Burkholderia cepacia (Chirazyme L1)

Lipase from Burkholderia cepacia (Chirazyme L1) catalysed the highly enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic methyl 3-phenylbutyrate to afford (R)-(−)-methyl 3-phenylbutyrate of >98% ee (E>50). The resolution was performed at 150 g scale yielding 68.7 g of (R)-(−)-methyl 3-phenylbutyrate (>98% ee, 92% yield on enantiomer) and (S)-(+)-3-phenylbutyric acid of 89% ee.     

Total synthesis of (R)- and (S)-turmerone and (7S,9R)-bisacumol by an efficient chemoenzymatic approach

An enantioselective synthesis of (R)-, (S)-turmerone and (7S,9R)-bisacumol is described. The enantiomerically pure key intermediates, a substituted butanoate ester and acid are utilized in the synthesis of both enantiomers of turmerone. The lipase catalyzed resolution studies of the acetate of bisacumol have been exploited towards the total synthesis of the naturally occurring cytotoxic sesquiterpene, (7S,9R)-bisacumol with high diastereoselectivity (94% de).     

Enzymatic reactions for the preparation of homocalycotomine enantiomers

Homocalycotomine enantiomers (R)-4 and (S)-4 were prepared by the Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B)-catalysed asymmetric O-acylation of N-Boc-protected 2-(6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl)ethanol (±)-1. The preliminary small-scale experiments were performed either in a continuous-flow system or as batch reactions, while the preparative-scale resolution was carried out in two steps with vinyl acetate as the acyl donor in the presence of Et₃N and Na₂SO₄ in toluene at 3 °C, as a batch reaction. Treatment of the resulting amino alcohol (S)-1 and amino ester (R)-3 (ee ?94%) with 18% HCl, and then with 5 M NaOH, furnished the desired (R)-4 and (S)-4 without a decrease in the enantiomeric excess (ee ?94%).     

Efficient,scalable kinetic resolution of cis-4-benzyloxy-2,3-epoxybutanol

A new enzyme catalysed kinetic resolution of cis-4-benzyloxy-2,3-epoxybutanol has been reported. Efficient, scalable separation of the optically active alcohol from its ester derivative has been solved with liquid–liquid and solid–liquid extraction methods using commercial organic solvents and supercritical carbon dioxide. cis-4-Benzyloxy-2,3-epoxy-1-butanol enantiomers were applied for the enantioselective synthesis of (2S,3S,1′S)- and (2R,3R,1′R)-3-[2′-(dibenzylamino)-1′-hydroxyethyl]-2-phenyloxetane.     

Lipase catalyzed regio- and stereospecific hydrolysis: chemoenzymatic synthesis of both (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of α-lipoic acid

Native lipase of Candida rugosa (EC 3.1.1.3) enantioselectively and regiospecifically hydrolyses the n-butyl ester of 2,4-dithioacetyl butanoic acid either at the carboxylic acid terminus or at the α-thioacetate to provide enantiomerically pure (R)-2,4-dithioacetyl butyric acid and (S)-butyl 2-thio-4-thioacetyl butyrate (ee >98%) while the lipase modified by treatment with diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate attacks only the α-thioacetate giving enantiomerically pure (S)-butyl 2-thio-4-thioacetyl butyrate. These enantiomerically pure intermediates can be used as chiral building blocks to obtain both (S)- and (R)-enantiomers of α-lipoic acid and their analogues.     

Resolution of C2-symmetric 9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid and 2,3-diphenylsuccinic acid using (S)-proline

Racemic 9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid is resolved to obtain the corresponding (S,S)-isomer in 96±2% ee and the (R,R)-isomer in 97±2% ee through complexation with (S)-proline in methanol. The racemic 2,3-diphenylsuccinic acid has been resolved to obtain the (S,S)-isomer in 93% ee using (S)-proline in methanol.     

Metabolism of Deuterated erythro‐Dihydroxy Fatty Acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Enantioselective Formation and Characterization of Hydroxylactones

Epoxides of fatty acids are hydrolyzed by epoxide hydrolases (EHs) into dihydroxy fatty acids which are of particular interest in the mammalian leukotriene pathway. In the present report, the analysis of the configuration of dihydroxy fatty acids via their respective hydroxylactones is described. In addition, the biotransformation of (±)‐erythro‐7,8‐ and ‐3,4‐dihydroxy fatty acids in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was characterized by GC/EI‐MS analysis. Biotransformation of chemically synthesized (±)‐erythro‐7,8‐dihydroxy(7,8‐²H₂)tetradecanoic acid ((±)‐erythro‐ 1 ) in the yeast S. cerevisiae resulted in the formation of 5,6‐dihydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecanoic acid ( 6 ), which was lactonized into (5S,6R)‐6‐hydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecano‐5‐lactone ((5S,6R)‐ 4 ) with 86% ee and into erythro‐5‐hydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecano‐6‐lactone (erythro‐ 8 ). Additionally, the α‐ketols 7‐hydroxy‐8‐oxo(7‐²H₁)tetradecanoic acid ( 9a ) and 8‐hydroxy‐7‐oxo(8‐²H₁)tetradecanoic acid ( 9b ) were detected as intermediates. Further metabolism of 6 led to 3,4‐dihydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decanoic acid ( 2 ) which was lactonized into 3‐hydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decano‐4‐lactone ( 5 ) with (3R,4S)‐ 5 =88% ee. Chemical synthesis and incubation of (±)‐erythro‐3,4‐dihydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decanoic acid ((±)‐erythro‐ 2 ) in yeast led to (3S,4R)‐ 5 with 10% ee. No decano‐4‐lactone was formed from the precursors 1 or 2 by yeast. The enantiomers (3S,4R)‐ and (3R,4S)‐3,4‐dihydroxy(3‐²H₁)nonanoic acid ((3S,4R)‐ and (3R,4S)‐ 3 ) were chemically synthesized and comparably degraded by yeast without formation of nonano‐4‐lactone. The major products of the transformation of (3S,4R)‐ and (3R,4S)‐ 3 were (3S,4R)‐ and (3R,4S)‐3‐hydroxy(3‐²H₁)nonano‐4‐lactones ((3S,4R)‐ and (3R,4S)‐ 7 ), respectively. The enantiomers of the hydroxylactones 4, 5 , and 7 were chemically synthesized and their GC‐elution sequence on Lipodex^® E chiral phase was determined.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 3-substituted 8-hydroxy-3,4-dihydroisocoumarins from (S)-4-isopropyl-2-(2-methoxy-6-methylphenyl)oxazoline

Reaction of the laterally lithiated (S)-4-isopropyl-2-(2-methoxy-6-methylphenyl)oxazoline with p-tolualdehyde gave an inseparable mixture of the addition products in low diastereoselectivity. However, the (S,S)-product cyclized to the corresponding 3,4-dihydroisocoumarin faster than the (S,R)-product on silica gel, which allowed to be produced both enantiomers of 8-methoxy-3-(p-tolyl)-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin in moderate to good optical purity [S-enantiomer: 75% ee; R-enantiomer: 96% ee]. This procedure was applied to the short-step synthesis of optically active 3,4-dihydroisocoumarin natural products such as (R)-8-hydroxy-3-(1-tridecyl)-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin and (R)-phyllodulcin.     

Precursors to oak lactone. Part 2: Synthesis, separation and cleavage of several β-d-glucopyranosides of 3-methyl-4-hydroxyoctanoic acid

The β-d-glucopyranosides of all four stereoisomers of 3-methyl-4-hydroxyoctanoic acid have been prepared. The (3S,4S) and (3R,4R) species were prepared from cis-5-n-butyl-4-methyl-4,5-dihydro-2(3H)-furanone (cis-oak lactone) by a process involving ring-opening with base and protection of the carboxyl function as its benzyl ester. The glucose unit was introduced by a modified Koenigs-Knorr procedure. A different strategy was necessary for synthesis of the (3S,4R) and (3R,4S) compounds. This was based on the reductive ring-opening of trans-oak lactone and subsequent protection of the primary alcohol as its t-butyldiphenylsilyl ether. Separation of the individual glucosides was effected by preparative thin layer chromatography. Those corresponding to the nature-identical isomers of oak lactone have been shown to produce oak lactone under both acidic hydrolysis and pyrolysis conditions. The galloyl-β-d-glucoside of the cis-species, obtained as a natural isolate from the wood of Platycarya strobilacea, was also found to produce cis-oak lactone upon both acid hydrolysis and pyrolysis. Both the nature-identical (4S,5S) cis-oak lactone and its non-natural (4R,5R) enantiomer have been prepared from their corresponding glycosides and their aroma thresholds in white wine were determined to be 23 and 82 μg/L (ppb) respectively. The aroma threshold of the nature-identical isomer in a red wine was 46 μg/L.     

Synthesis of anti-Alzheimer (R)-arundic acid

The asymmetric synthesis of the anti-Alzheimer agent (R)-arundic acid has been performed via a diastereoselective photodeconjugation reaction as the key-step. The synthetic approach involves a readily available chiral auxiliary, diacetone-d-glucose, and allows access to either enantiomer as illustrated by the synthesis of (S)-arundic acid. Both enantiomers were obtained in 88% ee using the same chiral auxiliary.     

Enantiomerically enriched cryptone by lipase catalysed kinetic resolution

Thiophenol was added to racemic cryptone (4-isopropyl-2-cyclohexene-1-one) and the resulting 1,4-addition products, cis- and trans-4-isopropyl-3-(phenylsulfanyl)cyclohexanone were separated and the latter reduced to rac-1,3-cis-1,4-trans-4-isopropyl-3-(phenylsulfanyl)cyclohexanol, which was subjected to lipase catalysed resolution by acylation catalysed by CAL-B (Candida antarctica lipase B). The alcohol enantiomers obtained were oxidised. The remaining alcohol was separated from the produced acetate, which was hydrolysed to the alcohol. The initial products, probably sulfoxidoketones spontaneously decomposed to furnish enantiomerically enriched (R)- and (S)-cryptone with up to 76% and 98% ee, respectively.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of glycosylated enantiomerically pure 4-pentene 1,2- and 1,3-diol derivatives

1-Dimethylthexylsiloxy-2-chloroacetoxy-4-pentene 2 and 1-dimethylthexylsiloxy-3-chloroacetoxy-4-pentene 3 were saponified with Pseudomonas lipase to give (R)-1-dimethylthexylsiloxy-4-pentene-2-ol (ee=99%) and (S)-2 (ee=99%) and (S)-1-dimethylthexylsiloxy-4-pentene-3-ol (ee=99%) and (R)-3 (ee=98%), respectively. All enantiomers were chemically transformed into the corresponding enatiomerically pure 2-benzoyloxy-4-pentene-1-ols 8 and 3-benzoyloxy-4-pentene-1-ols 14, respectively. Mannosylation of (R)-8 and (S)-14 with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-a-d-mannopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate afforded the corresponding mannopyranosides.     

Natural product synthesis from (8aR)- and (8aS)-bicyclofarnesols: synthesis of (+)-wiedendiol A, (+)-norsesterterpene diene ester and (−)-subersic acid

Both enantiomers (8aR)-7 and (8aS)-7 of bicyclofarnesol were synthesized from the enzymatic resolution products (1R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal (8aR)-5 (98% ee) and acetate of (1S,4aS,8aS)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal (8aS)-6 (>99% ee), respectively. The formal synthesis of (+)-wiedendiol 1 was achieved via a coupling reaction of an ate complex derived from 1,2,4-trimethoxybenzene with allyl bromide (8aS)-8 derived from (8aS)-7. The total synthesis of (+)-norsesterterpene diene ester 2 was achieved, based on the synthesis of (13E,10S)-α,β-unsaturated aldehyde 12, derived from (8aS)-7, followed by the selective construction of the (3E,5E)-diene moiety including a C(2)-stereogenic centre in (+)-2. The total synthesis of (−)-subersic acid 3 was carried out based on a Stille coupling between allyl trifluoroacetate congener 25c, derived from (8aR)-7, corresponding to the diterpene part, and aryl stannane congener 26 in the presence of Pd catalyst and CuI as an additive.     

Homochiral lithium amides for the asymmetric synthesis of β-amino acids

Secondary homochiral lithium amides derived from α-methylbenzylamine undergo highly diastereoselective conjugate additions to a range of α,β-unsaturated esters. The corresponding β-amino acids are readily liberated by successive N-debenzylation and ester hydrolysis, furnishing (R)-β-amino butyric acid, (R)-β-amino pentanoic acid, (S)-β-leucine, (R)-β-amino octanoic acid, (S)-β-phenylalanine, (S)-β-tyrosine methyl ether, (S)-β-tyrosine hydrochloride and (S)-β-(2-methoxyphenyl)-β-amino propanoic acid in high yields and high ee. The application of this procedure to the synthesis of the natural products (R)-β-DOPA and (R)-β-lysine is demonstrated. The development of a simplified one-pot reaction protocol applicable to the multi-gram scale synthesis of homochiral β-amino esters is also delineated.     

Baker's yeast: production of d- and l-3-hydroxy esters

Baker's yeast grown under oxygen limited conditions and used in the reduction of 3-oxo esters results in a shift of the stereoselectivity of the yeast towards d-hydroxy esters as compared with ordinary baker's yeast. The highest degree of stereoselectivity was obtained with growing yeast or yeast harvested while growing. In contrast, the stereoselectivity was shifted towards l-hydroxy esters when the oxo esters were added slowly to ordinary baker's yeast supplied with gluconolactone as co-substrate. The reduction rate with gluconolactone was increased by active aeration. Ethyl l-(S)-3-hydroxybutanoate was afforded in >99% ee. Both enantiomers of ethyl 3-hydroxypentanoate, d-(R) in 96% ee and l-(S) in 93% ee, and of ethyl 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate, d-(S) in 98% ee and l-(R) in 94% ee, were obtained. The results demonstrate that the stereoselectivity of baker's yeast can be controlled to a large extent without the use of inhibitors, heat treatment, etc.