Intermolecular/interionic interactions in l-isoleucine-, l-proline-, and l-glutamine-aqueous electrolyte systems

Speed of sound and density values for ternary systems (amino acid + salt + water): l-isoleucine/l-proline/l-glutamine in aqueous solutions of 1.5 M KCl, 1 M KNO₃, and 0.5 M K₂SO₄ have been measured for several concentrations of amino acids at different temperatures (303.15, 308.15, 313.15, 318.15, and 323.15 K). Using speed of sound and density data, the thermodynamic parameters such as isentropic compressibility (κ_s), change in isentropic compressibility (Δκ_s) and relative change (Δκ_s/κ₀) in isentropic compressibility have been computed. The isentropic compressibility values decrease with increase in the amino acid concentration as well as with temperature. The decrease in κ_s values with increase in concentration of l-isoleucine/l-proline/l-glutamine in 1.5 M KCl, 1 M KNO₃, and 0.5 M K₂SO₄ has been ascribed to an increase in the number of incompressible zwitterions in solutions, and the formation of ‘zwitterions-ions’ and ‘zwitterions-water dipole’ entities in solutions. The decrease in κ_s values with increase in temperature has been attributed to the corresponding decrease of κ_relax (a relaxational part of compressibility), which is dominant over the corresponding increase of κ_∞ (an instantaneous part of compressibility). The trends of variation of Δκ_s and Δκ_s/κ₀ with variations in solute concentration and temperature have also been discussed in terms of solute-solute and solute-solvent intermolecular/interionic interactions operative in the systems.     

An efficient synthesis of d-ribo- and l-lyxo-phytosphingosine from d-tartaric acid

The preparations of d-ribo- and l-lyxo-phytosphingosines (1, 2) are described. Chelation-controlled addition of tetradecylmagnesium bromide to pentylidene-protected d-threitol aldehyde 6 afforded the key intermediate tetrol 7, providing the desired l-lyxo stereochemistry of phytosphingosine. Inversion at C4 of intermediate 7 provided the d-ribo stereochemistry.     

Synthesis of d-gluco-, l-ido-, d-galacto-, and l-altro-configured glycaro-1,5-lactams from tartaric acid

The d-gluco-, l-ido-, d-galacto-, and l-altro-configured glycaro-1,5-lactams 1-4 were prepared from the known tartaric anhydride 5 via the aldehyde 6. These lactams are known (1) or potential (2-4) inhibitors of β-d-glucuronidases and α-l-iduronidases. Olefination of 6 to the (E)- and (Z)-alkenes 7 or 8, followed by reagent or substrate controlled dihydroxylation, lactonization, azidation, reduction, and deprotection led in 10 steps and in overall yields of 11-20% to the title lactams.     

Protease-catalysed synthesis of Z-l-aminoacyl-l-caprolactam amides from Z-protected amino acid esters and dl-α-amino-ε-caprolactam

The enzymatic synthesis of Z-l-aminoacyl-l-caprolactam amides from Z-protected amino acid esters and dl-α-amino-ε-caprolactam (ACL) was accomplished by the thiol proteases papain, bromelain and ficin in aqueous-organic media. Product yields of 96% and 87% for Z-Gly-l-ACL and Z-Ala-l-ACL, respectively, could be obtained. The products were purified and characterised by polarimetry, NMR and LC-MS. The suitability to accept a bulky 1,2-amino ketone as a nucleophile expands the general knowledge of thiol proteases and their catalytic potential.     

Synthesis of l-aminohomohistidine (l-Ahh)

A short synthesis of l-aminohomohistidine (l-Ahh), which starts from readily available δ-hydroxy-l-lysine is described. The embedding of the basic guanidino moiety in the aromatic imidazole lowers the basicity of the side chain to a pK_a of 8.3. It is proposed that l-Ahh may be employed as an arginine-mimetic in medicinal chemistry.     

Total synthesis of natural cis-3-hydroxy-l-proline from d-glucose

Synthesis of cis-3-hydroxy-l-proline from d-glucose is reported. The methodology involves conversion of d-glucose into N-benzyloxycarbonyl-γ-alkenyl amine which on 5-endo-trig-aminomercuration gave the pyrrolidine ring skeleton with sugar appendage in 25% yield. Alternatively, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-γ-alkenyl amine on hydroboration-oxidation, mesylation and intramolecular S_N2 cyclisation afforded pyrrolidine ring compound in high yield. Hydrolysis of 1,2-acetonide functionality, NaIO₄ cleavage followed by oxidation of an aldehyde into acid and hydrogenolysis afforded cis-3-hydroxy-l-proline in overall 29% yield from d-glucose.     

Phase behavior of biodegradable amphiphilic poly(l,l-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(l,l-lactide)

This study describes the miscibility phase behavior in two series of biodegradable triblock copolymers, poly(l-lactide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(l-lactide) (PLLA-PEG-PLLA), prepared from two di-hydroxy-terminated PEG prepolymers (M_n = 4000 or 600 g mol⁻¹) with different lengths of poly(l-lactide) segments (polymerization degree, DP = 1.2-145.6). The prepared block copolymers presented wide range of molecular weights (800-25,000 g mol⁻¹) and compositions (16-80 wt.% of PEG). The copolymer multiphases coexistance and interaction were evaluated by DSC and TGA. The copolymers presented a dual stage thermal degradation and decreased thermal stability compared to PEG homopolymers. In addition, DSC analyses allowed the observation of multiphase separation; the melting temperature, T_m, of PLLA and PEG phases depended on the relative segment lengths and the only observed glass transition temperature (T_g) in copolymers indicated miscibility in the amorphous phase.     

Enantioselective synthesis of d- and l-α-methylcysteine with hydantoinase

A scalable and cost-effective synthesis of d- and l-α-methylcysteine is described. A key step is d-selective cyclization of N-carbamoyl S-tert-butyl-d,l-α-methylcysteine catalyzed by hydantoinase. d-5-tert-Butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin and N-carbamoyl S-tert-butyl-l-α-methylcysteine were obtained with excellent yield and optical purity, and these compounds were easily separated by filtration. After hydrolysis and cleavage of the tert-butyl group, d- and l-α-methylcysteine hydrochloride were obtained.     

Racemization behavior of l,l-lactide during heating

To control the depolymerization process of poly(l-lactic acid) into l,l-lactide for feedstock recycling, the racemization of l,l-lactide as a post-depolymerization reaction was investigated. In the absence of a catalyst, the conversion to meso-lactide increased with increase in the heating temperature and time at a higher rate than the conversion into oligomers. The resulting high composition of meso-lactide suggests that the direct racemization of l,l-lactide had occurred in addition to the known racemization mechanism that occurs on the oligomer chains. In the presence of MgO, the oligomerization rapidly proceeded to reach an equilibrium state between monomers and oligomers. The equilibrium among l,l-, meso-, and d,d-lactides was found to be a convergent composition ratio l,l-:meso-:d,d-lactides = 1:1.22:0.99 (wt/wt/wt) after 120 min at 300 °C. This composition ratio also indicates that in addition to the known racemization reaction on the oligomer chains, direct racemization among the lactides is also a frequent occurrence.     

Novel synthesis of 5-thio-hexopyranoside: preparation of 5-thio-d- and l-glucose and 1,6-anhydro-5-thio-l- and d-altrose

Asymmetric synthesis of both d- and l-isomers of 5-thioglucose and 1,6-anhydro-5-thioaltrose are described. The key intermediates, l- and d-threose diethylacetal derivatives, were derived by chemical transformation from d-xylose or d-arabinose and by Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation from γ-hydroxycrotylaldehyde diethylacetal. They transformed to γ-thiiranyl diethylacetal via trans-2,3-epoxy alcohol in seven steps. Acetic acid-promoted cyclization of γ-thiiranyl diethylacetal gave 5-thiopyranoside. Removal of the protected groups under the acidic conditions afforded 5-thio-d- and l-glucose and 1,6-anhydro-5-thio-l- and d-altrose, respectively.     

Asymmetric syntheses of the methyl glycosides of 2-deoxy-2-aminohexoses: d-allosamine, d-mannosamine, d-idosamine and d-talosamine

A range of the methyl glycosides of 2-deoxy-2-aminohexoses, comprising d-allosamine, d-mannosamine, d-idosamine and d-talosamine, were prepared from the corresponding d-aldopentoses via a seven step synthetic sequence. The doubly diastereoselective conjugate addition of the requisite antipode of lithium N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide and in situ enolate oxidation with the requisite antipode of camphorsulfonyloxaziridine (CSO) was used as the key, stereodefining step. Sequential reduction of the resultant α-hydroxy-β-amino esters and oxidative cleavage of the C(1)–C(2) diol unit furnished the corresponding α-amino aldehydes. Subsequent N- and O-deprotection gave the target compounds (as mixtures of anomers) in good yield and high diastereoisomeric purity.     

d-Phg-l-Pro Dipeptide-derived prolinol ligands for highly enantioselective Reformatsky reactions

Optically pure N-aminoethyl prolinol derivatives 3a-c have been prepared from the dynamic kinetic resolution of N-(α-bromo-α-phenylacetyl) proline ester 1 in asymmetric nucleophilic substitution and subsequent reduction. The peptide-derived prolinols are tested as chiral ligands in the asymmetric addition of Reformatsky reagent to aromatic aldehydes. Chiral ligand 3c has been shown to be effective to produce enantioenriched β-hydroxy esters 5a-j with up to 98% ee.     

Immobilization of bromelain onto porous copoly(γ-methyl-l-glutamate/l-leucine) beads

Water-insoluble bromelain was prepared by immobilizing bromelain onto the surface of porous copoly(γ-methyl-l-glutamate/l-leucine) (ML) beads with and without spacer. The mode of the immobilization between bromelain and porous copolypeptide ML beads was covalent fixation. The relative activity and the stability of the immobilized bromelain was investigated. The retained activity of the bromelain covalently immobilized by the azide method was found to be excellent toward a small ester substrate, N-benzyl-l-arginine ethyl ester, but rather low toward casein, a high molecular weight substrate. The values of the Michaelis constant K_m and the maximum reaction velocity V_m for free and immobilized bromelain on the porous copolypeptide ML beads were estimated. Apparent K_m was larger for immobilized bromelain than for the free one, while V_m was smaller for the immobilized bromelain. The thermal stability of the covalently immobilized bromelain was higher than that of the free bromelain. The initial enzymatic activity of the immobilized bromelain remained approximately unchanged with storage time, when the batch enzyme reaction was performed repeatedly, indicating the excellent durability.     

An efficient synthesis of d-ribo-C18-phytosphingosine and l-arabino-C18-phytosphingosine from d-fructose

d-ribo-C₁₈-phytosphingosine and l-arabino-C₁₈-phytosphingosine were synthesised starting from commercially inexpensive d-fructose. Metal-mediated fragmentation and stereoselective reduction were used as key steps to provide the hydrophilic portion of d-ribo and l-arabino phytosphingosines. Grubbs’ cross-metathesis and hydrogenation allowed the incorporation of hydrophobic tail.     

Synthesis of d-glucose and l-phenylalanine substituted phenylene-thiophene oligomers

Phenylene-thiophene oligomers bearing peracetylated β-d-glucose or N-BOC-l-phenylalanine as chiral substituents were synthesized in good yields by a versatile protocol based on the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. Aryl iodides bearing the chiral biomolecules as substituents efficiently reacted with pinacol boronates of bi- or terthiophenes leading to the bio-functionalized oligomers in good yields.     

Efficient synthesis of new N-alkyl-d-ribono-1,5-lactams from d-ribono-1,4-lactone

d-Ribono-1,4-lactone was treated with ethylamine in DMF to afford N-ethyl-d-ribonamide 9a in quantitative yield. Bromination of amide 9a by the system SOBr₂ in DMF or PPh₃/CBr₄ in pyridine led, after acetylation, to epoxide 7. However, treatment of amide 9a with acetyl bromide in dioxane followed by acetylation gave 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-5-bromo-5-deoxyl-N-ethyl-d-ribonamide 10a. Methanolysis of 10a, with sodium methoxide, afforded the N-ethyl-d-ribonolactam 11a in 51% overall yields. Using this method, N-butyl, N-hexyl, N-dodecyl, and N-benzyl-d-ribonolactams 11b-e were obtained in good yields (48-53%).     

Ortho-substituted aryl monoboronic acids have improved selectivity for d-glucose relative to d-fructose and l-lactate

Ortho-substituted aryl monoboronic acids have been found to have improved selectivity for d-glucose compared to d-fructose and l-lactate. These findings are supported by computational studies on the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level using Gaussian. This finding is of interest for development of boronate based d-glucose sensors.     

One-pot synthesis of N-Cbz-l-BMAA and derivatives from N-Cbz-l-serine

We report herein an asymmetric synthesis of the modified amino acid N-Cbz-l-BMAA and seven of its alkyl derivatives (2a-h) from N-Cbz-l-serine via ring-opening of the β-lactone (formed under modified Mitsunobu conditions) by different amines. This procedure is simple, one-pot and can generate various derivatives that can be investigated for their toxicological effects. In addition, it can be employed to produce analytical standards for water monitoring as well as labeled compounds for biotransformation studies. This toxin has been the focus of serious ecological and public concern since its implication in degenerative disease such as Alzheimer and Parkinsonism dementia.     

Highly efficient stereoselective synthesis of d-erythro-sphingosine and d-lyxo-phytosphingosine

Starting from a single suitable functionalised epoxide, a highly efficient stereoselective synthesis of d-erythro-sphingosine and d-lyxo-phytosphingosine is described. The approach allows the formal preparation of all stereoisomers of these sphingoid structures.     

A highly efficient synthesis of unnatural l-sugars from d-ribose

A preparative and short synthesis of l-ribose and l-apiose was accomplished starting from d-ribose via stereoselective cis-dihydroxylation and C2-hydroxymethylation, respectively. These l-sugars can serve as versatile intermediates for the synthesis of l-nucleosides.