An efficient synthesis of (S)-3-aminomethyl-5-methylhexanoic acid (Pregabalin) via quinine-mediated desymmetrization of cyclic anhydride

A highly enantioselective synthesis of (S)-3-aminomethyl-5-methylhexanoic acid 1 (Pregabalin) is reported. The key step of the synthesis is a quinine-mediated ring opening of 3-isobutylglutaric anhydride with cinnamyl alcohol. A Curtius rearrangement and subsequent deprotection provides 1 in high yield and excellent enantiomeric excess.     

Stereoselective 5-exo-trig radical cyclization in the enantioselective synthesis of Pregabalin

A practical stereoselective 5-exo-trig radical cyclization procedure was developed in order to prepare enantiomerically pure GABA derivative precursors (4-alkyl-pyrrolidin-2-ones). This procedure allows much more rapid access to optically pure GABA derivatives, such as the powerful antiepileptic agent (S)-(+)-3-aminomethyl-5-methylhexanoic acid (Pregabaline).     

A solid-phase total synthesis of the cyclic depsipeptide HDAC inhibitor spiruchostatin A

Spiruchostatin A, a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor, was efficiently synthesized from (3S,4R)-4-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylhexanoic acid utilizing solid-phase peptide elongation with d-cysteine, d-alanine, and (E)-3-hydroxy-7-thio-4-heptenoic acid and solution-phase macrolactonization, followed by intramolecular disulfide formation.     

A concise synthesis of (±)-pregabalin via intramolecular C-H insertion of N-cumyl á-diazoacetamide

Pregabalin 1 (3-aminomethyl-5-methyl hexanoic acid) is a potent anticonvulsant related to the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).1 In preclinical trials of anticonvulsant activity, pregabalin is three to ten times more potent than gabapentin. Therefore, pregabalin can be used for the potential treatment of several central nervous system (CNS) disorders including epilepsy, neuropathic pain, anxiety and social phobia. Many synthetic routes have been developed to prepare p…     

A ring-closing metathesis approach for the synthesis of (±)-pregabalin

Abstract  

Efficient utilization of a Mannich-type reaction and the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) approach that leads to a convenient synthesis of 3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid (pregabalin) is described.     

A convenient and new approach to the synthesis of ω-heterocyclic amino acids from carboxy lactams through ring-chain-transformation. Part 2: Synthesis of (2R)-/(2S)-2-aminomethyl-3-(1-aryl-/1,5-diaryl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-propionic acid

Making use of amide activation, a convenient and short path synthesis of optically pure ω-heterocyclic-β-amino acids has been achieved from (1R,3R)- and (1R,3S)-5-oxo-1-(1-phenyl-ethyl)-pyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester. The key step of the synthesis involves a regiospecific ring-chain-transformation of the enaminones when subjected to 1,2-binucleophilic attacks. The method is illustrated by the synthesis of (2R)-/(2S)-2-aminomethyl-3-(1-aryl-/1,5-diaryl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-propionic acid.     

δ-Lactone formation from δ-hydroxy-trans-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids accompanied by trans-cis isomerization: synthesis of (−)-tetra-O-acetylosmundalin

(±)-(4,5-anti)-4-Benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-(2E)-hexenoic acid 6 was subjected to δ-lactonization in the presence of 2,4,6-trichlorobenzoyl chloride and pyridine to give the α,β-unsaturated-δ-lactone congener (±)-7 (87% yield) accompanied by trans-cis isomerization. This δ-lactonization procedure was applied to the chiral synthesis of (+)-(4S,5R)-7 or (−)-(4R,5S)-7 from the chiral starting material (+)-(4S,5R)-6 or (−)-(4R,5S)-6. Deprotection of the benzyl group in (+)-(4S,5R)-7 or (−)-(4R,5S)-7 by the AlCl₃/m-xylene system gave the natural osmundalactone (+)-(4S,5R)-5 or (−)-(4R,5S)-5 in good yield, respectively. Condensation of (−)-(4R,5S)-5 and tetraacetyl-β-d-glucosyltrichloroimidate 22 in the presence of BF₃·Et₂O afforded the condensation product (−)-8 (97% yield), which was identical to tetra-O-acetylosmundalin (−)-8 derived from natural osmundalin 9.     

Synthesis of novel gem-difluorinatedcyclopropane hybrids: Applications for DNA cleavage agents switched by photo irradiation

A strong DNA cleavage property switched by photo irradiation was found for 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid substituted gem-difluorocyclopropane derivatives; in particular, a clear contrast in the activity was observed between the enantiomers of (S,S)- and (R,R)-3-aminomethyl-2,2-difluorocyclopropylmethyl 9-anthracenecarboxylate.     

Absolute configuration of Tröger bases: an X-ray diffraction and circular dichroism study

Bis-ortho-methyl-bis-meta-bromo Tröger base (TB) 2 and bis-ortho-methyl TB 3 were prepared in enantiopure form. The absolute configuration for (5S,11S)-(−)-2 was determined by X-ray diffraction. The sign of the longest wavelength band in the electronic CD spectrum is negative for both (5S,11S)-(−)-2 and (5S,11S)-(−)-3, as well as for the parent para-methyl TB (5S,11S)-(+)-1, which is in agreement with TD DFT B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) calculations.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (R)-(+)-1-methoxyspirobrassinin, (2R,3R)-(−)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether and their enantiomers or diastereoisomers

Stereoselective synthesis of cruciferous indole phytoalexin (R)-(+)-1-methoxyspirobrassinin and its unnatural (S)-(−)-enantiomer was achieved by spirocyclization of 1-methoxybrassinin in the presence of (+)- and (−)-menthol and subsequent oxidation of the obtained menthyl ethers. Methanolysis of menthyl ethers in the presence of TFA afforded (2R,3R)-(−)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether as well its unnatural (2S,3S)-, (2R,3S)-, and (2S,3R)-isomers.     

The substrate specificity of the heat-stable stereospecific amidase from Klebsiella oxytoca

The substrate specificity of the heat-stable stereospecific amidase from Klebsiella oxytoca was investigated. In addition to the original substrate, 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanamide, the amidase accepted 2-hydroxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)-butanamide and 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-amino-2-methylpropanamide as substrates. Compounds with larger side chains and compounds where the hydroxyl group was substituted with a methoxy group, or in which the CF₃ group was substituted by CCl₃, were not accepted. The biotransformation is a new synthetic route to (R)-(+)-3,3,3-trifluoro-2-amino-2-methylpropanoic acid, and its related (S)-(−)-amide, and to (R)-(+)-2-hydroxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)-butanoic acid and its related (S)-(−)-amide.     

Polyhydroxylated macrolide isolated from the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis mangiferae

A new polyhydroxylated macrolide, named mangiferaelactone (1) was isolated from a solid culture of the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis manguiferae, together with ten known compounds [(6S,1′S)-LL-P880α; (6S,1′S,2′R)-LL-P880β; (1′S,2′R)-LL-880γ; (1′R)-dehydropestalotin; (−)-5-carboxylmellein; (−)-5-methylmellein; (−)-5-hydroxylmethylmellein; arabenoic acid; 5,6-dihydro-4-methoxy-2H-pyran-2-one; and the (−)-2-hexylidene-3-methylsuccinic acid]. P. manguiferae was isolated from Hyptis dilatata, a small shrub common in the central region of Panama. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic methods (IR, MS, optical rotation, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy). The absolute configuration of 1 was established as 4R,7R,8R,9S by application of vibrational circular dichroism (VCD). Compound 1 showed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.6863 mg/mL against Listeria monocytogenes, and 0.5529 mg/mL against Bacillus cereus. No activity was observed for compound 1 against Plasmodium falciparum or Trypanosoma cruzi; likewise, no cytotoxic activity was observed against A2058 and H522-T1 cells.     

Diastereomeric 2-aminomethyl-1,4-benzodioxane mandelates: phase diagrams and resolution

The diastereomeric salts of (R)- and (S)-2-aminomethyl-1,4-benzodioxane with unichiral mandelic acid form a simple eutectic, whose binary phase melting point diagram shows the unique eutectic at 0.35 M ratio of the less soluble diastereomer. Such an eutectic composition, near to 0.5, is consistent with the modest efficiency previously reported for their separation via crystallization from ethanol/ethyl acetate. However, the ternary solubility phase diagram, obtained from solubility measurements in methanol, shifts the eutectic to a lower molar ratio (0.10) of the less soluble diastereomer, thus indicating an optimal resolvability of the diastereomeric mandelates. This was confirmed by the highly efficient resolution of racemic 2-aminomethyl-1,4-benzodioxane with (R)-mandelic acid via a single crystallization from methanol. The ready availability of both the racemic substrate and the resolving acid makes this simple and efficient resolution procedure very attractive to obtain the enantiomers of 2-aminomethyl-1,4-benzodioxane, which are important synthetic intermediates.     

Enantioselective synthesis of the carbocyclic moiety of (−)-carbovir

Enantioselective construction of the protected carbocycle moiety of the anti-HIV drug carbovir was achieved in 11 steps from (S)-(−)-ethyl lactate. The two key steps are a Claisen [3+3] sigmatropic rearrangement of (3S,4E)-3-(4-methoxy-phenoxymethyl)-hex-4-enoic acid dimethylamide and next, a ruthenium-catalysed ring closure metathesis leading to (1S,4S)-4-(4-methoxy-phenoxymethyl)-cyclopent-2-enol.     

Synthesis and stereochemistry of (−)-rosiridol and (−)-rosiridin

The plant-derived monoterpenoids (−)-rosiridol and (−)-rosiridin can be assembled in an enantioselective manner via DIP-Cl reduction of a ketone precursor obtained by BCl₃-mediated C-C coupling of prenyl stannane and an α,β-unsaturated C₅ aldehyde. On the basis of Mosher analyses, the absolute stereochemistry 4S was assigned to (−)-rosiridol; this was confirmed by X-ray structure analysis of pentaacetylrosiridin. Glucosylation of (4S)-4-acetoxygeraniol proceeds under Koenigs-Knorr conditions in diethyl ether. (−)-Rosiridin was synthesized for the first time.     

First asymmetric synthesis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, (+)-hyacinthacine B1 and (+)-B2

An enantiomerically and diastereomerically pure route has been developed for the first asymmetric synthesis of (1S,2R,3R,5R,7aR)- and (1S,2R,3R,5S,7aR)-1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-dihydroxymethylpyrrolizidine, hyacinthacine B₁ and B₂, featuring efficient and stereodefined elaboration via the asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) of the functionalized homochiral pyrrolidine derivative prepared from (S)-(−)-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid.     

Synthesis, resolution and assignment of absolute configuration of trans 3-amino-1-oxyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-4-carboxylic acid (POAC), a cyclic, spin-labelled β-amino acid

Racemic trans 3-(9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonylamino)-1-oxyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-4-carboxylic acid (Fmoc-POAC-OH), prepared by conventional methods, was resolved upon esterification with (aR)-2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl. Separation of the obtained diastereomeric monoesters Fmoc-(±)-trans-POAC-O-(aR)-binaphthol by crystallization/chromatography, and removal of the chiral auxiliary by saponification of the aryl ester function furnished both enantiomers (+)-(3R,4R)-Fmoc-POAC-OH and (−)-(3S,4S)-Fmoc-POAC-OH. The absolute configuration of the asymmetric C³, C⁴ carbons of POAC were assigned from the induced circular dichroism of a flexible biphenyl probe present in the terminally protected dipeptide derivatives Boc-Bip-(+)-POAC-OMe and Boc-Bip-(−)-POAC-OMe (Bip, 2′,1′:1,2;1″,2″:3,4-dibenzcyclohepta-1,3-diene-6-amino-6-carboxylic acid). This assignment was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis of the diastereomeric monoester Fmoc-(+)-trans-POAC-O-(aR)-binaphthol, shown to be (aR,3R,4R). Solution synthesis of peptides to the hexamer level, based on the (3R,4R)-POAC enantiomer combined with (1S,2S)-2-aminocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid, was carried out to examine coupling conditions at both C- and N-termini of the POAC residue, in view of further syntheses and 3D-structural investigations.     

Biotransformation of (+)-(1R,2S)-fenchol by the larvae of common cutworm (Spodoptera litura)

Biotransformation of (+)-(1R,2S)-fenchol by the larvae of Spodoptera litura was carried out. Substrate was converted to three new terpenoids, (+)-(1R,2S)-10-hydroxyfenchol, (+)-(1R,2R,3S)-8-hydroxyfenchol and (−)-(1S,2S,6S)-6-exo-hydroxyfenchol, and one known terpenoid, (−)-(1R,2R,3R)-9-hydroxyfenchol. These structures were established by NMR, IR, specific rotation and mass spectral studies.     

Total synthesis of the proposed structures of hyacinthacines C2, C3, and their C5-epimers

Synthesis and structural confirmation of highly oxygenated pyrrolizidine alkaloids, hyacinthacines C₂ [(1S,2R,3R,5R,7S,7aR)-3,5-hydroxymethyl-1,2,7-trihydroxypyrrolizidine], C₃[(1S,2R,3R,5S,7R,7aR)-3,5-hydroxymethyl-1,2,7-trihydroxypyrrolizidine], and their C5-epimers were achieved on the basis of the highly divergent method employing (S)-(−)-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid as the starting material.     

Asymmetric syntheses of (−)-isoretronecanol and (−)-trachelantamidine

Short and concise total asymmetric syntheses of (−)-isoretronecanol and (−)-trachelantamidine are reported. Oxidative cleavage of tert-butyl (S,S,S,Z)-7-[N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amino]cyclohept-3-ene-1-carboxylate, followed by hydrogenolysis promoted in situ cyclisation/reduction, which provided rapid access to the bicyclic core within (−)-isoretronecanol. Analogous treatment of the C(1)-epimer gave (−)-trachelantamidine. Overall, the syntheses of (−)-isoretronecanol and (−)-trachelantamidine were completed in eight and seven steps and 20 and 9.5% yield, respectively, from commercially available starting materials.