l-Proline catalyzed synthesis of densely functionalized pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines via three-component one-pot domino Knoevenagel aza-Diels-Alder reaction

Highly functionalized hitherto unreported pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines have been concisely synthesized in good yields via l-proline catalyzed one-pot three-component domino coupling of 6-amino-1,3-dimethyluracil, aldehydes, and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates under mild conditions for the first time. The MCR process involves Knoevenagel condensation followed by [4+2] cycloaddition reaction. No co-catalyst or activator is required for this MCR. The molecular structures of two representative pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines 4a and 4h were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

New synthesis of flavanones catalyzed by l-proline

l-Proline is utilized as an efficient organocatalyst for the synthesis of substituted flavanones and chalcones in good yields. The efficiency of the catalyst was proved with a variety of substrates ranging from electron-deficient to electron-rich aryl aldehydes and 2-hydroxyacetophenones.     

A d,l-proline catalyzed diastereoselective trimolecular condensation: an approach to the one-pot synthesis of perhydrofuro[3,2-b]pyran-5-ones

d,l-Proline was found to catalyze efficiently the one-pot trimolecular condensation of indoles, a sugar hydroxyaldehyde, and Meldrum’s acid followed by intramolecular cyclization with evolution of carbon dioxide and elimination of acetone to afford 7-(1H-3-indolyl)-2,3-dimethoxyperhydrofuro[3,2-b]pyran-5-ones. The reaction proceeded cleanly at ambient temperature to afford the products in good yields with high diastereoselectivity.     

Microbial screening in hydroxylation of l-proline

Microbial screening of 250 wild type strains resulted in identification of five strains with the activity of prolyl hydroxylase. All five strains hydroxylated regioselectively and enantioselectively l-proline into 4(R)-trans-hydroxy-l-proline 1. The best conversions were obtained with a wild type of Aeromonas caviae. 3-Hydroxylase activity was not detected.     

Asymmetric aldol reactions in poly(ethylene glycol) catalyzed by l-proline

A rapid l-proline catalyzed direct aldol reaction between various aldehydes and acetone was achieved using PEG as the solvent with comparable enantioselectivities and yields to those obtained in other solvents. Recycling the catalyst and solvent (PEG) was possible 10 times without loss of activity.     

Domino synthesis of fused hexacyclic imidazoquinolinoacridinones catalyzed by CuI/l-proline

A three-component reaction of 2-halogenated aromatic aldehydes, 1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-amine and cyclohexane-1,3-diones is described, and gives imidazoquinolinoacridinone derivatives in good yields catalyzed by CuI/l-proline. This Domino reaction constructs a fused hexacyclic skeleton in one-pot containing two new rings, six new bonds and an Ullmann-type C–N bond coupling reaction.     

A convenient synthesis of l-ribose from d-fructose

An efficient method for the stereoselective synthesis of l-ribose was accomplished starting from commercially inexpensive d-fructose. The intermediates in the process can serve as versatile precursors for the preparation of l-nucleoside analogues.     

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.     

New building blocks for peptide and depsipeptide synthesis: hexafluoroacetone protected l-homoisoserine and d,l-homoisocysteine derivatives

Efficient syntheses of l-homoisoserine and d,l-homoisocysteine derivatives starting from l-malic and d,l-thiomalic acid using hexafluoroacetone as protecting and activating agent are described. The new compounds are interesting building blocks for the preparation of non-natural peptides and depsipeptides as well as for the construction of new GABA derivatives.     

Facile synthesis of both enantiomers of (pyrrolidin-2-yl)phosphonate from l-proline

Diastereoselective introduction of phosphono groups into l-proline derivatives at the 5-position was achieved with suitable selection of N-protecting group. N-Benzoyl-l-prolinate preferentially gave trans-phosphorylated products, which could be easily transformed into (S)-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)phosphonates. On the other hand, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-prolinate reacted with phosphite to give cis-substituted products, which could be easily transformed into (R)-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)phosphonates.     

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.     

CuI/l-proline-catalyzed selective one-step mono-acylation of styrenes and stilbenes

Vicinal di-oxygenation of styrene-type olefins was achieved with cheaper, less toxic CuI in the presence of l-proline as ligand and NaIO₄ as the oxidant. This approach provides a straightforward and efficient access to mono-acylated diols from both styrene and stilbene derivatives with good to excellent yields and diastereoselectivity.     

Synthesis of l,l-puromycin

l,l-Puromycin, a diastereomer of the natural peptidyl nucleoside antibiotic puromycin, has been synthesized from l-xylose in 13 steps.     

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.     

New low-molecular weight gelators based on l-valine and l-isoleucine with various terminal groups

New low-molecular weight gelators based on l-valine and l-isoleucine, which have various terminal groups such as ester, carboxyl, and carboxylate, function as a good organogelator that form an organogel in many organic solvents. In addition, the sodium salt compounds form not only organogels but also a hydrogel in the presence of a cationic surfactant.     

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.     

One-pot inversion of d-mannono-1,4-lactone for the practical synthesis of l-ribose

l-Ribose was synthesized in a concise manner from d-mannono-1,4-lactone using one-pot inversion conditions. Treatment of d-mannono-1,4-lactone with piperidine, followed by mesylation-induced S_N2-type O-alkylation, afforded the desired one-pot inversion in an optimum yield, and the following straightforward transformations provided l-ribose in good yields.     

A general approach to l-tyrosine porphyrins

A novel and general approach has been developed to prepare l-tyrosine-containing porphyrins. The key intermediates, 2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-3-(3-formyl-4-hexyloxy-phenyl)-propionic acid hexyl ester and 2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-3-(3-formyl-4-methoxy-phenyl)-propionic acid methyl ester, were prepared by the Reimer-Tiemann reaction of Boc-protected l-tyrosine, which was followed by esterification and alkylation of the phenol hydroxide. A number of novel chiral l-tyrosine porphyrins were obtained from the reactions of 2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-3-(3-formyl-4-alkoxy-phenyl)-propionic acid ester with different dipyrrolylmethanes and the reaction of 5-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)pyrromethane afforded the highest yield. The tyrosine porphyrins could be readily deprotected to afford the corresponding diacid or diamine derivatives.     

New pyrano[3,4-b]indoles from 2-hydroxymethylindole and l-dehydroascorbic acid

2-Hydroxymethylindole reacts with l-dehydroascorbic acid under mild conditions to give (3R,3aR,10cS)-3-[(1S)-1,2-dihydroxyethyl]-3a,10c-dihydroxy-3a,5,6,10c-tetrahydrofuro[3′,4′:5,6]pyrano[3,4-b]indol-1(3H)-one. Its tosyl derivative undergoes cyclization to form a pentacyclic ketal derivative.     

Novel one pot synthesis of polysubstituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]- and imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines

We have described a convenient regioselective one-pot approach to pyrazolo[1,5-a]- and imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine derivatives from α,β-unsaturated imines generated in situ and amino heterocycles. Reaction is general with respect to all three components, namely (i) nitrile, (ii) aldehyde, and (iii) amino heterocycle reagents. Good yields (52-77%), convenient isolation of the targeted molecules are the distinct characteristics of the developed protocol.