Straightforward, racemization-free synthesis of peptides with fairly to very bulky di- and trisubstituted glycines

Several fully protected tri- and pentapeptides containing a central symmetrical α,α-dialkyl glycine residue, with the alkyl group varying from methyl or ethyl to benzyl, were synthesized in good yields by a strategy based on the Ugi-Passerini reaction. Each Ugi-Passerini adduct was selectively cleaved and the product submitted to an assisted N,N′-dicyclohehylcarbodiimide coupling to an amino acid or dipeptide ester, respectively. Tripeptides as the above but containing a 4-methoxybenzyl group at the nitrogen atom of the central residue were also synthesized in fair to good yields by N-[(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-(dimethylamino)methylene]-N-methylmethanaminium hexafluorophosphate N-oxide assisted couplings. The results reported here show that our strategy is appropriate for routine synthesis of peptides incorporating these moieties.     

Synthesis,characterization and study of antibacterial activity of enaminone complexes of zinc and iron

Complexes of enaminones; 4-N,N-diethylamine-pent-3-ene-2-one [HL¹], 4-N,N-di n-propylamine-pent-3-ene-2-one [HL²] and 4-N,N-dicyclohexylamine-pent-3-ene-2-one [HL³] with Fe(II) and Zn(II) ions were prepared by reacting the equimolar ethanolic solutions of the ligands (HL¹, HL² and HL³) with ethanolic metal solutions. The complexes formed, were characterized by infrared, ultraviolet and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Ligands and their metal complexes were tested against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria to assess their antibacterial action using disc diffusion method. Ligands were completely inactive against bacteria whereas the complex Zn (HL¹) has significant action on both bacteria, indicating that it has a good potential as bactericide. Other complexes have normal antiseptic character.     

Synthesis and studies of calcium channel blocking and antioxidant activities of novel 4-pyridinium and/or N-propargyl substituted 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives

The novel 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives containing the cationic pyridine moiety at the position 4, and the N-propargyl group as a substituent at position 1 of the 1,4-DHP cycle were designed, synthesised, and assessed in biological tests. Among all the novel compounds, the 4-(N-dodecyl) pyridinium group-containing compounds 11 (without the N-propargyl group) and 12 (with the N-propargyl group) demonstrated the highest calcium antagonistic properties against neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y (IC₅₀ about 5–14 μM) and the vascular smooth muscle A7r5 cell (IC₅₀ – 0.6–0.7 μM) lines, indicating that they predominantly target the L-type calcium channels. These compounds showed a slight total antioxidant activity. At concentrations close to those of L-type calcium channel blocking ones, compound 12 did not affect mitochondrial functioning; also, no toxicity was obtained in vivo. The N-propargyl group as a substituent at position 1 of the 1,4-DHP cycle did not essentially influence the compounds’ activity. The 4-(N-dodecyl) pyridinium moiety-containing compounds can be considered as prototype molecules for further chemical modifications and studies as cardioprotective/neuroprotective agents.     

An efficient synthesis of optically pure α-alkyl-β-azido- and α-alkyl-β-aminoalanines via ring opening of 3-amino-3-alkyl-2-oxetanones

N-Boc-α-alkylserine β-lactones on ring opening with sodium azide provide N-Boc-α-alkyl-β-azidoalanines, as N-protected amino acids are suitable for direct incorporation into peptides. N-Boc-α-alkyl-β-azidoalanines can be transformed by catalytic hydrogenation into the corresponding N-Boc-α-alkyl-β-aminoalanines.     

1-(N-Acylamino)-1-triphenylphosphoniumalkylphosphonates: General synthesis and prospects for further synthetic applications

A general approach for the synthesis of 1-(N-acylamino)-1-triphenylphosphoniumalkylphosphonates from readily accessible alkyl imidate hydrochlorides has been developed. The three-step synthesis involves acylation of the imidate hydrochloride with an acyl chloride, the Michaelis–Becker-like addition of diethyl phosphite to the N–acylimidate and subsequent nucleophilic substitution of the ethoxy group of the 1–ethoxyphosphonate derivative with triphenylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate. 1–(N–Acylamino)-1-triphenylphosphoniumalkylphosphonates were demonstrated to be promising intermediates for further synthetic transformations toward α-functionalized derivatives of α–aminophosphonic acids and α,β-dehydro-α-aminophosphonates.     

A convenient transformation of α-alkylserines into α-halogenomethyl-α-alkylglycines

An efficient and facile synthesis of N-Boc-α-chloromethyl- and α-bromomethyl-α-alkylglycines is reported that involves cyclization of N-Boc-α-alkylserines to the corresponding β-lactones under Mitsunobu reaction conditions, followed by ring opening with anhydrous MgCl₂ or MgBr₂.     

Oxidative ring opening of 3-hydroxyquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones into N-(α-ketoacyl)anthranilic acids

N-(α-Ketoacyl)anthranilic acids were prepared by oxidative ring opening of 3-hydroxyquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones by using paraperiodic acid (H₅IO₆) or sodium periodate (NaIO₄). The optimisation of the reaction conditions is described as well as the utilisation of N-(α-ketoacyl)anthranilic acids in the preparation of anthranilic acid hydrochlorides.     

Recent advances in oxidative C–C coupling reaction of amides with carbon nucleophiles

The C–C coupling reaction of N-electron withdrawing group (EWG) protected amides with coupling partners is one of the most important methods for C–C bond formation at the α-position of amides to directly give α-substituted amides. Of the four reactions, namely, the reaction via the generation of carbanion with an electrophile, that via the generation of carbon radical with a radical donor, that via the generation of iminium ion species with a nucleophile (oxidative coupling reaction), and that using a transition metal carbenoid, the oxidative coupling reaction presents a challenge although the reaction products are very useful for the transformation of a wide range of nitrogen-containing derivatives. In this review, recent developments in the oxidative coupling reaction of N-EWG protected amides with nucleophiles are summarized with focus on the reaction using a transition metal, the transition-metal-free reaction, the enantioselective reaction using a chiral catalysts, and the organocatalyzed oxidative coupling reaction.     

Features and applications of reactions of α,β-unsaturated N-acylbenzotriazoles with amino compounds

Promoted by triethylamine, α,β-unsaturated N-acylbenzotriazoles reacted with amino compounds in a variety of ways. Thus, N-cinnamoylbenzotriazoles reacting with aromatic amines afforded novel addition products β-benzotriazolyl amides 3, which might be normally formed from the alternative but unknown 1,4-addition of benzotriazole to N-cinnamoylamides. The type 3 compounds could also result from the reaction between N-crotonoylbenzotriazole and aliphatic amines. However, normal 1,4-addition could occur between α,β-unsaturated aliphatic N-acylbenzotriazoles and aromatic amines, leading to β-amino N-acylbenzotriazoles 4 in good yields. In addition, exclusive 1,2-addition of aliphatic amines to N-cinnamoylbenzotriazoles gave excellent yields of cinnamides 5. Accordingly, three possible routes were proposed to rationalize the formation of compounds 3-5. Finally, with o-phenylenediamine and o-aminothiophenol as the substrates, the 1,4- and 1,2-addition to α,β-unsaturated N-acylbenzotriazoles could take place concurrently and the corresponding heterocycles 1,5-benzodiazepine-2-one and 1,5-benzothiazepine-4-one were constructed, respectively.     

Synthetic application of in situ generation of N-acyliminium ions from α-amido p-tolylsulfones for the synthesis of α-amino nitriles

In the presence of catalytic amount of bismuth bromide (5 mol %) the α-amido p-tolylsulfones are converted into N-acyliminium ions, which undergo the nucleophilic addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) to provide the N-protected α-amino nitriles in very good yield. A variety of α-amido p-tolylsulfones were prepared from aromatic as well as aliphatic aldehydes for the synthesis of α-amino nitriles.     

Synthesis of γ-N-acylamino-β-keto esters and ethyl 5-oxazoleacetates via Ritter reaction and hydration of γ-hydroxy-α,β-alkynoic esters

The classical Ritter reaction on γ-hydroxy-α,β-alkynoic esters produced γ-N-acylamino-β-keto esters or ethyl 5-oxazoleacetates using alkyl or aryl nitriles, respectively. The γ-N-acylamino-β-keto esters resulting from alkyl nitriles are useful intermediates in the synthesis of a variety of building blocks. We also show that these can be converted into ethyl 5-oxazoleacetates using an additional step involving POCl₃.     

Turn-on circularly polarized luminescent (CPL) molecular system realized by thermo-driven Newman–Kwart rearrangement reaction from CPL-silent O- to CPL-active S-thiocarbamate groups at peripheral position of 1,1′-binapthyl rings

Although chiral 1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diyl-O,O-bis(N,N-dimethylthiocarbamate) (1) revealed no circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) signals, Newman–Kwart rearrangement of O-thiocarbamate groups at 1 yielded clear CPL signals from 1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diyl-S,S-bis(N,N-dimethylthiocarbamate) (2), which acts as a CPL-gen molecule.     

Access to substituted trifluoromethyl ketones using the versatile synthetic intermediate (E)-1,1-dimethyl-2-(1,1,1-trifluoropropan-2-ylidene)hydrazine

The N,N-dimethylhydrazone of 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone, (E)-1,1-dimethyl-2-(1,1,1-trifluoropropan-2-ylidene)hydrazine, has been shown to undergo a diverse set of reactions following deprotonation with n-butyl-lithium; including alkylation, addition to ketones and aldehydes, as well as palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings with aryl bromides. Mild hydrolysis of the N,N-dimethylhydrazone products from these transformations affords the corresponding trifluoromethyl ketones in good to excellent yields.     

Lewis acid-catalyzed [3+3] cycloadditions of donor‒acceptor aziridines with N,N-dialkyl-3-vinylanilines via carbon-carbon bond cleavage

A Lewis acid-catalyzed [3 + 3] cycloaddition reaction of donor?acceptor aziridines with N,N-dialkyl-3-vinylanilines has been developed for the stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQs). The reaction performed using Gd(OTf)₃ as the Lewis acid catalyst was tolerant to various N-tosylaziridine and N,N-dialkyl-3-vinylaniline substrates and provided access to highly functionalized THIQs in typically high yields with moderate-to-excellent diastereoselectivities.     

Three component tandem reactions involving protected 2-amino indoles, disubstituted propargyl alcohols, and I2/ICl: iodo-reactant controlled synthesis of dihydro-α-carbolines and α-carbolines via iodo-cyclization/iodo-cycloelimination

Two simple, highly efficient three component tandem reactions for the synthesis of diversified N^aN^b di-carbamate-4,9-dihydro-3-iodo-α-carbolines and N^a-carbamate-3-iodo-α-carbolines have been described. The strategy involves one-pot condensation of bis-carbamate protected 2-amino indoles with disubstituted propargyl alcohols and I₂/ICl. The salient feature of the reaction involves iodocyclo-elimination of N^b-linked carbamate under mild condition in the final step.     

Polynuclear isocyanide complexes of rhenium

The arylation of carbonylgold chloride with diarylzinc compounds yields either triarylgoldzinc or diarylgoldzinc chlorides, depending on the reactant ratio and the nature of the aryl group. The same reactions with diphenylcadmium and diphenylmercury yield exclusively diphenylgoldcadmium chloride and diphenylgoldmercury chloride, respectively. The reactions of the products with N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine and triphenylphosphine were studied.Phenylgold has been obtained as a very unstable solid from diphenylgoldzinc chloride and diphenylgoldmercury chloride.     

Synthesis and kinetic investigation of the selective acidolysis of para-substituted N-benzyl- or N-phenyl-N-phenylacetyl-α,α-dialkylglycine cyclohexylamides

Several derivatives of N-phenylacetyl-N-benzyl-α,α-dimethylglycine cyclohexylamide and their α,α-dibenzylglycine analogues were synthesised by a Ugi-Passerini reaction. In addition, a few analogues of the former but having an N-phenyl instead of a benzyl group at the nitrogen atom were synthesised. The compounds in each of these three sets differed from each other at position 4 of the N-benzyl (and N-phenyl) group. These adducts were submitted to acidolysis with TFA to obtain the corresponding free acids, the reactions being monitored by HPLC and data collected for kinetic purposes. The kinetic data were submitted to Hammett uni- and biparametric relationships and the results were analysed in terms of structure-reactivity in connection with the sensitivity of the reaction rates to the electronic contributions of the various substituents at position 4 of the aromatic rings. The results allowed comparison with information obtained in previous investigations and rationalise the contribution of the substituent at the nitrogen atom to the lability of the C-terminal amide bond.     

New access to azido-substituted alkylnitramines

A new versatile access to azido-substituted N-alkylnitramines is based on ring opening in N-nitrooxazolidines and N-nitroperhydro-1,3-oxazines with thionyl chloride followed by treatment with sodium azide. Representative N,N-bis(azidoalkyl)- and N-azidoalkyl-N-methoxymethyl- containing nitramines were synthesized and characterized.     

Nucleophilic reactivities of Schiff base derivatives of amino acids

Treatment of α-imino esters derived from glycine esters and benzophenone or benzaldehydes with potassium tert butoxide in DMSO gave persistent solutions of carbanions at 20?°C. The kinetics of their reactions with quinone methides and benzylidene malonates (reference electrophiles) have been followed photometrically under pseudo-first order conditions. The reactions followed second-order rate laws. Since addition of 18-crown-6 ether did not affect the reaction rates, the measured rate constants correspond to the reactions of the non-paired carbanions. Plots of the second-order rate constants against the electrophilicity parameters E of the electrophiles are linear, which allowed us to derive the nucleophile-specific parameters N and s_N, according to the linear Gibbs energy relationship lg k₂(20?°C)?=?s_N(N + E). The Ph₂C?=?N- and PhCH?=?N- groups act as very weak electron acceptors with the consequence that Ph₂C?=?N-CH^–-CO₂R and PhCH?=?N-CH^–-CO₂R have a similar nucleophilicity as Ph-CH^–-CO₂Et, the anion of ethyl phenylacetate.     

Diastereoselective addition of diethyl difluoromethylphosphonate to enantiopure sulfinimines: synthesis of α,α-difluoro-β-aminophosphonates, phosphonic acids, and phosphonamidic acids

Addition of diethyl lithiodifluoromethylphosphonate to enantiomerically pure aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic aldehyde-derived sulfinimines afforded N-sulfinyl α,α-difluoro-β-aminophosphonates with generally good enantioselectivity and in high yield. The reaction with acetophenone-derived sulfinimine resulted in the formation of the addition product with high diastereoselectivity and in only moderate yield. A two-step deprotection involving treatment of diastereomerically pure N-sulfinyl α,α-difluoro-β-aminophosphonates with trifluoroacetic acid in EtOH followed by refluxing with 10 N HCl provided enantiopure α,α-difluoro-β-aminophosphonates and α,α-difluoro-β-aminophosphonic acids. The N-Cbz derivative of (R)-2-amino-1,1-difluoro-2-phenylethylphosphonate was a convenient starting point for the preparation of corresponding difluorophosphonate monoester, difluorophosphonic acid, and difluorophosphonamidic acid. At 21 °C difluorophosphonamidic acid was stable in aqueous solution at pH above 5.