Highly stereoselective reagents for beta-keto ester reductions by genetic engineering of baker's yeast.

While whole cells of baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) are a convenient biocatalytic reducing agent for a wide variety of carbonyl compounds, mixtures of stereoisomeric alcohols are often observed since the organism contains a large number of reductase enzymes with overlapping substrate specificities but differing stereoselectivities. We sought to improve the performance of baker's yeast for beta-keto ester reductions by using recombinant DNA techniques to alter the levels of three enzymes known to play important roles in these reactions (fatty acid synthase, Fasp; aldo-keto reductase, Ypr1p; alpha-acetoxy ketone reductase, Gre2p). A complete set of "first-generation" yeast strains that either lack or overexpress each of these three enzymes was created and tested for improvements in stereoselective reductions of a series of beta-keto esters. On the basis of these results, multiply modified ("second-generation") strains were created that combined gene knockout and overexpression in single strains. In some cases, these additional modifications further improved the stereoselectivities of beta-keto ester reductions, thereby making several beta-hydroxy ester building blocks readily available by reactions that can be performed by nonspecialists. This work also revealed that additional yeast proteins participate in reducing beta-keto esters, and further progress using this strategy will require either additional genetic manipulations or the expression of yeast reductases in hosts that lack enzymes with overlapping substrate specificity.     

Improving the stereoselectivity of bakers' yeast reductions by genetic engineering

[formula: see text] The stereoselectivities of bakers' yeast catalyzed reductions of beta-keto esters can be manipulated by genetic design. Strains in which two major beta-keto ester reductases are either knocked out or overexpressed have been constructed. The former approach results in whole cell biocatalysts with reversed stereoselectivity from unmodified bakers' yeast while the latter shows useful improvements in stereoselectivity. These results indicate that the "designer yeast" approach can provide useful biocatalysts for these transformations.     

Direct catalytic asymmetric mannich reactions of malonates and beta-keto esters

The first catalytic asymmetric direct Mannich reaction of malonates and beta-keto esters has been developed. Malonates react with an activated N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester catalyzed by chiral tert-butyl-bisoxazoline/Cu(OTf)(2) to give the Mannich adducts in high yields and with up to 96% ee. These reactions create a chiral quaternary carbon center and it is demonstrated that this new direct Mannich reactions provides for example a new synthetic procedure for the formation of optically active beta-carboxylic ester alpha-amino acid derivatives. A series of different beta-keto esters with various ester substituents has been screened as substrates for the catalytic asymmetric direct Mannich reaction and it was found that the best results in terms of yield, diastereo- and enantioselectivity were obtained when tert-butyl esters of beta-keto esters were used as the substrate. The reaction of different beta-keto tert-butyl esters with the N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester gave the Mannich adducts in high yields, diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee) in the presence of chiral tert-butyl-bisoxazoline/Cu(OTf)(2) as the catalyst. To expand the synthetic utility of this direct Mannich reaction a diastereoselective decarboxylation reaction was developed for the Mannich adducts leading to a new synthetic approach to attractive optically active beta-keto alpha-amino acid derivatives. Based on the stereochemical outcome of the reactions, various approaches of the N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester to the chiral bisoxazoline/Cu(II)-substrate intermediate are discussed.     

Enantiodivergent, biocatalytic routes to both taxol side chain antipodes

[Reaction: see text]. Two enantiocomplementary bakers' yeast enzymes reduced an alpha-chloro-beta-keto ester to yield precursors for both enantiomers of the N-benzoyl phenylisoserine Taxol side chain. After base-mediated ring closure of the chlorohydrin enantiomers, the epoxides were converted directly to the oxazoline form of the target molecules using a Ritter reaction with benzonitrile. These were hydrolyzed to the ethyl ester form of the Taxol side chain enantiomers under acidic conditions. This brief and atom-efficient route to both target enantiomers demonstrates both the synthetic utility of individual yeast reductases and the power of genomic strategies in making these catalysts available.     

Catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction of beta-keto esters: effects of the linker heteroatom in linked-BINOL

We describe the development of a general catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction of acyclic beta-keto esters to cyclic enones, in which asymmetric induction occurs at the beta-position of the acceptors. Among the various asymmetric catalyst systems examined, the newly developed La-NR-linked-BINOL complexes (R = H or Me) afforded the best results in terms of reactivity and selectivity. In general, the NMe ligand 2 was suitable for the combination of small enones and small beta-keto esters, and the NH ligand 1 was suitable for bulkier substrates (steric tuning of the catalyst). Using the La-NMe-linked-BINOL complex, the Michael reaction of methyl acetoacetate (8a) to 2-cyclohexen-1-one (7b) gave the corresponding Michael adduct 9ba in 82% yield and 92% ee. The linker heteroatom in linked-BINOL is crucial for achieving high reactivity and selectivity in the Michael reaction of beta-keto esters. The amine moiety in the NR-linked-BINOL can also tune the Lewis acidity of the central metal (electronic tuning of the catalyst), which was supported by density functional studies and experimental results. Another advantage of the NR-linked-BINOL ligand as compared with O-linked-BINOL is the ease of modifying a substituent on the amine moiety, making it possible to synthesize a variety of NR-linked-BINOL ligands for further improvement or development of new asymmetric catalyses by introducing additional functionality on the linker with the amine moiety. The efficiency of the present asymmetric catalysis was demonstrated by the synthesis of the key intermediate of (-)-tubifolidine and (-)-19,20-dihydroakuammicine in only five steps compared to the nine steps required by the original process from the Michael product of malonate. This strategy is much more atom economical. On the basis of the results of mechanistic studies, we propose that a beta-keto ester serves as a ligand as well as a substrate and at least one beta-keto ester should be included in the active catalyst complex. Further improvement of the reaction by maintaining an appropriate ratio of the La-NMe-linked-BINOL complex and beta-keto esters is also described.     

Stereoselective tetrapyrido[2,1-a]isoindolone synthesis via carbanionic and radical intermediates: a model study for the Tacaman alkaloid D/E ring fusion

Cyclization under both radical and carbanionic conditions of N-substituted 3-phenylsulfanylisoindolin-1-one 14 containing a chiral N-tether incorporating an enoate ester as the acceptor leads to tetrahydropyrido[2,1-a]isoindolones stereoselectively. The major product 17 from carbanionic cyclization was stereoselectively desulfurized with nickel boride allowing correlation of cyclization products from both methodologies. The cyclization stereoselectivities have been rationalised using a transition-state model in which the acceptor grouping adopts a pseudoaxial configuration. This contrasts with other 6-exo-trig processes in which a pseudoequatorial configuration is normally adopted, and has been attributed to the steric influence imposed by the bulky tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxy chiral auxiliary allylic to the enoate ester. The product stereochemistries provide models for the required cis-stereochemistry of the D/E ring fusion of the Tacaman alkaloid skeleton via the relatively unexplored C-3-C-14 bond disconnection.     

Coordination of iron(III) cations to beta-keto esters as studied by electrospray mass spectrometry: implications for iron-catalyzed Michael addition reactions

Solutions of Fe(III) salts and beta-keto esters have been investigated by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The complexes formed in such solutions have been considered previously as active intermediates in Fe(III)-catalyzed Michael additions. By using different Fe(III) salts with a set of beta-keto esters, cation and anion mass spectra were analyzed and the effects of ester concentration, the role of the counterion, and the structure of the ester employed are discussed. Depending on the basicity of the ester, an increase of its concentration may lead to a decrease in the concentration of iron complexes observed in the mass spectra. Counterions with strong binding affinities to iron are found to capture the metal as ferrates, thereby removing the metal from the catalytic cycle.     

Stereoselective, biocatalytic reductions of alpha-chloro-beta-keto esters

Eighteen known and putative reductases from baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were tested for the ability to reduce a series of alpha-chloro-beta-keto esters. In nearly all cases, it was possible to produce at least two of the four possible alpha-chloro-beta-hydroxy ester diastereomers with high optical purities. The utility of this approach was demonstrated by reducing ethyl 2-chloroacetoacetate to the corresponding syn-(2R,3S)-alcohol on a multigram scale using whole cells of an Escherichia coli strain overexpressing a single yeast reductase identified from the screening studies.     

In- or In(I)-employed tailoring of the stereogenic centers in the Reformatsky-type reactions of simple ketones, alpha-alkoxy ketones, and beta-keto esters

[reactions: see text] Comprehensive studies were carried out on efficient In- or In(I)-based diastereoselective Reformatsky-type reactions of simple ketones, alpha-alkoxy ketones, and beta-keto esters. High anti selectivity was established in the addition of the branched alpha-halo ester derivatives to simple ketones using indium metal under THF-refluxing conditions. The stereochemistry undoubtedly indicated that the involvement of a cyclic transition state, formed from the ketone and stereochemically preferred transient E-enolate derived from the branched alpha-halo ester. Next, with the view of tailoring high degree of stereoselection, the concept of chelation-controlled addition of indium enolates was envisioned. In this line, marvelously syn selective additions to alpha-alkoxy ketones and beta-keto esters were established. Interestingly, these diastereoselective additions to alpha-alkoxy ketones and beta-keto esters require either In(I)X or In-InCl3 systems in toluene under ultrasonication, while very poor efficiency and diastereoselectivity were obtained using indium metal or THF as solvent. The stereochemistry of key products was unambiguously determined by the single-crystal X-ray structure analyses. On the basis of the observed astonishing diastereoselectivities due to strong chelation plausibly, a low-valent RIn(I)-type transient spices could be projected as very reactive spices in the Reformatsky-type reactions.     

Mechanistic investigation of substrate oxidation by Ce(IV) reagents in acetonitrile

Rates and activation parameters for the Ce(4+)-mediated oxidation of a beta-keto ester, a beta-diketone, and a beta-keto silyl enol ether were determined in acetonitrile. In the case of the dicarbonyls, the enol content of the substrate impacts the rate of oxidation by Ce(4+), predominantly through contributions from DeltaH(). For the silyl enol ether, the transition state for oxidation by Ce(4+) is substantially more ordered than it is for the beta-keto ester or the beta-diketone.     

Catalytic asymmetric addition of beta-keto phosphonates to an activated imine--formation of optically active functionalized phosphonate alpha-amino acid derivatives

The direct stereoselective addition of an activated imine to beta-keto phosphonates in the presence of chiral Lewis acid complexes is developed. The evaluation of different activated imines shows that an N-tosyl-alpha-imino ester adds in a diastereo- and enantioselective fashion to beta-keto phosphonates activated by especially chiral copper(II)-bisoxazoline complexes. An evaluation of Lewis acids, chiral ligands and reaction conditions, such as solvent, bases and other additives, shows that high yields, moderate diastereoselectivity and good enantioselectivity are obtained. The scope of the reaction is demonstrated for the reaction of beta-keto phosphonates and finally, the mechanism for the catalytic stereoselective step is presented.     

A novel route to 5-substituted 3-isoxazolols. Cyclization of N, O-DiBoc beta-keto hydroxamic acids synthesized via acyl Meldrum's acids

3-Isoxazolols are most often synthesized from a beta-keto ester and hydroxylamine. This cyclization typically gives rise to a major byproduct, the corresponding 5-isoxazolone. We have found that N, O-diBoc-protected beta-keto hydroxamic acids can be synthesized and cyclized to 5-substituted 3-isoxazolols without formation of any byproduct. We present a novel and versatile three-step procedure in which carboxylic acid derivatives are converted into acyl Meldrum's acids which, upon aminolysis with N, O-bis(tert-butoxycarbonyl)hydroxylamine, lead to the N, O-diBoc-protected beta-keto hydroxamic acids. These hydroxamic acid analogues were then, upon treatment with hydrochloric acid, cyclized to the corresponding 5-substituted 3-isoxazolols.     

Total synthesis of epothilones B and D: stannane equivalents for beta-keto ester dianions

Studies leading to a total synthesis of epothilones B and D are described. The overall synthetic plan was based on late-stage fragment assembly of two segments representing C(1)-C(9) and C(10)-C(21) of the structure. The C(1)-C(9) fragment was prepared by elaboration of commercially available (2R)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoate at both ends of the three-carbon unit. Introduction of carbons 1-4 containing the gem-dimethyl unit was achieved in a convergent manner using a diastereoselective addition of a stannane equivalent of a beta-keto ester dianion. An enantioselective addition of such a stannane equivalent for a beta-keto ester dianion was also used to fashion one version of the C(10)-C(21) subunit; however, the fragment assembly (using bimolecular esterification followed by ring-closing metathesis) with this subunit failed. Therefore, fragment assembly was achieved using a Wittig reaction; this was followed by macrolactonization to close the macrocycle. The C(10)-C(21) subunit needed for this approach was prepared in an efficient manner using the Corey-Kim reaction as a key element. Other key reactions in the synthesis include a stereoselective SmI(2) reduction of a beta-hydroxy ketone and a critical opening of a valerolactone with aniline which required extensive investigation.     

Novel anti-Prelog stereospecific carbonyl reductases from Candida parapsilosis for asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones

The application of biocatalysis to the synthesis of chiral molecules is one of the greenest technologies for the replacement of chemical routes due to its environmentally benign reaction conditions and unparalleled chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivities. We have been interested in searching for carbonyl reductase enzymes and assessing their substrate specificity and stereoselectivity. We now report a gene cluster identified in Candida parapsilosis that consists of four open reading frames including three putative stereospecific carbonyl reductases (scr1, scr2, and scr3) and an alcohol dehydrogenase (cpadh). These newly identified three stereospecific carbonyl reductases (SCRs) showed high catalytic activities for producing (S)-1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol from 2-hydroxyacetophenone with NADPH as the coenzyme. Together with CPADH, all four enzymes from this cluster are carbonyl reductases with novel anti-Prelog stereoselectivity. SCR1 and SCR3 exhibited distinct specificities to acetophenone derivatives and chloro-substituted 2-hydroxyacetophenones, and especially very high activities towards ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutyrate, a β-ketoester with important pharmaceutical potential. Our study also showed that genomic mining is a powerful tool for the discovery of new enzymes.     

Catalysis of enantiomeric ester hydrolysis in polymer domains: Catalytic effects of N-decanoyl-histidine and of dipeptide derivatives containing a histidyl residue

The catalytic activities of N-decanoyl-L -histidine and its methyl ester and of dipeptide derivatives containing an L -histidine residue toward the stereoselective hydrolysis of enantiomeric substrates have been studied at pH 7.30 (in 0.01M Bis-tris buffer) and 25°C in the presence of poly(ethyleneimine) derivatives. The dipeptide catalyst revealed greatest stereoselectivity in a quaternized poly(ethyleneimine) derivative. A comparison of catalytic effects on both the rate constants and stereoselectivities of N-decanoyl-L -histidine and its methyl ester elucidates the cooperative effects of carboxyl groups in the polymer domains. The structure of the substrates influenced both the rate constants and stereoselectivities in polymer domains.     

New Cobalt-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of epsilon-Acetylenic beta-Keto Esters. Application to a Powerful Cyclization Reactions Cascade

The full details of investigations into the cobalt(I)-catalyzed ene type reaction of epsilon-acetylenic beta-keto esters to form highly functionalized methylenecyclopentanes are described. The observed regio-, chemo-, and stereoselectivities support a process of cycloisomerization which controls the relative stereochemistry of two contiguous stereogenic centers. An efficient route to the basic skeleton of the phyllocladane family has been achieved via a one-pot sequence of cyclizations: ene type, [2 + 2 + 2], [4 + 2]. This new cascade created six carbon-carbon bonds and four rings in a totally stereoselective manner from an easily accessible acyclic polyunsaturated precursor.     

Rhenium-catalyzed synthesis of multisubstituted aromatic compounds via C-C single-bond cleavage

A reaction between a beta-keto ester and an acetylene in the presence of a rhenium complex, [ReBr(CO)3(thf)]2, as a catalyst, provided a 2-pyranone derivative in excellent yield via retro-aldol reaction (C-C single bond cleavage). By adding an acetylene-bearing ester group(s) after the formation of 2-pyranones, an aromatization reaction proceeded and multisubstituted aromatic compounds were obtained in good to excellent yields.     

Stereoselective synthesis of new chiral N-tertiary tetrasubstituted beta-enamino ester piperidines through an ammonia-catalyzed process

We report here two approaches for the preparation of new N-substituted beta-enamino ester piperidines featuring an exocyclic tetrasubstituted double bond, based either on the direct alkylation of piperidine beta-enamino esters bearing an exocyclic trisubstituted double bond or on the intramolecular cyclization of linear amino beta-keto esters. The target compounds were obtained as unusual (Z)-stereoisomers in high yields. The key role of ammonia as reagent, acting both as a nucleophile and a base, was underlined. The diastereoselective formation of the products was rationalized on the basis of an ammonia addition-syn elimination catalytic process.     

Synthesis of tricyclic analogues of methyllycaconitine using ring closing metathesis to append a B ring to an AE azabicyclic fragment

The synthesis of several ABE tricyclic analogues of the alkaloid methyllycaconitine 1 is reported. The analogues contain two key pharmacophores: a homocholine motif formed from a tertiary N-ethyl amine in a 3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ring system and a 2-(3-methyl-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-ly)benzoate ester 4. The synthesis of the ABE tricyclic analogues of MLA 1 began with selective allylation at C-3 of 3 to produce allyl beta-keto ester 4. Double Mannich reaction of 4 with ethylamine and formaldehyde produced bicyclic amine 5 The C-9 ketone of bicyclic amine 5 was selectively reduced to form bicyclic alcohols 6 and 7 which were subsequently allylated to form dienes 8 and 9. Ring closing metathesis of dienes 8 and 9 afforded tricyclic ethers 11 and 12, respectively, the C-8 ester of which was reduced to a hydroxymethyl group to form ABE tricyclic analogues 13 and 14. Addition of allylmagnesium bromide to the C-9 ketone of 20 afforded dienes 21 and 22, which underwent ring closing metathesis to form tricyclic esters 23 and 24, respectively. Reduction of the C-8 ethyl ester of 23 and 24 to a hydroxymethyl group afforded diols 25 and 26 respectively. The 2-(3-methyl-2,5-dioxopyrrolin-1-ly)benzoate ester was introduced by conversion of alcohols 13, 14, 25 and 26, to the anthranilate esters 16, 17, 27 and 28 using N-(trifluoroacetyl)anthranilic acid 15 followed by fusion with methylsuccinic anhydride to afford the substituted anthranilates 18, 19, 29 and 30 containing the key 2-(3-methyl-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-ly)benzoate ester pharmacophore.     

Asymmetric deactivation of racemic BINAP-Ru(II) catalysts through complete enantiomer discrimination by dimethylbinaphthylamine: highly enantioselective hydrogenation of olefin and beta-keto ester

[reaction: see text] 3,3'-Dimethyl-2,2'-diamino-1,1'-binaphthyl (DM-DABN) is designed as a "chiral poison" (deactivator) for complete enantiomer resolution of racemic BINAP-Ru(II) catalysts in a highly enantioselective hydrogenation of beta-keto ester and kinetic resolution of racemic 2-cyclohexen-1-ol.