Synthesis of N,N-Ac,Boc laurylthio sialoside and its application to O-sialylation

The combination of the 5-N-tert-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) group of laurylthio sialoside and cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) as a solvent enhanced the reactivity and α-selectivity of the sialyl donor during sialylation. Selective deprotection of the N-Boc group of sialoside, including an acid-sensitive isopropylidene function, was successfully achieved by Yb(OTf)₃-SiO₂. Transformation of N,N-Ac,Boc into an N-acetylglycolyl group of sialoglycoside was easily performed via selective N-deacylation of the mixed Ac-N-Boc carbamate, subsequent Boc group removal, and acylation.     

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure 2-amino alcohols from amino acids mediated by sulfoxides

Enantiomerically pure (R₁,S₂)- and (S₁,S₂)-2-amino alcohols can be easily synthesized by stereodivergent reduction of α′-(N-Boc)amino β-keto sulfoxides (easily synthesized from readily available N-Boc amino ester hydrochlorides) with DIBAH (de 82–92%) and DIBAH/ZnBr₂ (de 80%), followed by hydrogenolysis of the C–S bond of the resulting hydroxy sulfoxides and final hydrolysis of the N-Boc protecting group.     

Efficient, solventless N-Boc protection of amines carried out at room temperature using sulfamic acid as recyclable catalyst

A simple, rapid, and efficient protocol for the chemoselective N-Boc protection of amines using sulfamic acid as catalyst is described. N-Boc protection of various structurally diverse aliphatic, aromatic, alicyclic, and heterocyclic amines (1°, 2°, 3°) was carried out with (Boc)₂O using sulfamic acid as catalyst (5 mol %) at room temperature under solventless conditions. The advantages of this method are simplicity, shorter reaction times (1-15 min), a cost-effective catalyst, and excellent isolated yields (90-100%); it is also environmentally benign. Moreover, the combined use of ultrasound and sulfamic acid achieves a synergic effect that is especially marked in the N-Boc protection of deactivated (sterically hindered and electron-deficient) amines. The catalyst possesses distinct advantages: ease of handling, cleaner reactions, high activity, and excellent chemoselectivity.     

Study of the oxidation of 3-hydroxypyrroloindoles to pyrrolobenzoxazine alkaloids

This report describes a detailed study of the oxidation-Meisenheimer rearrangement of N-methyl-3-hydroxy-7-chloropyrroloindoline ethyl ester and the corresponding O-Boc and N-Boc derivatives. Experimental conditions were found, which allowed the selective Boc protection of either the tertiary alcohol substituent or the NH group of the aminal function. It was shown that both the parent compound and its O-Boc derivative yielded a mixture of oxazines and, in some cases, N-oxides upon treatment with m-CPBA. MS fragmentation (APCI) clearly differentiates formation of N-oxides and oxazines. The N-Boc derivatives exclusively yielded the N-oxides showing that the Meisenheimer rearrangement requires the presence of a high energy lone pair on the neighbouring nitrogen atom. Both the parent compound and the O-Boc derivative gave a mixture of rearranged products and N-oxide depending on the reaction conditions.     

Practical optical resolution of dl-muscone using tartaric acid derivatives as a chiral auxiliary

A simple and practical synthesis of (R)-(−)-muscone was achieved by optical resolution of dl-muscone using tartaric acid derivatives. The acetalization of dl-muscone with N,N′-dibenzyl-l-tartaramide in the presence of Sc(OTf)₃ and methyl orthoformate furnished a diastereomeric mixture of acetals, which were readily separated by simple recrystallization. Diastereomerically pure acetal was hydrolyzed to give optically pure muscone and recovered N,N′-dibenzyl-l-tartaramide.     

Versatile synthesis of chiral 2-substituted-5-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5H-1,4-benzodiazepines as novel scaffolds for peptidomimetic building

The stereocontrolled synthesis of phenylalanine and tryptophan derived 5-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5H-1,4-benzodiazepine derivatives is described. This new methodology involves a modified Strecker reaction of N-Boc protected amino aldehydes and methyl anthranilate, reduction of the resulting α-amino nitriles, and lactamization. The resulting 2-substituted-5-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5H-1,4-benzodiazepines were further functionalized at position 4 by alkylation or acylation reactions. One of these new tryptophan-derived 1,4-benzodiazepines showed significant selective binding affinity at cholecystokinin CCK₁ receptors (IC₅₀=156.5±33.2 nM).     

Synthesis of l-azaisotryptophan and its analogs: a general access to new 2-substituted azaindoles

l-(N-Cbz)-7-azaisotryptophan, l-(N-Cbz)-1a, a new isostere of tryptophan, was synthesized by reacting Li₂-(N-Boc)-2-amino-3-picoline, Li₂-(N-Boc)-2a, with appropriately protected l-aspartic acid followed by simple functional group manipulation. This synthetic success led us to access a set of analogs of azaisotryptophan (4a–c; 6a–c) as well as a new class of chiral amines (7a–c; 8a–c) for future application in asymmetric synthesis and design of homochiral ligands. Further, we have generalized the method substantiating a variety of new azaindol-2-yl derivatives (10aa–10lc) with functionalized substituents. In a preliminary luminescence characterization, l-(N-Cbz)-1a has exhibited about 30 nm bathochromic shifted fluorescence emission compared to tryptophan and (N-Cbz)-tryptophan.     

Copper(II) tetrafluoroborate as a novel and highly efficient catalyst for N-tert-butoxycarbonylation of amines under solvent-free conditions at room temperature

Commercially available copper(II) tetrafluoroborate hydrate was found to be a highly efficient catalyst for chemoselective N-tert-butoxycarbonylation of amines with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate under solvent-free conditions and at room temperature. Various aromatic amines were protected as their N-tert-butyl carbamates in high yields and in short times. No competitive side reactions such as isocyanate, urea, and N,N-di-t-Boc formation was observed. Chemoselective N-tert-butoxycarbonylation was achieved with substrates bearing OH and SH groups. Chiral α-amino acid esters afforded the corresponding N-t-Boc derivatives in excellent yields.     

Catalyst-free water-mediated N-Boc deprotection

A catalyst-free water-mediated N-Boc deprotection of N-Boc-amines is reported. In the absence of any additional reagents, the free amines were formed from a variety of aromatic and aliphatic N-Boc-amines as well as from some N-Boc-amino acid derivatives.     

A simple route to β-aminomethylketones

A simple procedure leading to β-aminomethylketones has been developed. The procedure involves base-catalyzed Michael-type addition of sodium t-butyl acetoacetate to N-Boc imines generated in situ followed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation of the adducts.     

Synthesis of (S)-5,6-dibromo-tryptophan derivatives as building blocks for peptide chemistry

5,6-Dibromo-tryptophan is an interesting amino acid whose derivatives and analogues are found in a variety of highly bioactive natural compounds. Notwithstanding its relevance no data concerning this compound are found in the literature. Here an efficient pathway for the synthesis of 5,6-dibromo-tryptophan derivatives is reported. The reaction is performed by using 6-Br-isatin as starting material. Selective bromination at position 5 was followed by BH₃ reduction of the intermediate α-keto-amide and alkylation with Ser-OH in Ac₂O/AcOH. Optical resolution was effected by enzymatic de-acetylation of the obtained racemic mixture. Finally, in situ N^α-Boc protection of the optically pure S form yielded the desired N^α-Boc-(S)-5,6-dibromo-tryptophan.     

Synthesis of protected derivatives and short peptides of antAib, a novel C-tetrasubstituted α-amino acid of the Ac5c type possessing a fused anthracene fluorophore

The N^α-Boc and N^α-Fmoc protected derivatives of 2-amino-2,3-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[b]anthracene-2-carboxylic acid (antAib), a novel fluorescent, achiral, α-amino acid, rigid analogue of the known 9-antAla and 2-antAla residues, and belonging to the class of C_i^α→C_i^α cyclized, C^α,α-disubstituted glycines (strong β-turn and helix inducers in peptides), were synthesized in seven steps from 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene. The UV absorption and fluorescence properties of Boc-antAib-OEt and Boc-antAib-OH are also described. Solution syntheses of the short peptides Boc-antAib-l-Ala-OMe, Fmoc-l-Ala-antAib-l-Ala-OMe, as well as Boc-Aib-antAib-l-Ala-OMe and the side product 2,5-dioxopiperazine cyclo-[antAib-l-Ala], are presented as examples of the coupling ability at both C- and N-termini of the antAib residue.     

N-tert-Butoxycarbonylation of amines using H3PW12O40 as an efficient heterogeneous and recyclable catalyst

The commercially available heteropoly acid H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ (0.5 mol %) is a very efficient and environmentally benign catalyst for N-tert-butoxycarbonylation of amines (primary, secondary) with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate at room temperature in short reaction times (<10 min). No competitive side products such as isocyanates, ureas, N,N-di-tert-butoxycarbonyls, O-Boc and oxazolidinones were observed. Chiral α-amino alcohols and esters afforded the corresponding N-Boc derivatives chemoselectively in excellent yields.     

Nucleophilic addition of regioselectively lithiated indoline with aldimines for the syntheses of 2- and 7-indolinyl methanamine derivatives

Indolines bearing different N-protecting groups (N-Tbf and N-Boc) were deprotonated regioselectively at C-2 (sp³ hybridized ortho-H) and C-7 (sp² hybridized para-H) of the indoline ring, respectively. The generated organolithium intermediates reacted with aldimines to give the desired products in good yields with excellent anti-diastereoselectivities (>99:1). The produced N-Ts-(1-Tbf-indolin-2-yl)methanamine was facilely transformed to a fused heterocyclic compound.     

Synthesis of α,α-disubstituted 4-phosphonophenylalanine analogues as conformationally-constrained phosphotyrosyl mimetics

Syntheses of N-Boc (S)-4-(diethylphosphono)-(α-methyl)phenylalanine [Boc-(α-Me)Phe(4-PO₃Et₂)-OH] (9) and N-Boc (S)-2-amino-6-(diethylphosphono)tetralin-2-carboxylic acid [Boc-Atc(6-PO₃Et₂)-OH] (18) are reported as conformationally-constrained phosphotyrosyl mimetics suitably protected for peptide synthesis. Both syntheses proceeded through chiral arylhalides that are converted to arylphosphonates by palladium-catalyzed cross coupling with diethylphosphite. These amino acid analogues may be useful in the study of cellular signal transduction processes.     

Chemoselective hydrolysis of tert-butyl esters in acetonitrile using molecular iodine as a mild and efficient catalyst

A simple, mild and efficient method for the hydrolysis of tert-butyl esters using molecular iodine as a catalyst is described. Acid labile protecting groups, such as N-Boc, OBn, OAc and double bonds, are compatible under the reaction conditions.     

Oxidation of α-amino acids promoted by the phthalimide N-oxyl radical: A kinetic and product study

A kinetic study of the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reaction from a series of N-Boc- or N-Acetyl-protected amino acids to the phthalimide N-oxyl radical (PINO) was carried out to obtain information about reactivity and selectivity patterns. With amino acids containing aliphatic side chains, the 2nd order rate constants are of the same order of magnitude, in agreement with a HAT process involving the Cα?H bond. Proline is the most reactive substrate suggesting that HAT process involves the C_δ?H bond instead of C_α?H bond. These results are confirmed by the product analysis of the aerobic oxidations of the corresponding N-Boc and N-Ac protected amino acids methyl esters promoted by N-hydroxyphthalimide. Comparison of our results with those reported for HAT reactions to other radical species indicates that PINO displays electrophilic characteristics that are intermediate between those observed for the more stable Br radical and the more reactive cumyloxyl radical.     

A practical approach to non-natural or N-unsubstituted α-arylglycine derivatives: Hf(OTf)4-doped Me3SiCl system-catalyzed aminomethylation of electron-rich arenes with a new type of N,O-acetal

The authors have demonstrated the Hf(OTf)₄-doped Me₃SiCl system-catalyzed aminomethylation of electron-rich aromatic compounds, such as indoles and anilines, with new types of N,O-acetals having a variety of functional groups, such as cyano, ester, bis(trimethylsilyl)amino, diallylamino, and cyclic amino moieties, for the preparation of non-natural aromatic amino acid derivatives. Aminomethylation using an N,O-acetal with a bis(trimethylsilyl)amino group was particularly successful in the direct preparation of an N-unsubstituted α-indolylglycine derivative, which required only a standard aqueous workup.     

Reduction of substituted 1,10-phenanthrolines as a route to rigid chiral benzimidazolylidenes

Variously substituted 1,10-phenanthrolines are reduced to octahydrophenanthrolines in moderate to good yields with NaBH₃CN in acetic acid/methanol. The exact solvent composition is important to avoid the formation of tetrahydrophenanthrolines and N-alkylated byproducts, and to optimize the formation of octahydrophenanthrolines. Resolution of a racemic reduction product gives an enantiomerically pure C₂-symmetric diamine from which the corresponding rigid benzimidazolylidene is prepared, whereas reduction of chiral phenanthrolines derived from bicyclic ketones affords diastereomerically pure diamines, which may also be converted to benzimidazolylidenes.     

Expedient synthesis of indoles from N-Boc arylhydrazines

The readily available N-Boc arylhydrazines undergo efficient Fischer cyclizations to provide the indoles in good yields, when reacted with enolizable ketones.