Thermal stability of Pd(1,4-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine)Cl2 and its role in the catalysis of base hydrolysis of α-amino acid esters

Pd(BHEP)Cl₂ was synthesized and characterized (BHEP = 1,4-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine). The complex decomposes in two steps, leaving a residue of palladium metal. Amino acid ester (L) reacts with [Pd(BHEP)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ (BHEP = 1,4-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine), giving mixed-ligand complexes, [Pd(BHEP)L]²⁺. The kinetics of hydrolysis of [Pd(BHEP)L]²⁺ have been studied by pH-stat technique, and rate constants were obtained. Rate acceleration observed for glycine methyl ester is high. The effect with methionine methyl ester is much less marked, as the mixed-ligand complexes with these ligands do not involve alkoxycarbonyl donors. Possible mechanisms for these reactions are considered.     

Enantioselective hydrolysis of long chain α-amino acid esters by chiral sulfur-containing macrocyclic metallomicelles

A novel chiral lipophilic sulfur-containing macrocyclic ligand 5 with bis-pendant alcohols in the proximity of the coordination center has been synthesized. Its metal ion complexes have been investigated as catalysts for the enantioselective hydrolysis of long chain α-amino acid esters in aqueous comicellar solution with Brij35. Large rate accelerations (up to 220 times) and moderate enantioselectivities (up to 4.85 (k_S/k_R)) employing the macrocyclic 5-Cu²⁺ have been observed, whereas the acyclic 3-Cu²⁺ exhibits less reactivity and stereoselectivity. Taking the analogous ligand 4, lacking the hydroxy groups leads to a dramatic rate decrease, and an inversion of enantioselectivity is observed. The pKa value of the hydroxyl bound to Cu²⁺ is determined to be pKa=7.2 under our micellar reaction conditions.     

Synthesis of novel chiral lipophilic pyridyl-containing β-amino alcohol ligands and enantioselective hydrolysis of α-amino acid esters by chiral metallomicelles

Seven novel chiral lipophilic pyridyl-containing β-amino alcohol ligands have been synthesized by coupling of 6-alkoxymethyl-2-chloromethylpyridine 3 with the corresponding chiral β-amino alcohols or l-cysteine. Their metal ion complexes have been investigated as catalysts for the enantioselective hydrolysis of N-protected α-amino acid esters in aqueous comicellar solution. The results indicate that the hydrophobic interactions between substrate and metallocatalyst, the rigidity of the ligand, the hydroxyl group of the ligand acting as a nucleophile for the transacylation process, and the micellar microenvironment are important factors for the activity and enantioselectivity. Large rate accelerations (up to three orders of magnitude) and moderate enantioselectivities (up to 7.81 (k_R/k_S)) employing 4a–Cu²⁺ have been observed.     

Synthesis ofN-(amidomethyl)- andN- (imidomethyl)-α-amino acid esters by reactions of α-amino acid esters with formaldehyde and amides or imides

Reactions of hydrochlorides of glycine, alanine, phenylalanine, L-isolcucinc, and L-valine esters with aromatic and heteroaromatic carboxamides afforded hydrochlorides of the correspondingN-(amidomethyl)--amino acid esters.N-(Phthalimidomethyl)--amino acid esters were obtained by reactions of -amino acid esters containing free amino groups with formaldehyde and phthalimide, The¹H NMR studies demonstrated that the chiral centers of -amino acids may be retained in the course of condensation. Reactions of the Mannish bases obtained and their hydrochlorides with acetic anhydride and tosyl chloride afforded the correspondingN-aryl andN-sulfonyl derivatives.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp, 1761–1769, July, 1996.     

Synthesis of α-allyl-α-amino acids by means of a palladium catalyzed intramolecular rearrangement

Allylic esters of imines of amino acids provide α-alkylated-α-amino acids in good yields, on rearrangement by catalytic quantities of Pd(O) complexes.     

Synthesis of macrocyclic α-amino esters through the chemoselective hydrolysis of benzoxazinephanes

New meso-macrocyclic α-amino esters were synthesized through the chemoselective hydrolysis of azacyclophanes derived from l-tyrosine (benzoxazinephanes). The results showed that the alkyl chain of the ester determined the chemoselectivity of the reaction.     

Catalytic hydrolysis of α-amino esters in the presence of chiral palladacycles

The rate of hydrolysis of esters derived from optically active α-amino acids, catalyzed by chiral cyclopalladated benzylamines, depends on the configuration of chiral centers in the substrate and catalyst. The catalytic hydrolysis of sulfur-containing amino esters follows an intramolecular mechanism, and the difference in the reaction rates for the stereoisomers increases in going from ortho-palladated primary benzylamines (k _S/k _R = 1.1) to tertiary amines (k _S/k _R = 1.5); the strongest catalytic effect is observed for an ester and a complex with the same absolute configuration of the chiral centers. The efficiency of intermolecular catalysis is greater for a complex and ester with opposite absolute configurations of the chiral centers, and the rate constants of catalytic hydrolysis for two pairs of stereoisomers coincide within experimental error. The maximal difference in the reaction rates is observed for cyclopalladated secondary benzylamines; it reaches 2.3 for the phenylalanine ester.     

Asymmetric homogeneous hydrogenation of α-acylaminocinnamic acids and esters catalyzed by a rhodium (I) complex of dioxop

α-Acylaminocinnamic acids and esters are hydrogenated with rhodium (I) complex containing (2R, 4R)-cis-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)-1,3-dioxolan. The Z acids give enantiomeric excess up to 79% in the presence of triethylamine; increasing the steric bulk of the enamide moiety has only a small effect on the enantiomeric excess. The esters are reduced with low optical yield.     

A simple method for the oxidation of α-amino acid esters to α-oximino esters

Magnesium bis(monoperoxyphthalate) hexahydrate (MMPP) was found to be an effective reagent for the oxidation of various α-amino acid esters to the corresponding α-oximino acid esters. This transformation could be completed under mild conditions within 2.5 h using 1.1 equiv of MMPP in THF. Clean oximino esters were obtained after quenching and extracting the reaction from sodium thiosulfate solution. The O-phosphorylated derivative of 2-oximinoglutarate exhibited slow binding inhibitory potency for the metallopeptidase prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) with an IC₅₀ value of 58 nM.     

Hydration of α-pinene catalyzed by acid clays

The hydration reaction of α-pinene in the presence of natural clays treated with monochloroacetic acid as catalyst to obtain oxygenated compounds was studied. Catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, programmed thermal desorption of adsorbed pyridine, and infrared spectroscopic analysis of adsorbed pyridine to determine Brønsted and Lewis acid sites. Catalytic tests revealed that treatment of the natural clay with the acid improved the catalytic activity and the selectivity toward oxygenated products by increasing the acidity of the catalyst. The selectivity toward oxygenated compounds increased with the augment of the α-pinene conversion because of greater contact between water molecules with the remaining α-pinene molecules. The natural clay without treatment produced compounds resulting from α-pinene isomerization, whereas the treated clays produced alcohols and other products in addition to isomerization compounds. After a certain time, the α-terpineol was isomerized into cineols. Studies of the reusability of the JAL catalyst were performed (clay treated with monochloroacetic acid). As the number of reuses increased, the percent conversion decreased; however, the selectivity toward oxygenated compounds increased.      

Copper(II)–acid catalyzed cyclopropanation of 1,3-dienamides by electrophilic activation of α-aryl diazoesters

Copper(II)–acid catalyzed cyclopropanation of electron-rich alkenes, such as 1,3-dienamides, with α-aryl diazoesters are described. The reaction could be performed without rare metal catalysts, excess substrate, or the need for the slow addition of the diazoesters.     

Molecular recognition of α-amino acid esters with arylporphyrin zinc complexes

The recognition ability of 10 arylporphyrin zinc complexes with respect to glycine, -alanine, and leucine methyl esters in toluene at 20°C was studied by spectrophotometric titration. The formation of amino acid-porphyrin associates, depending on the substitution pattern in the macroring, was examined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The zinc complex with diarylporphyrin having hydroxy groups in the para positions of the benzene rings was found to be the best recognizing agent with respect to glycine methyl ester, while leucine methyl ester was recognized best by the complex with hydroxy groups in the ortho positions of the benzene rings.Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 74, No. 9, 2004, pp. 1557–1562.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by G. Mamardashvili, Storonkina, N. Mamardashvili.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Asymmetric synthesis of α-amino acids by reduction of N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimine esters

A highly regio- and diastereoselective reduction of various N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimine esters with L-Selectride resulting in the formation of α-amino acids is reported. This method is quite general and also practical for the preparation of both enantiomers of aryl or aliphatic α-amino acids in high yields.