Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of (R)- and (S)-4-Amino-3-Methylbutanoic Acids

(R)- and (S)-4-Amino-3-methylbutanoic acids were synthesized in high yields via initial enantioselective hydrolysis of dimethyl 3-methylglutarate to methyl (R)-3-methylglutarate with pig liver esterase. The ester group was converted to an amine to give (R)-4-amino-3-methylbutanoic acid; the carboxylic acid was converted to an amine to give (S)-4-amino-3-methylbutanoic acid.     

Ascorbic Acid/Iodine and Triphenylphosphine/Iodine as Reducing Agents for the As(V)[dbnd]O Group

The scope of ascorbic acid/iodine and triphenylphosphine/iodine in methanol for the direct reduction of arsenic(V) compounds having the As[dbnd]O group has been investigated. Ascorbic acid/iodine reduces arsonic acids, diphenylarsinic acid (but not dimethylarsinic acid), and triphenylarsine oxide. The rates of reduction depend on the electronic effects of the ligands bound to arsenic and on the hydrogen-bonding strength of the species, when present. When the As(V) compound has an [sbnd]NH ₂ or an [sbnd]NH ₃ ⁺ group, the reduction product reacts with a ketonic form of dehydroascorbic acid, giving condensation product(s). Triphenylphosphine/iodine reduced slowly the zwitterionic o-aminophenylarsonic acid but reduced faster the hydrochloric acid salt of the same acid. It reduced dimethylarsinic acid as well because the powerful electron-withdrawing Ph ₃ P ⁺coordinated to As[dbnd]O seems to outweigh the electronic and hydrogen bonding effects.     

A Practical Synthesis of (2S, 3R)-3-Amino-2-methylpentanoic Acid from L-Aspartic Acid

L -Aspartic acid by successive N-tosylation, anhydride formation, and reduction was converted into (3S)-3-(tosylamino)butano-4-lactone ( 4 ). Electrophilic methylation of 4 , subsequent iodo-esterification and nucleophilic methylation, followed by saponification and deprotection, gave (2S, 3R)-3-amino-2-methylpentanoic acid ( 2 ) with an ee of > 99% in seven steps and in an overall yield of 34%.     

Kinetics of polymerization of acrylic acid initiated by Mn3+–isobutyric acid redox system. II

The kinetics of redox -initiated polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) by the systerm Mn³⁺-isobutyric acid (IBA) in sulfuric acid was studied in the temperature range of 35–50°C. The overall rates of polymerization (R_p), disappearance of manganic ion (?R_m), and degree of polymerization (X _n), were measured with variation in [monomer], [Mn³⁺], [IBA], H⁺, μ, [Mn²⁺], and temperature. The polymerization is initiated by the organic free radical that develops from the Mn³⁺-isobutyric acid oxidation reaction. Two types of termination reactions, one by the metal ion (Mn³⁺) and the other by the MN³⁺-isobutyric acid complex are proposed to explain the kinetic results. The various rate parameters were evaluated an discussed.     

o-Acetylaminophenylglyoxylic Acid Anil and Its Derivatives

1-Acetyl- and 1-benzoyl-2- and -3-phenyliminooxoindolines were synthesized. o-(Acetylamino)phenylglyoxylic acid anil was prepared from 1-acetyl-3-phenylimino-2-oxoindoline. More stable o-(acetylamino)phenylglyoxylanilide anil can be prepared not only from o-(acetylamino)phenylglyoxylanilide but also from an ester or chloride of o-(acetylamino)phenylglyoxylic acid anil. o-(Acetylamino)phenylglyoxylothiosemicarbazide was prepared from o-(acetylamino)phenylglyoxylic acid anil and from the corresponding anilide.     

Model Construction for the A–B–C Ring System of Lysergic Acid via Vilsmeier–Haack‐Type Cyclization of 1H‐Indole‐4‐propanoic Acid Derivatives

Vilsmeier–Haack‐type cyclization of 1H‐indole‐4‐propanoic acid derivatives was examined as model construction for the A–B–C ring system of lysergic acid ( 1 ). Smooth cyclization from the 4 position of 1H‐indole to the 3 position was achieved by Vilsmeier–Haack reaction in the presence of K₂CO₃ in MeCN, and the best substrate was found to be the N,N‐dimethylcarboxamide 9 (Table 1). The modified method can be successfully applied to an α‐amino acid derivative protected with an N‐acetyl function, i.e., to 27 (Table 2); however, loss of optical purity was observed in the cyclization when a chiral substrate (S)‐ 27 was used (Scheme 5). On the other hand, the intramolecular Pummerer reaction of the corresponding sulfoxide 20 afforded an S‐containing tricyclic system 22 , which was formed by a cyclization to the 5 position (Scheme 3).     

Über primäre Disazofarbstoffe mit Aminonaphtol-sulfonsäuren

Disazo dyes from 6-amino-1-hydroxy-naphthalene-3-sulfonic acid (J acid) were synthesized by coupling ortho-hydroxy monoazo dyes with different diazonium compounds in acid medium (dyes No 3 – 14 . A second coupling to the ortho position of the amino group was also possible with the copper complexes of o,o' -dihydroxy monoazo dyes from 8-amino-1-hydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid (H acid) dyes No 19 – 22 ). This is a reversal of the well known rule that the formation of disazo dyes with aminonaphthol-sulfonic acids is only practicable when an acid coupling is followed by an alkaline one. 5-Amino-1-hydroxy-naphthalene-3-sulfonic acid (M acid), which is said to form no disazo dyes, could be coupled twice with several diazonium compounds to yield disazo dyes (dyes No 24 , 26 , 27 , 29 ).     

Synthesis and Self‐Assembly of Bolaamphiphiles Based on β‐Amino Acids or an Alcohol

The synthesis of bolaamphiphiles from unusual β‐amino acids or an alcohol and C₁₂ or C₂₀ spacers is described. Unusual β‐amino acids such as a sugar amino acid, an AZT‐derived amino acid, a norbornene amino acid, and an AZT‐derived amino alcohol were coupled with spacers under standard conditions to get the novel bolaamphiphiles 5 – 8 (Scheme 1), 12 and 13 (Scheme 2), and 17 and 20 (Scheme 3). Some of these compounds, on precipitation from MeOH/H₂O, self‐assembled into organized molecular structures.     

Graphite/Methanesulfonic Acid (GMA) as a New Reagent for Sulfonylation of Phenols and Thia‐Fries Rearrangement of Aryl Sulfonates to Sulfonylphenols

A new facile method for direct sulfonylation of phenols was developed. Graphite in methanesulfonic acid (GMA) was used to prepare sulfonylphenols by sulfonylation of phenol and naphthalene derivatives with p‐toluenesulfonic acid (=4‐methylbenzenesulfonic acid) (Table 1) and the thia‐Fries rearrangement of aryl sulfonates (Table 4). Mechanistic studies showed that the sulfonylation reaction of phenols in GMA occurred through an initial sulfonate formation followed by a thia‐Fries rearrangement of the aryl sulfonate by an intermolecular mechanism (Scheme 3).     

Asymmetric Synthesis of α-Amino Acids and α-N-Hydroxyamino Acids from N-Acylbornane-10,2-sultams: 1-chloro-1-nitrosocyclohexane as a practical [NH] equivalent

Successive treatment of N-acylsultams 3 with sodium hexamethyldisilazide, 1-chloro-1-nitrosocyclohexane ( 1 ), and aq. HCl gave diastereoisomerically pure, crystalline N-hydroxyamino-acid derivatives 5 . These were converted into various amino acids 7 , N-hydroxyamino acids 8 , and an N-Boc-amino acid 9 . (S, S)-Isoleucine ( 17 ) and (S, S)-2-acetamido-3-phenylbutyric acid ( 23 ) were obtained from N-crotonoylsultam 15 via 1,4-addition of an organomagnesium or organocopper reagent followed by enolate ‘amination’ with 1 .     

Cation Transport across Bulk Liquid Organic Membranes with Oligomers of (R)-3-Hydroxybutanoic Acid

Several oligomeric derivatives 1–5 of (R)-3-hydroxybutanoic acid and a cyclic trimer of (R)-3-hydroxypentanoic acid ( 6 ) were used as ionophores to transport potassium picrate across a bulk liquid CH₂Cl₂ membrane. Using the cyclic trimer 1 and an oligomer mixture of (R)-3-hydroxybutanoic acid, 5 (ca. 28-mer), for the transport experiments, the alkali-metal ions from Li⁺ to Cs⁺ and the alkaline-earth-metal ions from Mg²⁺ to Ba²⁺ were also shown to be transported through the organic phase. Although a pronounced enhancement of the transport rates was observed in the presence of 3-hydroxyalkanoate oligomers, no special selectivity for one ion was detected. The ionophore properties of the investigated oligomers and oligolides derived from 3-hydroxybutanoic acid are compatible with the alleged role of oligo(3-hydroxybutanoate) (c-PHB; ca. 120-mer) as component of ion channels through cell membranes.     

Optically active imidazole-containing polymers

In order to investigate the stereospecificity of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, an optically active copolymer of 4(5)-vinylimidazole and 2,5(S)-dimethyl-1-hepten-3-one was synthesized, and its effects on the solvolytic rates, in ethanol-water, of the p-nitrophenyl and 4-carboxy-2-nitrophenyl esters of 3(R)- and 3(S)-methylpentanoic acid and of the commercially available N-carbobenzoxy-(R)- and (S)-phenylalanine p-nitrophenyl esters were investigated. The optically active comonomer was prepared by thermal decomposition of solid (+)-1-piperidino-2,5(S)-dimethylheptan-3-one hydrochloride, which was obtained from the reaction of 2(S)-methylbutyllithium with 3-piperidino-2-methylpropionitrile. The 3(R)-methylpentanoic acid was prepared in 92% optical purity from L -alloisoleucine via diazotization in concentrated hydrobromic acid and subsequent reductive debromination with zinc amalgam in dilute hydrochloric acid. In the optically active copolymer-catalyzed solvolyses of the optically active esters performed at pH values of 6–8 no significant differences between the solvolytic rates of (R) and (S) isomers of substrates were observed. Poly-L -histidine was also employed as a catalyst for the solvolyses of these substrates. At pH 6.0 in ethanol–water the latter catalyst also failed to exhibit specificity towards (R) and (S) substrates.     

Herstellung enantiomerenreiner Derivate von 3-Amino- und 3-Mercaptobuttersäure durch SN2-Ringöffnung des β-Lactons und eines 1,3-Dixoanons aus der 3-Hydroxybuttersä ure

Preparation of Enantiomerically Pure Derivatives of 3-Amino- and 3-Mercaptobutanoic Acid by S_N2 Ring Opening of the β-Lactone and a 1,3-Dioxanone Derived from 3-Hydroxybutanoic Acid From (S)-4-methyloxetan-2-one ( 1 ), the β-butyrolactone readily available from the biopolymer ( R )-polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and various C, N, O and S nucleophiles, the following compounds are prepared:(s)-2-hydroxy-4-octanone ( 3 ), (R)-3-aminobutanoic acid ( 7 ) and its N-benzyl derivative 5 , (R)-3-azidobutanoic acid ( 6 ) (R)-3-mercaptobutanoic acid ( 10 ), (R)-3-(phenylthio)butanoic acid ( 8 ) and its sulfoxide 9 . The (6R)-2,6-dimethyl-2-ethoxy-1,3-dioxan-4-one ( 4 ) from (R)-3-hydroxybutanoic acid undergoes S^N2 ring opening with benzylamine to give the N-benzyl derivative (ent- 5 ) of (S)-3-aminobutanoic acid in 30?40% yield.     

Preparation of Nicotinic Acid from Oxidation of 3-Picoline with Oxygen Under Catalysis of T（o-Cl）PPMn

The oxidation of 3-picoline to nicotinic acid took place efficiently in an ethanol solution with 02 as the oxidant under the catalysis of T（o-Cl）PPMn at 40--150 ℃ and 0.5--3.0 MPa oxygen pressure. The influences of temperature, oxygen pressure, reaction time, concentration of 3-picoline, concentration of sodium hydroxide, and concentration of T（o-Cl）PPMn catalyst, etc. on the production of nicotinic acid were investigated. The results show that T（o-Cl）PPMn presented excellent catalytic activity in the oxidation Of 3-pieoiine to nicotinic acid and the yield of nicotinic acid varied greatly with the reaction temperature, oxygen pressure, T（o-Cl）PPMn concentration, etc.     

Chirale Synthesebausteine durch Kolbe-Elektrolyse enantiomerenreiner β-Hydroxy-carbonsäurederivate. (R)- und (S)-Methyl-sowie (R)-Trifluormethyl-γ-butyrolactone und -δ-valerolactone

Chiral Building Blocks for Syntheses by Kolbe Electrolysis of Enantiomerically Pure β-Hydroxybutyric-Acid Derivatives. (R)- and (S)-Methyl-, and (R)-Trifluoromethyl-γ-butyrolactones, and -δ-valerolactones The coupling of chiral, non-racemic R* groups by Kolbe electrolysis of carboxylic acids R*COOH is used to prepare compounds with a 1.4- and 1.5-distance of the functional groups. The suitably protected β-hydroxycarboxylic acids (R)- or (S)-3-hydroxybutyric acid, (R)-4,4,4-trifluoro-3-hydroxybutyric acid (as acetates; see 1 – 6 ), and (S)-malic acid (as (2S,5S)-2-(tert-butyl)-5-oxo-1,3-dioxolan-4-acetic acid; see 7 ) are decarboxylatively dimerized or ‘codimerized’ with 2-methylpropanoic acid, with 4-(formylamino)butyric acid, and with monomethyl malonate and succinate. The products formed are derivatives of (R,R)-1,1,1,6,6,6-hexafluoro-2,5-hexanediol (see 8 ), of (R)-5,5,5-trifluoro-4-hydroxypentanoic acid (see 9,10 ), of (R)- and (S)-5-hydroxyhexanoic acid (see 11 ) and its trifluoro analogue (see 12, 13 ), of (S)-2-hydroxy- and (S,S)-2,5-dihydroxyadipic acid (see 23, 20 ), of (S)-2-hydroxy-4-methylpentanoic acid (‘OH-leucine’, see 21 ), and of (S)-2-hydroxy-6-aminohexanoic acid (‘OH-lysine’, see 22 ). Some of these products are further converted to CH₃- or CF₃-substituted γ- and δ-lactones of (R)- or (S)-configuration ( 14 , 16 – 19 ), or to an enantiomerically pure derivative of (R)-1-hydroxy-2-oxocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid (see 24 ). Possible uses of these new chiral building blocks for the synthesis of natural products and their CF₃ analogues (brefeldin, sulcatol, zearalenone) are discussed. The olfactory properties of (R)- and (S)-δ-caprolactone ( 18 ) are compared with those of (R)-6,6,6-trifluoro-δ-caprolactone ( 19 ).     

Novel oxidations of 1,3-disubstituted indoles

A study of oxidation versus nitration of 1,3-disubstituted indole derivatives with nitric acid in acetic acid was carried out. Oxidation of methyl and ethyl 2-cyano-2-(1-alkoxycarbonyl-1H-indol-3-yl)acetates 1 and 2 under the above conditions gave rise to novel functionalized 2-hydroxyindolenines as single products possessing the Z-configuration, 8 and 10 , respectively. The structure of 10 was determined by an X-ray analysis. In contrast, 1-methoxycarbonyl-1H-indol-3-acetonitrile ( 3 ) was nitrated to the corresponding 6-nitroindole derivative 11 , whereas the reaction of ethyl 2-cyano-2-(1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)acetate ( 4 ) with nitric acid effected an oxidative nitration to provide the corresponding ethyl Z-5-nitroisatyliene cyanoacetate ( 12 ), which in solution isomerized to the E isomer.     

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of (2R,3S)‐2‐Methylisocitrate,a Central Intermediate in the Methylcitrate Cycle

2‐Methylisocitrate (=3‐hydroxybutane‐1,2,3‐tricarboxylic acid) is an intermediate in the oxidation of propanoate to pyruvate (=2‐oxopropanoate) via the methylcitrate cycle in both bacteria and fungi (Scheme 1). Stereocontrolled syntheses of (2R,3S)‐ and (2S,3R)‐2‐methylisocitrate (98% e.e.) were achieved starting from (R)‐ and (S)‐lactic acid (=(2R)‐ and (2S)‐2‐hydroxypropanoic acid), respectively. The dispiroketal (6S,7S,15R)‐15‐methyl‐1,8,13,16‐tetraoxadispiro[5.0.5.4]hexadecan‐14‐one ( 2a ) derived from (R)‐lactic acid was deprotonated with lithium diisopropylamide to give a carbanion that was condensed with diethyl fumarate (Scheme 3). The configuration of the adduct diethyl (2S)‐2‐[(6S,7S,14R)‐14‐methyl‐15‐oxo‐1,8,13,16‐tetraoxadispiro[5.0.5.4]hexadec‐14‐yl]butanedioate ( 3a ) was assigned by consideration of possible transition states for the fumarate condensation (cf. Scheme 2), and this was confirmed by a crystal‐structure analysis. The adduct was subjected to acid hydrolysis to afford the lactone 4a of (2R,3S)‐2‐methylisocitrate and hence (2R,3S)‐2‐methylisocitrate. Similarly, (S)‐lactic acid led to (2S,3R)‐2‐methylisocitrate. Comparison of 2‐methylisocitrate produced enzymatically with the synthetic enantiomers established that the biologically active isomer is (2R,3S)‐2‐methylisocitrate.     

A Closer Look at the Hydroiodination of Propiolic Acid

The crystal structures of cis‐3‐iodoacrylic acid (1), trans‐3‐iodoacrylic acid (2), trans‐3‐iodoacrylic acid methyl ester (3), 3,3‐diiodopropanoic acid (4), and trans‐2,3‐diiodoacrylic acid (5) are reported. Compounds 1 and 2 are the kinetic and thermodynamic products, respectively, of the hydroiodination of propiolic acid. Compound 4 results from addition of a second equivalent of hydroiodic acid to 1 or 2, whereas 5 results from the addition of trace elemental iodine to propiolic acid.     

New 9,10‐Secosteroids from Biotransformations of Hyodeoxycholic Acid with Rhodococcus spp.

The biotransformations of hyodeoxycholic acid with various Rhodococcus spp. are reported. Some strains (i.e., Rhodococcus zopfii, Rhodococcus ruber, and Rhodococcus aetherivorans) are able to partially degrade the side chain at C(17) to afford 6α‐hydroxy‐3‐oxo‐23,24‐dinor‐5β‐cholan‐22‐oic acid ( 2 ; 23%) and 6α‐hydroxy‐3‐oxo‐23,24‐dinorchol‐1,4‐dien‐22‐oic acid ( 3 ; 23–30%), together with two new 9,10‐secosteroids 4 and 5 (10–45%), still bearing the partial side chain at C(17) and adopting an intramolecular hemiacetal form. In addition, the 9,10‐secosteroid 5 showed an unprecedented C(4)‐hydroxylation. The new secosteroids were fully characterized by MS, IR, NMR, and 2D‐NMR analyses.     

Intriguing Influence of the Solvent on the Regioselectivity of Sulfoxide Thermolysis in β‐Amino‐α‐sulfinyl Esters

The sulfoxide thermolysis of the diastereoisomeric methyl (3R,4aS,10aR)‐6‐methoxy‐1‐methyl‐3‐(phenylsulfinyl)‐1,2,3,4,4a,5,10,10a‐octahydrobenzo[g]quinoline‐3‐carboxylates 3a and 3′b in toluene yields, by loss of benzenesulfenic acid, an almost 1 : 1 mixture of the vinylogous urethane 2b and the isomeric α‐aminomethyl enoate 2a . When this elimination is performed in acetic acid, the enoate 2a is formed rather selectively. The same solvent effects on the regioselectivity of the elimination of benzenesulfenic acid are observed with a simple sulfoxide of ethyl piperidine‐3‐carboxylate ( 7 ).