Rational design of highly diastereoselective, organic base-catalyzed, room-temperature Michael addition reactions

X-ray Structures of 3-Acetyloxazolidin-2-one, 3-Acetyloxazolin-2-one and Oxazolin-2(3H)-one

The X-ray structures of three simple heterocyclic compounds have been obtained for the first time. Structures of both 3-acetyloxazolidin-2-one 1 and its unsaturated analogue 3-acetyloxazolin-2-one 3 show a planar imide nitrogen with the exocyclic C=O oriented anti to the ring N–C(=O) bond and negligible intermolecular interactions, a pattern consistent with previously reported analogues. In contrast the parent NH heterocycle, oxazolin-2(3H)-one 4, exists as hydrogen bonded dimers of two closely similar independent molecules but an unusual type of disorder involving exchange of the ring O and NH positions results in a very high R factor.

Acyclic Twisted Amides

In this contribution, we provide a comprehensive overview of acyclic twisted amides, covering the literature since 1993 (the year of the first recognized report on acyclic twisted amides) through June 2020. The review focuses on classes of acyclic twisted amides and their key structural properties, such as amide bond twist and nitrogen pyramidalization, which are primarily responsible for disrupting n_N to π*_C═O conjugation. Through discussing acyclic twisted amides in comparison with the classic bridged lactams and conformationally restricted cyclic fused amides, the reader is provided with an overview of amidic distortion that results in novel conformational features of acyclic amides that can be exploited in various fields of chemistry ranging from organic synthesis and polymers to biochemistry and structural chemistry and the current position of acyclic twisted amides in modern chemistry.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Pyroglutamic Acid Esters from Glycinate via Carbonyl Catalysis

Direct α-functionalization of NH₂ -free glycinates with relatively weak electrophiles such as α,β-unsaturated esters still remains a big challenge in organic synthesis. With chiral pyridoxal 5 d as a carbonyl catalyst, direct asymmetric conjugated addition at the α-C of glycinate 1 a with α,β-unsaturated esters 2 has been successfully realized, to produce various chiral pyroglutamic acid esters 4 in 14-96 % yields with 81-97 % ee's after in situ lactamization. The trans and cis diastereomers can be obtained at the same time by chromatography and both of them can be easily converted into chiral 4-substituted pyrrolidin-2-ones such as Alzheimer's drug Rolipram (11) with the same absolute configuration via tert-butyl group removal and subsequent Barton decarboxylation.

Biocatalytic Reduction of Activated Cinnamic Acid Derivatives : Asymmetric reduction of C=C double bonds using Johnson Matthey enzymes

The asymmetric reduction of C=C double bonds is a sought-after chemical transformation to obtain chiral molecules used in the synthesis of fine chemicals. Biocatalytic C=C double bond reduction is a particularly interesting transformation complementary to more established chemocatalytic methods. The enzymes capable of catalysing this reaction are called ene-reductases (ENEs). For the reaction to take place, ENEs need an electron withdrawing group (EWG) in conjugation with the double bond. Especially favourable EWGs are carbonyls and nitro groups; other EWGs, such as carboxylic acids, esters or nitriles, often give poor results. In this work, a substrate engineering strategy is proposed whereby a simple transformation of the carboxylic acid into a fluorinated ester or a cyclic imide allows to increase the ability of ENEs to reduce the conjugated double bond. Up to complete conversion of the substrates tested was observed with enzymes ENE-105 and *ENE-69.

Bifunctional Brønsted Base Catalyzed [3 + 3] Annulations of Indolin-2-imines and α,β-Unsaturated Imides: An Enantioselective Approach to α-Carbolinones

Asymmetric construction of α-carbolinones with easily available starting materials has recently attracted considerable attention from the synthesis community, and the development of effective catalysis for this target is in great demand. Here, a bifunctional Brønsted base catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 3] cyclization of indolin-2-imines and α,β-unsaturated N-acylated succinimides was developed by using the strategy of noncovalent bonding catalysis. With this organocatalytic protocol, a variety of tetrahydro-α-carbolinones bearing different substituents were synthesized with up to 99% yield and up to 96:4 er.

Tailor-Made Amino Acids and Fluorinated Motifs as Prominent Traits in Modern Pharmaceuticals

Structural analysis of modern pharmaceutical practices allows for the identification of two rapidly growing trends: the introduction of tailor-made amino acids and the exploitation of fluorinated motifs. Curiously, the former represents one of the most ubiquitous classes of naturally occurring compounds, whereas the latter is the most xenobiotic and comprised virtually entirely of man-made derivatives. Herein, 39 selected compounds, featuring both of these traits in the same molecule, are profiled. The total synthesis, source of the corresponding amino acids and fluorinated residues, and medicinal chemistry aspects and biological properties of the molecules are discussed.

Which Stereoinductor Is Better for Asymmetric Functionalization of α-Amino Acids in a Nickel(II) Coordination Environment? Experimental and DFT Considerations

The results of extended comparative investigation of nickel(II) Schiff base complexes (containing various auxiliary chiral moieties) commonly used as a methodological platform for the asymmetric synthesis of tailor-made α-amino acids are provided. The following issues are addressed: 1) redox activity (determining the possibility for electrochemically induced reactions); 2) quantitative estimation of the reactivity of deprotonated complexes towards electrophiles; and 3) quantum-chemical estimation of noncovalent interactions in the metal coordination environment (which shed light on the origin of the stereochemical outcome observed for different stereoinductors). Possible mechanisms that determine the relationship between the stereochemical configuration of a molecule and its electronic structure are discussed. The DFT-calculated HOMO-LUMO energies and localization, as well as relative energies for the (S)- and (R)-alanine derivatives, that determine the stereoinduction efficiency in thermodynamically controlled reactions in nickel(II) coordination are provided. The computational data are supported by experimental results on the monobenzylation of glycine derivatives.

Preparative Method for Asymmetric Synthesis of (S)-2-Amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic Acid

Enantiomerically pure derivatives of 2-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid are in great demand as bioisostere of leucine moiety in the drug design. Here, we disclose a method specifically developed for large-scale (>150 g) preparation of the target (S)-N-Fmoc-2-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid. The method employs a recyclable chiral auxiliary to form the corresponding Ni(II) complex with glycine Schiff base, which is alkylated with CF3-CH2-I under basic conditions. The resultant alkylated Ni(II) complex is disassembled to reclaim the chiral auxiliary and 2-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid, which is in situ converted to the N-Fmoc derivative. The whole procedure was reproduced several times for consecutive preparation of over 300 g of the target (S)-N-Fmoc-2-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid.

Development of Hamari Ligands for Practical Asymmetric Synthesis of Tailor-Made Amino Acids

Enantiomerically pure tailor-made amino acids are in extremely high demand in nearly every sector of the health-related industries. In particular, the rapidly growing number of amino-acid-based pharmaceuticals calls for the development of advanced synthetic approaches featuring practicality and commercial viability. Here we provide a brief summary of the development of axially chiral tridentate Hamari ligands and their application for general asymmetric synthesis of various structural types of amino acids. The methodological diversity includes: dynamic kinetic resolution and (S)-/(R)-interconversion of unprotected amino acids and homologation of nucleophilic glycine equivalents via alkyl halide alkylation reactions as well as multiple-step transformations allowing preparation of polyfunctional and cyclic derivatives. The practicality of these methods is critically discussed.

Applications of fluorine-containing amino acids for drug design

Fluorine-containing amino acids are becoming increasingly prominent in new drugs due to two general trends in the modern pharmaceutical industry. Firstly, the growing acceptance of peptides and modified peptides as drugs; and secondly, fluorine editing has become a prevalent protocol in drug-candidate optimization. Accordingly, fluorine-containing amino acids represent one of the more promising and rapidly developing areas of research in organic, bio-organic and medicinal chemistry. The goal of this Review article is to highlight the current state-of-the-art in this area by profiling 42 selected compounds that combine fluorine and amino acid structural elements. The compounds under discussion represent pharmaceutical drugs currently on the market, or in clinical trials as well as examples of drug-candidates that although withdrawn from development had a significant impact on the progress of medicinal chemistry and/or provided a deeper understanding of the nature and mechanism of biological action. For each compound, we present features of biological activity, a brief history of the design principles and the development of the synthetic approach, focusing on the source of tailor-made amino acid structures and fluorination methods. General aspects of the medicinal chemistry of fluorine-containing amino acids and synthetic methodology are briefly discussed.

Approaches to Obtaining Fluorinated α-Amino Acids

Fluorine does not belong to the pool of chemical elements that nature uses to build organic matter. However, chemists have exploited the unique properties of fluorine and produced countless fluoro-organic compounds without which our everyday lives would be unimaginable. The incorporation of fluorine into amino acids established a completely new class of amino acids and their properties, and those of the biopolymers constructed from them are extremely interesting. Increasing interest in this class of amino acids caused the demand for robust and stereoselective synthetic protocols that enable straightforward access to these building blocks. Herein, we present a comprehensive account of the literature in this field going back to 1995. We place special emphasis on a particular fluorination strategy. The four main sections describe fluorinated versions of alkyl, cyclic, aromatic amino acids, and also nickel-complexes to access them. We progress by one carbon unit increments. Special cases of amino acids for which there is no natural counterpart are described at the end of each section. Synthetic access to each of the amino acids is summarized in form of a table at the end of this article with the aim to make the information easily accessible to the reader.

Catalytic asymmetric aldol addition reactions of 3-fluoro-indolinone derived enolates

Reported herein is a Cu(i)/bisoxazoline ligand-catalyzed aldol reaction of unprotected tertiary enolates generated in situ from 3-(1,1-dihydroxy-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-substituted derivatives of 3-fluoro-2-oxindoles. A range of α-fluoro-β-aryl/hetaryl/alkyl-β-hydroxy-indolin-2-ones containing C-F quaternary stereogenic centers of high pharmaceutical importance were furnished in good yields and satisfactory diastereo- and enantioselectivities. The reactions were conducted under operationally convenient conditions and displayed wide substrate/functional group generality including unprotected N-H on the tertiary enolates, and aromatic, hetero-aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes.

Asymmetric synthesis of C–F quaternary α-fluoro-β-amino-indolin-2-ones via Mannich addition reactions; facets of reactivity, structural generality and stereochemical outcome

An asymmetric detrifluoroacetylative Mannich reaction between in situ generated tertiary enolates and sulfinyl-imines has been explored. The reaction provides a new access to α-fluoro-β-amino-indolin-2-ones with tetrasubstituted fluorinated stereogenic center.

Detrifluoroacetylative in Situ Generation of Free 3-Fluoroindolin-2-one-Derived Tertiary Enolates: Design, Synthesis, and Assessment of Reactivity toward Asymmetric Mannich Reactions

The discovery of detrifluoroacetylative in situ generation of a new type of fluorinated amide enolates derived from 3-fluoroindolin-2-one and their asymmetric Mannich additions with sulfinylaldimines bearing fluoroalkyl groups is reported, which afforded α-fluoro-β-(fluoroalkyl)-β-aminoindolin-2-ones containing C-F quaternary stereogenic centers with excellent yields and high diastereoselectivities.

Asymmetric synthesis of quaternary α-fluoro-β-keto-amines via detrifluoroacetylative Mannich reactions

Efficient asymmetric detrifluoroacetylative Mannich addition reactions between 2-fluoro-1,3-di-ketones/hydrates and chiral N-sulfinyl-imines via C-C bond cleavage were reported, which afforded C-F quaternary α-fluoro-β-keto-amines with excellent yields and high diastereoselectivity.

Assembly of Fluorinated Quaternary Stereogenic Centers through Catalytic Enantioselective Detrifluoroacetylative Aldol Reactions

A Cu-catalyzed asymmetric detrifluoroacetylative aldol addition reaction of 2-fluoro-1,3-diketones/hydrates to aldehydes in the presence of base and chiral bidentate ligand was developed. The reaction was carried out under convenient conditions and tolerated a wide range of substrates, resulting in fluorinated quaternary stereogenic α-fluoro-β-hydroxy ketone products with good chemical yields, diastereo- and enantioselectivities. This catalytic asymmetric detrifluoroacetylative aldol addition reaction provides a new approach for the preparation of biologically relevant products containing C-F quaternary stereogenic centers.

Synthesis of trifluoromethyl-containing vicinal diamines by asymmetric decarboxylative mannich addition reactions

Herein is reported a study of asymmetric decarboxylative Mannich addition reactions between (Ss)-N-t-butylsulfinyl-3,3,3-trifluoroacetaldimine and Schiff bases derived from various aldehydes and lithium 2,2-diphenylglycinate. These reactions proceed with excellent diastereoselectivities and good chemical yields, providing a practical method for preparation of trifluoromethyl-containing vicinal diamines. The procedures can be conducted under convenient conditions, rendering this approach of high synthetic value.

Asymmetric synthesis of amino-benzothiazol derivatives by additions of 2-lithiated benzothiazoles to (S)-N-t-butylsulfinyl-ketimines

We reported the asymmetric Mannich reactions between lithium-benzothiazoles and (S)-N-tert-butanesulfinylketimines, which gave unknown type of amino-benzothiazol derivatives of high pharmaceutical potential with up to 96% yields and 99 : 1 diastereoselectivities.

Synthesis of optically pure (S)-2-amino-5-arylpent-4-ynoic acids by Sonogashira reactions and their potential use as highly selective potent inhibitors of aldose reductase

A new and convenient synthesis of optically pure (S)-2-amino-5-[aryl]pent-4-ynoic acids (alkynylated amino acids) is reported.

Asymmetric synthesis of (1R,2S)-1-amino-2-vinylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid by sequential SN2–SN2′ dialkylation of (R)-N-(benzyl)proline-derived glycine Schiff base Ni(ii) complex

The synthesis of the title compound, a key structural fragment of several hepatitis C virus inhibitors, is described.

Practical synthesis of fluorine-containing α- and β-amino acids: recipes from Kiev, Ukraine

Naturally occurring compounds containing a C-F bond are extremely rare; only a handful of fluorine-containing carboxylic acids have been described so far. By contrast, man-made fluorine-containing derivatives of all major classes of biologically important compounds are extremely promising medicinal targets used in the elucidation of biochemical, metabolic transformations and the development of new pharmaceuticals. Among the fluorine-containing derivatives of natural products, fluorinated analogs of amino acids are of particular interest and medicinal potential. This article presents a concise review of various synthetic methods, developed by the Kiev's school of bioorganic chemistry, for the preparation of fluorine-containing analogs of α- and β-amino acids, α-hydroxy acids, amines, as well as their phosphorus and sulfur-derived compounds, in enantiomerically pure form. One of the major methodological goals of the study was practicality, which is understood by us as stereochemical generality, operational convenience and synthetic affordance for each reaction step and isolation of the target products. The synthetic methods developed by our group can be roughly divided in two general categories: fluorine-adaptation of known synthetic approaches and discovery of new reactions. The former approach is most prominently represented by asymmetric homologation of nucleophilic glycine equivalents using fluorinated substrates via alkyl halide alkylations, aldol and Michael addition reactions. A plethora of discovered unexpected reaction outcomes, in particular stereochemical, are emphasized in this review and the particular role of fluorine, in altering the 'normal' reaction result, is explained. The latter direction is notably represented by the novel 1,3-proton shift reaction, a biomimetic reductive amination of fluorinated carbonyl compounds to the corresponding amines and amino acids, as well as the development of α-fluoroalkyl epoxides as true fluorinated synthons for generalized asymmetric synthesis of various biologically relevant compounds. Despite the highly anticipated potential of fluorine-containing amino compounds, their medicinal chemistry still remains underexplored. The major obstacle, in our opinion, is that these selectively fluorinated compounds are generally unavailable to the medicinal chemists for comprehensive, systematic study. We hope this review of synthetic methods will highlight and bring attention to particular types of fluorinated amino acids and related compounds readily available on a laboratory scale using methods developed by our group.

Enhanced stereoselectivity of a Cu(II) complex chiral auxiliary in the synthesis of Fmoc-L-γ-carboxyglutamic acid

L-γ-Carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) is an uncommon amino acid that binds avidly to mineral surfaces and metal ions. Herein, we report the synthesis of N-α-Fmoc-L-γ-carboxyglutamic acid γ,γ'-tert-butyl ester (Fmoc-Gla(O(t)Bu)(2)-OH), a suitably protected analogue for Fmoc-based solid-phase peptide synthesis. The residue was synthesized using a novel chiral Cu(II) complex, whose structure-based design was inspired by the blue copper protein rusticyanin. The five-coordinate complex is formed by Shiff base formation between glycine and the novel ligand (S)-2-(N-(2-methylthio)benzylprolyl)aminobenzophenone in the presence of copper. Michael addition of di-tert-butyl methylenemalonate to the α-carbon of the glycine portion of the complex occurs in a diastereoselective fashion. The resulting (S,S)-complex diastereomer can be easily purified by chromatography. Metal complex decomposition followed by Fmoc protection affords the enantiomerically pure amino acid. With the use of this novel chiral complex, the asymmetric synthesis of Fmoc-Gla(O(t)Bu)(2)-OH was completed in nine steps from thiosalicylic acid in 14.5% overall yield.

Organic chemistry and biology: chemical biology through the eyes of collaboration

From a scientific perspective, efforts to understand biology including what constitutes health and disease has become a chemical problem. However, chemists and biologists "see" the problems of understanding biology from different perspectives, and this has retarded progress in solving the problems especially as they relate to health and disease. This suggests that close collaboration between chemists and biologists is not only necessary but essential for progress in both the biology and chemistry that will provide solutions to the global questions of biology. This perspective has directed my scientific efforts for the past 45 years, and in this overview I provide my perspective of how the applications of synthetic chemistry, structural design, and numerous other chemical principles have intersected in my collaborations with biologists to provide new tools, new science, and new insights that were only made possible and fruitful by these collaborations.

Resolution/deracemization of chiral alpha-amino acids using resolving reagents with flexible stereogenic centers

This work has demonstrated that a previously unexplored approach to separation of enantiomers via formation of diastereomeric derivatives with three stereogenic centers has obvious practical potential and deserves further systematic study. The design reported here is based on the unusual application of a configurationally unstable stereogenic nitrogen, which plays a key role in setting up the stereochemical match between the three stereogenic centers in the corresponding products.

A Mild Highly Efficient and Green Protocol for Preparation of N-alk-2′-Enoyl Cyclic Imides Using Basic Ionic Liquid [bmIm]OH as Base and Reaction Medium

An efficient and green protocol for the preparation of N-alk-2′-enoyl cyclic imides at room temperature was developed using a basic ionic liquid, 1-methyl-3-butylimidazolium hydroxide, [bmIm]OH, as a base and a reaction medium.

Novel Michael addition products of bis(amino acidato)metal(II) complexes: synthesis, characterization, dye degradation, and oxidation properties

Michael addition reactions of bis(amino acidato)metal(II) complexes (metal = copper, nickel, zinc; amino acid = glycine, dl-alanine, l-alanine) with acrylonitrile have been carried out under various experimental conditions in the absence of a base, resulting in mono- and disubstituted products in high yield, including partially hydrolyzed products. A reaction mechanism for the Michael addition on the nitrogen atom of the coordinated amino acid moiety, replacing the amino hydrogen atom(s), is proposed. All of the products have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance spectra, and elemental and electrochemical analyses. The single-crystal structures of bis( N-cyanoethylglycinato)copper(II) monohydrate ( 1a), diaquabis( N-cyanoethylglycinato)nickel(II), aquabis( N, N-dicyanoethylglycinato)copper(II) ( 2a), and bis[( N-propionamido- N-cyanoethyl)glycinato]copper(II) dihydrate ( 4a) have been confirmed by X-ray diffraction techniques. The products 1a, 2a, 4a, and bis( N-propionamidoglycinato)copper(II) monohydrate ( 3a) have been used as catalysts for the degradation of a phenol red dye and mild oxidation of various organic substrates in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The monosubstituted complexes have been found to catalyze the reactions to a greater extent than the disubstituted complexes.

Isolation and identification of antiplatelet aggregatory principles from the leaves of Piper lolot

The methanolic extract of Piper lolot, having shown potent inhibitory activity on platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid (AA) and platelet activating factor (PAF), was subjected to activity-guided isolation to yield twelve new amide alkaloids, piperlotine A-L (1-12), along with twenty-nine known compounds. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The isolated compounds were tested for their inhibitory activity on the rabbit platelet aggregation. The compounds piperlotine A (1), piperlotine C (3), piperlotine D (4), piperlotine E (5), 3-phenyl-1-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)propan-1-one (21), 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)propan-1-one (22), 1-trans-cinnamoylpyrrolidine (24), sarmentine (26), pellitorine (27), methyl 3-phenylpropionate (32), and (10S)-10-hydroxypheophorbide a methyl ester (40) showed potent antiplatelet aggregation activity.

Efficient asymmetric synthesis of novel 4-substituted and configurationally stable analogues of thalidomide

The preparation of new thalidomide derivatives 4-methyl-(3S,4R)-3a and 4-phenyl-(3S,4S)-3b starting from pyroglutamic acids (2R,3R)-7a and (2R,3S)-7b, possessing an inappropriate stereochemistry, was successfully realized due to stereochemically complete epimerization at the alpha-stereogenic center upon formation of the corresponding N-phthaloyl anhydrides 9a,b. The demonstrated conformational stability of these new thalidomide derivatives provides solid experimental evidence for practical feasibility of the approach described here to overcome the inherent problem of configurational instability of thalidomide by introducing an alkyl or aryl group in the C4 position. [reaction: see text].

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of a new generation of modular nucleophilic glycine equivalents for the efficient synthesis of sterically constrained alpha-amino acids

A new generation of modular achiral glycine equivalents have been evaluated with respect to their synthetic utility for the production of tailor-made, sterically constrained alpha-amino acids, which proved to be the most efficient approach developed to date for the synthesis of symmetrical alpha,alpha-disubstituted-alpha-amino acids. Among the new series of achiral glycine equivalents, one was found to be a superior glycine derivative for the Michael additions with various (R)- or (S)-N-(E-enoyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones representing a general and practical synthesis of sterically constrained beta-substituted pyroglutamic acids. In particular, the application of these complexes allowed for the preparation of several beta-substituted pyroglutamic acids which include electron-releasing and sterically demanding substituents in the structure thus increasing the synthetic efficiency and expanding the generality of these Michael addition reactions.