Synthesis of enantiopure non-natural alpha-amino acids using tert-butyl (2S)-2-[bis-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-5-oxopentanoate as key-intermediate:the first synthesis of(S)-2-amino-oleic acid

A novel monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitor with analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity

A variety of long chain 1,2-diamines and related compounds were synthesized and tested for their activity on fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacyglycerol lipase (MGL). (2S,9Z)-Octadec-9-ene-1,2-diamine selectively inhibits MGL (K(i) 21.8 microM) without significantly affecting FAAH. This compound exhibited interesting in vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting that selective inhibitors of MGL may be valuable novel agents for the treatment of inflammatory pain.

Engineered dehydrogenase biocatalysts for non-natural amino acids: efficient isolation of the D-enantiomer from racemic mixtures

With a view to their use in the kinetic resolution of racemic non-natural amino acids, five variants of the enzyme L-phenylalanine dehydrogenase, the wild-type enzyme from Bacillus sphaericus and four active-site mutants, have been tested with a range of amino acids. In each case, the rates of reaction with 0.2 mM L-amino acid and with the racemic mixture at 0.4 mM were compared, so that the starting concentration of the active substrate was kept constant. Although the D-amino acids are not substrates, they were inhibitory in all cases. The extent of inhibition, however, varied greatly from compound to compound and among the mutants. With the N145L mutant and DL 4-O-Me-Phe, the equimolar D-enantiomer gave 83.2% inhibition, and with the wild-type enzyme there was 86.7% inhibition with racemic norleucine. By contrast, with these same substrates the N145V mutant showed less than 9% and 24% inhibition respectively. The N145A mutant was selected for use with DL-4-Cl-Phe. The pH was decreased from the enzyme's optimum of 10.4 to 9.5 to minimise breakdown of the coenzyme NAD(+), and the coenzyme was recycled by molecular oxygen with the assistance of a commercial diaphorase. Reaction on a 200 micromole scale in 20 ml ethanolamine HCl buffer, pH 9.5, with 25 microg N145A enzyme and 100 microg diaphorase, was monitored by chiral HPLC. The L-isomer was removed to an extent of >99% after 40 h, with the D-isomer peak undiminished. The pure D-isomer was isolated from the reaction mixture in 85% overall yield after ion-exchange chromatography.

Synthesis and activity of 2-oxoamides containing long chain β-amino acids

2-Oxoamides based on long chain beta-amino acids were synthesized. 1-Benzyl substituted long chain amines, needed for such synthesis, were synthesized starting from Boc-phenylalaninol. The oxidative conversion of a phenyl group to a carboxyl group was used as the key transformation synthetic step. The compounds synthesized were studied for their activity against GIVA PLA(2), and were proven to be weak inhibitors.

Triacylglycerols based on 2-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)oleic acid are potent inhibitors of pancreatic lipase

A novel class of potent human pancreatic lipase (HPL) inhibitors was developed. Triacylglycerol analogues containing 2-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino) fatty acids were synthesized, and their ability to form stable films at the air/water interface was studied. The inhibition of human digestive lipases by the compounds synthesized was studied by the monolayer technique, and the triesters of glycerol and 2-methylglycerol with 2-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)oleic acid were found to be potent inhibitors of HPL.

Synthesis and In vivo anti-inflammatory activity of long-chain 2-amino-alcohols

The synthesis of optically pure long-chain 2-amino-alcohols and 1-O-dodecyl-2-deoxy-2-amino-sn-glycerol was carried out starting from L- or D-Boc-Ser(OBn)-ol by oxidation and consecutive Wittig reaction or etherification reaction. 2-Amino-oleyl alcohol was synthesized by reduction of the corresponding 2-amino-oleic acid. All the long chain amino-alcohols presented interesting inhibition of carrageenin-induced paw edema in rats (ED(50) from 0.017 to 0.010 mmol/kg).