Synthesis of esters of diaminotruxillic bis-amino acids by Pd-mediated photocycloaddition of analogs of the Kaede protein chromophore

The stereoselective synthesis of truxillic bis-amino esters from polyfunctional oxazolones is reported. The reaction of 4-((Z)-arylidene)-2-(E)-styryl-5(4H)-oxazolones 2 with Pd(OAc)₂ resulted in ortho-palladation and the formation of a dinuclear open-book complexes 3 with carboxylate bridges, where the Pd atom is C^N bonded to the oxazolone. In 3 the two exocyclic C=C bonds of the oxazolone are in a face-to-face arrangement, which is optimal for their [2 + 2] photocycloaddition. Irradiation of dimers 3 in CH₂Cl₂ solution with blue light (465 nm) promoted the chemo- and stereoselective [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of the exocyclic C=C bonds and the formation of cyclobutane-containing ortho-palladated complexes 4. Treatment of 4 with CO in a MeOH/NCMe mixture promoted the methoxycarbonylation of the palladated carbon and the release of the corresponding ortho-functionalized 1,3-diaminotruxillic bis-amino esters 5 as single isomers.

Synthesis of conformationally restricted glutamate and glutamine derivatives from carbonylation of orthopalladated phenylglycine derivatives

A new method for the regioselective synthesis of 2-alkoxycarbonyl- and 2-(aminocarbonyl)phenylglycinate methyl esters has been developed. The reaction of the orthopalladated complex [Pd(μ-Cl)(C(6)H(4)(CH(CO(2)Me)NMe(2))-2)](2) (1) with nucleophiles HNu under a CO atmosphere results in the selective incorporation of the C(O)Nu moiety to the phenyl ring and formation of the carbonyl species ortho-C(6)H(4)(C(O)Nu)(CH(CO(2)Me)NMe(2)) (2a-j) (Nu = OR, NHR, NR(2)). Compounds 2a-j are conformationally restricted analogues of glutamic acid and glutamine and are interesting due to their biological and pharmacological properties. The reaction of [Pd(μ-Cl)(C(6)H(4)(CH(CO(2)Me)NHTf)-2)](2) (3) with nucleophiles in a CO atmosphere results, however, in the formation of the cyclic isoindolinone or the open 2-carboxyphenylglycine methyl esters, with the reaction outcome being driven by the choice of the solvent.