Acid-catalyzed stereoselective heteronucleophilic substitution and racemization of 3-O-methyloxazepam and 3-O-ethyloxazepam

Enantiomers of 3-O-methyloxazepam (MeOX) and 3-O-ethyloxazepam (EtOX) were resolved by chiral stationary phase high-performance liquid chromatography (CSP-HPLC). Reaction kinetics and deuterium isotope effects of acid-catalyzed racemization of enantiomeric MeOX in ethanol and enantiomeric EtOX in methanol were studied by spectropolarimetry. The acid-catalyzed heteronucleophilic substitution reactions of racemic MeOX in ethanol and racemic EtOX in methanol were studied by reversed-phase HPLC. Thermodynamic parameters involved in the reactions were obtained by temperature-dependent reaction rates. The effects of solvent's dielectric constant on the heteronucleophilic substitution reactions were also determined. A nucleophilically solvated and transient C3 carbocation intermediate resulting from an N4-protonated enantiomer, derived from a 1,4-benzodiazcpine either in M (minus) or P (plus) conformation, is proposed to be an intermediate and responsible for the acid-catalyzed stereoselective nucleophilic substitution and the resulting racemization. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Inversion of chiral α-methylbenzylamine

More effective use of optical resolution processes can be obtained by increasing the overall yields after development of methods for inversion of the chiral centre of the unwanted isomer. The configuration of some optically active amines can be inverted in a three-step synthesis via the N,N-ditosylimides and a subsequent nucleophilic substitution by the azide ion. The azide product is reduced by hydrogenolysis. Low stereoselectivity caused by racemization to some extent was at first observed for the inversion of the benzylic substrate, (S)-α-methylbenzylamine ( 5a ). However, modified reaction conditions allowed increased stereoselectivity, a more rapid and almost complete inversion of this substate as well. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Microbial deracemisation of aromatic β-hydroxy acid esters

Aromatic β-hydroxy acid esters were found to undergo deracemisation using whole cells of Candida parapsilosis. The conditions for the deracemisation reaction were optimised where 75% isolated yield and >95% enantiomeric excess of the product was achieved. The effect of electron donating as well as electron withdrawing groups present in the standard substrate, ethyl 3-hydroxy 3-phenyl propionate was studied to establish the generality of the reaction. The enantiomeric excess of the product remains high (>95%) irrespective of the different substituents in the para position but substitution at the ortho position obstructs the process. Similarly, ethyl and methyl esters of the standard substrate undergo deracemisation reaction giving high ee of the product, but the benzyl ester of the standard substrate did not undergo deracemisation.     

Substitution and racemization of 3-hydroxy- and 3-alkoxy-1,4-benzodiazepines in acidic aqueous solutions

Oxazepam (OX), 3-O-methyloxazepam, 3-O-ethyloxazepam, temazepam (TMZ), 3-O-methyltemazepam, and 3-O-ethyltemazepam underwent acid-catalyzed nucleophilic substitution reaction (hydrolysis) in an acetonitrile–oxygen-18 water mixture to form either OX or TMZ in which the 3-hydroxyl group was either partially or fully labeled with an oxygen-18 atom. The dependence of the hydrolysis rates on solvent composition, temperature, ionic strength, and in deuterated solvent was studied by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The rates of racemization of enantiomeric compounds in acidic aqueous solutions were studied by both spectropolarimetry and chiral stationary phase HPLC. In acetonitrile: 2.5 M H₂SO₄ (4:1, v/v) at 50°C, enantiomers of OX and TMZ underwent racemization at rates ≥40-fold faster than the rates of hydrolysis. Enantiomeric 3-O-alkyl derivatives of OX and TMZ in acidic aqueous solutions did not themselves undergo racemization and it was their hydrolysis products (either OX or TMZ) that underwent racemization. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Acid-Catalyzed nucleophilic substitution and racemization of 3-methoxy-N-desmethyldiazepam enantiomers in methanol

pK_a1 values of 3-methoxy-N-desmethyldiazepam in acetonitrile and methanol containing various acid concentrations were determined by spectrophotometry to be 3.5 and 1.3, respectively. Temperature-dependent racemization of enantiomeric 3-methoxy-N-desmethyldiazepam in methanol containing 0.5 M H₂SO₄ was studied by circular dichroism spectropolorimetry and the racemization reactions were found to follow apparent first-order kinetics. Thermodynamic parameters of the racemization reaction were found to be: E_act = 18.8 kcal/mol, and at 25°C: ΔH^? = 18.3 kcal/mol, ΔS^? = ?14.8 entropy unit, and ΔG^? = 22.7 kcal/mol, respectively. The racemization had an isotope effect (k_H/k_D) of 1.6 at 42°C. Based on the results of this report and those of earlier reports by other investigators, a nucleophilically solvated C3 carbocation intermediate resulting from either a P (plus) or an M (minus) conformation is proposed to be an intermediate and responsible for the stereoselective nucleophilic substitution and the subsequent racemization of 3-methoxy-N-desmethyldiazepam enantiomers. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A comparative molecular field analysis of the biotransformation of sulfides by Rhodococcus erythropolis

A comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) was used to model the efficacy with which the Rhodococcus erythropolis mono-oxygenase, DszC, catalyzes the enantioselective sulfoxidation of a broad range of substrates. Experimentally determined values of both the yield and enantiomeric excess for this reaction were employed to create these CoMFA models. A highly predictive CoMFA model was constructed for the prediction of enantiomeric excess of the sulfoxide product. The predictive ability of the model was demonstrated by both cross-validation of the training set (q² = 0.74) and for an external test set of substrates. The enantiomeric excesses of the members of the test set, which also included two amino acid sulfides that were structurally distinct from the membership of the training set, were predicted well by the CoMFA model. Product yield was not modelled well by any CoMFA model. Different models comparing the likely bioactive conformations of the substrates suggest that most compounds assume an ‘extended’ conformation upon binding. Contour diagrams illustrating significant substrate–enzyme interactions suggest that the model, which predicts the enantiomeric excess, is consistent with previous conclusions regarding the effect of various substrate substitutions on the enantiopurity of the product of the biotransformation.     

Stereoselective nucleophilic substitution of oxazepam and racemization in acidic methanol and ethanol

Enantiomeric and racemic oxazepam (OX), 3-O-methyloxazepam (MeOX), and 3-O-ethyloxazepam (EtOX) were used to study racemization, heteronucleophilic, and homonucleophilic substitution reactions in anhydrous acidic methanol and ethanol. Kinetics of racemization and nucleophilic substitution reactions in nondeuterated and deuterated solvents were determined by circular dichroism spectropolarimetry, chiral stationary phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), reversed-phase HPLC, and mass spectrometry. Several reactions occurred when (S)-OX, for example, was dissolved in acidic methanol: (1) (S)-OX itself underwent spontaneous racemization, (2) the 3-hydroxyl group of (S)-OX was stereoselectively substituted by the methoxy group of methanol to form MeOX enriched in (S)-MeOX, (3) the 3-methoxy group of (S)-MeOX was stereoselectively substituted by the methoxy group of methanol to form MeOX enriched in (S)-MeOX, and (4) the 3-methoxy group of (R)-MeOX was stereoselectively substituted by the methoxy group of methanol to form MeOX enriched in (R)-MeOX. Repetitive reactions 3 and 4 eventually resulted in a racemic MeOX. Similar reactions occurred for an enantiomeric OX in acidic ethanol. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

1 This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

     

Chirality sensing with synthetic pores

A concept to determine enantiomeric excess with synthetic multifunctional pores is introduced. To do so, the poor stereoselectivity of molecular recognition by stimuli-responsive pores is coupled with the stereospecificity of enzymes. With substrates as good and products as poor pore blockers, enzymatic conversion of one enantiomer is shown to readily reveal the concentration of the other one. Calculations suggest that high substrate/product discrimination by the synthetic pores may provide access to the accurate detection of the extreme enantiomeric excess that is of interest in chemistry, pharmacology, and medicine, but otherwise possibly problematic to detect. Validity of the introduced concept is experimentally confirmed with poly-L-glutamate and poly-D-glutamate as enantiomeric substrates with high blockage efficiency, L-glutamate and D-glutamate as enantiomeric products with poor blockage efficiency, subtilisin A as enzyme, and a classical rigid-rod beta-barrel as synthetic pore.     

Improving lipase-catalyzed enantioselective ammonolysis of phenylglycine methyl ester in organic solvent by in situ racemization

Lipase-catalyzed enantioselective ammonolysis of phenylglycine methyl ester was processed by in situ racemization with ammonium carbamate as the acyl acceptor. Using 1 mM benzaldehyde or 0.6 mM chloropyridoxal as the racemizing catalyst, 80% substrate conversion with an enantiomeric excess of the product of 95% were achieved at 20 °C after 7 h reaction.     

Microbial Hydrogenation of Nitroolefins

Microorganisms which hydrogenate 2-nitro-1-phenyl-1-propene were screened in type cultures and soil samples. Some actinomycetes belonging to Rhodococcus, Nocardia and Mycobacterium asymmetrically reduced the substrate and gave optically active 2-nitro-1-phenylpropane. Among them, Rhodococcus rhodochrous IFO 3338 gave the best results. The saturated compound was obtained quantitatively, when cultivation was carried out for 3 days at 30°C with a substrate concentration of 0.4%. The optical purity of the product was seriously affected by the pH of the medium. The more acidic the medium, the higher the enantiomeric excess. The results suggested that non-enzymatic racemization of the product takes place even under neutral conditions. Other substrates, such as 2-nitro-1-propene were also converted to optically active 2-nitro-1-substituted propane.     

An efficient system for the asymmetric acylation of (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide catalyzed by novozyme 435

Novozyme 435 could be a highly efficient catalyst in the asymmetric acylation of (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide in tetrahydrofuran-hexane solvents. The effect of various reaction parameters such as agitation velocity, water content, mixed media, temperature, concentration of Novozyme 435, molar ratio of acetic anhydride to (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide, reaction time, enantiomeric excess of substrate (ee(S)), enantiomeric excess of product (ee(P)), and enantioselective ratio (E) were studied. Tetrahydrofuran markedly improved (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide conversion, enantiomeric excess of remaining 3-n-butylphthalide, and enantiomeric ratio. The optimum media were 50% (v/v) tetrahydrofuran and 50% (v/v) hexane. Other ideal reaction conditions were an agitation velocity of 150 rpm, 0.4% (v/v) water content, temperature of 30 °C, 8 mg/mL dosage of Novozyme 435, 8:1 (0.4 mmol: 0.05 mmol) molar ratio of acetic anhydride to (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide, and a reaction time of 48 hr. Under the optimum conditions, 96.4% ee(S) and 49.3% conversion of (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide were achieved. In addition, enantiomeric excess of the product was above 98.0%.     

Simultaneous monitoring of the enantiomeric purities of both substrate and product in the enzymatic resolution of (R,S)-2-acetoxy-3-bromopropyl para-toluenesulfonate by HPLC chiral column chromatography

The enantiomeric purities of both substrate, 2-acetoxy-3-bromopropyl para-toluenesulfonate (I), and product, 2-hydroxy-3-bromopropyl p-toluenesulfonate (II) were examined in one analysis. The enzymatic resolution was conducted by Amano lipase AK and the enantiomeric excess as well as the conversion rate were monitored by HPLC analysis utilizing a Chiralcel OD column. After 7 h of reaction, HPLC results indicated that the enantiomeric purities of both substrate (I) and product (II) were greater than 95% and the conversion rate was around 55%. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Racemization and stereoselective alcoholysis of temazepam

Enantiomers of temazepam (TMZ), an anxiolytic drug in clinical use, were resolved and stabilized by the use of aprotic solvents in chiral stationary phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (CSP‐HPLC). The enantiomers were used to study racemization and heteronucleophilic substitution (alcoholysis) reactions in anhydrous acidic methanol and ethanol. Kinetics of spontaneous racemization and stereoselective conversions to 3‐O‐methyltemazepam (MeTMZ) and 3‐O‐ethyltemazepam (EtTMZ) were determined by circular dichroism (CD) spectropolarimetry and CSP‐HPLC. The rates of conversion of rac‐TMZ to rac‐MeTMZ (or rac‐EtTMZ) were determined by ultraviolet‐visible spectrophotometry. The results indicated that, for example, both N4‐protonated and unprotonated forms of (S)‐TMZ underwent spontaneous racemization and its 3S‐hydroxyl group was highly stereoselectively substituted at C3 position by the ethoxy group of ethanol to form EtTMZ enriched in (S)‐EtTMZ. Similar stereoselective reactions occurred for TMZ enantiomers in acidic methanol. Chirality 11:179–186, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

AN EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR THE ASYMMETRIC ACYLATION OF (R,S)-3-n-BUTYLPHTHALIDE CATALYZED BY NOVOZYME 435

Novozyme 435 could be a highly efficient catalyst in the asymmetric acylation of (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide in tetrahydrofuran–hexane solvents. The effect of various reaction parameters such as agitation velocity, water content, mixed media, temperature, concentration of Novozyme 435, molar ratio of acetic anhydride to (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide, reaction time, enantiomeric excess of substrate (ee_S), enantiomeric excess of product (ee_P), and enantioselective ratio (E) were studied. Tetrahydrofuran markedly improved (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide conversion, enantiomeric excess of remaining 3-n-butylphthalide, and enantiomeric ratio. The optimum media were 50% (v/v) tetrahydrofuran and 50% (v/v) hexane. Other ideal reaction conditions were an agitation velocity of 150 rpm, 0.4% (v/v) water content, temperature of 30°C, 8 mg/mL dosage of Novozyme 435, 8:1 (0.4 mmol: 0.05 mmol) molar ratio of acetic anhydride to (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide, and a reaction time of 48 hr. Under the optimum conditions, 96.4% ee_S and 49.3% conversion of (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide were achieved. In addition, enantiomeric excess of the product was above 98.0%.     

Effect of Salinity on Rhizobium Growth and Survival

The microbiological metabolism of warfarin was examined as a model of metabolism in higher organisms, including humans, and to determine the chirality of microbial reductases for application in organic synthesis. Nineteen cultures were examined based on their reported abilities to reduce ketonic substrates, and several were shown to catalyze the desired reaction. Nocardia corallina (ATCC 19070) exhibited complete substrate and product stereoselectivity as it reduced S-warfarin to the corresponding S-alcohol. Arthrobacter species (ATCC 19140) exhibited marked substrate and complete product stereoselectivity since S-warfarin, and to a lesser extent R-warfarin, were reduced to the corresponding S-alcohols. These reductions parallel those reported to occur in mammalian species.     

Stereoselectivity of lipases: esterification reactions of octadecylglycerol.

Stereoselectivity of several triacylglycerol lipases (EC 3.1.1.3) has been investigated in the enzymatic esterification of rac-1-O-octadecylglycerol with oleic acid in the presence of organic solvents, such as hexane. X-1(3)-O-Octadecylmonooleoylglycerols were the only products formed with most lipases; considerable proportions of X-1(3)-O-octadecyldioleoylglycerols were also formed with the lipase from Candida cylindracea. The mixtures of unesterified enantiomeric substrates, i.e., X-1(3)-O-octadecylglycerols were converted to their 3,5-dinitrophenylurethane derivatives and subsequently resolved into sn-1 and sn-3 enantiomers by HPLC on a chiral stationary phase (Sumichiral OA 2100). The data on enantiomeric excess (ee) and enantiomeric ratio (E) in the unesterified substrate revealed for the lipases from porcine pancreas, Rhizopus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Candida cylindracea, Chromobacterium viscosum and Penicillium cyclopium a distinct preference for 1-O-octadecyl-sn-glycerol over its enantiomer indicating stereoselectivity for the sn-3 position. For the lipase from Rhizomucor miehei a slight stereoselectivity for the sn-1 position was observed. Solvents, such as diethyl ether and dichloromethane, strongly inhibited the esterification reaction, but the enzymatic activity could be restored upon removal of such solvents by washing with hexane indicating reversible inhibition.     

Microbial metabolism of 2-arylpropionic acids: effect of environment on the metabolism of ibuprofen by Verticillium lecanii

The effect of environment on the growth of Verticillium lecanii and its metabolic transformation of racemic ibuprofen are reported. The growth of V. lecanii exhibited a lag phase of up to 12 h followed by a period of rapid growth for up to 4 d. The optimal conditions for growth of the micro-organism were determined to be 24°C at pH 7.0 with a culture volume of up to one-tenth of the culture flask volume.
The metabolic oxidation of (R,S)-ibuprofen occurred in both growing cultures and washed cell suspensions of V. lecanii. Examination of the stereochemical composition of the remaining substrate indicated that under both conditions the oxidation was substrate stereoselective for the R-enantiomer of the drug. Using growing cultures of the micro-organism, quantitative conversion of the substrate to the metabolite was achieved following incubation for 14 d. Examination of the enantiomeric composition of the metabolic product indicated an excess of the S-isomer (ratio S/R = 2.1). The possible mechanisms for the apparent anomaly in the stereoselectivity of (R,S)-ibuprofen metabolism and the enantiomeric composition of the metabolite are discussed.     

Highly stereoselective acid-catalyzed homonucleophilic substitution reactions

Enantiomeric 3-O-methyltemazepam and 3-Oethyltemazepam were highly stereoselectively substituted by the 3-methoxy group of methanol in acidic anhydrous methanol and by the 3-ethoxy group of ethanol in acidic anhydrous ethanol, respectively. The stereoselectivity of the homonucleophilic substitution reactions was determined by circular dichroism spectropolarimetry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In anhydrous solutions containing 0.5 M D₂SO₄ at 50°C, for example, the stereoselectivity was ∼63:1 for enantiomeric 3-O-methyltemazepam in CD₃OD and ∼94:1 for enantiomeric 3-O-ethyltemazepam in C₂D₅OD. The high stereoselectivity at C3 position was primarily due to the presence of a methyl group at N1 position. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

1 This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

     

Dynamic kinetic resolution: alternative approach in optimizing S-ibuprofen production

A lipase catalysed enantioselective hydrolysis process under in situ racemization of the remaining (R)-ibuprofen ester substrate with sodium hydroxide as the catalyst was developed for the production of S-ibuprofen from (R,S)-ibuprofen ester in isooctane. Detailed investigations on parameters study indicated that 0.5 M NaOH, addition of 20% (v/v) co-solvent (dimethyl sulphoxide), operating temperature of 45 °C, and 40 mmol/L substrate gave 86% conversion and 99.4% optical purity of S-ibuprofen in dynamic kinetic resolution. Meanwhile, in common enzymatic kinetic resolution process, only 42% conversion of the racemate and 93% enantiomeric excess of the product was obtained which are of lower values as compared to dynamic kinetic resolution. The S-ibuprofen produced during each process was evaluated and approximately 50% increment in concentration of S-acid product was produced when dynamic kinetic resolution was applied into the process.