Enantiopure building blocks for chiral drugs from racemic mixtures of secondary alcohols by combination of lipase catalysis and Mitsunobu esterification.

The racemic alcohols 3-chloro-1-(2-thienyl)-1-propanol, 3-chloro-1-phenylpropanol, and 1-chloro-3-(3,4-difluorophenoxy)-2-propanol were converted into a mixture of one enantiomer as butanoate and the other as alcohol by lipase catalysis. Subsequent Mitsunobu esterification without separation proceeded with inversion of the unreacted alcohols to give high yield and ee of the three enantiopure butanoates. The butanoates of opposite configuration were produced in a similar manner, but starting with lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of the racemic butanoates.     

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of the antidepressant duloxetine and its enantiomer

Sodium borohydride reduction of 3-chloro-1-(2-thienyl)-1-propanone gave the corresponding racemic alcohol which was kinetically resolved with lipase B from Candida antarctica as catalyst to yield the chiral building blocks (S)-3-chloro-1-(2-thienyl)-1-propanol and the corresponding (R)-butanoate. The enantiopure chiral building blocks were converted into Duloxetine and its enantiomer.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (R)-1-chloro-3(3,4-difluorophenoxy)-2-propanol using lipases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa in ionic liquid-containing system

Direct transesterification of (R,S)-1-chloro-3-(3,4-difluorophenoxy)-2-propanol (rac-CDPP) (a key intermediate in the synthesis of the chiral drug (S)-lubeluzole) with vinyl butyrate by lipases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) MTCC 5113 was performed in hexane with ionic liquids (ILs) 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIm][PF₆] and 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIm][BF₄] as co-solvents. The maximum conversion (>49%) and enantiomeric excess (ee > 99.9%) was achieved in 6 h of incubation at 30 °C with [BMIm][PF₆] as co-solvent in a two-phase system. The enzyme was able to perform with the same specificity even at 60 °C in the presence of ILs. It was possible to use lipases repeatedly for more than 10 times while still maintaining absolute enantioselectivity and reactivity. Stability studies on lipases from P. aeruginosa in ILs revealed the fact that the enzyme constancy and the reactivity in catalyzing transesterification of rac-CDPP into (S)-1-chloro-3-(3,4-difluorophenoxy)-2-butanoate was of the order of [BMIm][PF₆] > [BMIm][BF₄] in two-phase system.     

Facile, alternative route to lubeluzole, its enantiomer, and the racemate

Lubeluzole [(S)-9] has been synthesized by a convergent synthesis, alkylation of N-methyl-N-piperidin-4-yl-1,3-benzothiazol-2-amine (4) with (+)-(R)-1-chloro-3-(3,4-difluorophenoxy)propan-2-ol [(+)-(R)-8] being the key step. Alcohol (+)-(R)-8 was obtained from commercially available (R)-epichlorohydrin [(R)-6], while the thiazole derivative 4 was easily obtained starting from N-protected piperidin-4-one (1) in a three-step procedure. The same method was used in order to obtain both the (R)-stereoisomer of lubeluzole [(R)-9] and its racemate [(RS)-9]. Overall yields ranged from 20% to 35%. The enantiomeric excess values for (S)-9 and (R)-9 were 97% and 94% respectively, as analyzed by chiral HPLC.     

Preferential attack of the (S)-configured ether-linked carbons in bis-(1-chloro-2-propyl) ether by Rhodococcus sp. strain DTB

Rhodococcus sp. strain DTB (DSM 44534) was grown on a mixture of (R,R)-, (S,S)- and meso-bis-(1-chloro-2-propyl) ether (BCPE) as the sole source of carbon and energy. During BCPE degradation 1'-chloro-2'-propyl-3-chloro-2-prop-1-enyl-ether (DVE), 1-chloro-2-propanol and chloroacetone intermediates were formed. The BCPE or DVE stereoisomers were metabolized in consecutive order via scission of the ether bond, with discrimination against the (R) configuration. Resting cell suspensions of Rhodococcus pregrown on BCPE showed a preferential attack of the (S)-configured ether-linked carbons, resulting in an enantioselective enrichment of (R,R)-BCPE. Microbial discrimination of BCPE or DVE isomers and chemical conversion of the intermediates to 1-chloro-2-propanol allowed the identification of the configuration of all BCPE isomers and the DVE enantiomers. Elucidation of the absolute configuration of the 1-chloro-2-propanol isomers was achieved by enantioselective chemical synthesis.     

Regio- and stereoselective cyclizations of dianhydro sugar alcohols catalyzed by a chiral (salen)Co(III) complex

The (salen)Co(III)OAc ((R,R)-1 and (S,S)-1) catalyzed cyclizations of the chiral dianhydro sugars, 1,2:5,6-dianhydro-3,4-di-O-methyl-D-glucitol (2), 1,2:5,6-dianhydro-3,4-di-O-methyl-D-mannitol (3), 1,2:5,6-dianhydro-3,4-di-O-methyl-L-iditol (4), and 1,2:4,5-dianhydro-3-O-methyl-L-arabinitol (5), is a facile method for the synthesis of anhydroalditol alcohols. Cyclization of 2 using (R,R)-1 and (S,S)-1 proceeded diastereoselectively to form 2,5-anhydro-3,4-di-O-methyl-D-mannitol (6) and 2,5-anhydro-3,4-di-O-methyl-L-iditol (7), respectively. The cyclization of 3 and 5 is a novel method for obtaining 1,6-anhydro-3,4-di-O-methyl-D-mannitol (11) and a stereoselective route to 1,5-anhydro-3-O-methyl-L-arabinitol (13). It is proposed that the reaction occurs via endo-selective cyclization of an epoxy alcohol produced by the endo-selective ring-opening of one of the two epoxide moieties in the starting material.     

Preparation of optically active 2-aminobutanoic acid via optical resolution by replacing crystallization

An attempt was made to use a simple procedure to obtain (R)- and (S)-2-aminobutanoic acids [(R)- and (S)-1] which are non-proteinogenic alpha-amino acids and are useful as chiral reagents in asymmetric syntheses. Compound (RS)-1 p-toluenesulfonate [(RS)-2], which is known to exist as a conglomerate, was optically resolved by replacing crystallization with (R)- and (S)-methionine p-toluenesulfonate [(R)- and (S)-3] as optically active co-solutes. When (S)-3 was employed as the co-solute, (R)-2 was preferentially crystallized from a supersaturated solution of (RS)-2 in 1-propanol, as was (S)-2 in the presence of (R)-3. (R)- and (S)-2 recrystallized from 1-propanol were treated with triethylamine in methanol to give (R)- and (S)-1 in optically pure forms.     

Synthesis and dopaminergic properties of the two enantiomers of 3-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-1-propylpiperidine, a potent and selective dopamine D4 receptor ligand

The synthesis of the two enantiomers of 3-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-1-propylpiperidine 1, a potent and selective D4 dopaminergic ligand, was performed. The 3-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)- 1-propylpiperidine with the R configuration showed an affinity for the D4 receptors 6-fold higher than the corresponding enantiomer with the S configuration. Furthermore, the (R)-1 enantiomer proved to be highly selective for D4 receptors with respect to D2-D3 receptors, with a Ki ratio higher than 25,000, while the (S)-1 enantiomer was about 100-fold less selective than the (R)-1 one.     

Effects of the stereochemical orientation of phenethylamines and imidazolines on alpha-adrenergic receptor-mediated DNA synthesis in primary cultured rat hepatocytes.

The hepatic alpha 1-adrenergic receptor mediates a variety of hepatic functions including respiration, glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, and growth. We have utilized a rat primary hepatocyte culture system to show that the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor can be activated in a stereoselective manner by a series of phenethylamines and catecholimidazolines resulting in the stimulation of DNA synthesis as determined by [3H]thymidine incorporation. The phenethylamines adhered to the Easson-Stedman hypothesis with a rank order of potency of (-)-(R)-norepinephrine (NE) greater than (+)-(S)-NE greater than the desoxy analog dopamine (DA) for the stimulation of DNA synthesis. However, the 2-substituted catecholimidazolines did not follow this trend and demonstrated an order of potency of the desoxy analog 3,4-dihydroxybenzyl imidazoline (DHT) greater than or equal to (-)-(R)-2-(3,4,alpha-trihydroxybenzyl)imidazoline (TBI) greater than (+)-(S)-TBI. 4-Substituted catecholimidazolines were less potent as inducers of DNA synthesis than the corresponding 2-substituted analogs with an order of potency of (+)-(R)-4-(3,4-dihydroxybenzyl)imidazoline (DBI) greater than (+,-)-(R,S)-DBI greater than (-)-(S)-DBI. When the beta-hydroxyl moiety of NE is replaced with an amino group as in 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylenediamine, the isomers are less active than the beta-hydroxylated analogs and also demonstrate no stereoselectivity for the stimulation of DNA synthesis. These results demonstrate that the hepatic alpha 1-adrenergic receptor can recognize various isomeric forms of these compounds and that hepatocellular growth can be modulated in a stereoselective manner by phenethylamines and imidazolines.     

Decomposition reaction of sesamin in supercritical water

The methylenedioxyphenyl moiety in the structure of sesamin and episesamin was changed into the catechol moieties, (1R,2S,5R,6S)-6-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3,3,0]octane, (1R,2R,5R,6S)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3,3,0]octane, (1R,2R,5R,6S)-6-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3,3,0]octane, (1R,2S,5R,6S)-2,6-bis(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3,3,0]octane, and (1R,2R,5R,6S)-2,6-bis(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3,3,0]octane, in supercritical water. These products had same structures as the sesamin metabolites which act as antioxidants in the liver. These features suggested the direct preparation of antioxidants from sesamin by a one-step reaction using supercritical water.     

Synthesis of optically active olivil type of lignan from L-arabinose using threo-selective aldol condensation as a key reaction

The threo-selective aldol condensation of (3R, 4S)-3-hydroxy-5-trityloxy-4-pentanolide, which was prepared from L-arabinose, with piperonal was applied to the stereoselective synthesis of the olivil type of lignan, (2R, 3R, 4R)-4-benzyl-4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran.     

Functional relationship between cyclic AMP-dependent protein phosphorylation and platelet inhibition.

The O2-independent hydroxylase 4-ethylphenol methylenehydroxylase (4EPMH) from Pseudomonas putida JD1 catalysed the complete conversion of 4-ethylphenol into 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanol together with a small amount of 4-hydroxyacetophenone, but with no formation of the side product 4-vinylphenol reported to be formed when the similar enzyme p-cresol methylhydroxylase (PCMH) catalyses this reaction. The enantiomer of 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanol produced by 4EPMH was R(+) when horse heart cytochrome c or azurin was used as electron acceptor for the enzyme. PCMHs from various bacterial strains produced the S(-)-alcohol. Both enantiomers of 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanol were substrates for conversion into 4-hydroxyacetophenone by 4EPMH, but the S(-)-isomer was preferred. The Km and kcat. were 1.2 mM and 41 s-1 respectively for the S(-)-alcohol and 4.7 mM and 22 s-1 for the R(+)-alcohol. In addition to the 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanol dehydrogenase activity of 4-EPMH, NAD(+)-linked dehydrogenase activity for both enantiomers of the alcohol was found in extracts of Ps. putida JD1.     

Synthesis of high-specific-radioactivity 4- and 6-[18F]fluorometaraminol-PET tracers for the adrenergic nervous system of the heart

Fluorine-18- (t(1/2) 109.8 min) and carbon-11 (t(1/2) 20.4 min)-labeled norepinephrine analogues have been found previously to be useful positron-emission-tomography (PET) radioligands to map adrenergic nerve terminals of the heart. Metaraminol ((1R,2S)-2-amino-1-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propanol) is a metabolically stable structural analogue of norepinephrine and possesses high affinity towards the norepinephrine transporter and the vesicular monoamine transporter. This paper presents the radiosynthesis of new positron-emission-tomography halogeno analogues of metaraminol labeled with high specific radioactivity. Firstly, fluorine-18-labeled 4-fluorometaraminol (4-[18F]FMR or (1R,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-[18F]fluoro-3-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propanol) and its three other stereoisomers were prepared based on the following key steps: (a) condensation of the corresponding no-carrier-added labeled fluorobenzaldehyde with nitroethane, and (b) HPLC (C18 and chiral) resolution of the diastereomeric product mixture into the four individual enantiomers. Secondly, the corresponding 6-fluoro analogues, fluorine-18-labeled 6-fluorometaraminol (6-[18F]FMR or (1R,2S)-2-amino-1-(2-[18F]fluoro-5-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propanol) and its three other enantiomers, were prepared in an analogous way. Typically, 0.48-0.55 GBq of 4-[18F]FMR and 0.14-0.15 GBq of 6-[18F]FMR could be obtained after 120-160 min total synthesis time, with a specific radioactivity of 56-106 GBq/micromol. Furthermore, the synthesis of racemic 4-fluorometaraminol and 6-fluorometaraminol as reference compounds was performed. as well as independent chiral syntheses of the optically active (1R,2S) enantiomers. For the chiral syntheses, the key step was an electrophilic fluorination with acetyl hypofluorite of (1R,2S)-configurated organometallic derivatives of metaraminol. Tissue distribution studies in rats suggested that both 4-[18F]FMR and 6-[18F]FMR display similar affinity towards the presynaptic adrenergic nerve terminal in the heart. From a practical point of view, 4-[18F]FMR appeared to be the more attractive candidate for future PET investigations, due to higher radiochemical yields.     

Iminosugars: potential inhibitors of liver glycogen phosphorylase

The first synthesis of the single isomers (3R,4R,5R); (3S,4S,5S): (3R,4R,5S) and (3S,4S,5R) of 5-hydroxymethyl-piperidine-3,4-diol from Arecolin is reported, including the synthesis of a series of N-substituted derivatives of the (3R,4R,5R)-isomer (Isofagomine). The inhibitory effect of these isomers as well as of a series of N-substituted derivatives of the (3R,4R,5R)-isomer and selected hydroxypiperidine analogues on liver glycogen phosphorylase (GP) showed that the (3R,4R,5R) configuration was essential for obtaining an inhibitory effect at submicromolar concentration. The results also showed that all three hydroxy groups should be present and could not be substituted, nor were extra OH groups allowed if sub-micromolar inhibition should be obtained. Some inhibitory effect was retained for N-substituted derivatives of Isofagomine; however, N-substitution always resulted in a loss of activity compared to the parent compound, IC50 values ranging from 1 to 100 microM were obtained for simple alkyl, arylalkyl and benzoylmethyl substituents. Furthermore, we found that it was not enough to assure inhibitory effect to have the (R,R,R) configuration. Fagomine, the (2R,3R,4R)-2-hydroxymethylpiperidine-3,4-diol analogue, showed an IC50 value of 200 microM compared to 0.7 microM for Isofagomine. In addition, Isofagomine was able to prevent basal and glucagon stimulated glycogen degradation in cultured hepatocytes with IC50 values of 2-3 microM.     

Synthesis of montroumarin

A simple stereoselective synthesis of montroumarin [(3S)-6,8-dihydroxy-3-phenyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin] isolated from Montrouziera sphaeroidea has been achieved. Condensation of benzoyl chloride with 3,5-dimethoxyhomophthalic acid afforded 6,8-dimethoxy-3-phenylisocoumarin (3) which on sequential saponification and esterification yielded the keto ester 5. Enantioselective reduction of the latter with baker's yeast directly furnished the (3S)-6,8-dimethoxy-3-phenyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin (6) in good enantioselectivity which on demethylation provided montroumarin. All of the synthesized compounds were examined in vitro for antifungal activity.     

Synthesis of Short-Chain Diols and Unsaturated Alcohols from Secondary Alcohol Substrates by the Rieske Nonheme Mononuclear Iron Oxygenase MdpJ

The Rieske nonheme mononuclear iron oxygenase MdpJ of the fuel oxygenate-degrading bacterial strain Aquincola tertiaricarbonis L108 has been described to attack short-chain tertiary alcohols via hydroxylation and desaturation reactions. Here, we demonstrate that also short-chain secondary alcohols can be transformed by MdpJ. Wild-type cells of strain L108 converted 2-propanol and 2-butanol to 1,2-propanediol and 3-buten-2-ol, respectively, whereas an mdpJ knockout mutant did not show such activity. In addition, wild-type cells converted 3-methyl-2-butanol and 3-pentanol to the corresponding desaturation products 3-methyl-3-buten-2-ol and 1-penten-3-ol, respectively. The enzymatic hydroxylation of 2-propanol resulted in an enantiomeric excess of about 70% for the (R)-enantiomer, indicating that this reaction was favored. Likewise, desaturation of (R)-2-butanol to 3-buten-2-ol was about 2.3-fold faster than conversion of the (S)-enantiomer. The biotechnological potential of MdpJ for the synthesis of enantiopure short-chain alcohols and diols as building block chemicals is discussed.     

Synthesis, in vitro pharmacology, and structure-activity relationships of 2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid derivatives as mGluR2 antagonists

Chemical modification of the bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane ring C-3 position led to the discovery of 3-alkoxy-2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, 3-benzylthio-, and 3-benzylamino-2-amino-6-fluorobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid derivatives, metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) antagonists. In particular, 3-(3,4-dichlorobenzyloxy)-2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (15ae), (1R,2S,5R,6R)-2-amino-3-(3,4-dichlorobenzylthio)-6-fluorobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-carboxylic acid (15at), and (1R,2S,5R,6R)-2-amino-3-(N-(3,4-dichlorobenzylamino))-6-fluorobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-carboxylic (15ba) showed high affinity for the mGluR2 receptor (15ae: K(i) = 2.51 nM, 15at: K(i) = 1.96 nM, and 15ba: K(i) = 3.29 nM) and potent antagonist activity for mGluR2 (15ae; IC50 = 34.21 nM, 15at; IC50 = 13.34 nM, and 15ba; IC50 = 35.96 nM). No significant agonist activity for mGluR2 was observed with 15ae, 15at, or 15ba. This paper reports on the synthesis, in vitro pharmacological profile, and structure-activity relationships (SARs) of 3-substituted-2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid.     

Biotransformations for the production of the chiral drug (S)-Duloxetine catalyzed by a novel isolate of Candida tropicalis

A yeast strain, Candida tropicalis PBR-2, isolated from soil, is capable of carrying out the enantioselective reduction of N,N-dimethyl-3-keto-3-(2-thienyl)-1-propanamine to (S)-N,N-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-3-(2-thienyl)-1-propanamine, a key intermediate in the synthesis of the chiral drug (S)-Duloxetine. The organism produced the enantiopure (S)-alcohol with a good yield (>80%) and almost absolute enantioselectivity, with an enantiomeric excess (ee) >99%. Parameters of the bioreduction reaction were optimized and the optimal temperature and pH for the reduction were found to be 30°C and 7.0, respectively. The optimized substrate and the resting cell concentration were 1 g/l and 250 g/l, respectively. The preparative-scale reaction using resting cells of C. tropicalis yielded the (S)-alcohol at 84–88% conversion and ee >99%.     

Benzylic alcohols as stereospecific substrates and inhibitors for aryl sulfotransferase

Aryl sulfotransferase IV catalyzes the 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS)-dependent formation of sulfuric acid esters of benzylic alcohols. Since the benzylic carbon bearing the hydroxyl group can be asymmetric, the possibility of stereochemical control of substrate specificity of the sulfotransferase was investigated with benzylic alcohols. Benzylic alcohols of known stereochemistry were examined as potential substrates and inhibitors for the homogeneous enzyme purified from rat liver. For 1-phenylethanol, both the (+)-(R)- and (-)-(S)-enantiomers were substrates for the enzyme, and the kcat/Km value for the (-)-(S)-enantiomer was twice that of the (+)-(R)-enantiomer. The enzyme displayed an absolute stereospecificity with ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, and with 2-methyl-1-phenyl-1-propanol; that is, only (-)-(1R,2S)-ephedrine, (-)-(1R,2R)-pseudoephedrine, and (-)-(S)-2-methyl-1-phenyl-1-propanol were substrates for the sulfotransferase. In the case of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthol, only the (-)-(R)-enantiomer was a substrate for the enzyme. Both (+)-(R)-2-methyl-1-phenyl-1-propanol and (+)-(S)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthol were competitive inhibitors of the aryl sulfotransferase-catalyzed sulfation of 1-naphthalenemethanol. Thus, the configuration of the benzylic carbon bearing the hydroxyl group determined whether these benzylic alcohols were substrates or inhibitors of the rat hepatic aryl sulfotransferase IV. Furthermore, benzylic alcohols such as (+)-(S)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthol represent a new class of inhibitors for the aryl sulfotransferase.     

Synthetic studies towards a new scaffold, spirobicycloimidazoline

A new scaffold consisting of a carbocycle and a substituted imidazoline in an orthogonal arrangement was synthesized as a potential specific inhibitor of glycosidases. The spirobicycloimidazoline, (5R,6R,7R,8R)-8-(hydroxymethyl)-2-phenyl-1,3-diazaspiro[4.4]non-1-ene-6,7-diol, was synthesized from methyl 2-O-p-methoxybenzyl-3,4-di-O-benzyl-alpha/beta-D-gluco-6-enopyranoside via (1R,2S,3S,4R,5S)-3,4-bis(benzyloxy)-2-(4-methoxybenzyloxy)-5-vinyl-cyclopentanol. The ring contraction of the 6-enopyranoside in the presence of zirconocene equivalent ('Cp(2)Zr') reagent gave exclusively the corresponding cyclopentanol without cleavage of the PMB protecting group. In the course of the study, a new alpha-mannosidase inhibitor, (1R,2R,3R,5R)-5-amino-3-hydroxymethyl-cyclopentane-1,2-diol, was also discovered.