Synthesis and lipase-catalyzed resolution studies on novel (±)-2-(2-acetoxyethyl)-4-arylmethyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-6-carboxylates

Five novel methyl (±)-2-(2-acetoxyethyl)-4-arylmethyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-6-carboxylates have been synthesized and their lipase-catalyzed resolution via stereoselective deacetylation of acetoxyethyl moiety present in the molecule studied. It has been observed that Novozyme^®-435 in THF efficiently catalyses the enantioselective deacetylation of these acetoxyethyl dihydrobenzoxazines leading to the formation of optically enriched methyl (+)-4-arylmethyl-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-6-carboxylates. The biocatalytic reaction was found to be chemoselective alongwith being enantioselective, because the lipase exclusively catalyses the deesterification of the ester function derived from the alcoholic hydroxy moiety in the molecule over the one derived from the aromatic carboxylic acid group.     

Bioreduction of prochiral ketones by growing cells of Lasiodiplodia theobromae: Discovery of a versatile biocatalyst for asymmetric synthesis

Growing cells of the phytopathogen fungus Lasiodiplodia theobromae in potato dextrose broth have shown their potential for the stereoselective bioreduction of different prochiral aromatic and aliphatic ketones. Optically active alcohols were obtained under mild reaction conditions in high conversions (up to 90%) and moderate to excellent enantioselectivity (35–≥99% ee) depending on the ketone structure. Prelog alcohols were isolated, except in the bioreduction of cyclohexylmethylketone and octan-2-one where anti-Prelog alcohols were obtained.     

Synthesis of fluorescence-labeled sphingosine and sphingosine 1-phosphate; effective tools for sphingosine and sphingosine 1-phosphate behavior

A fluorescence-labeled sphingosine and sphingosine 1-phosphate have been successfully synthesized from the oxazolidinone methyl ester derived from glycidol via monoalkylation and the stereoselective reduction of the resulting ketone. The labeled sphingosine was converted into its phosphate by treatment with sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) from mouse, and in platelets, and it was incorporated into the Chinese Hamster Ovarian (CHO) cells. In addition, MAPK was activated by NBD-Sph-1-P through Edg-1, Sph-1-P receptor.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Burkholderia cenocepacia</Emphasis>: a new biocatalyst for efficient bioreduction of ezetimibe intermediate

Ezetimibe is a selective acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitor used in hypercholesterolemia. Synthesis of ezetimibe requires enantiopure 3-[5-(4-fluorophenyl)-5(S)-hydroxypentanoyl]-4(S)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one (FOP alcohol) as a crucial intermediate which is produced by reduction of the corresponding prochiral ketone (FOP dione). A new biocatalyst from acclimatized soil was screened for bioreduction of the above prochiral ketone. The microorganism was identified by 16S mRNA sequencing, as Burkholderia cenocepacia. Various physicochemical conditions were optimized to increase cellmass and enzyme activity. The overall increase in cellmass concentration and enzyme activity was 2.06 and 1.85-fold, respectively. Various reaction conditions, for example pH, temperature, agitation, and cellmass concentration, were optimized for maximum product yield (chiral alcohol) with excellent enantioselectivity. Best reduction was achieved in phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 8.0) at 40°C (200 rpm) and the yield of enantiopure alcohol from the corresponding prochiral ketone was 54%. This biocatalyst was also used for the reduction of various other prochiral ketones.     

Investigation of the mechanism of biosynthesis of 8-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid in mouse skin

One of the many changes induced by topical application of phorbol ester or calcium ionophore A23187 to mouse skin is the appearance of an enzymic activity which will convert arachidonic acid to its 8-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid metabolite (8-HETE) (Gschwendt, M., et al (1986) Carcinogenesis 7, 449-455). Induction of this activity is lower in strains of mice with a weak inflammatory response to TPA, and the 8-HETE may be involved in the inflammation or hyperplasia. To further characterize the activity, we first measured the chirality of the product; it is almost exclusively the 8DS)-hydroxy enantiomer (8S-HETE). The 8(S)-HETE is formed from octadeuterated arachidonic acid with complete retention of deuterium labels, indicating that a keto intermediate is not involved in the biosynthesis. Using arachidonic acids labeled with a prochiral tritium in either the 10DR or 10LS positions, we found that the biosynthesis of 8S-HETE is associated with the stereoselective abstraction of the 10DR hydrogen from the 10-carbon of the substrate. This stereoselective hydrogen removal conforms to the properties of an 8S-lipoxygenase. This is the only lipoxygenase known to catalyze solely 8S-oxygenation of arachidonic acid. The recent characterization of stereoselective biological effects for other HETEs serve as strong precedents to suggest that 8S-HETE has a specific role in the cellular tissue response to TPA.     

Enantioselective microbial reduction of 3,5-dioxo-6-(benzyloxy) hexanoic acid, ethyl ester

The key chiral intermediate 3,5-dihydroxy-6-(benzyloxy) hexanoic acid, ethyl ester 2a, was made by the stereoselective microbial reduction of 3,5-dioxo-6-(benzyloxy) hexanoic acid, ethyl ester 1. Among various microbial cultures evaluated, cell suspensions of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus SC 13876 reduced 1 to 2a. The reaction yield of 85% and optical purity of 97% was obtained using glycerol-grown cells. The substrate was used at 2 g l⁻¹ and cells were used at 20% (w/v, wet cells) concentrations. The optimum pH for the reduction of 1 to 2a was 5.5 and the optimum temperature was 32°C. Cell extracts of A. calcoaceticus SC 13876 in the presence of NAD⁺, glucose, and glucose dehydrogenase reduced 1 to the corresponding monohydroxy compounds 3 and 4 [3-hydroxy-5-oxo-6-(benzyloxy) hexanoic acid ethyl ester 3, and 5-hydroxy-3-oxo-6-(benzyloxy) hexanoic acid ethyl ester 4]. Both 3 and 4 were further reduced to 2a by cell extracts. Reaction yield of 92% and optical purity of 99% were obtained when the reaction was carried out in a 1-l batch using cell extracts. The substrate was used at 10 g l⁻¹. Product 2a was isolated from the reaction mixture in 72% overall yield. The GC and HPLC area % purity of the isolated product was 99% and the optical purity was 99.5%. The reductase which converted 1 to 2a was purified about 200-fold from cell extracts of A. calcoaceticus SC 13876. The purified enzyme gave a single protein band on SDS-PAGE corresponding to 35,000 daltons.     

Chemo-enzymatic epoxidation of oleic acid and methyl oleate in solvent-free medium

Chemo-enzymatic epoxidation of oleic acid (OA) and its methyl ester has been performed using hydrogen peroxide and immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica (Novozym® 435). The purpose of the study was to characterize the reaction under solvent-free conditions. The reaction temperature had a significant impact on epoxidation of OA. At lower temperatures, the substrate conversion was hindered by the formation of solid epoxystearic acid product. Nearly 90% conversion of OA to the epoxide product was obtained after 6 h at 50°C. Longer reaction times at 40°C and above resulted in by-product formation and eventually lowered the product yield. In contrast, the reaction with methyl oleate (MO) was less influenced by temperature. Almost complete epoxidation was achieved at 40-60°C; the higher the temperature the shorter was the reaction time. The main epoxidation product obtained was epoxystearic acid methyl ester (EME), and the remaining was epoxystearic acid (EA) formed by the hydrolytic action of the lipase. Recycling of the lipase for epoxidation of MO at 50°C indicated that the immobilized enzyme was prone to activity loss.     

Asymmetric synthesis of chiral amines with omega-transaminase.

The asymmetric synthesis of chiral amines using prochiral ketones was carried out with (S)-specific omega-transaminase (omega-TA) from Vibrio fluvialis JS17. This reaction is inhibited severely by both products, (S)-amine and deaminated ketone. In addition, thermodynamic equilibrium strongly favored the reverse reaction. L-Alanine proved to be the best amino donor based on easy removal of the products. Optimal pH of the reactions with both whole cells and cell-free extract was 7. Amino acceptor reactivities of ketone substrates and reaction profiles of the asymmetric synthesis showed that the initial rate as well as the reaction yield were lower when the resulting (S)-amine from a prochiral ketone substrate was a more reactive amino donor. The yield could be increased dramatically by removing pyruvate, which is a more inhibitory product than (S)-alpha-methylbenzylamine [(S)-alpha-MBA] when acetophenone and L-alanine are used as an amino acceptor and donor, respectively. The removal of pyruvate was carried out by incorporating lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in cell-free extract or by using whole cells. The whole cell reaction yielded a much better result. When 25 mM benzylacetone and 30 mM acetophenone were used as an amino acceptor with 300 mM L-alanine, 90.2% and 92.1% of the reaction yields after 1 day were obtained with whole cells, respectively. Enantiomeric excesses of both (S)-alpha-MBA and (S)-1-methyl-3-phenylpropylamine [(S)-MPPA] were all above 99%.     

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 and in vitro PDT activity of miscellaneous porphyrins with amino acid and uracil

The synthesis of a series of modularized porphyrins bearing bioactive molecule is described. Starting with meso-tetraphenylporphyrin, the compounds with two nitro functional groups were synthesized via regiospecific nitration reaction. After reduction to the amino group and subsequent coupling with l-phenylalanine or 1-carboxylmethyl-5-fluorouracil (5-Fu acid), the functionalized porphyrins were metallized with Co(II) or Mn(II) to form miscellaneous porphyrins in good yields. The spectra of all the porphyrins were furnished. In vitro photodynamic therapy of the porphyrins against Ec9706 cell line was evaluated by standard cytotoxicity assays.     

Bidesmosidic saponins from the fruits of Diploclisia glaucescens

Chemical investigation of methanol extract of the fruits of Diploclisia glaucescens (Menispermaceae) furnished two new bidesmosidic saponins 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]phytolaccagenic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]phytolaccagenic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, together with known 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylphytolaccagenic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester and 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]serjanic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester. The last saponin is reported for the first time from the family Menispermaceae.     

Appel-Lee synthesis of glycosyl inositols, substrates for inositol dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis

We recently reported that inositol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.18) from Bacillus subtilis can catalyze the highly stereoselective oxidation of 1l-4-O-substituted myo-inositol derivatives, as well as disaccharides melibiose and isomaltose, but not gentiobiose or maltose, consistent with the requirement of an alpha-(1-->6) linkage. We believed that the enzyme might therefore catalyze efficient stereoselective oxidation of the appropriate alpha-linked glycosyl inositols. We have synthesized alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-(DL)-myo-inositol and alpha-d-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-(DL)-myo-inositol using the Appel-Lee protocol to couple benzyl-protected glycosyl donors to protected inositols. This method failed in our hands using glycosyl donors derived from D-mannose and 2-azido-2-deoxy-D-glucose. When myo-inositol 1,3,5-monoorthoformate is used as the acceptor, the reaction is regiospecific for the 4/6-position. We report here the mildest conditions known for the removal of the orthoformate group. 2-Azido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-(DL)-myo-inositol was synthesized using the trichloroacetimidate derivative as the donor, and all three pseudo-disaccharides were substrates for inositol dehydrogenase. The glucopyranosyl and galactopyranosyl derivatives displayed apparent second-order rate constants comparable to that of myo-inositol.     

Biotransformation of β-amino nitriles: the role of the N-protecting group

N-Tolylsulfonyl- and N-butyloxycarbonyl-protected β-amino nitriles were prepared to study the effect of the N-protecting group on the biotransformation of the β-amino nitriles to the corresponding β-amino amides and acids. The bioconversions were carried out by using whole cells of Rhodococcus sp. R312 and Rhodococcus erythropolis NCIMB 11540. The bioconversion products of five-membered carbocyclic nitriles were mainly the respective acids whereas the carbocyclic six-membered nitriles were accumulated at the stage of the amide. Benefits of the enzymatic compared with the chemical hydrolysis of β-amino nitriles are the mild reaction conditions for the transformation of the nitrile group in the presence of acid or base labile N-protecting groups. In the present work we concentrated on this chemoselectivity of the biotransformation rather than its potential enantioselectivity, which will be subject of future investigations. Thus, some new compounds were prepared: (±)-(2-cyano-cyclohexyl) carbamic acid tert-butyl ester (4a), (±)-(2-carbamoyl-cyclopentyl) carbamic acid tert-butyl ester (3b) and (±)-(2-carbamoyl-cyclohexyl) carbamic acid tert-butyl ester (4b).     

Studies on 2-aziridinecarboxylic acid peptides: Their reaction and uses

The reaction of 2-aziridinecarboxylic acid derivatives with several protic reagents was used to synthesize depsipeptides, dehydroamino acid derivatives, diaminopropionic acid derivatives, and phospho peptide derivatives. The reaction of N-aminoacyl-2-aziridinecarboxylic acid benzyl ester with amino acid ester induced stereoselective transacylation.     

The use of levoglucosenone and isolevoglucosenone as templates for the construction of C-linked disaccharides

Because of their functionalities (enone, ketone, and acetal) and their bicyclic structure (steric factors), levoglucosenone (1,6-anhydro-3,4-dideoxy-beta-D-glycero-hex-3-enopyran-2-ulose) and isolevoglucosenone (1,6-anhydro-2,3-dideoxy-beta-D-glycero-hex-3-enopyran-4-ulose) are useful templates for the convergent and combinatorial synthesis of (1-->2), (1-->3), and (1-->4)-linked C-disaccharides in reactions combining them with sugar-derived carbaldehydes. Synthetic methods relying on conjugate nucleophilic additions of these enones, their combination with aluminum reagents and aldehydes (Baylis-Hillman reaction) and modified Takai-Hiyama-Nozaki-Kishi couplings of enol triflates derived from them with sugar-derived aldehydes are reviewed. Highly stereoselective methods have thus been developed. These allow the generation of disaccharide mimetics with a high molecular diversity.     

Synthesis of 1,1-difluoro-5-(1H-9-purinyl)-2-pentenylphosphonic acids and the related methano analogues. Remarkable effect of the nucleobases and the cyclopropane rings on inhibitory activity toward purine nucleoside phosphorylase

A series of 1,1-difluoro-5-(1H-9-purinyl)-2-pentenylphosphonic acids, (E)-2a,b and (Z)-2a,b, as well as the related methano analogues (±)-3a,b and (±)-4a,b were prepared for evaluation of their PNP inhibitory activities. The cyclopopane ring and the hypoxanthine residue were found to increase the profile of inhibitory activity. The IC₅₀ and K_i values of difluoro{(1R*,2S*)-2-[2-(6-oxo-6,9-dihydro-1H9-purinyl)ethyl]cyclopropyl}methylphosphonic acid (±)-3b toward PNP purified from Cellulomonas sp. were determined to be 70 nM and 8.8nM, respectively.     

Synthesis of a library of allyl alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-alpha- or beta-D-xylopyranosides; route to higher oligomers

Six isomeric disaccharides allyl 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-l-arabinofuranosyl-alpha-d-xylopyranosides and beta-d-xylopyranosides were synthetized by the stereoselective glycosylation of pure allyl alpha- or beta-d-xylopyranosides with 1-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-l-arabinofuranose as donor, catalyzed with BF(3).Et(2)O in DCM. Regio- and stereoselective glycosylation with excess of donor furnished almost exclusively the trisaccharides allyl 2,3-di-O-(2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-l-arabinofuranosyl)-alpha- or beta-d-xylopyranosides. Extension of the reaction to the triol beta-d-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-1,2,3-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-d-xylopyranose, obtained from the 4-hydroxyl penta-O-acetyl-alpha-xylobiose, gave in the same manner the tetrasaccharide [2,3-di-O-(2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-l-arabinofuranosyl)-beta-d-xylopyranosyl]-(1-->4)-1,2,3-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-d-xylopyranose. The protocol described herein should offer the possibility to produce branched oligosaccharides with a 2,3-di-O-(alpha-l-Ara(f))-beta-d-Xyl(p) block unit at the terminal non-reducing end.     

Inhibition of wound ethylene in Lycopersicum esculentum fruit discs by 1-amino cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase inhibitors

Inhibition of wound-ethylene by eight structural analogues of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) studied seperately was investigated in unripe tomato fruit discs (Lycopersicum esculentum). The compounds tested were: trans-2-phenylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (PCCA), cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylic acid (CDA), cyclopropylamine (CPA), cyclopropyl methyl ketone (CMK), chrysanthemyl alcohol (CHRA), 2-methyl cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (MCA), cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (CCA), 2-methyl-cyclopropane-methanol (2-MCM). The level of inhibition was a function of treatment concentration and time. Differential inhibition induced by the tested compounds was related to their structure.     

Functionalised 2,3-dimethyl-3-aminotetrahydrofuran-4-one and N-(3-oxo-hexahydrocyclopenta[b]furan-3a-yl)acylamide based scaffolds: synthesis and cysteinyl proteinase inhibition

A stereoselective synthesis of functionalised (2R,3R)-2,3-dimethyl-3-amidotetrahydrofuran-4-one, its (2S,3R)-epimer and (3aR,6aR)-N-(3-oxo-hexahydrocyclopenta[b]furan-3a-yl)acylamide cysteinyl proteinase inhibitors has been developed using Fmoc-protected scaffolds 6-8 in a solid-phase combinatorial strategy. Within these scaffolds, the introduction of an alkyl substituent alpha to the ketone affords chiral stability to an otherwise configurationally labile molecule. Preparation of scaffolds 6-8 required stereoselective syntheses of suitably protected alpha-diazomethylketone intermediates 9-11, derived from appropriately protected alpha-methylthreonines (2R,3R)-12, (2R,3S)-13 and a protected analogue of (1R,2R)-1-amino-2-hydroxycyclopentanecarboxylic acid 14. Application of standard methods for the preparation of amino acid alpha-diazomethylketones, through treatment of the mixed anhydride or pre-formed acyl fluorides of intermediates 12-14 with diazomethane, proved troublesome giving complex mixtures. However, the desired alpha-diazomethylketones were isolated and following a lithium chloride/acetic acid promoted insertion reaction provided scaffolds 6-8. Elaboration of 6-8 on the solid phase gave alpha,beta-dimethyl monocyclic ketone based inhibitors 38a-f, 39a,b,d,e,f and bicyclic inhibitors 40a-e that exhibited low micromolar activity against a variety of cysteinyl proteinases.     

13C]-Specific labeling of 8-2' linked (-)-cis-blechnic, (-)-trans-blechnic and (-)-brainic acids in the fern Blechnum spicant

In vivo administration experiments using stable (13C) and radio (14C) labeled precursors established that the optically active 8-2' linked lignans, (-)-cis-blechnic, (-)-trans-blechnic and (-)-trans-brainic acids, were directly derived from L-phenylalanine, cinnamate, and p-coumarate but not either from tyrosine or acetate. The radiochemical time course data suggest that the initial coupling product is (-)-cis-blechnic acid, which is then apparently converted into both (-)-trans-blechnic and (-)-trans-brainic acids in vivo. These findings provide additional evidence for vascular plant proteins engendering distinct but specific phenolic radical-radical coupling modes, i.e., for full control over phenylpropanoid coupling in vivo, whether stereoselective or regiospecific.