Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of 4,5-Dihydroxyisoleucine Fragment of α-Amanitin.

The ability of α-amanitin to potently inhibit RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) has elicited further research into its use as a novel payload for antibody-drug conjugates. Despite this promise, the de novo synthesis of α-amanitin is still a major challenge as it possesses an unusual bicyclic octapeptide structure that contains several oxidized amino acids, most notably 4,5-dihydroxy-l-isoleucine. Here, we report a concise chemoenzymatic synthesis of this key amino acid residue, which features two regioselective and diastereoselective enzymatic C-H oxidations on l-isoleucine.

One-pot chemoenzymatic syntheses of non-canonical amino acids.

Despite their prevalent use in drug discovery and protein biochemistry, non-canonical amino acids are still challenging to synthesize through purely chemical means. In recent years, biocatalysis has emerged as a transformative paradigm for small-molecule synthesis. One strategy to further empower biocatalysis is to use it in combination with modern chemical reactions and take advantage of the strengths of each method to enable access to challenging structural motifs that were previously unattainable using each method alone. In this Mini-Review, we highlight several recent case studies that feature the synergistic use of chemical and enzymatic transformations in one pot to synthesize novel non-canonical amino acids. ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: This Mini-Review highlights several recent case studies that feature the synergistic use of chemical and enzymatic transformations in one pot to synthesize novel non-canonical amino acids.

Gold-Catalyzed Stereoselective Synthesis of Bicyclic Lactams and Ketones from N-Tosylynamidomethyl-Tethered Cyclohexenes.

Six-membered ring 3-enynamides underwent cycloisomerization in the presence of a catalytic amount of a gold(I) complex delivering mainly 4-azatricyclo[4.3.1.03,10]dec-2-ene derivatives and dibenz[cd,f]indole derivatives as the minor products under mild reaction conditions. Upon exposure to air, most aryl-substituted azatricycles led to bicyclic γ-lactams, while the ortho-tolyl- or alkyl-substituted azatricycles provided the corresponding bicyclic γ-lactams after oxidation with osmium tetraoxide and N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide. Under acidic conditions, the ortho-tolyl- or alkyl-substituted azatricycles were further transformed into 5-N-tosylaminomethyl-tethered bicyclo[4.2.0]octan-7-ones. The gold(I)-catalyzed tandem cycloisomerization/oxidation reaction also provided a new route for the synthesis of bridged bicyclic δ-lactams from six-membered ring 4-enynamides. The mild reaction conditions allowed the synthesis of a range of bicyclic γ- and δ-lactams and N-tosylaminomethyl-tethered bicyclo[4.2.0]octan-7-ones with high diastereoselectivities.