Second-order asymmetric transformation and its application for the practical synthesis of α-amino acids.

We report a discovery of a new rimantadine [1-(1-adamantyl)ethanamine]-derived chiral ligand and its application for the preparation of α-amino acids using the second-order asymmetric transformation approach. The operational ease of experimental procedures coupled with excellent chemical yields and stereochemical outcome suggests some potential synthetic generality of this approach.

Tandem Alkylation-Second-Order Asymmetric Transformation Protocol for the Preparation of Phenylalanine-Type Tailor-Made α-Amino Acids.

In this work, we disclose an advanced general process for the synthesis of tailor-made α-amino acids (α-AAs) via tandem alkylation-second-order asymmetric transformation. The first step is the alkylation of the chiral Ni(II) complex of glycine Schiff base, which is conducted under mild phase-transfer conditions allowing the structural construction of target α-AAs. The second step is based on the methodologically rare second-order asymmetric transformation, resulting in nearly complete precipitation of the corresponding (SC,RN,RC)-configured diastereomer, which can be collected by a simple filtration. The operational convenience and potential scalability of all experimental procedures, coupled with excellent stereochemical outcome, render this method of high synthetic value for the preparation of various tailor-made α-AAs.

Purely Chemical Approach for Preparation of d-α-Amino Acids via (S)-to-(R)-Interconversion of Unprotected Tailor-Made α-Amino Acids.

Unnatural (R)-α-amino acids (α-AAs) are in growing demand in the biomedical research and pharmaceutical industries. In this work, we present development of a purely chemical approach for preparation of (R)-α-AAs via (S)-to-(R)-interconversion of natural and tailor-made (S)-α-AAs. The method can be used on free, unprotected α-AAs and features a remarkable structural generality including substrates bearing tertiary alkyl chains and reactive functional groups. These attractive characteristics, combined with simplicity of reaction conditions and virtually complete stereochemical outcome, constitute a true methodological advance in this area, rivaling previously reported chemical and biocatalytic approaches.

Advanced asymmetric synthesis of (1R,2S)-1-amino-2-vinylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid by alkylation/cyclization of newly designed axially chiral Ni(II) complex of glycine Schiff base.

Asymmetric synthesis of (1R,2S)-1-amino-2-vinylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (vinyl-ACCA) is in extremely high demand due to the pharmaceutical importance of this tailor-made, sterically constrained α-amino acid. Here we report the development of an advanced procedure for preparation of the target amino acid via two-step SN2 and SN2' alkylation of novel axially chiral nucleophilic glycine equivalent. Excellent yields and diastereoselectivity coupled with reliable and easy scalability render this method of immediate use for practical synthesis of (1R,2S)-vinyl-ACCA.

Recyclable Ligands for the Non-Enzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Challenging α-Amino Acids.

Structurally simple and inexpensive chiral tridentate ligands were employed for substantially advancing the purely chemical dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of unprotected racemic tailor-made α-amino acids (TM-α-AAs), enabling the first DKR of TM-α-AAs bearing tertiary alkyl chains as well as multiple unprotected functional groups. Owing to the operationally convenient conditions, virtually complete stereoselectivity, and full recyclability of the source of chirality, this method should find wide applications for the preparation of TM-α-AAs, especially on large scale.

Chemical Dynamic Thermodynamic Resolution and S/R Interconversion of Unprotected Unnatural Tailor-made α-Amino Acids.

Described here is an advanced, general method for purely chemical dynamic thermodynamic resolution and S/R interconversion of unprotected tailor-made α-amino acids (α-AAs) through intermediate formation of the corresponding nickel(II)-chelated Schiff bases. The method features virtually complete stereochemical outcome, broad substrate generality (35 examples), and operationally convenient conditions allowing for large-scale preparation of the target α-AAs in enantiomerically pure form. Furthermore, the new type of nonracemizable axially chiral ligands can be quantitatively recycled and reused, rendering the whole process economically and synthetically attractive.

Chemical dynamic kinetic resolution and S/R†interconversion of unprotected α-amino acids.

Reported herein is the first purely chemical method for the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of unprotected racemic α-amino acids (α-AAs), a method which can rival the economic efficiency of the enzymatic reactions. The DKR reaction principle can be readily applied for S/R interconversions of α-AAs, the methodological versatility of which is unmatched by biocatalytic approaches. The presented process features a virtually complete stereochemical outcome, fully recyclable source of chirality, and operationally simple and convenient reaction conditions, thus allowing its ready scalability. A quite unique and novel mode of the thermodynamic control over the stereochemical outcome, including an exciting interplay between axial, helical, and central elements of chirality is proposed.

Design and synthesis of (S)- and (R)-α-(phenyl)ethylamine-derived NH-type ligands and their application for the chemical resolution of α-amino acids.

This work presents the first chemical approach for the resolution of α-amino acids offering the following advantages: (1) The specially designed resolving reagent is derived from α-(phenyl)ethylamine, the most inexpensive chiral auxiliary, which can be recycled and reused, rendering the cost structure of the complete process very attractive; (2) the time-efficient two-step process can be conducted under operationally convenient conditions with virtually quantitative yields; and (3) the process can readily be adapted to large-scale use.

DDB accumulates at DNA damage sites immediately after UV irradiation and directly stimulates nucleotide excision repair.

Damaged DNA-binding protein, DDB, is a heterodimer of p127 and p48 with a high specificity for binding to several types of DNA damage. Mutations in the p48 gene that cause the loss of DDB activity were found in a subset of xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group E (XP-E) patients and have linked to the deficiency in global genomic repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) in these cells. Here we show that with a highly defined system of purified repair factors, DDB can greatly stimulate the excision reaction reconstituted with XPA, RPA, XPC.HR23B, TFIIH, XPF.ERCC1 and XPG, up to 17-fold for CPDs and approximately 2-fold for (6-4) photoproducts (6-4PPs), indicating that no additional factor is required for the stimulation by DDB. Transfection of the p48 cDNA into an SV40-transformed human cell line, WI38VA13, was found to enhance DDB activity and the in vivo removal of CPDs and 6-4PPs. Furthermore, the combined technique of recently developed micropore UV irradiation and immunostaining revealed that p48 (probably in the form of DDB heterodimer) accumulates at locally damaged DNA sites immediately after UV irradiation, and this accumulation is also observed in XP-A and XP-C cells expressing exogenous p48. These results suggest that DDB can rapidly translocate to the damaged DNA sites independent of functional XPA and XPC proteins and directly enhance the excision reaction by core repair factors.