Synthesis of 5-fluoro- and 5-hydroxymethanoprolines via lithiation of N-BOC-methanopyrrolidines. Constrained Cγ-exo and Cγ-endo Flp and Hyp conformer mimics.

Proline derivatives with a C(γ)-exo pucker typically display a high amide bond trans/cis (K(T/C)) ratio. This pucker enhances n→π* overlap of the amide oxygen and ester carbonyl carbon, which favors a trans amide bond. If there were no difference in n→π* interaction between the ring puckers, then the correlation between ring pucker and K(T/C) might be broken. To explore this possibility, proline conformations were constrained using a methylene bridge. We synthesized discrete gauche and anti 5-fluoro- and 5-hydroxy-N-acetylmethanoproline methyl esters from 3-syn and 3-anti fluoro- and hydroxymethanopyrrolidines using directed α-metalation to introduce the α-ester group. NBO calculations reveal minimal n→π* orbital interactions, so contributions from other forces might be of greater importance in determining K(T/C) for the methanoprolines. Consistent with this hypothesis, greater trans amide preferences were found in CDCl(3) for anti isomers en-MetFlp and en-MetHyp (72-78% trans) than for the syn stereoisomers ex-MetFlp and ex-MetHyp (54-67% trans). These, and other, K(T/C) results that we report here indicate how substituents on proline analogues can affect amide preferences by pathways other than ring puckering and n→π* overlap and suggest that caution should be exercised in assigning enhanced pyrrolidine C(γ)-exo ring puckering based solely on enhanced trans amide preference.

Synthesis of conformationally constrained 5-fluoro- and 5-hydroxymethanopyrrolidines. Ring-puckered mimics of gauche- and anti-3-fluoro- and 3-hydroxypyrrolidines.

N-acetylmethanopyrrolidine methyl ester and its four 5-syn/anti-fluoro and hydroxy derivatives have been synthesized from 2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hex-5-ene, a 1,2-dihydropyridine photoproduct. These conformationally constrained mimics of idealized C(ß)-gauche and C(ß)-anti conformers of pyrrolidines were prepared in order to determine the inherent bridge bias and subsequent heteroatom substituent effects upon trans/cis amide preferences. The bridgehead position and also the presence of gauche(syn)/anti-5-fluoro or 5-hydroxy substituents have minimal influence upon the K(T/C) values of N-acetylamide conformers in both CDCl(3) (43-54% trans) and D(2)O (53-58% trans). O-Benzoylation enhances the trans amide preferences in CDCl(3) (65% for a syn-OBz, 61% for an anti-OBz) but has minimal effect in D(2)O. The synthetic methods developed for N-BOC-methanopyrrolidines should prove useful in the synthesis of more complex derivatives containing α-ester substituents. The K(T/C) results obtained in this study establish baseline amide preferences that will enable determination of contributions of α-ester substituents to trans-amide preferences in methanoprolines.

Oligomers of a 5-carboxy-methanopyrrolidine ß-amino acid. A search for order.

CD spectra for homooligomers (n = 4, 6, 8) of (1S,4R,5R)-5-syn-carboxy-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane (MPCA), a methano-bridged pyrrolidine ß-carboxylic acid, suggest an ordered secondary structure. Even in the absence of internal hydrogen bonding, solution NMR, X-ray, and in silico analyses of the tetramer are indicative of conformations with trans-amides and C(5)-amide-carbonyls oriented toward the C(4) bridgehead. This highly constrained ß-amino acid could prove useful in the ongoing development of well-defined foldamers.

5(6)-anti-Substituted-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes: a nucleophilic displacement route.

Nucleophilic displacements of 5(6)-anti-bromo substituents in 2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes (methanopyrrolidines) have been accomplished. These displacements have produced 5-anti-X-6-anti-Y-difunctionalized-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes containing bromo, fluoro, acetoxy, hydroxy, azido, imidazole, thiophenyl, and iodo substituents. Such displacements of anti-bromide ions require an amine nitrogen and are a function of the solvent and the choice of metal salt. Reaction rates were faster and product yields were higher in DMSO when compared to DMF and with CsOAc compared to NaOAc. Sodium or lithium salts gave products, except with NaF, where silver fluoride in nitromethane was best for substitution by fluoride. The presence of electron-withdrawing F, OAc, N(3), Br, or SPh substituents in the 6-anti-position slows bromide displacements at the 5-anti-position.

Nature of amide carbonyl--carbonyl interactions in proteins.

Noncovalent interactions define and modulate biomolecular structure, function, and dynamics. In many protein secondary structures, an intimate interaction exists between adjacent carbonyl groups of the main-chain amide bonds. As this short contact contributes to the energetics of protein conformational stability as well as protein-ligand interactions, understanding its nature is crucial. The intimacy of the carbonyl groups could arise from a charge-charge or dipole-dipole interaction, or n-->pi * electronic delocalization. This last putative origin, which is reminiscent of the Burgi-Dunitz trajectory, involves delocalization of the lone pairs (n) of the oxygen (O(i-1)) of a peptide bond over the antibonding orbital (pi*) of the carbonyl group (C(i)=O(i)) of the subsequent peptide bond. By installing isosteric chemical substituents in a peptidic model system and using NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and ab initio calculations to analyze the consequences, the intimate interaction between adjacent carbonyl groups is shown to arise primarily from n-->pi* electronic delocalization. This finding has implications for organic, biological, and medicinal chemistry.

Conformational preferences of substrates for human prolyl 4-hydroxylase.

Prolyl 4-hydroxylase (P4H) catalyzes the posttranslational hydroxylation of (2 S)-proline (Pro) residues in procollagen strands. The resulting (2 S,4 R)-4-hydroxyproline (Hyp) residues are essential for the folding, secretion, and stability of the collagen triple helix. Even though its product (Hyp) differs from its substrate (Pro) by only a single oxygen atom, no product inhibition has been observed for P4H. Here, we examine the basis for the binding and turnover of substrates by human P4H. Synthetic peptides containing (2 S,4 R)-4-fluoroproline (Flp), (2 S,4 S)-4-fluoroproline (flp), (2 S)-4-ketoproline (Kep), (2 S)-4-thiaproline (Thp), and 3,5-methanoproline (Mtp) were evaluated as substrates for P4H. Peptides containing Pro, flp, and Thp were found to be excellent substrates for P4H, forming Hyp, Kep, and (2 S,4 R)-thiaoxoproline, respectively. Thus, P4H is tolerant to some substitutions on C-4 of the pyrrolidine ring. In contrast, peptides containing Flp, Kep, or Mtp did not even bind to the active site of P4H. Each proline analogue that does bind to P4H is also a substrate, indicating that discrimination occurs at the level of binding rather than turnover. As the iron(IV)-oxo species that forms in the active site of P4H is highly reactive, P4H has an imperative for forming a snug complex with its substrate and appears to do so. Most notably, those proline analogues with a greater preference for a C (gamma)- endo pucker and cis peptide bond were the ones recognized by P4H. As Hyp has a strong preference for C (gamma)- exo pucker and trans peptide bond, P4H appears to discriminate against the conformation of proline residues in a manner that diminishes product inhibition during collagen biosynthesis.

Neighboring group participation in the additions of iodonium and bromonium ions to N-alkoxycarbonyl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.n]alk-5-enes (n = 1,2).

Additions of iodonium-X reagents to N-alkoxycarbonyl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-enes and the homologous 2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-enes have been found to mirror the outcomes of additions of bromonium-X reagents. Only rearranged products were observed for reactions of either of these halonium ion reagents with the azabicylo[2.2.1]hept-5-enes. For the azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-enes, nitrogen participation in addition of IOH or BrOH was dependent on the N-alkoxycarbonyl group. With larger N-Boc, N-Cbz, or N-Troc protecting groups, unrearranged 5-anti-hydroxy-6-syn-I(or Br)-2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes were formed by nucleophilic attack at C(5) on syn-halonium ions. The structure of N-methyl-8-anti-bromo-4-anti-hydroxy-2-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane has been reassigned by X-ray analysis.

Selectfluor as a nucleofuge in the reactions of azabicyclo[n.2.1]alkane beta-halocarbamic acid esters (n = 2,3).

The ability of Selectfluor to act as a nucleofuge for hydrolysis of beta-anti-halides was investigated with N-alkoxycarbonyl derivatives of 6-anti-Y-7-anti-X-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes and 4-anti-Y-8-anti-X-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes. The azabicycles contained X = I or Br groups in the methano bridge and Y = F, Br, Cl, or OH substituents in the larger bridge. The relative reactivities of the halides were a function of the azabicycle, the halide, and its bridge and the addition of Selectfluor or HgF(2) as a nucleofuge. All halide displacements occurred with retention of stereochemistry. Selectfluor with sodium bromide or sodium chloride, but not sodium iodide, competitively oxidized some haloalcohols to haloketones. A significant 15.6 Hz F...HO NMR coupling was observed with 4-anti-fluoro-8-anti-hydroxy-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane.

Stereoselectivity in Diels-Alder reactions of diene-substituted N-alkoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydropyridines.

Diene substituent effects on the regiochemical and stereochemical outcomes of uncatalyzed Diels-Alder reactions of N-alkoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydropyridines with both styrene and methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) were studied. Alkyl substitution on the diene in all cases examined resulted in a kinetic preference for 7-endo isomers (7-phenyl 51-96% exo and 7-acetyl 54-96% exo). For both dienophiles, the highest stereoselectivities (>or=89% endo) were observed with 5-methyl or 6-methyl substituents in the dihydropyridine. Theoretical calculations of the energies of gas phase endo and exo transition states at the RHF/3-21G(*) predict that total entropy, DeltaStotal, considerations favor endo cycloadducts for both dienophiles with DHP, while total energy considerations, DeltaEo, favor endo cycloadducts for styrene and exo cycloadducts for MVK. At this level, favored endo-phenyl isomers are correctly predicted for styrene reactions, but the calculation of 7-acetyl exo or endo isomer dominance is diene-substituent-dependent for MVK reactions. The preference for endo addition of MVK to the parent, 5-methyl, and 6-methyl-DHPs was successfully predicted by calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G* theory level.

5-Carboxy-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes as precursors of 5-halo, amino, phenyl, and 2-methoxycarbonylethyl methanopyrrolidines.

Novel 5-X-substituted-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes (X = 5-syn-Cl, -Br, -I, -Ph, -NHCOOR (R = Me, Bn, t-Bu), -CH2CH2COOMe and X = 5-anti-Br, -I, -Ph) were synthesized from the X = 5-syn-carboxy derivative. New 5-anti-X-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes, X = NHCOOR (R = Me, Bn), were prepared stereoselectively from the X = 5-anti-carboxy substrate.

The rearrangement route to 3-carboxy- and 3-hydroxymethyl-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes: 3,5-methanoprolines.

Improved stereocontrolled syntheses of 5-anti-hydroxy-3-exo-methoxycarbonyl-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes have been effected from pyridine. The key step in the electrophilic addition-rearrangement of 2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hex-5-ene precursors incorporates either a 3-endo-phenyl group, as an acid precursor, or a 3-endo-phenyldimethylsilylmethyl group, as a potential hydroxymethyl and acid precursor.

Substituted 2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes as constrained proline analogues: implications for collagen stability.

Among the proteinogenic amino acids, only proline is a secondary amine and only proline has a saturated ring. Electronegative substituents on C-4 (that is, C(gamma)) have a substantial effect on the trans/cis ratio of the prolyl peptide bond and the pucker of the pyrrolidine ring. 2-Azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane is, in essence, a proline analogue with two C(gamma) atoms, one in each of the two prevalent ring puckers of proline. Here, 2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane analogues of 2S-proline, (2S,4S)-4-hydroxyproline, and (2S,4S)-4-fluoroproline residues were synthesized, and their trans/cis ratios were shown to be invariant in a particular solvent. Thus, the substitution of a proline residue on C-4 affects the trans/cis ratio by altering the pucker of its pyrrolidine ring. This finding has implications for the conformation of collagen, which has an abundance of 2S-proline and (2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline residues, and can be stabilized by (2S,4R)-4-fluoroproline and (2S,4S)-4-fluoroproline residues.

Novel selectfluor and deoxo-fluor-mediated rearrangements. New 5(6)-methyl and phenyl methanopyrrolidine alcohols and fluorides.

Stereoselective syntheses of novel 5,6-difunctionalized-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes containing 5-anti-fluoro or hydroxyl in one methano bridge and a variety of syn- or anti-chloro, fluoro, hydroxy, methyl, or phenyl substituents in the other methano bridge have been effected. Rearrangements of iodides to alcohols were initiated using Selectfluor. Rearrangement of alcohols to fluorides was initiated using Deoxo-Fluor. Ring opening of 2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hex-5-ene exo-epoxide with organocopper reagents is regioselective at C(5).

Convenient preparations of 2,4-methanopyrrolidine and 5-carboxy-2,4-methanopyrrolidines.

An efficient four-step synthesis of N-BOC-5-syn- and 5-anti-carboxymethanopyrrolidines (12 and 13) and the conversion of 12 to N-BOC-methanopyrrolidine (2) are described.

Second-chance rearrangement route to novel 5(6)-syn,anti-difunctional 2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes.

[reaction: see text] The first syntheses of 5,6-difunctionalized-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes containing syn-hydroxy and syn-fluoro substituents have been effected in a stereocontrolled manner. The key reactions are regioselective additions to the aziridinium ions formed from 6-exo-iodo(bromo)-5-endo-X-2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hexanes (X = F, OH) upon silver or mercury salt enhancement of iodide nucleofugacity.

The rearrangement route to 2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes. Solvent and electrophile control of neighboring group participation.

The reactions of N-(alkoxycarbonyl)-2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hex-5-enes 5 with halonium ion electrophiles were studied in polar and nonpolar aprotic solvents and also in protic media with the aim of controlling nitrogen neighboring group participation. Specifically, for bromonium ions nitrogen participation is facilitated by the polar aprotic solvent nitromethane and by the poorly nucleophilic protic solvent acetic acid. Alkene 5b and bromine/nitromethane afford only the rearranged anti,anti-5,6-dibromo-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane 6b, and NBS/acetic acid gives an 8:1 mixture favoring rearranged 5-bromo-6-acetate 6f. Conversely, pyridinium bromide perbromide/CH(2)Cl(2) is selective for only unrearranged 5,6-dibromide 7. Iodonium and phenylselenonium ions react with alkenes 5 to give only unrearranged 1,2-addition products 9 and 10, regardless of solvent. Chloronium and fluoronium ions react with alkenes 5 to give 4-aminomethyl-3-hydroxycyclobutene 11, derived by ring cleavage.

Chlorosulfonyl isocyanate reactions with N-(alkoxycarbonyl)-2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hex-5-enes. Regiospecific two-atom insertion pathways.

Addition of the uniparticulate electrophile chlorosulfonyl isocyanate to the nitrogen atom of N-(alkoxycarbonyl)-2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hex-5-enes 1 is followed by ring cleavage and recombination. The parent 4-methyl, 5-methyl, 5-bromo, and 5-phenyl azabicycles 1a-f afforded novel 2,4-diaza-3-oxo-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-enes 10a-f. The 3-endo-phenyl azabicycle 1g rearranged to a 6-styryl-1,3-diaza-2-oxo-cyclohex-4-ene 12.

Complex-induced proximity effects. Temperature-dependent regiochemical diversity in lithiation-electrophilic substitution reactions of N-BOC-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane. 2,4- and 3,5-methanoprolines.

[reaction: see text] Azabicycle 4 and sec-butyllithium/TMEDA afford the C(1) bridgehead alpha-lithio anion at 0 degrees C. Anion quenching with carbon dioxide, methyl chloroformate, or DMF provide the bridgehead acid 8a (N-BOC-2,4-methanoproline), ester 8b, or aldehyde 8c, respectively. By contrast, at -78 degrees C these same reagents give a mixture of regioisomeric methylene and bridgehead anions whose quenching leads to mixtures of regioisomeric methylene and bridgehead acids 6a/8a, esters 6b/8b, or aldehydes 6c/8c, respectively. The previously unknown 3,5-methanoproline was prepared as its N-BOC methyl ester 6b.

The rearrangement route to 3-CH(2)X-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes. Substituent control of neighboring group participation.

The stereocontrolled synthesis of a functionalized 3-hydroxymethyl-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane synthon for a variety of methano-bridged pyrrolidines has been effected. The key step in an electrophilic addition-rearrangement route uses a 3-nosyloxymethyl group in the 2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hex-5-ene precursor in order to suppress unwanted competitive oxygen neighboring group participation. [reaction: see text]