Combined C-H functionalization/O-H insertion reaction to form tertiary ß-alkoxy substituted ß-aminophosphonates catalyzed by [Cu(MeCN)4]PF6.

The copper-catalyzed C-H functionalization/O-H insertion reaction of α-diazophosphonates with alcohols has been developed with iodine as an additive. In order to understand this reaction, we present here a possible mechanism for the combined reaction. This process provides straightforward access to tertiary ß-alkoxy substituted ß-aminophosphonate derivatives with moderate to good yields.

Application of the synthetic method to other amines.

Taurine and 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid were synthesized by the method of the main paper [Geoghegan & Dixon (1989) Biochem. J. 260, 295-296], i.e. by treating the corresponding halo compound with 2-aminoethanol and then with periodate.

Time-dependent inhibition of Bacillus stearothermophilus alanine racemase by (1-aminoethyl)phosphonate isomers by isomerization to noncovalent slowly dissociating enzyme-(1-aminoethyl)phosphonate complexes.

An alanine racemase encoded by a gene from the thermophilic Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus stearothermophilus is overproduced to 0.3% of the soluble protein when carried on plasmid pICR4 in Escherichia coli [Inagaki, K., Tanizawa, K., Badet, B., Walsh, C. T., Tanaka, H., & Soda, K. (1986) Biochemistry (third paper of four in this issue)]. Purification of large quantities (50 mg) of racemase permits study of time-dependent inactivation by D and L isomers of the antibacterial (1-aminoethyl)phosphonate (Ala-P), the phosphonate analogue of alanine. The time-dependent activity loss by this compound now appears general to Gram-positive but not to Gram-negative racemases [Badet, B., & Walsh, C. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 1333] and is shown to occur by extremely slow dissociation of a noncovalent E X Ala-P complex. Ala-P binds initially in a weak, reversible (KI = 1 mM) competitive manner but is slowly isomerized (kinact = 6-9 min-1) to a stoichiometric enzyme complex, which in turn dissociates extremely slowly, with a half-time about 25 days. Thus, Ala-P is a slow but not a tight-binding inhibitor. The E X Ala-P complex is not reducible by borohydride but does perturb the fluorescence of bound pyridoxal 5'-phosphate coenzyme. Determination of the sequence of an active site octapeptide of the B. stearothermophilus alanine racemase shows homology with the sequence of a Gram-negative Salmonella typhimurium alanine racemase that is not susceptible to time-dependent inhibition by Ala-P. Studies with Ala-P analogues suggest the phosphonate dianion is crucial for stable formation of an isomerized long-lived E X Ala-P-inhibited complex.

(beta-Chloro-alpha-aminoethyl)phosphonic acids as inhibitors of alanine racemase and D-alanine:D-alanine ligase.

The (beta-chloro-, (beta, beta-dichloro-, and (beta, beta, beta-trichloro-alpha-aminoethyl)phosphonic acids have been synthesized and their inhibitory properties on the alanine racemases [EC 5.1.1.1] and the D-Ala:D-Ala ligases [EC 6.3.2.4] from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus faecalis have been evaluated. The monochloro and the dichloro derivatives of Ala-P exhibit a strong inhibition on the racemases of the two species tested but do not behave as suicide substrates. Only the D-Ala:D-Ala ligase of S. faecalis is inhibited by these compounds. The poor antibacterial activity observed with beta-chloro- and beta, beta-dichloro-Ala-P might be enhanced by the peptide-transport strategy.