Comprehensive semisyntheses of catathelasmols C, D, and E from D-glutamic acid, utilizing lipase-catalyzed site-selective reactions on intermediates.

Catathelasmols C, D, and E, which had been isolated from Catathelasma imperiale as inhibitors for 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, were comprehensively semisynthesized from commercially available D-glutamic acid. The key synthetic intermediate, (R)-pentane-1,2,5-triol, was site-selectively acetylated by treatment with vinyl acetate and Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozym 435) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 25°C to furnish 1,5-diacetate (catathelasmol E, quantitative). The acetylation occurred site-selectively on the primary alcohols at the C-1 and C-5 positions over the secondary alcohol at the C-2 position. Dichromic acid oxidation provided 2-oxopentane-1,5-diyl diacetate (catathelasmol C, 78%). Burkholderia cepacia lipase-catalyzed transesterification with methanol in THF at - 5°C proceeded preferentially on the acetate at C-1 located adjacent to the C-2 carbonyl group over the other terminal acetate at the C-5 position. 5-Hydroxy-4-oxopentyl acetate (catathelasmol D) was obtained in 53% yield.

Pollutants in Organic Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry Education Laboratory. Experimental and Machine Learning Studies.

AIMS: Computational modelling may help us to detect the more important factors governing this process in order to optimize it. BACKGROUND: The generation of hazardous organic waste in teaching and research laboratories poses a big problem that universities have to manage. METHODS: In this work, we report on the experimental measurement of waste generation on the chemical education laboratories within our department. We measured the waste generated in the teaching laboratories of the Organic Chemistry Department II (UPV/EHU), in the second semester of the 2017/2018 academic year. Likewise, to know the anthropogenic and social factors related to the generation of waste, a questionnaire has been utilized. We focused on all students of Experimentation in Organic Chemistry (EOC) and Organic Chemistry II (OC2) subjects. It helped us to know their prior knowledge about waste, awareness of the problem of separate organic waste and the correct use of the containers. These results, together with the volumetric data, have been analyzed with statistical analysis software. We obtained two Perturbation-Theory Machine Learning (PTML) models including chemical, operational, and academic factors. The dataset analyzed included 6050 cases of laboratory practices vs. practices of reference. RESULTS: These models predict the values of acetone waste with R2 = 0.88 and non-halogenated waste with R2 = 0.91. CONCLUSION: This work opens a new gate to the implementation of more sustainable techniques and a circular economy with the aim of improving the quality of university education processes.

Immobilization of lipase onto novel constructed polydopamine grafted multiwalled carbon nanotube impregnated with magnetic cobalt and its application in synthesis of fruit flavours.

Surface modification of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) could enhance the features of the nanomaterial as carrier for enzyme immobilization. In this strategy, magnetic MWCNTs were fabricated by incorporating them with cobalt and functionalization was carried out by aminated polydopamine. The surface modified MWCNTs were then used as a carrier for the immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) via covalent binding using glutaraldehyde. The immobilized CRL maintained high activity, which was 3-folds of free CRL. The immobilized CRL exhibited excellent thermal resistance as validated by TGA and DTA technique and was found to be active in a broad range of pH and temperatures in comparison to free CRL. Systematic characterization via FT-IR spectroscopy, CD spectroscopy, SEM, TEM and confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed the presence of CRL on the modified MWCNTs. Immobilized CRL presented an exquisite recycling performance as after ten consecutive reuses it retained around 84% of its initial hydrolytic activity and further showed high yield enzymatic synthesis of ethyl butyrate and isoamyl acetate having characteristic pineapple and banana flavour demonstrating 78% and 75% ester yield, respectively. The present work provides a novel perspective for lipase catalyzed biotechnological applications by adding a magnetic gain to intrinsic features of MWCNTs.

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of Tetrafluoropentanols: Multivicinal Fluorinated Alkane Units for Drug Discovery.

A stereodivergent synthesis of four diastereomeric 2,3,4,5-tetrafluoropentanols is disclosed. X-ray crystallographic analysis reveals conformations that manifest sequential stereoelectronic gauche effects (σC-H/C → σC-F*), thereby generating topological diversity via subtle C(sp3)-H to C(sp3)-F exchange. Two representative tetrafluoro arrays have been incorporated into truncated analogues of Gilenya for the management of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. These closely similar multivicinal fluoroalkanes have notably different physicochemical profiles and were found to be stable in the presence of human microsomes.

Synthesis and Stereochemical Revision of the Aromatic Polyketide NFAT-133.

NFAT-133, isolated from Streptomyces sp., is an immunosuppressive, antidiabetic, and antitrypanosomal aromatic polyketide with three contiguous stereocenters. The first enantioselective total synthesis of the proposed structure of NFAT-133 [(10R,11R,12S)-1] and its C10 epimer [(10S,11R,12S)-1] was achieved from a known aromatic ester (5) by a 10-step sequence that featured chiral auxiliary-directed asymmetric alkylation and the Evans asymmetric aldol reaction as the chirality-inducing steps. The 1H and 13C NMR data as well as the specific rotation value of natural NFAT-133 were not identical to those of the proposed structure, but were in good agreement with those of its C10 epimer. This led us to conclude that the absolute configuration of NFAT-133 should be revised to 10S, 11R, and 12S.

Synthetic polyprenol-pyrophosphate linked oligosaccharides are efficient substrates for mycobacterial galactan biosynthetic enzymes.

Mycobacteria, including the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, produce a complex cell wall that is critical for their survival. The largest structural component of the cell wall, the mycolyl-arabinogalactan-peptidoglycan complex, has at its core a galactan domain composed of d-galactofuranose residues. Mycobacterial galactan biosynthesis has been proposed to involve two glycosyltransferases, GlfT1 and GlfT2, which elongate polyprenol-pyrophosphate linked glycosyl acceptor substrates using UDP-galactofuranose as the donor substrate. We here report the first chemical synthesis of GlfT1 and GlfT2 acceptor substrates containing pyrophosphate and polyprenol moieties (compounds 3, 4, 22 and 23). The approach involves chemical synthesis of an oligosaccharide, subsequent phosphorylation at the reducing end and coupling to a polyprenol phosphate. These compounds were shown to be substrates for either GlfT1 (22 and 23) or GlfT2 (3 and 4) and all were substantially more active than the corresponding alkyl glycoside substrates reported previously. Mass spectrometric analysis of the products formed from the reaction of 3, 4, 22 and 23 with the respective cognate enzyme and UDP-galactofuranose provide additional evidence for the galactan biosynthetic model in which GlfT1 adds the first two galactofuranose residues with the remainder being installed via GlfT2. Overall, these results highlight the importance of the pyrophosphate motif in recognition of acceptor substrates by both enzymes and demonstrate a straightforward route for the preparation of such compounds. The work also provides additional support for the process by which this important glycan is biosynthesized using, for the first time, close structural analogs to the natural substrates.

Selective Hydrogenolysis of Furfural Derivative 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran into Pentanediol Acetate and Pentanol Acetate over Pd/C and Sc(OTf)3 Cocatalytic System.

It is of great significance to convert platform molecules and their derivatives into high value-added alcohols, which have multitudinous applications. This study concerns systematic conversion of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF), which is obtained from furfural, into 1-pentanol acetate (PA) and 1,4-pentanediol acetate (PDA). Reaction parameters, such as the Lewis acid species, reaction temperature, and hydrogen pressure, were investigated in detail. 1 H NMR spectroscopy and reaction dynamics study were also conducted to help clarify the reaction mechanism. Results suggested that cleavage of the primary alcohol acetate was less facile than that of the secondary alcohol acetate, with the main product being PA. A PA yield of 91.8 % (150 °C, 3 MPa H2 , 30 min) was achieved by using Pd/C and Sc(OTf)3 as a cocatalytic system and an 82 % yield of PDA was achieved (150 °C, 30 min) by using Sc(OTf)3 catalyst. Simultaneously, the efficient conversion of acetic esters into alcohols by simple saponification was carried out and led to a good yield.

In vitro and in silico evaluations of diarylpentanoid series as α-glucosidase inhibitor.

A series of thirty-four diarylpentanoids derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Eleven compounds (19, 20, 21, 24, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33 and 34) were found to significantly inhibit α-glucosidase in which compounds 28, 31 and 32 demonstrated the highest activity with IC50 values ranging from 14.1 to 15.1 µM. Structure-activity comparison shows that multiple hydroxy groups are essential for α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Meanwhile, 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl and furanyl moieties were found to be crucial in improving α-glucosidase inhibition. Molecular docking analyses further confirmed the critical role of both 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl and furanyl moieties as they bound to α-glucosidase active site in different mode. Overall result suggests that diarylpentanoids with both five membered heterocyclic ring and polyhydroxyphenyl moiety could be a new lead design in the search of novel α-glucosidase inhibitor.

Enzymatic kinetic resolution of internal propargylic diols. Part I: a new approach for the synthesis of (S)-pent-2-yn-1,4-diol, a natural product from Clitocybe catinus.

Internal bis-substituted propargylic diols were subjected to enzymatic kinetic resolution promoted by CAL-B. Employing a two round sequence EKR, mono- and bis-acetoxy propargylic products were obtained in a high enantiomeric ratio (E > 200). The efficiently resolved chiral 8b was applied in a concise synthesis of (S)-1b, an optically active natural product produced by fungi Clitocybe catinus.

Enantioselective synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-2-methyl-1,5-anti-pentenediols via an allene hydroboration-double-allylboration reaction sequence.

Kinetically controlled hydroboration of allenylboronate 5 followed by double allylboration with the resulting allylborane (Z)-7 gave (Z)-2-methyl-1,5-anti-pentenediols 6 in good yield and high enantioselectivity in the presence of 10% BF3·OEt2 as the catalyst in the second allylboration step. Under thermodynamically controlled isomerization conditions, (Z)-7 can readily isomerize to (E)-7. Double allylboration of representative aldehydes with allylborane (E)-7 gave (E)-2-methyl-1,5-anti-pentenediols 4 in good yield and high enantioselectivity without requiring use of the BF3·OEt2 catalyst. Thus, 2-methyl-1,5-anti-pentenediols with either olefin geometry can be synthesized from the same allenylboronate precursor 5. Furthermore, 1,5-pentenediols 4 and 6 can be easily converted to 1,3,5-triols with excellent diastereoselectivity in one step.

Efficient preparation of (R)-3-hydroxypentanenitrile with high enantiomeric excess by enzymatic reduction with subsequent enhancement of the optical purity by lipase-catalyzed ester hydrolysis.

An efficient chemo-enzymatic procedure for the synthesis of (R)-3-hydroxypentanenitrile (1) with over 99% enantiomeric excess using two enzymatic reactions was successfully established. Initial enantioselective enzymatic reduction of 3-oxopentanenitrile with reductase S1 gave (R)-1 with an 81.5% ee which was then converted to (R)-1-(cyanomethyl) propyl n-butyrate (3b). Subsequent lipase-catalyzed enantioselective hydrolysis of 3b gave (R)-1 in a high yield with over 99% ee.

Synthesis and NMR characterization of (Z,Z,Z,Z,E,E,ω)-heptaprenol.

We describe a practical, multigram synthesis of (2Z,6Z,10Z,14Z,18E,22E)-3,7,11,15,19,23,27-heptamethyl-2,6,10,14,18,22,26-octacosaheptaen-1-ol [(Z(4),E(2),ω)-heptaprenol, 4] using the nerol-derived sulfone 8 as the key intermediate. Sulfone 8 is prepared by the literature route and is converted in five additional steps (18% yield from 8) to (Z(4),E(2),ω)-heptaprenol 4. The use of Eu(hfc)(3) as an NMR shift reagent not only enabled confirmation of the structure and stereochemistry of 4, but further enabled the structural assignment to a major side product from a failed synthetic connection. The availability by this synthesis of (Z(4),E(2),ω)-heptaprenol 4 in gram quantities will enable preparative access to key reagents for the study of the biosynthesis of the bacterial cell envelope.

Synthesis and characterization of all four diastereomers of 3,4-dichloro-2-pentanol, motifs relevant to the chlorosulfolipids.

All four diastereomers of 3,4-dichloro-2-pentanol were synthesized by anti-dichlorination of the precursor allylic alcohols; their stereochemistry was elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis of tosylate derivatives. Complete NMR data is provided in the hope that this information will facilitate structural elucidation and synthesis studies on the chlorosulfolipid family of natural products, such as malhamensilipin A.

Solid-phase organic synthesis of polyisoprenoid alcohols with traceless sulfone linker.

Solid-phase organic synthesis of polyprenols with a traceless sulfone linker is described. The polymer-bound benezenesulfinate is first linked with the "tail" building blocks of isoprenyl chlorides via S-alkylation. With use of dimsyl anion as an appropriate base, the polymer-bound alpha-sulfonyl carbanion is generated and coupled with other "body" building blocks in an efficient manner. After repeated processes and a global palladium-catalyzed desulfonation with LiEt 3BH as the reducing agent, the desired polyprenols with various chain lengths and geometrical configurations are obtained in 32-59% overall yields. The solid-phase synthesis offers the advantage in facile isolation of polyprenols without tedious operation or time-consuming purification.

A PhSeCl-mediated allylic oxidation of prenyl moiety: a convenient method for the construction of 3-isopenten-2-ol unit.

A phenylselenenyl chloride (PhSeCl)-mediated allylic oxidation to give allylically rearranged alcohol has been developed. A possible mechanism for the present reaction is generation of allylic selenide from prenyl moiety via [1,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, followed by oxidation and [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement to afford 3-isopenten-2-ol.

Queen sex pheromone of the slave-making ant, Polyergus breviceps.

Workers of the slave-making ant, Polyergus breviceps, raid nests of Formica ants and return with Formica pupae that mature into worker ants in the slave-makers' colony. These Formica workers then tend the Polyergus brood, workers, and reproductives. During raids in the mating season, winged virgin Polyergus queens accompany the workers in the raiding columns. During the raid, the virgin queens release a pheromone that attracts males that quickly mate with the queens. We report the identification, synthesis, and bioassay of the sex attractant pheromone of the queens as an approximately 1:6 ratio of (R)-3-ethyl-4-methylpentan-1-ol and methyl 6-methylsalicylate. The ants produce exclusively the (R)-enantiomer of the alcohol, and the (S)-enantiomer has no biological activity, neither inhibiting nor increasing attraction to blends of methyl 6-methylsalicylate with the (R)-enantiomer.

Preliminary studies on the transformation of nitrosugars into branched chain iminosugars: synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-4-C-hydroxymethyl-1,4-imino-pentanols.

A novel promising strategy for the transformation of nitrosugars into branched pyrrolidines, based on double Henry reaction with formaldehyde followed by reductive ring closure, allowed the first enantiospecific synthesis of a 4-C-hydroxymethyl branched derivative of the well-known glycosidase inhibitor 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-pentanol. This strategy also afforded a new route to some other interesting derivatives, such as N-hydroxy, N-propyloxy, and imino derivatives, a new kind of compounds with promising biological properties. [reaction: see text].

Nickel-catalyzed coupling producing (2Z)-2,4-alkadien-1-ols, conversion to (E)-3-alkene-1,2,5-triol derivatives, and synthesis of decarestrictine D.

The 3-alkene-1,2,5-triol structure is not only a major framework of biologically important molecules but also a new functional-group-rich unit for synthesis of polyols and sugars. A method furnishing such triol derivatives 8 was developed and successfully applied to synthesis of decarestrictine D (18). First, coupling reaction of the unprotected alcohols 2 with borates 4 was investigated to produce the dienyl alcohols 6 with NiCl2(dppf) in Et2O/THF (5:1) at room temperature. The hydroxyl-group-directed epoxidation of 6 followed by palladium-catalyzed reaction with AcOH (Scheme 1) furnished 3-alkene-1,2,5-triol derivatives 8. Since each step proceeded with high stereo- and regioselectivities, the stereochemistry of 8 has been correlated with the olefin geometry of 6. With the above transformation in mind, synthesis of the full carbon skeleton of decarestrictine D (18) could be designed easily and was completed successfully. Furthermore, a new seco acid 19b with the MOM protective group for the three hydroxyl groups was found to afford macrolide 48 in a yield higher than those reported previously.

Influence of microemulsions on enantioselective synthesis of (R)-cyclopent-2-enol catalyzed by vitamin B12.

The influence of microemulsions on the vitamin B12-catalyzed enantioselective isomerization of 1,2-epoxycyclopentane (1) to form (R)-cyclopent-2-enol (2) has been examined. The reaction was initiated by a reduction of vitamin B12 to the Co(I) form by Zn/NH4Cl. The largest enantiomeric excess (e.e.) in the products was 52% for (R)-2 obtained in a bicontinuous sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) microemulsion. A water-in-oil SDS microemulsion gave a poorer percent e.e. probably because of limited catalyst utilization in the water droplets. The influence of the pH of the water phase, the amount of water, and the concentration of vitamin B12 on the enantioselectivity and yield of the reaction was also explored. Results suggest that factors such as higher water content and bicontinuous fluid structure facilitated efficient intermixing of catalyst with reactant to form a key organocobalt intermediate, thus improving enantioselectivity.

Synthesis of the racemate of (Z)-exo-alpha-bergamotenal, a pheromone component of the white-spotted spined bug, Eysarcoris parvus Uhler.

The racemate of (Z)-exo-alpha-bergamotenal, a sex pheromone component of the white-spotted spined bug, was synthesized from racemic exo-alpha-bergamotene by a five-step sequence involving regioselective epoxidation and (Z)-selective Wittig olefination reactions. The 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra of the synthetic sample were identical with those of the natural material.