β‐Aminopeptidase‐Catalyzed Biotransformations of β2‐Dipeptides: Kinetic Resolution and Enzymatic Coupling

We have previously shown that the β‐aminopeptidases BapA from Sphingosinicella xenopeptidilytica and DmpA from Ochrobactrum anthropi can catalyze reactions with non‐natural β³‐peptides and β³‐amino acid amides. Here we report that these exceptional enzymes are also able to utilize synthetic dipeptides with N‐terminal β²‐amino acid residues as substrates under aqueous conditions. The suitability of a β²‐peptide as a substrate for BapA or DmpA was strongly dependent on the size of the C_α substituent of the N‐terminal β²‐amino acid. BapA was shown to convert a diastereomeric mixture of the β²‐peptide H‐β²hPhe‐β²hAla‐OH, but did not act on diastereomerically pure β²,β³‐dipeptides containing an N‐terminal β²‐homoalanine. In contrast, DmpA was only active with the latter dipeptides as substrates. BapA‐catalyzed transformation of the diastereomeric mixture of H‐β²hPhe‐β²hAla‐OH proceeded along two highly S‐enantioselective reaction routes, one leading to substrate hydrolysis and the other to the synthesis of coupling products. The synthetic route predominated even at neutral pH. A rise in pH of three log units shifted the synthesis‐to‐hydrolysis ratio (v_S/v_H) further towards peptide formation. Because the equilibrium of the reaction lies on the side of hydrolysis, prolonged incubation resulted in the cleavage of all peptides that carried an N‐terminal β‐amino acid of S configuration. After completion of the enzymatic reaction, only the S enantiomer of β²‐homophenylalanine was detected (ee>99 % for H‐(S)‐β²‐hPhe‐OH, E>500); this confirmed the high enantioselectivity of the reaction. Our findings suggest interesting new applications of the enzymes BapA and DmpA for the production of enantiopure β²‐amino acids and the enantioselective coupling of N‐terminal β²‐amino acids to peptides.     

Synthesis of enaminones and enamino esters catalysed by ZrOCl2 · 8H2O

A simple, fast and efficient procedure has been developed for the synthesis of β-enaminones and β-enamino esters catalysed by zirconyl chloride octahydrate (ZrOCl₂ · 8H₂O). The reaction of β-diketones and β-ketoesters with primary amines was carried out efficiently under solvent-free conditions at room temperature and led to chemo- and regio-selective formations of enamine derivatives in high to excellent yields.     

Die UV-Spektren α,β-ungesättigter Ester und ihre Beeinflussung durch Lösungsmittel und Komplexbildung

UV Spectra of α,β-Unsaturated Esters and the Influence of Solvents and Complex Formation Positions and intensities of partially overlapped π-π* and n-π* transitions in spectra of methyl and ethyl esters of acrylic, methacrylic and crotonic acid are discussed. Reproducible values were determined by graphical and mathematical band-separations. n-π* bands in gaseous methyl acrylate show vibrationally fine structures. These are compared with fine structures in the spectra of α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone and α, β-dehydrobutyrolactone. In solutions with C_ester lt; 0,1 m self-associations are negligible. The transition-displacements Δv _max due to solvent effects closely correlate with the solvent parameters of KOSOWER . These correlations allow to calculate λ_max-values at which solvents absorb strongly. Equilibrium constants K of EDA-complexes with TCNE and chloranile were determined. With a competition method K was found in the range of 0.9 to 10.3 l · mol⁻¹.     

Spiranic β-Ketoesters and their Pyrazolinones

A number of spiranic β-ketoesters have been prepared and transformed into the corresponding phenylpyrazolinones by condensation with phenylhydrazine. The structures of the β-ketoesters and the pyrazolinones, derived from their UV, IR and NMR spectra, are discussed.     

Studies on β-alkoxypropionitriles as solvents for extractive distillation

Five solvents of the β-alkoxypropionitrile series have been studied by gas-chromatography in order to examine their potential usefulness as solvents for extractive distillation. Four isomers of C₄-olefin and a diene were used as solutes for the determination of activity coefficients at infinite dilution at 30°C. Relative volatilities were calculated for these solvents and compared with those for other commercial solvents used currently. Relative volatilities of seven C₄-hydrocarbons in two solvents were also studied and compared with the existing literature data for β-methoxypropionitrile containing 5% antisolvent. The present g.c. studies show that besides the well-studied β-methoxypropionitrile, the second member of the series, β-ethoxypropionitrile, also has the potential for use as a selective solvent.     

Studies on β-alkoxypropionitriles as solvents for extractive distillation

Five solvents of the β-alkoxypropionitrile series have been studied by gas-chromatographyin order to examine their potential usefulness as solvents for extractive distillation. Four isomers of C₄-olefin and a diene were used as solutes for the determination of activity coefficients at infinite dilution at 30°C. Relative volatilities were calculated for these solvents and compared with those for other commercial solvents used currently. Relative volatilities of seven C₄-hydrocarbons in two solvents were also studied and compared with the existing literature data for β-methoxypropionitrile containing 5% antisolvent. The present g.c. studies show that besides the well-studied β-methoxypropionitrile, the second member of the series, β-ethoxypropionitrile, also has the potential for use as a selective solvent.     

Altering associations of doxorubicin‐loaded alginate esters micelles in presence of β‐cyclodextrin

The aim of this article was to evaluate the effects of β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) on doxorubicin (DOX)‐loaded alginate esters (SA‐C₁₆) micelles (DOX/SA‐C₁₆) in aqueous solution. DOX was physically loaded into SA‐C₁₆ micelles by an o/w emulsion method with a substantial encapsulation efficiency (EE) level (36.12%), and DOX/SA‐C₁₆ was distributed in size diameters of approximately 254 nm. SA‐C₁₆ as carriers for the DOX can lead to the formation of associative networks in aqueous solutions between the hydrophobic tails of SA‐C₁₆ and DOX, and the dried morphology of DOX/SA‐C₁₆ aggregate was spherical shape. Addition of β‐CD to the system of DOX/SA‐C₁₆ facilitated decoupling of these associations via inclusion complex formation between β‐CD cavities and the polymer hydrophobic tails that produced the release of DOX immediately, and the EE level was dropped to 0.08%, and at the same time the size distribution of aggregate was increased to about 413 nm, moreover, the aggregate was relatively large and becoming irregular spherical shape. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40702.     

N,N′‐Dioxide‐Magnesium Ditriflate Complex‐Catalyzed Asymmetric α‐Hydroxylation of β‐Keto Esters and β‐Keto Amides

The highly catalytic asymmetric α‐hydroxylation of 1‐tetralone‐derived β‐keto esters and β‐keto amides using tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the oxidant was realized by a chiral N,N′‐dioxide‐magnesium ditriflate [Mg(OTf)₂] complex. A series of corresponding chiral α‐hydroxy dicarbonyl compounds was obtained in excellent yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee). The products were easily transformed into useful building blocks and the precursor of daunomycin was achieved in an asymmetric catalytic way for the first time.     

The Synthesis of trans‐Perhydroindolic Acids and their Application in Asymmetric Domino Reactions of Aldehyde Esters with β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Keto Esters

(2S,3aR,7aS)‐Perhydroindolic acid, the key intermediate in the synthesis of trandolapril, and its trans‐isomers, were readily prepared. These proline‐like molecules are unique in that they contain a rigid bicyclic structure, with two hydrogen atoms trans to each other at the bridgehead carbon atoms. These molecules were used successfully as chiral organocatalysts in asymmetric domino Michael addition/cyclization reactions of aldehyde esters with β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters. They proved to have excellent catalytic behavior, allowing for the synthesis of multi‐substituted, enantiomerically enriched hemiacetal esters. Under optimal conditions (using 10 mol% catalyst loading), a series of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters was examined with up to 99% de, ee and yield, respectively. Additionally, the enantiomerically enriched hemiacetal esters could be readily transformed into their corresponding bioactive pyrano[2,3‐b]pyrans (possessing a multi‐substituted bicyclic backbone).     

On the Crystal Structure of the β′-Form of Triglycerides and Structural Changes at the Phase Transitions LIQ. → α → β′ ← β

Based on X-ray single crystal data of the β′-form of triundecanoin the general features of the molecular arrangement in this crystal form have been derived. The unit cell contains eight molecules arranged according to space group P2_1/c, with alternation of the tilt of the hydrocarbon chains in adjacent bimolecular layers. The structure within the molecular layer is quite similar to that of the β-form; the main difference being the chain packing. A second β″-form, β′₂, of triundecanoin has been observed and it differs from the one mentioned above in the orientation of the chain packing subcell 0° in relation to the true unit cell. The polymorphic transitions have been followed by recording of the diffraction pattern versus temperatures. The polymorphic transitions α · β′ · β can be regarded mainly as different lateral arrangement of a dimeric unit. In the α-form the chains are disordered near the methyl end groups, and due to this disorder the structure is closely related to the lamellar liquid-crystalline phase. It is also possible to classify β′-forms according to short-spacing data into a β′₁-type and a β′₂-type, and these groups can be identified also in complex triglycerides.     

Darstellung und 1H-NMR-spektroskopische Untersuchung von β-substituierten Äthylen-phenylphosphinsäure-äthylestern

Preparation and ¹H N.M.R. Spectroscopic Investigation of β-Substituted Ethyl Esters of Ethylene-phenylphosphinic Acid The ethyl ester 3 of diphenylphosphorylmethyl-phenyl-phosphinic acid in benzene reacts regiospecifically and stereoselectively with aldehydes, in presence of sodium hydride, to 2-substituted ethyl esters of trans-ethylene-1-phenylphosphinic acid 8 (E-isomers) in satisfactory yields. The ABX type H-n.m.r. spectra of isolated pure products 8 were analysed. The trans configuration of these compounds is characterized by the specific signal sequence of ethylene proton H_B.     

Atom Economic Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Bulky β‐Oxo Esters

Ruthenium complexes with the formulae Ru(CO)₂(PR₃)₂(O₂CPh)₂ [ 6a – h ; R=n‐Bu, p‐MeO‐C₆H₄, p‐Me‐C₆H₄, Ph, p‐Cl‐C₆H₄, m‐Cl‐C₆H₄, p‐CF₃‐C₆H₄, m,m′‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃] were prepared by treatment of triruthenium dodecacarbonyl [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] with the respective phosphine and benzoic acid or by the conversion of Ru(CO)₃(PR₃)₂ ( 8e – h ) with benzoic acid. During the preparation of 8 , ruthenium hydride complexes of type Ru(CO)(PR₃)₃(H)₂ ( 9g , h ) could be isolated as side products. The molecular structures of the newly synthesized complexes in the solid state are discussed. Compounds 6a – h were found to be highly effective catalysts in the addition of carboxylic acids to propargylic alcohols to give valuable β‐oxo esters. The catalyst screening revealed a considerably influence of the phosphine′s electronic nature on the resulting activities. The best performances were obtained with complexes 6g and 6h , featuring electron‐withdrawing phosphine ligands. Additionally, catalyst 6g is very active in the conversion of sterically demanding substrates, leading to a broad substrate scope. The catalytic preparation of simple as well as challenging substrates succeeds with catalyst 6g in yields that often exceed those of established literature systems. Furthermore, the reactions can be carried out with catalyst loadings down to 0.1 mol% and reaction temperatures down to 50 °C.

     

Preparation and Application of Iron‐substituted (Z)‐Enals: Synthesis of 5‐Substituted α,β‐Butenolides

A reaction sequence furnishing cyclic β‐[η⁵‐C₅H₅(CO)₂Fe]‐substituted enals 5 starting from β‐keto esters 1 is described. Organolithiums were found to react smoothly with the iron‐substituted enals yielding α,β‐butenolides 6 by an intramolecular cyclocarbonylation of the lithiumalkoxide initially formed. The influence of e.g. the reaction temperature and the solvent on the reaction cascade is discussed. A reaction mechanism is proposed.     

Reaktivität und Selektivität bei der Oxidation von Styrolderivaten. IV. Untersuchungen zur Oxidation von substituierten β,β-Dimethylstyrolen

Reactivity and Selectivity in the Oxidation of Styrene Derivatives. IV. Studies on the Oxidation of Substituted β,β-Dimethylstyrenes The liquid phase oxidation of substitued (p-MeO-, p-Cl-, m-CF₃-) 2-aryl-3-methyl-but-2-enes, of 1,1-diphenyl-2-methyl-propene, of 1-ethoxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propene and of 9-isopropylidene-fluorene with pure oxygen was investigated in chlorobenzene solution and in presence of cumene and of cumene hydroperoxide in the temperature range 65-125 °C. The product yields were determined gaschromatographically. The differences of the activation energies of epoxide formation and the parallel reactions were calculated. They amount to 19–48 kJ/mol. The epoxide selectivity increases with increasing temperature and increasing concentration of olefin. The relative chain propagation constants (k_{pC C}) were determined by competitive oxidation with cumene. The k_{pC C} values of substitued β,β-dimethylstyrenes can be correlated by a LFE-relationship with the ionisation energies of the olefins.     

Vinyloge Acylverbindungen. XX. Reaktivität und Toxizität arylsubstituierter β-Chlorvinylketone, β-Chlorvinylaldehyde und β-Chlorvinylmethyleniminiumsalze

Vinylogous Acyl Compounds. XX. Reactivity and Toxicity of Aryl-substituted β-Chlorovinyl Ketones, β-Chlorovinyl Aldehydes, and β-Chlorovinyl Methyleniminium Salts Based on kinetic measurements, the nucleophilic replaceability of the chlorine in aromatic β-chlorovinyl ketones ArCO-CH  CH-Cl ( 1 ), isomeric β-chlorovinyl aldehydes OCH CHC(Cl)Ar( 2 ), and corresponding β-chlorovinyl methyleniminium salts Me₂N^⊕;CH CHC(Cl)Ar X^⊖ ( 3 ) is compared and related to toxicological findings. The chemical reactivity of these important synthetic building blocks increases in the order 2 < 1 < 3 , the acute toxicity (24 h LD₅₀ i. p. in the mouse) shows the graduation 2 < 3 < 1 . Compounds of type 1 prove to be relatively toxic (LD₅₀ 24–42 mg/kg) and display a marked necrotic action after percutaneous absorption, whereas the aldehydes 2 have not only a minor acute toxicity (LD₅₀ 158–298 mg/kg) but also a somewhat less marked skin damaging activity. In addition, the LD₅₀ values of selected β-chlorovinyl carbonyl compounds are compared with those of corresponding halogen-free compounds as well as of vinylogous carbonamidium salts ArCO CHCH N^⊕R₃X^⊖. The latter, which can be used as synthetic equivalents of 1 , differ in both the reduced acute toxicity and missing skin damaging properties.     

Axial Chirality Control by 2,4‐Pentanediol for the Alternative Synthesis of C3*‐TunePhos Chiral Diphosphine Ligands and Their Applications in Highly Enantioselective Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Hydrogenation of β‐Keto Esters

A highly efficient strategy for the synthesis of a series of C₃*‐TunePhos chiral diphosphine ligands was well established with several remarkable features. The synthetic utility of these ligands was explored for the ruthenium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of β‐keto esters. Up to 99% ee values were achieved for the enantioselective synthesis of β‐hydroxy acid derivatives, which are very important chiral building blocks for the synthesis of a variety of natural products and biologically active molecules.     

On the Crystal Structure of the β′1-Form of Triglycerides and the Mechanism behind the β′1 → β Transition of Fats

Based on earlier single crystal studies ^1,2 new interpretation of the crystal structure of the stable β′-form (β′₁) is proposed. This new interpretation gives the possibility to discuss the β′₁-form of various triglycerides. A mechanism behind the β′₁ → β transition is proposed. This mechanism is based on differences in the methyl end group region and supported by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Friedel–Crafts Reaction of Indoles with Isatin‐Derived β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Keto Esters Using a BINOL‐Derived Bisoxazoline (BOX)/Copper(II) Complex as Catalyst

Several chiral BINOL‐derived bisoxazoline (BOX)/copper(II) complexes were synthesized and evaluated as catalysts for the Friedel–Crafts reaction of indoles with isatin‐derived β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters. The resulting bis‐indole products bearing a quaternary stereocenter were obtained in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. Additionally, the desired products were practically transformed to α‐amino esters, α‐hydroxy esters and α‐keto amides. It is noteworthy that this catalytic procedure was conducted with a catalyst loading of 0.5 mol% without any discernible decrease in the reactivity or enantioselectivity.

     

Functional monomers and polymers, 64. Synthesis of poly-β-alanine from β-alanine, β-alanyl-β-alanine,and β-alanyl-β-alanyl-β-alanine 4-dodecanoyl-2-nitrophenyl esters

Active 4-dodecanoyl-2-nitrophenyl esters of β-alanine, β-alanyl-β-alanine, and β-alanyl-β-alanyl-β-alanine were prepared, and tried to polymerize in various solvents. Nonpolar solvents were found to be convenient for the polycondensation reaction. The yield of the polycondensation was high for the monopeptide ester, and less for the dipeptide and tripeptide esters. The effect of temperature on the polycondensation reaction was also studied.     

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction of Ketones with β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Keto Esters: An Efficient Access to Chiral Tertiary Alcohol Skeletons

This update describes a highly efficient organocatalytic aldol reaction of ketones and β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters for constructing the chiral tertiary alcohol motif. With the application of 9‐amino(9‐deoxy)epi‐Cinchona alkaloid and an acidic additive as catalysts, both acyclic and cyclic ketones react with β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters smoothly to afford aldol adducts in good to excellent yields and asymmetric induction. This protocol offers a new pathway for the construction of adjacent chiral carbon centers and the synthesis of chiral β‐hydroxy carbonyl compounds.