Highly Regio‐ and Stereoselective Iodohydroxylation of Non‐ Heteroatom‐Substituted Allenes: An Efficient Synthesis of 4‐[3′‐Hydroxy‐2′‐iodoalk‐1′(Z)‐enyl]‐2(5H)‐furanone Derivatives

An efficient protocol for the highly regio‐ and stereoselective synthesis of 4‐(3′‐hydroxy‐2′‐iodoalk‐1′(Z)‐enyl)furan‐2(5H)‐one derivatives via selective iodohydroxylation of non‐heteroatom‐substituted allenes, i.e., 4‐allenyl‐2(5H)furanones, has been developed. The regio‐ and stereoselectivity of this reaction may be controlled by the electronic and steric effects of the furanone ring.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Highly Chemo‐, Regio‐ and Stereoselective Synthesis of Eight‐ to Ten‐Membered Lactones from Allenyl 3‐Oxoalkanoates and Organic Halides

A highly chemo‐, regio‐, and stereoselective synthesis of eight‐ to ten‐membered lactones via the coupling cyclization of readily available allenyl 3‐oxoalkanoates and organic halides through an anti‐π‐allylic palladium intermediate is reported. The yields ranged from moderate to good.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Chloroamination of Alkynes: Highly Regio‐ and Stereoselective Synthesis of (E)‐β‐Chloro‐Enesulfonamides

An efficient copper catalysis system for the chloroamination of alkynes with chlorosulfonamide at room temperature is described, providing a highly regio‐ and stereoselective procedure for the synthesis of (E)‐β‐chloro‐enesulfonamides in moderate to good yields.     

A Simple Procedure for Selective Hydroxylation of L‐Proline and L‐Pipecolic Acid with Recombinantly Expressed Proline Hydroxylases

Due to their diverse regio‐ and stereoselectivities, proline hydroxylases provide a straightforward access to hydroxprolines and other hydroxylated cylic amino acids, valuable chiral building blocks for chemical synthesis, which are often not available at reasonable expense by classical chemical synthesis. As yet, the application of proline hydroxylases is limited to a sophisticated industrial process for the production of two hydroxyproline isomers. This is mainly due to difficulties in their heterologues expression, their limited in vitro stability and complex product purification procedures. Here we describe a facile method for the production of cis‐3‐, cis‐4‐ and trans‐4‐proline hydroxylase, and their application for the regio‐ and stereoselective hydroxylation of L ‐proline and its six‐membered ring homologue l‐ pipecolic acid. Since in vitro catalysis with these enzymes is not very efficient and conversions are restricted to the milligram scale, an in vivo procedure was established, which allowed a quantitative conversion of 6 mM l‐ proline in shake flask cultures. After facile product purification via ion exchange chromatography, hydroxyprolines were isolated in yields of 35–61% (175–305 mg per flask). L ‐Pipecolic acid was converted with the isolated enzymes to prove the selectivities of the reactions. In transformations with optimized iron(II) concentration, conversions of 17–68% to hydroxylated products were achieved. The regio‐ and stereochemistry of the products was determined by NMR techniques. To demonstrate the applicability of the preparative in vivo approach for non‐physiological substrates, L ‐pipecolic acid was converted with an E. coli strain producing trans‐4‐proline hydroxylase to trans‐5‐hydroxy‐L ‐pipecolic acid in 61% yield. Thus, a synthetically valuable group of biocatalysts was made readily accessible for application in the laboratory without a need for special equipment or considerable development effort.     

Regio‐ and Stereoselective Biohydroxylations with a Recombinant Escherichia coli Expressing P450pyr Monooxygenase of Sphingomonas Sp. HXN‐200

A recombinant Escherichia coli expressing P450_pyr monooxygenase of Sphingomonas sp. HXN‐200 was developed as a useful biocatalyst for regio‐ and stereoselective hydroxylations, with no side reaction and easy cell growth. The resting E. coli cells showed an activity of 4.1 U/g cdw and 9.9 U/g cdw for the hydroxylation of N‐benzylpyrrolidin‐2‐one 1 and N‐benzyloxycarbonylpyrrolidine 3 , respectively, being as active as the wide‐type strain. Biohydroxylation of N‐benzylpyrrolidin‐2‐one 1 with the resting cells gave (S)‐N‐benzyl‐4‐hydroxypyrrolidin‐2‐one 2 in >99% ee and 10.8 mM, a 2.6 times increase of product concentration in comparison with the wild‐type strain. Biohydroxylation of N‐tert‐butoxycarbonylpiperidin‐2‐one 5 , N‐benzylpiperidine 7 and N‐tert‐butoxycarbonylazetidine 9 with the E. coli cells afforded the corresponding 4‐hydroxypiperidin‐2‐one 6 , 4‐hydroxypiperidine 8 , and 3‐hydroxyazetidine 10 in 14 mM, 17 mM, and 21 mM, respectively. Moreover, hydroxylation of (−)‐β‐pinene 11 with the recombinant E. coli cells showed excellent regio‐ and stereoselectivity and gave (1R)‐trans‐pinocarveol 12 in 82% yield and 4.1 mM, which is over 200 times higher than that obtained with the best biocatalytic system known thus far. The recombinant strain was also able to hydroxylate other types of substrates with unique selectivity: biohydroxylation of norbornane 13 gave exo‐norbornaeol 14 , with exo/endo selectivity of 95%; tetralin 15 and 6‐methoxytetralin 17 were hydroxylated at the non‐activated 2‐position, for the first time, with regioselectivities of 83–84%.     

Stabilization of the Reductase Domain in the Catalytically Self‐Sufficient Cytochrome P450BM3 by Consensus‐Guided Mutagenesis

The multidomain, catalytically self‐sufficient cytochrome P450 BM‐3 from Bacillus megaterium (P450_BM3) constitutes a versatile enzyme for the oxyfunctionalization of organic molecules and natural products. However, the limited stability of the diflavin reductase domain limits the utility of this enzyme for synthetic applications. In this work, a consensus‐guided mutagenesis approach was applied to enhance the thermal stability of the reductase domain of P450_BM3. Upon phylogenetic analysis of a set of distantly related P450s (>38 % identity), a total of 14 amino acid substitutions were identified and evaluated in terms of their stabilizing effects relative to the wild‐type reductase domain. Recombination of the six most stabilizing mutations generated two thermostable variants featuring up to tenfold longer half‐lives at 50 °C and increased catalytic performance at elevated temperatures. Further characterization of the engineered P450_BM3 variants indicated that the introduced mutations increased the thermal stability of the FAD‐binding domain and that the optimal temperature (T_opt) of the enzyme had shifted from 25 to 40 °C. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of consensus mutagenesis for enhancing the stability of the reductase component of a multidomain P450. The stabilized P450_BM3 variants developed here could potentially provide more robust scaffolds for the engineering of oxidation biocatalysts.     

Semirational Protein Engineering of CYP153AM.aq.‐CPRBM3 for Efficient Terminal Hydroxylation of Short‐ to Long‐Chain Fatty Acids

The regioselective terminal hydroxylation of alkanes and fatty acids is of great interest in a variety of industrial applications, such as in cosmetics, in fine chemicals, and in the fragrance industry. The chemically challenging activation and oxidation of non‐activated C?H bonds can be achieved with cytochrome P450 enzymes. CYP153A_M.aq.‐CPR_BM3 is an artificial fusion construct consisting of the heme domain from Marinobacter aquaeolei and the reductase domain of CYP102A1 from Bacillus megaterium. It has the ability to hydroxylate medium‐ and long‐chain fatty acids selectively at their terminal positions. However, the activity of this interesting P450 construct needs to be improved for applications in industrial processes. For this purpose, the design of mutant libraries including two consecutive steps of mutagenesis is demonstrated. Targeted positions and residues chosen for substitution were based on semi‐rational protein design after creation of a homology model of the heme domain of CYP153A_M.aq., sequence alignments, and docking studies. Site‐directed mutagenesis was the preferred method employed to address positions within the binding pocket, whereas diversity was created with the aid of a degenerate codon for amino acids located at the substrate entrance channel. Combining the successful variants led to the identification of a double variant—G307A/S233G—that showed alterations of one position within the binding pocket and one position located in the substrate access channel. This double variant showed twofold increased activity relative to the wild type for the terminal hydroxylation of medium‐chain‐length fatty acids. This variant furthermore showed improved activity towards short‐ and long‐chain fatty acids and enhanced stability in the presence of higher concentrations of fatty acids.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Regio‐ and Stereoselective Reductive Coupling of Oxa‐ and Azabicyclic Alkenes with Enones and Electron‐Rich Alkynes

A nickel‐catalyzed regio‐ and stereoselective reductive coupling of oxa‐ and azabicyclic alkenes with activated alkenes and electron‐rich alkynes is described. Thus, 7‐oxabenzonorbornadienes underwent reductive coupling with various vinyl ketones such as ethyl, methyl, propyl and α‐methyl‐substituted vinyl ketones, in the presence of a nickel(II) iodide (NiI₂), zinc (Zn), and water catalyst system in acetonitrile at 50 °C for 14 h to afford 2‐alkylnaphthalenes in good to excellent yields. Under similar reaction conditions, 7‐azabenzonorbornadiene derivatives provided cis‐2‐alkyl‐1,2‐dihydronaphthalene derivatives in high yields. On the other hand, the nickel(II) iodide, tris(4‐fluorophenyl)phoshine [P(4‐FC₆H₄)₃] and zinc catalyst system successfully catalyzed the reductive coupling reaction of electron‐rich alkynes, with 7‐aza‐ and 7‐oxabenzonorbornadienes to give cis‐2‐alkenyl‐1,2‐dihydronaphthalene derivatives in good to excellent yields. In the reaction, a mild reducing agent (zinc) and simple hydrogen source (water) were used.

     

Regioselectivity and Activity of Cytochrome P450 BM‐3 and Mutant F87A in Reactions Driven by Hydrogen Peroxide

Cytochrome P450 BM‐3 (EC 1.14.14.1) is a monooxygenase that utilizes NADPH and dioxygen to hydroxylate fatty acids at subterminal positions. The enzyme is also capable of functioning as a peroxygenase in the same reaction, by utilizing hydrogen peroxide in place of the reductase domain, cofactor and oxygen. As a starting point for developing a practically useful hydroxylation biocatalyst, we compare the activity and regioselectivity of wild‐type P450 BM‐3 and its F87A mutant on various fatty acids. Neither enzyme catalyzes terminal hydroxylation under any of the conditions studied. While significantly enhancing peroxygenase activity, the F87A mutation also shifts hydroxylation further away from the terminal position. The H₂O₂‐driven reactions with either the full‐length BM‐3 enzyme or the heme domain are slow, but yield product distributions very similar to those generated when using NADPH and O₂.     

The Anionic [1,3]‐H‐Shift Applied in Synthesis: A Novel Access to (+)‐Citreoviral

In this paper we present a highly stereoselective and concise synthesis of the tetrahydrofuran derivative 3 and thus, a formal synthesis of the mycotoxin metabolite (+)‐citreoviral ( 2 ). In our route we made use of a novel anionic [1,3]‐H‐shift to convert the homoallylic alcohol 9 into the allylic benzyl ether 10 . Another key step was the regio‐ and stereocontrolled cyclization of epoxide 18b to tetrahydrofuran 19b , which was then converted into ester 3 .     

Regio‐ and Stereoselective Preparation of β,γ‐Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids by One‐Pot Sequential Double 1,6‐Addition of Grignard Reagents to Methyl Coumalate

An efficient regio‐ and stereoselective metal‐catalyzed addition of two Grignard reagents (homo‐coupling, 2 RMgX or hetero‐coupling, R¹MgX+R²MgX) to methyl coumalate (methyl 2‐oxo‐2H‐pyran‐5‐carboxylate) is described. This synthetic approach opens the access to a wide variety of functionalized β,γ‐unsaturated carboxylic acids in a modular way. Control of the chemo‐ and stereoselectivity of this one‐pot procedure is discussed.

     

Extremely regio‐regular poly (3‐alkylthiophene)s from simplified chain‐growth Grignard metathesis polymerisations and the modification of their chain‐ends

A simplified route to regio‐regular poly(3‐alkylthiophene)s (P3AT) with predetermined molecular weights and low molecular weight distributions based on the chain‐growth GRIM polymerisation of 2,5‐dibromo‐3‐alkylthiophenes is detailed. It is proposed by way of in‐depth ¹³C‐, ¹H‐ and two‐dimensional NMR characterisations that the resulting P3ATs are quasi‐100% regio‐regular except for one regio‐irregular pair at one chain‐end. It is probable that chain‐end groups exhibit reduced conjugation with the rest of the polymer. A comparison of the preparation of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) and poly(3‐butylthiophene) (P3BT) is presented. New methods required for the hydrogenation, formylation and bromomethylation of the chain‐ends of P3BT, necessary to overcome its poor solubility and low reactivity, are described. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Three‐Component Synthesis of Functionalized Allylamines by Intermolecular Tandem Carbopalladation–Amination

Highly regio‐ and stereoselective formation of allylamines has been achieved through a three‐component reaction between iodobenzene, an allene, and an amine in acetonitrile, catalyzed by in situ formed and by isolated palladium‐diphosphine catalysts.     

α‐ and β‐Stannyl Trifluoromethylbutenoates: Regioselective Preparation and Use in Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Allylation and Propargylation Reactions

The palladium‐free hydrostannylation of ethyl 4,4,4‐trifluorobutynoate 1 with tributyltin hydride at room temperature is highly regio‐ and stereoselective, providing good yields of β‐trifluoromethyl (Z)‐α‐ or (Z)‐β‐stannylacrylates 2 . Vinylstannanes 2 undergo a copper(I)‐catalyzed coupling reactions with allylic or propargylic bromides leading selectively to good yields of the corresponding allylated or propargylated products without allylic or allenic transposition.     

Iron‐Catalyzed Regio‐ and Stereoselective Conjugate Addition of Aryl‐Grignard Reagents to α,β,γ,δ‐Unsaturated Sulfones and its Synthetic Application

The iron‐catalyzed δ‐addition of aryl‐Grignard reagents to α,β,γ,δ‐unsaturated sulfones proceeded in a regio‐ and stereoselective manner to give cis‐4‐aryl‐2‐alkenyl sulfones. Allylic alkylation of the resultant products was performed without isomerization of the cis‐olefin to give cis‐4‐aryl‐1,1‐dialkyl‐2‐alkenyl sulfones, which upon intramolecular Friedel–Crafts reaction with aluminum chloride gave 1,4‐dihydronaphthalenes having a quaternary carbon center.     

Synthesis and characterization of homo‐ and copolymers of 3‐(2‐cyano ethoxy)methyl‐ and 3‐[methoxy(triethylenoxy)]methyl‐3′‐methyl‐oxetane

Two oxetane‐derived monomers 3‐(2‐cyanoethoxy)methyl‐ and 3‐(methoxy(triethylenoxy)) methyl‐3′‐methyloxetane were prepared from the reaction of 3‐methyl‐3′‐hydroxymethyloxetane with acrylonitrile and triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, respectively. Their homo‐ and copolyethers were synthesized with BF₃· Et₂O/1,4‐butanediol and trifluoromethane sulfonic acid as initiator through cationic ring‐opening polymerization. The structure of the polymers was characterized by FTIR and¹H NMR. The ratio of two repeating units incorporated into the copolymers is well consistent with the feed ratio. Regarding glass transition temperature (T_g), the DSC data imply that the resulting copolymers have a lower T_g than pure poly(ethylene oxide). Moreover, the TGA measurements reveal that they possess in general a high heat decomposition temperature. The ion conductivity of a sample (P‐AN 20) is 1.07 × 10^?5 S cm^?1 at room temperature and 2.79 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 at 80 °C, thus presenting the potential to meet the practical requirement of lithium ion batteries for polymer electrolytes. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Unusually Broad Substrate Profile of Self‐Sufficient Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenase CYP116B4 from Labrenzia aggregata

A new member of the CYP116B subfamily—P450_LaMO—was discovered in Labrenzia aggregata by genomic data mining. It was successfully overexpressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and subsequently characterized spectroscopically, and its catalytic properties were assessed. Substrate profiling of the P450_LaMO revealed that it was a versatile catalyst, exhibiting hydroxylation and epoxidation activities as well as O‐dealkylation and asymmetric sulfoxidation activities. Diverse compounds, including alkylbenzenes, aromatic bicyclic molecules, and terpenoids, were shown to be hydroxylated by P450_LaMO. Such diverse catalytic activities are uncommon for the bacterial P450s, and the P450_LaMO ‐mediated stereoselective hydroxylation of inactivated C?H bonds—ubiquitous and relatively unreactive in organic molecules—is particularly unusual. The self‐sufficient nature of P450_LaMO, coupled with its broad substrate range, highlights it as an ideal template for directed evolution towards various applications.     

Synthesis of (E)‐α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyls via Silver‐Catalyzed Tandem Epoxide Rearrangement/Intermolecular Carbonyl‐ Heteroalkyne Metathesis

A regio‐ and stereoselective method for the synthesis of (E)‐α,β‐unsaturated carbonyls has been developed via a silver‐catalyzed tandem epoxide rearrangement/intermolecular carbonyl‐heteroalkyne metathesis. Various heteroalkynes including ynol ethers, ynamides, and thioalkynes work well for this transformation, leading to the production of (E)‐α,β‐unsaturated esters, amides, and thioesters in moderate to excellent yields with good functional group compatibility. It represents one of the rare examples of regio‐ and stereoselective intermolecular alkyne‐carbonyl metathesis (ACM).

     

A Microwave‐Enhanced,Lewis Acid‐Catalyzed Synthesis of 1,3‐Dioxolanes and Oxazolines from Epoxides

A fast and highly regio‐ and stereoselective transformation of non‐conventional β‐lactam‐containing epoxides into the corresponding cyclic 1,3‐dioxolanes and oxazolines is herein reported, using microwave irradiation as an efficient source of energy, in the presence of stoichiometric or catalytic amounts of Lewis acids, without an additional solvent. These cyclic compounds are the protected forms of diols and amino alcohols.     

Regio‐ and Stereoselective Biocatalytic Monoamination of a Triketone Enables Asymmetric Synthesis of Both Enantiomers of the Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Xenovenine Employing Transaminases

The (+)‐ as well as the (−)‐enantiomer of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid xenovenine were prepared within five steps with 17 and 30% overall yields, respectively, in optically pure form, >99% ee as well as >99% de. In the asymmetric key step a transaminase performed a regio‐ and stereoselective monoamination of a triketone. By employing two enantiocomplementary transaminases from Arthrobacter sp. both enantiomers were accessible. The triketone was readily prepared via two steps starting from commercially available, achiral 2‐(n‐heptyl)furan. In the final catalytic hydrogenation step, the newly introduced chiral centre directed hydrogen addition to form preferentially the desired (5Z,8E)‐diastereomer. The regio‐ and stereoselective amination of a single ketone moiety out of three allowed the performance of the shortest and highest yielding total synthesis of the bicyclic showcase pyrrolizidine alkaloid without the need for protecting strategies.