1,2,3-Benzotriazine Synthesis by Heterocyclization of p-Tosylmethyl Isocyanide Derivatives.

An efficient methodology to form 4-alkoxy- and 4-aryloxybenzo[d][1,2,3]triazines via an intramolecular heterocyclization of 1-azido-2-[isocyano(p-tosyl)methyl]benzenes under basic conditions has been developed. DFT calculations have been performed to further understand the mechanism of this heterocyclization, which occurs in good to excellent yields with a broad scope.

The pHLIP system as a vehicle for microRNAs in the kidney. / El sistema pHLIP como vehículo de microRNA en el riñón.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous RNAs that regulate gene expression through post-transcriptional repression of their target messenger RNAs. A study of changes in expression of certain miRNAs in the kidney has supplied evidence on their pathogenic role and therapeutic potential in nephrology. This review proposes a nanotechnology approach based on the binding of analogs or inhibitors of miRNAs formed by peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) to peptides with a transmembrane structure sensitive to a low pH, called pHLIPs (pH [low] insertion peptides). The review draws on the concept that an acidic pH in the microenvironment of the renal tubule may facilitate concentration and distribution of the pHLIP-PNA complex in this organ. In this context, we have demonstrated for the first time that targeted administration of miR-33 inhibitors with the pHLIP system effectively prevents the development of renal fibrosis, thus opening up this technology to new strategies for diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases.

A Study of Graphene-Based Copper Catalysts: Copper(I) Nanoplatelets for Batch and Continuous-Flow Applications.

The use of graphene derivatives as supports improves the properties of heterogeneous catalysts, with graphene oxide (GO) being the most frequently employed. To explore greener possibilities as well as to get some insights into the role of the different graphenic supports (GO, rGO, carbon black, and graphite nanoplatelets), we prepared, under the same standard conditions, a variety of heterogeneous Cu catalysts and systematically evaluated their composition and catalytic activity in azide-alkyne cycloadditions as a model reaction. The use of sustainable graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) afforded a stable CuI catalyst with good recyclability properties, which are compatible with flow conditions, and able to catalyze other reactions such as the regio- and stereoselective sulfonylation of alkynes (addition reaction) and the Meerwein arylation (single electron transfer process).

Sustainable Synthesis of Oximes, Hydrazones, and Thiosemicarbazones under Mild Organocatalyzed Reaction Conditions.

Pyrrolidine catalyzes very efficiently, presumably via iminium activation, the formation of acyloximes, acylhydrazones, and thiosemicarbazones derived from aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes using equimolar amounts of reagents and green solvents. Experimental simplicity and excellent yields after a simple filtration are the main advantages of the method, being an alternative to those currently available especially for the acyl derivatives, which do not work under uncatalyzed conditions. Its application to the synthesis of acyloximes by direct condensation between aldehydes and acylhydroxylamines is unprecedented.

Advanced asymmetric synthesis of (1R,2S)-1-amino-2-vinylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid by alkylation/cyclization of newly designed axially chiral Ni(II) complex of glycine Schiff base.

Asymmetric synthesis of (1R,2S)-1-amino-2-vinylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (vinyl-ACCA) is in extremely high demand due to the pharmaceutical importance of this tailor-made, sterically constrained α-amino acid. Here we report the development of an advanced procedure for preparation of the target amino acid via two-step SN2 and SN2' alkylation of novel axially chiral nucleophilic glycine equivalent. Excellent yields and diastereoselectivity coupled with reliable and easy scalability render this method of immediate use for practical synthesis of (1R,2S)-vinyl-ACCA.

Asymmetric Synthesis of (2S,3S)-α-(1-Oxoisoindolin-3-yl)glycines under Low-Basicity "Kinetic" Control.

The previously illusive (2S,3S)-configured α-(1-oxoisoindolin-3-yl)glycines can be prepared under mild DBU-catalyzed, low-basicity conditions. The overall process includes a cascade of aldol addition, cyclization, rearrangement, and conjugate addition reactions, leading to the target products with moderate to good chemical yields and diastereoselectivity.

Introducing a new radical trifluoromethylation reagent.

Perfluoro-3-ethyl-2,4-dimethyl-3-pentyl radical (PPFR) is a persistent radical stable at room temperature, but easily decomposes at 90 °C to produce a CF3 radical which is able to react with a variety of aromatic compounds to afford the corresponding trifluoromethyl derivatives, usually as mixtures of regioisomers in good to excellent overall yields.

Asymmetric synthesis of α-(1-oxoisoindolin-3-yl)glycine: synthetic and mechanistic challenges.

We report herein that the NaOMe-catalyzed reactions between the chiral glycine Schiff base (S)-4 with 2-cyanobenzaldehyde 3a provide for a convenient preparation of the novel α-(1-oxoisoindolin-3-yl)glycine 1 of high pharmaceutical potential. The reactions involve at least eight synthetic steps and can mechanistically be realized only with application of Ni(II) complexes described in this study.

Chemical dynamic kinetic resolution and S/R†interconversion of unprotected α-amino acids.

Reported herein is the first purely chemical method for the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of unprotected racemic α-amino acids (α-AAs), a method which can rival the economic efficiency of the enzymatic reactions. The DKR reaction principle can be readily applied for S/R interconversions of α-AAs, the methodological versatility of which is unmatched by biocatalytic approaches. The presented process features a virtually complete stereochemical outcome, fully recyclable source of chirality, and operationally simple and convenient reaction conditions, thus allowing its ready scalability. A quite unique and novel mode of the thermodynamic control over the stereochemical outcome, including an exciting interplay between axial, helical, and central elements of chirality is proposed.

A general overview of the organocatalytic intramolecular aza-Michael reaction.

The organocatalytic intramolecular aza-Michael reaction gives access to enantiomerically enriched nitrogen-containing heterocycles in a very simple manner. Enals, enones, conjugated esters and nitro olefins have been employed as Michael acceptors, while moderate nitrogen nucleophiles such as sulphonamides, carbamates and amides have been shown to be appropriate Michael donors in this type of reaction. Additionally, the process has been performed under both covalent and non-covalent catalysis, with diaryl prolinols, imidazolidinones, thioureas and chiral binol phosphoric acids being the most frequently used catalysts. The level of efficiency reached with this protocol is demonstrated by the implementation of numerous tandem processes, as well as the total synthesis of several natural products.

Design and synthesis of (S)- and (R)-α-(phenyl)ethylamine-derived NH-type ligands and their application for the chemical resolution of α-amino acids.

This work presents the first chemical approach for the resolution of α-amino acids offering the following advantages: (1) The specially designed resolving reagent is derived from α-(phenyl)ethylamine, the most inexpensive chiral auxiliary, which can be recycled and reused, rendering the cost structure of the complete process very attractive; (2) the time-efficient two-step process can be conducted under operationally convenient conditions with virtually quantitative yields; and (3) the process can readily be adapted to large-scale use.

Asymmetric synthesis of α-amino acids via homologation of Ni(II) complexes of glycine Schiff bases. Part 3: Michael addition reactions and miscellaneous transformations.

The major goal of this review is a critical discussion of the literature data on asymmetric synthesis of α-amino acids via Michael addition reactions involving Ni(II)-complexes of amino acids. The material covered is divided into two conceptually different groups dealing with applications of: (a) Ni(II)-complexes of glycine as C-nucleophiles and (b) Ni(II)-complexes of dehydroalanine as Michael acceptors. The first group is significantly larger and consequently subdivided into four chapters based on the source of stereocontrolling element. Thus, a chiral auxiliary can be used as a part of nucleophilic glycine Ni(II) complex, Michael acceptor or both, leading to the conditions of matching vs. mismatching stereochemical preferences. The particular focus of the review is made on the practical aspects of the methodology under discussion and mechanistic considerations.

Chemical kinetic resolution of unprotected ß-substituted ß-amino acids using recyclable chiral ligands.

The first chemical method for resolution of N,C-unprotected ß-amino acids was developed through enantioselective formation and disassembly of nickel(II) complexes under operationally convenient conditions. The specially designed chiral ligands are inexpensive and can be quantitatively recycled along with isolation of the target ß-substituted-ß-amino acids in good yields and excellent enantioselectivity. The method features a broad synthetic generality including ß-aryl, ß-heteroaryl, and ß-alkyl-derived ß-amino acids. The procedure is easily scaled up, and was used for the synthetically and economically advanced preparation of the anti-diabetic drug sitagliptin.

The self-disproportionation of the enantiomers (SDE) of methyl n-pentyl sulfoxide via achiral, gravity-driven column chromatography: a case study.

This work explores the self-disproportionation of enantiomers (SDE) of chiral sulfoxides via achiral, gravity-driven column chromatography using methyl n-pentyl sulfoxide as a case study. A major finding of this work is the remarkable persistence and high magnitude of the SDE for the analyte. Thus, it is the first case where SDE is observed even in the presence of MeOH in the mobile phase. The study demonstrated the practical preparation, in line with theory, of enantiomerically pure (>99.9% ee) samples of methyl n-pentyl sulfoxide starting from a sample of only modest ee (<35%). Remarkably, it was found that the order of elution was inverted, i.e. enantiomerically depleted fractions preceded later eluting enantiomerically enriched ones, when the stationary phase was changed from silica gel to aluminum oxide. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first occurrence of inverted SDE behavior due solely to a change in the stationary phase. Aberrant SDE behavior was observed in that the ee did not always fall continuously during the progression of the chromatography, and this was attributed to the complexity of the system at hand which cannot be described in simple terms such as the formation only of homo- and heterochiral dimers based on a single interaction. The results nevertheless suggest that all compounds with a chiral sulfoxide moiety in their structure are likely to exhibit the SDE phenomenon and thus this work constitutes the first example of SDE predictability. Moreover, it could well be that optical purification based on the SDE phenomenon is a simple, convenient, and inexpensive method for the optical purification of this class of compounds with a high degree of proficiency.

Synthesis and stereochemical assignments of diastereomeric Ni(II) complexes of glycine Schiff base with (R)-2-(N-{2-[N-alkyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)amino]acetyl}amino)benzophenone; a case of configurationally stable stereogenic nitrogen.

A family of chiral ligands derived from α-phenylethylamine and 2-aminobenzophenone were prepared by alkylation of the nitrogen atom. Upon reaction with glycine and a Ni(II) salt, these ligands were transformed into diastereomeric complexes, as a result of the configurational stability of the stereogenic nitrogen atom. Different diastereomeric ratios were observed depending on the substituent R introduced in the starting ligand, and stereochemical assignments were based on X-ray analysis, along with NMR studies and optical rotation measurements.

Asymmetric Mannich reaction between (S)-N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)-3,3,3-trifluoroacetaldimine and malonic acid derivatives. Stereodivergent synthesis of (R)- and (S)-3-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acids.

Inorganic as well as organic base catalysis was found to be effective for diastereoselective Mannich additions of malonic acid derivatives to (SS)-N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)-3,3,3-trifluoroacetaldimine. In the presence of catalytic amounts of inorganic bases, n-BuLi or DMAP, the reaction gives the corresponding (R,SS)-ß-aminomalonates in good yield and with diastereoselectivity up to 9/1 dr. In contrast, phosphazene bases favour the formation of the (S,SS)-diastereomer with selectivities as high as 99/1. Simple choosing of an appropriate base catalyst for the Mannich addition reaction allowed us to obtain enantiomerically pure (R)- or (S)-configured 3-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acids after hydrolysis and decarboxylation of the corresponding ß-aminomalonates.

NH-type of chiral Ni(II) complexes of glycine Schiff base: design, structural evaluation, reactivity and synthetic applications.

The work being reported here deals with the design of a new type of "N-H" Ni(II) complexes of glycine Schiff bases and study general aspects of their reactivity. It was confirmed that the presence of NH function in these Ni(II) complexes does not interfere with the homologation of the glycine residue, rendering these derivatives of high synthetic value for the general synthesis of α-amino acids. In particular, the practical application of these NH-type complexes was demonstrated by asymmetric synthesis of various ß-substituted pyroglutamic acids via Michael addition reactions with chiral Michael acceptors.

Inexpensive chemical method for preparation of enantiomerically pure phenylalanine.

Here, we report the most inexpensive procedure for chemical synthesis of enantiomerically pure phenylalanine. As a source of chirality, we use the ultimately inexpensive chiral auxiliary, 1-(phenyl)ethylamine, incorporated into the specially designed ligands which form the corresponding intermediate Ni(II) complexes with racemic phenylalanine. Diastereomerically pure Ni(II) complexes, containing either (S)- or (R)-phenylalanine, were disassembled to produce enantiomerically pure target amino acid, along with recycling the chiral ligand. All reactions were conducted under operationally convenient conditions, featuring high yields and thus underscoring attractive cost structure of this method.