Acetone-assisted co-processing of meloxicam with amino acids for enhanced dissolution rate.

Meloxicam is a widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. However, its erratic and poor dissolution delays its onset of action. Dissolution enhancement of such medicine is essential to obtain rapid pain relief. Amino acids showed high potential to enhance the dissolution rate of drugs after co-processing. Accordingly, the objective of this work was to investigate the effect of co-processing of meloxicam with arginine, cysteine, and glycine on its crystalline structure and dissolution rate. Meloxicam was mixed with increasing molar ratios of amino acids before acetone-assisted kneading. The resulting products were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction in addition to monitoring the dissolution behavior. Combined instrumental analysis indicated salt formation with a possibility of further crystalline changes at high concentration of amino acids. Salt formation and crystalline structure modification were associated with a significant increase in the dissolution rate of meloxicam. The study introduced amino acids as potential excipients for enhanced dissolution of meloxicam after wet co-processing.

Synthesis of (R,S)-isoproterenol, an inhibitor of tau aggregation, as an 11C-labeled PET tracer via reductive alkylation of (R,S)-norepinephrine with [2-11C]acetone.

(R,S)-Isoproterenol inhibits the formation of toxic granular tau oligomers associated with neuronal loss and development of cognitive disorders, and is an attractive drug candidate for Alzheimer's disease. To elucidate its behavior in the brain by positron emission tomography, we synthesize (R,S)-[11C]isoproterenol by reductive alkylation of (R,S)-norepinephrine with [2-11C]acetone, which was in turn synthesized in situ under improved conditions afforded a decay-corrected radiochemical yield of 54%. The reductive alkylation using NaBH(OAc)3 as reducing agent in the presence of benzoic acid in DMSO/DMF (60:40 v/v) at 100 °C for 10 min gave (R,S)-[11C]isoproterenol in an 87% radio-high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analytical yield. HPLC separation using a strong cation exchange column, followed by pharmaceutical formulation in the presence of d/l-tartaric acid, afforded (R,S)-[11C]isoproterenol with a total radioactivity of 2.0 ±â€¯0.2 GBq, a decay-corrected radiochemical yield of 19 ±â€¯2%, chemical and radiochemical purities of 71% and >99%, respectively, and a molar activity of 100 ±â€¯13 GBq/µmol (n = 3). The overall synthesis time from the end of the bombardment to pharmaceutical formulation was 48 min. A preliminary preclinical PET study in a rat demonstrated the potential of the radioligand for the evaluation of the penetration of (R,S)-isoproterenol in human brain.

Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling of Simple Ketones via Activation of Unstrained Carbon-Carbon Bonds.

Here, we describe that simple ketones can be efficiently employed as electrophiles in Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions via catalytic activation of unstrained C-C bonds. A range of common ketones, such as cyclopentanones, acetophenones, acetone and 1-indanones, could be directly coupled with various arylboronates in high site-selectivity, which offers a distinct entry to more functionalized aromatic ketones. Preliminary mechanistic study suggests that the ketone α-C-C bond was cleaved via oxidative addition.

Regio- and Stereoselective Aliphatic-Aromatic Cross-Benzoin Reaction: Enzymatic Divergent Catalysis.

The catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral 2-hydroxy ketones by using different thiamine diphosphate dependent enzymes, namely benzaldehyde lyase from Pseudomonas fluorescens (PfBAL), a variant of benzoylformate decarboxylase from Pseudomonas putida (PpBFD-L461A), branched-chain 2-keto acid decarboxylase from Lactococcus lactis (LlKdcA) and a variant of pyruvate decarboxylase from Acetobacter pasteurianus (ApPDC-E469G), was studied. Starting with the same set of substrates, substituted benzaldehydes in combination with different aliphatic aldehydes, PfBAL and PpBFD-L461A selectively deliver the (R)- and (S)-2-hydroxy-propiophenone derivatives, respectively. The (R)- and (S)-phenylacetylcarbinol (1-hydroxy-1-phenylacetone) derivatives are accessible in a similar way using LlKdcA and ApPDC-E469G, respectively. In many cases excellent stereochemical purities (>98 % enantiomeric excess) could be achieved. Hence, the regio- and stereochemistry of the product in the asymmetric aliphatic-aromatic cross-benzoin reaction can be controlled solely by choice of the appropriate enzyme or enzyme variant.

Heterofunctional Magnetic Metal-Chelate-Epoxy Supports for the Purification and Covalent Immobilization of Benzoylformate Decarboxylase From Pseudomonas Putida and Its Carboligation Reactivity.

In this study, the combined use of the selectivity of metal chelate affinity chromatography with the capacity of epoxy supports to immobilize poly-His-tagged recombinant benzoylformate decarboxylase from Pseudomonas putida (BFD, E.C. 4.1.1.7) via covalent attachment is shown. This was achieved by designing tailor-made magnetic chelate-epoxy supports. In order to selectively adsorb and then covalently immobilize the poly-His-tagged BFD, the epoxy groups (300 µmol epoxy groups/g support) and a very small density of Co(2+)-chelate groups (38 µmol Co(2+)/g support) was introduced onto magnetic supports. That is, it was possible to accomplish, in a simple manner, the purification and covalent immobilization of a histidine-tagged recombinant BFD. The magnetically responsive biocatalyst was tested to catalyze the carboligation reactions. The benzoin condensation reactions were performed with this simple and convenient heterogeneous biocatalyst and were comparable to that of a free-enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The enantiomeric excess (ee) of (R)-benzoin was obtained at 99 ± 2% for the free enzyme and 96 ± 3% for the immobilized enzyme. To test the stability of the covalently immobilized enzyme, the immobilized enzyme was reused in five reaction cycles for the formation of chiral 2-hydroxypropiophenone (2-HPP) from benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde, and it retained 96% of its original activity after five reaction cycles.

Synthesis of α-Acyloxyketone Derivatives via the Platinum-Catalyzed Migration of Propargylic Esters.

The synthesis of α-acyloxyketones via the migration of a propargylic ester followed by the intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the resulting allene was achieved using a cationic platinum catalyst. The optimized conditions for this transformation were determined to be 3 mol% of Pt(cod)Cl2, 3 mol% of AgNTf2, and 3 eq of water in toluene at 100 °C, and these conditions were successfully applied to the synthesis of a wide variety of α-aryl-α-acyloxyketones. The mechanism of this reaction was evaluated in detail based on the results of isotope labeling experiments using H2(18)O.

One-step synthesis of 1-chloro-3-arylacetone derivatives from arylacetic acids.

A practical one-step method has been developed to prepare α-chloroketones from readily available, inexpensive phenylacetic acid derivatives. The method utilizes the unique reactivity of an intermediate Mg-enolate dianion, which displays selectivity for the carbonyl carbon of chloromethyl carbonyl electrophiles. Decarboxylation of the intermediate occurs spontaneously during the reaction quench. The utility of the reaction products has been demonstrated through the total synthesis of the natural product cimiracemate B.

Nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of carbonyl compounds: trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate as a trifluoromethyl source.

A feasible nucleophilic trifluoromethylating protocol has been developed using trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate as an atom-economical trifluoromethyl source. The reaction was found to be applicable to the nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of a broad spectrum of carbonyl compounds with satisfactory yields in general. DFT calculations have been performed to provide mechanistic insight into the present and related reactions employing 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-methoxyethanol and hexafluoroacetone hydrate.

A synthetic approach to novel carvotacetone and antheminone analogues with anti-tumour activity.

A synthetic approach to analogues of the terpenoid natural product antheminone A is described which employs (-)-quinic acid as starting material. A key conjugate addition step proved to be unpredictable regarding its stereochemical outcome however the route allowed access to two diastereoisomeric series of compounds. The results of biological assay of the toxicity of the target compounds towards non-small-cell lung cancer cell line A549 are reported.

Chirally deuterated benzyl chlorides from benzyl alcohols via hexachloroacetone/polymer-supported triphenylphosphine: synthesis of protected (2S, 3S)-[3-(2)H, (15)N]-tyrosine.

Chirally deuterated benzyl chlorides were prepared using novel, general hexachloroacetone/polymer-supported triphenylphosphine treatment of chirally deuterated benzyl alcohols. Doubly labeled protected tyrosine was obtained in 62% yield with 86% de at the α-carbon and 82% de at the ß-carbon. Key in the synthesis was the alkylation of (15)N-labeled (-)-8-phenylmenthylhippurate with R-(-)-4-triisopropylsilyloxybenzyl-α-d chloride.

Highly enantioselective organocatalytic trifluoromethyl carbinol synthesis--a caveat on reaction times and product isolation.

Aldol reactions with trifluoroacetophenones as acceptors yield chiral α-aryl, α-trifluoromethyl tertiary alcohols, valuable intermediates in organic synthesis. Of the various organocatalysts examined, Singh's catalyst [(2S)-N-[(1S)-1-hydroxydiphenylmethyl-3-methylbutyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide] was found to efficiently promote this organocatalytic transformation in a highly enantioselective manner. Detailed reaction monitoring ((19)F-NMR, HPLC) showed that, up to full conversion, the catalytic transformation proceeds under kinetic control and affords up to 95% ee in a time-independent manner. At longer reaction times, the catalyst effects racemization. For the product aldols, even weak acids (such as ammonium chloride) or protic solvents, can induce racemization, too. Thus, acid-free workup, at carefully chosen reaction time, is crucial for the isolation of the aldols in high (and stable) enantiomeric purity. As evidenced by (19)F-NMR, X-ray structural analysis, and independent synthesis of a stable intramolecular variant, Singh's catalyst reversibly forms a catalytically inactive ("parasitic") intermediate, namely a N,O-hemiacetal with trifluoroacetophenones. X-ray crystallography also allowed the determination of the product aldols' absolute configuration (S).

Aminohydroxyacetone synthons: versatile intermediates for the organocatalytic asymmetric aldol reaction.

A practical method for the synthesis of 1,3-aminohydroxyacetone synthons was developed, and their utility in the organocatalytic asymmetric aldol reaction was demonstrated in a short synthesis of aza-sugars.

Asymmetric syn-selective direct aldol reaction of protected hydroxyacetone catalyzed by primary amino acid derived bifunctional organocatalyst in the presence of water.

A new series of water compatible primary-tertiary diamine catalysts derived from natural primary amino acids bearing a hydrophobic side chain have been synthesized. These new primary-tertiary diamine-Brønsted acid conjugates bifunctional organocatalysts efficiently catalyzes the asymmetric direct syn selective cross-aldol reaction of different protected hydroxyacetone with various aldehydes in high yield (94%) and high enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee of syn) and dr of 91 : 9 (syn/anti) under mild reaction conditions.

Pressure dependence of stabilized Criegee intermediate formation from a sequence of alkenes.

Ozonolysis is a key reaction in atmospheric chemistry, although important details of the behavior of the ozonolysis intermediates are not known. The key intermediate in ozonolysis, the Criegee intermeiate (CI), is known to quickly isomerize, with the favored unimolecular pathway depending on the relative barriers to isomerization. Stabilized Criegee intermediates (SCI), those with energy below any barriers to isomerization, may result from initial formation with low energy or collisional stabilization of high energy CI. Bimolecular reactions of SCI have been proposed to play a role in OH formation and nucleation of new particles, but unimolecular reactions of SCI may well be too fast for these to be significant. We present measurements of the pressure dependence of SCI formation for a set of alkenes utilizing a hexafluoroacetone scavenger. We studied four alkenes (2,3-dimethyl-2-butene (TME), trans-5-decene, cyclohexene, α-pinene) to characterize how size and cyclization (endo vs exo) affect the stability of Criegee intermediates formed in ozonolysis. SCI yields in ozonolysis were measured in a high pressure flow reactor within a range of 30-750 Torr. The linear alkenes show considerable stabilization with trans-5-decene showing 100% stabilization at ∼400 Torr and TME having 65% stabilization at 710 Torr. Extrapolation of the yields for linear alkenes to 0 Torr shows yields significantly above zero, indicating that a fraction of their CI are formed below the barrier to isomerization. CI from endocyclic alkenes show little to no stabilization and appear to have neglible stabilization at 0 Torr. Cyclohexene derived CI showed no stabilization even at 650 Torr, while α-pinene CI had ∼15% stabilization at 740 Torr. Our results show a strong dependence of SCI formation on carbon number; adding just 2 to 3 CI carbons in linear alkenes increases stabilization by a factor of 10. Stabilization for endocyclic alkenes, at atmospheric pressure, begins to occur at a carbon number of 10, with only modest yields of SCI.

Conformational control of benzyl-o-carboranylbenzene derivatives and molecular encapsulation of acetone in the dynamically formed space of 1,3,5-tris(2-benzyl-o-carboran-1-yl)benzene.

A 1,3,5-substituted benzene platform has been widely used in the fields of supramolecular chemistry and molecular recognition. Here, we show that 1,3,5-tris(2-benzyl-o-carboran-1-yl)benzene 6 exhibits solvent-dependent conformation in the crystalline state. Recrystallization from dichloromethane-n-pentane gave the anti conformation 6-anti, while recrystallization from methanol-acetone gave the syn conformation 6-syn, in which the three benzyl-o-carboranyl moieties are located to one side of the central benzene ring. Interestingly, one acetone molecule is captured in the π-rich space of 6-syn and two complexes facing each other encapsulate two acetone molecules in a π-rich container formed by the eight benzene rings. The inclusion involves several weak interactions, that is, T-shaped C-H···π interactions, and C-H···O and C-H···π interactions. Two C-H···O interactions involving benzylic C-H hydrogens activated by the electron-withdrawing character of the o-carborane cage and the oxygen atom of the acetone seem to be the most important. DFT calculations indicate that the binding energy for entrapment of acetone is 6.6 kcal/mol. Inclusion of acetone is achieved through not only multiple C-H···O interactions but also a number of C-H···π interactions. The third benzyl-o-carborane moiety is fixed in the syn conformation by intramolecular and intermolecular C-H···π interactions.

Sequential combination of Michael and acetalization reactions: direct catalytic asymmetric synthesis of functionalized 4-nitromethyl-chromans as drug intermediates.

Functionalized chiral 4-nitromethyl-chromans as drug intermediates were achieved for the first time through sequential combination of Michael and acetalization reactions on 2-(2-nitro-vinyl)-phenols with acetone and alcohols in the presence of a catalytic amount of 9-amino-9-deoxyepiquinine and Ph(2)CHCO(2)H followed by p-TSA.

Concise total synthesis of (-)-deoxocuscohygrine and (-)-dihydrocuscohygrine.

The concise enantioselective total synthesis of C(2)-asymmetrical (-)-deoxocuscohygrine and (-)-dihydrocuscohygrine are described. Double-diastereoselective additions of normal Grignard reagent to bis(1,3-oxazolidine) have been deployed to construct chiral diamine fragments as a key step.

New practical synthesis of Tamsulosin.

The medicine called Tamsulosin was produced 25 years ago and since then almost 10 new synthesis route has been known. Each process shows the researchers' workstyle, every year, which mainly differs in the way of separating the enantiomers. The applied reaction steps also reflect the development over the past 25 years and the new synthesis is influenced by the antecedents. The key-intermediate used in our new method is a racemic secondary amine derivative, which is unknown in the literature before and for resolving it, we worked out a quite advantegeous process. By using an optically active secondary amine, side reactions can be avoided.

Fermentation of dried distillers' grains and solubles (DDGS) hydrolysates to solvents and value-added products by solventogenic clostridia.

Pretreatment and hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass using either dilute acid, liquid hot water (LHW), or ammonium fiber expansion (AFEX) results in a complex mixture of sugars such as hexoses (glucose, galactose, mannose), and pentoses (xylose, arabinose). A detailed description of the utilization of representative mixed sugar streams (pentoses and hexoses) and their sugar preferences by the solventogenic clostridia (Clostridium beijerinckii BA101, C. acetobutylicum 260, C. acetobutylicum 824, Clostridium saccharobutylicum 262, and C. butylicum 592) is presented. In these experiments, all the sugars were utilized concurrently throughout the fermentation, although the rate of sugar utilization was sugar specific. For all clostridia tested, the rate of glucose utilization was higher than for the other sugars in the mixture. In addition, the availability of excess fermentable sugars in the bioreactor is necessary for both the onset and the maintenance of solvent production otherwise the fermentation will become acidogenic leading to premature termination of the fermentation process. During an investigation on the effect of some of the known lignocellulosic hydrolysate inhibitors on the growth and ABE production by clostridia, ferulic and p-coumaric acids were found to be potent inhibitors of growth and ABE production. Interestingly, furfural and HMF were not inhibitory to the solventogenic clostridia; rather they had a stimulatory effect on growth and ABE production at concentrations up to 2.0g/L.