Chemical Tools for Studying Phosphohistidine: Generation of Selective τ-Phosphohistidine and π-Phosphohistidine Antibodies.

Nonhydrolysable stable analogues of τ-phosphohistidine (τ-pHis) and π-pHis have been designed, aided by electrostatic surface potential calculations, and subsequently synthesized. The τ-pHis and π-pHis analogues (phosphopyrazole 8 and pyridyl amino amide 13, respectively) were used as haptens to generate pHis polyclonal antibodies. Both τ-pHis and π-pHis conjugates in the form of BSA-glutaraldehyde-τ-pHis and BSA-glutaraldehyde-π-pHis were synthesized and characterized by 31 P NMR spectroscopy. Commercially available τ-pHis (SC56-2) and π-pHis (SC1-1; SC50-3) monoclonal antibodies were used to show that the BSA-G-τ-pHis and BSA-G-π-pHis conjugates could be used to assess the selectivity of pHis antibodies in a competitive ELISA. Subsequently, the selectivity of the pHis antibodies generated by using phosphopyrazole 8 and pyridyl amino amide 13 as haptens was assessed by competitive ELISA against His, pSer, pThr, pTyr, τ-pHis and π-pHis. Antibodies generated by using phosphopyrazole 8 as a hapten were found to be selective for τ-pHis, and antibodies generated by using pyridyl amino amide 13 were found to be selective for π-pHis. Both τ- and π-pHis antibodies were shown to be effective in immunological experiments, including ELISA, western blot, and immunofluorescence. The τ-pHis antibody was also shown to be useful in the immunoprecipitation of proteins containing pHis.

Synthesis of ω-Oxo Amino Acids and trans-5-Substituted Proline Derivatives Using Cross-Metathesis of Unsaturated Amino Acids.

A range of 7-oxo, 8-oxo, and 9-oxo amino acids, analogues of 8-oxo-2-aminodecanoic acid, one of the key components of the cyclic tetrapeptide apicidin, have been prepared by a three-step process involving copper-catalyzed allylation of serine-, aspartic acid-, and glutamic acid-derived organozinc reagents, followed by cross-metathesis of the resulting terminal alkenes with unsaturated ketones and hydrogenation. The intermediate 7-oxo-5-enones underwent a highly diastereoselective (dr ≥96:4) acid-catalyzed aza-Michael reaction to give trans-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines, 5-substituted proline derivatives. The aza-Michael reaction was first observed when the starting enones were allowed to stand in solution in deuterochloroform but can be efficiently promoted by catalytic amounts of dry HCl.

Quantitation of phosphohistidine in proteins in a mammalian cell line by 31P NMR.

There is growing evidence to suggest that phosphohistidines are present at significant levels in mammalian cells and play a part in regulating cellular activity, in particular signaling pathways related to cancer. Because of the chemical instability of phosphohistidine at neutral or acid pH, it remains unclear how much phosphohistidine is present in cells. Here we describe a protocol for extracting proteins from mammalian cells in a way that avoids loss of covalent phosphates from proteins, and use it to measure phosphohistidine concentrations in human bronchial epithelial cell (16HBE14o-) lysate using 31P NMR spectroscopic analysis. Phosphohistidine is determined on average to be approximately one third as abundant as phosphoserine and phosphothreonine combined (and thus roughly 15 times more abundant than phosphotyrosine). The amount of phosphohistidine, and phosphoserine/phosphothreonine per gram of protein from a cell lysate was determined to be 23 µmol/g and 68 µmol/g respectively. The amount of phosphohistidine, and phosphoserine/phosphothreonine per cell was determined to be 1.8 fmol/cell, and 5.8 fmol/cell respectively. Phosphorylation is largely at the N3 (tele) position. Typical tryptic digest conditions result in loss of most of the phosphohistidine present, which may explain why the amounts reported here are greater than is generally seen using mass spectroscopy assays. The results further strengthen the case for a functional role of phosphohistidine in eukaryotic cells.

Evidence for the role of tetramethylethylenediamine in aqueous Negishi cross-coupling: synthesis of nonproteinogenic phenylalanine derivatives on water.

The structure of the alkylzinc-tetramethylethyl-enediamine (TMEDA) cluster cation 3 has been determined in the gas phase by a combination of tandem mass spectrometry, infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. Both sets of experimental results establish the existence of a strongly stabilizing interaction of TMEDA with the zinc cation. High-level DFT calculations on the alkylzinc-TMEDA cluster cation 3 allowed the identification of two low energy conformers, each featuring a four-coordinate zinc atom with a bidentate TMEDA ligand, and internal coordination from the carbonyl group of the Boc group to zinc. The experimental IRMPD spectrum is reproduced with an appropriately weighted combination of the IR spectra of the two conformers identified by theory. DFT calculations on the structure of the alkylzinc halide 2 with coordinated TMEDA using the PCM model of water solvent suggest that TMEDA can promote ionization of the zinc-iodine bond in organozinc iodides under aqueous conditions, providing a credible explanation for the role of TMEDA in stabilizing the carbon-zinc bond. Reaction of the serine-derived iodide 1 with aryl iodides "on water", promoted by nano zinc in the presence of PdCl(2)(Amphos)(2) (5 mol %) and TMEDA, leads to the formation of protected phenylalanine derivatives 4 in reasonable yields. In the case of ortho-substituted aryl iodides and aryl iodides that are solids at room temperature, conducting the reaction at 65 °C gives improved results. In all cases, the product 5 of reductive dimerization of the iodide 1 is also isolated.

Gas-phase study of new organozinc reagents by IRMPD-spectroscopy, computational modelling and tandem-MS.

An extensive set of organozinc iodides, useful for Negishi-type cross-coupling reactions, are investigated as respective cations after formal loss of iodide in the gas phase. Firstly, two new alkylzinc compounds derived from Tyrosine (Tyr) and Tryptophan (Trp) are closely examined. Secondly, the influence of specific protecting groups on the subtle balance between intra- and intermolecular coordination of zinc in these reagents is probed through trifluoroacetyl (TFA)-derivatized alkylzinc compounds. Finally, the influence of the strongly coordinating bidentate ligand N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) on the structure of alkylzinc cations is further explored in order to better understand the stability of the respective complexes towards water. A combination of electrospray (ESI)-MS/MS, accurate ion mass measurements, infrared multiple-photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy and computational modelling allowed the full characterisation of all dimethylformamide (DMF)-solvated and TMEDA-coordinated alkylzinc cations in the gas phase. The calculations indicate that the zinc cation in gas-phase alkylzinc-DMF or TMEDA-complex ions preferentially adopts a tetrahedral coordination sphere with four ligands. Additionally, conformers with only three binding partners bound to zinc but with effectively combined hydrogen-bond interactions are also found. Collision induced dissociation (CID) patterns demonstrate that the zinc-DMF interaction in tetrahedral four-coordinate mono-DMF-zinc complex ions as well as the interaction between TMEDA and zinc in the corresponding complex ions is even stronger than typical covalent bonds. In most cases, all major features of the IRMPD spectra are consistent with only a single major isomer, allowing secured identification and assignment.

Much improved conditions for the Negishi cross-coupling of iodoalanine derived zinc reagents with aryl halides.

A combination of Pd(2)(dba)(3) and SPhos (1:2 molar ratio) is an excellent precatalyst for the Negishi cross-coupling of the serine-derived organozinc reagent 2 with aryl halides, including previously difficult ortho-substituted examples. In the case of meta- and para-substituted aryl halides, Pd-loadings of 0.5 mol % give satisfactory results. Use of 2-iodoaniline as substrate gives the lactam 12 in good yield.

In situ trapping of Boc-2-pyrrolidinylmethylzinc iodide with aryl iodides: direct synthesis of 2-benzylpyrrolidines.

Addition of (S)-(+)-tert-butyl 2-(iodomethyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate to activated zinc, aryl halides, and a catalyst derived from Pd(2)(dba)(3) (2.5 mol %) and SPhos (5 mol %) in DMF allows trapping of the corresponding organozinc reagent, with formation of Boc-protected 2-benzylpyrrolidines (20-72%).

Structure elucidation of dimethylformamide-solvated alkylzinc cations in the gas phase.

Organozinc iodides, useful for the synthesis of nonproteinogenic amino acids, are investigated in the gas phase by a combination of electrospray (ESI)-MS/MS, accurate ion mass measurements, and infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy employing a free electron laser. ESI allowed the full characterization of a set of dimethylformamide (DMF)-solvated alkylzinc cations formed by formal loss of I(-) in the gas phase. Gas phase ion structures of the organozinc cations were identified and optimized by computations at the B3LYP/6-311G** level of theory. The calculations indicate that the zinc cation in gas phase alkylzinc-DMF species preferentially adopts a tetrahedral coordination sphere with four ligands, namely the alkyl group, any internal coordinating group, and DMF (the number of which depends on the number of internal coordinating groups present). Besides the sequential loss of coordinated DMF, collision-induced dissociation (CID) patterns demonstrate that the zinc-DMF interaction in tetrahedral four-coordinate mono-DMF-zinc complex ions can be even stronger than covalent bonds. The IRMPD spectra of the alkylzinc-DMF species examined show a rich pattern of indicative bands in the range of 1000-1800 cm(-1). All major features of the recorded IRMPD spectra are consistent with the computed IR spectra of the respective gas phase ion structures predicted by theory, allowing identification and assignment.

Application of Negishi cross-coupling to the synthesis of the cyclic tripeptides OF4949-III and K-13.

Syntheses of the cyclic tripeptides OF4949-III 1 and K-13 2 are reported, in which the key steps are intermolecular and intramolecular Negishi cross-coupling reactions, respectively. In addition, the synthesis of a protected isomer of K-13 25 is reported. The synthesis of K-13 features a tripeptidic organozinc reagent 11, one of the most highly functionalized such reagents to be described. An O-aryltyrosine derivative 15, prepared by S(N)Ar reaction between Boc-tyrosine and 2-fluorobenzaldehyde, followed by Dakin reaction, iodination, and methylation, is used as a common intermediate for all of the syntheses described. The routes to this class of cyclic tripeptide are among the shortest reported to date and demonstrate the high functional group tolerance of the carbon-zinc bond toward peptide derivatives.

The first crystal structure of the pyrrolo-[1,2-c]oxazole ring system.

The title compound, C7H4F3NO2, 3-tri-fluoro-methyl-1H-pyrrolo-[1,2-c]oxazol-1-one, is the first crystal structure of the pyrrolo-[1,2-c]oxazole ring system: the fused ring system is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.006 Å). In the crystal, weak C-H⋯O and C-H⋯F hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into [001] chains and π-π stacking inter-actions consolidate the structure.

Radical Functionalization of Unsaturated Amino Acids: Synthesis of Side-Chain-Fluorinated, Azido-Substituted, and Hydroxylated Amino Acids.

A range of enantiomerically pure protected side-chain-fluorinated amino acids has been prepared (13 examples) by treatment of protected amino acids containing unsaturated side chains with a combination of Fe(III)/NaBH4 and Selectfluor. The modification of the conditions by replacement of Selectfluor with NaN3 allowed the preparation of side-chain azido-substituted amino acids (five examples), which upon catalytic hydrogenation gave the corresponding amines, isolated as lactams (four examples). Radical hydration of the unsaturated side chains leading to side-chain-hydroxylated protected amino acids has also been demonstrated.

Kinetic studies on the stability and reactivity of beta-amino alkylzinc iodides derived from amino acids.

Beta-amino alkylzinc iodides are intrinsically unstable toward beta-elimination and protonation. The aim of this study was to determine the rates of these processes and also to understand how the reactivity of a range of beta-amino alkylzinc iodides in Negishi cross-coupling reactions is influenced by the presence of functional groups within the zinc reagent. Decomposition of beta-benzamido alkylzinc iodides occurs by protonation, and the first-order rate constant for the self-protonation of the carbon-zinc bond in reagent 4b was determined to be 5.2 x 10(-6) s(-1) (at 291 K). In contrast, the carbamate derivative 2 decomposes by a first-order elimination process. The homologous reagent 3, derived from glutamic acid, decomposes more quickly by beta-elimination, with a first-order rate constant of 24 x 10(-6) s(-1) (at 291 K). Reagents 23 and 25, in which the Boc group has been replaced with a trifluoroacetyl group, are more stable toward beta-elimination than the corresponding reagents 2 and 3, a striking outcome given that the trifluoroacetamido group is a better leaving group. Moreover, this replacement also changes the mechanism of the elimination to a second order process. Pseudo-second-order rate constants for the Negishi cross-coupling of reagents 2, 3, 23, and 25 with iodobenzene have been determined, revealing the higher reactivity of the glutamic acid-derived reagents 3 and 25. The main factor influencing reactivity, therefore, is determined to be the proximity of the ester group, rather than the nature of the nitrogen protecting group. Finally, beta-amino alkylzinc iodides 46-48 containing Weinreb amides have been prepared, rate constants for their decomposition through elimination determined, and their synthetic potential for the preparation of beta-amino ketones established.

4-Phosphopyrazol-2-yl alanine: a non-hydrolysable analogue of phosphohistidine.

We report the synthesis of a stable analogue of τ-phosphohistidine: 4-phosphopyrazol-2-yl alanine (pPza). Polyclonal antibodies generated against the mimic show high reactivity and selectivity for τ-phosphohistidine, with minor or no cross-reactivity towards non-phosphorylated histidine or O-phosphoamino acids, including phosphotyrosine.

The rate of elimination of a beta-amino zinc reagent is reduced by using a better leaving group.

Replacing the N-Boc-protecting group on a beta-amino organo-zinc reagent with a trifluoroacetyl group, which would be expected to make the nitrogen a better leaving group, results in a reagent that is more stable towards elimination.

4-Phosphothiophen-2-yl alanine: a new 5-membered analogue of phosphotyrosine.

Polyclonal antibodies raised against 4-phosphothiophen-2-yl alanine 2a, a novel five-membered ring analogue of phosphotyrosine, showed high selectivity for phosphotyrosine and no cross-reactivity with other phosphorylated amino acids. Western blots showed that the polyclonal was similarly effective, but different in selectivity, to a commercially available monoclonal antibody.

Investigation of a flexible enantiospecific approach to aziridines.

A flexible approach to functionalized and enantioenriched aziridines has been developed from an intermediate aziridinylmethyl tosylate. This protocol features a Cu-catalyzed Grignard substitution reaction that allows a range of functionalized organic fragments to be incorporated. Moreover, a convenient one-pot procedure is outlined that allows the trityl group to be exchanged for a range of common N-protecting groups.

Stereoselective synthesis of 2,3-difunctionalised thioesters using nucleophilic epoxidation of 1-arylthio-1-nitroalkenes.

Stereoselective nucleophilic epoxidation of protected 3-amino and 3-hydroxy-substituted 1-arylthio-1-nitroalkenes, followed by intramolecular capture involving the amino and hydroxyl protecting groups, has led to the formation of isomeric oxazolidinones 5 and 7, and a cyclic carbonate 11. Together with the oxazolidinone precursor anti-alpha-bromo thioester 15a, the absolute and relative stereochemistry of these compounds has been determined by X-ray crystallography.

Synthesis of orthogonally protected biaryl amino acid derivatives.

The efficient and direct synthesis of protected biaryl amino acids, including dityrosine (50% overall yield over 3 steps), by Negishi cross-coupling of the serine-derived organozinc reagent 4 with iodo- and di-iodobiaryls, is reported. An improved, although still not perfect, diiodination of 2,2'-biphenol has been achieved using NMe3BnICl2-ZnCl2. Protection of phenolic hydroxyl groups as acetates, rather than benzyl ethers, is required for efficient cross-coupling, and evidence for acetyl migration has been observed during debenzylation of a substituted 2-acetoxy-2'-benzyloxybiaryl. Aromatic C-I to C-Cl conversion has been detected as a minor reaction pathway in the palladium-catalyzed coupling of aryl iodide 3b with organozinc reagent 4.

New routes to beta-cycloalkylalanine derivatives using serine-derived organozinc reagents.

Two distinct routes to beta-cycloalkylalanine derivatives have been developed. The first route employs the reaction of the iodoalanine-derived zinc-copper reagent 2 with cycloalk-1-en-3-yl phosphates, and the second uses the palladium-catalysed coupling of the iodoalanine-derived zinc reagent 1 with cycloalkenyl triflates; in each case, catalytic hydrogenation of the unsaturated product leads to the protected beta-cycloalkylalanine. The latter route allows access to a range of cycloalkyl derivatives, with ring sizes of 5-8. beta-(1-Methyl-1-cyclohexyl)alanine may be prepared using reaction of the zinc-copper reagent 2 with 3-methyl-2-cyclohexenyl chloride, followed by hydrogenation. The corresponding cyclopentyl derivative may be prepared by reaction of the same zinc-copper reagent 2 with diethyl geranylphosphate, followed by ring-closing metathesis and hydrogenation.