Chemoenzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Transformations of β-Hydroxyketones

Herein we report on the development and application of chemoenzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Transformation (DYKAT) of α‐substituted β‐hydroxyketones (β‐HKs), using Candida antartica lipase B (CALB) as transesterification catalyst and a ruthenium complex as epimerization catalyst. An operationally simple protocol allows for an efficient preparation of highly enantiomerically enriched α‐substituted β‐oxoacetates. The products were obtained in yields up to 95 % with good diastereomeric ratios.

Aggregation Pheromone of the Bearded Weevil, Rhinostomus barbirostris (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Identification, Synthesis, Absolute Configuration and Bioactivity

The bearded weevil, Rhinostomus barbirostris (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Dryophthorinae), attacks coconut trees, oil palms and other species of Arecaceae. Besides direct damage, R. barbirostris may be a vector of diseases in coconut and oil palms, such as stem bleeding (resinosis) and red ring disease. Currently, the only method to control this weevil is by visual observation of damage and removal of infected plants. Semiochemical-based trapping could improve the effectiveness of monitoring and management of R. barbirostris. In comparisons of volatiles released by R. barbirostris males and females by gas chromatography (GC) two male-specific compounds were observed. GC-mass spectrometry (MS) and GC-Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) analyses of the natural compounds suggested these were diastereoisomers of 5-hydroxy-4-methylheptan-3-one, also known as sitophilure, a pheromone component of other dryophthorine species. Synthesis of the mixture of all four stereoisomers of sitophilure was performed in two steps, and the chemical structures were confirmed by comparing GC retention times and MS and FTIR spectra of natural and synthetic compounds. The absolute configurations of the two male-specific compounds were elucidated by enantioselective GC; the major component was the (4S,5R)-isomer, and the minor component (4S,5S)-sitophilure. In analyses by GC-electroantennography (EAG) the antennae of male and female R. barbirostris only responded to the (4S,5R)-isomer of the synthetic sitophilure. The stereoisomeric mixture of sitophilure was attractive to both sexes of R. barbirostris in laboratory experiments in the presence of sugar cane volatiles, and a similar result was obtained in a preliminary field trapping test.

An Efficient Chemoenzymatic Approach towards the Synthesis of Rugulactone

Rugulactone is a natural product isolated from the plant Cryptocarya rugulosa. It has shown very important biological activity as an inhibitor of the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation pathway. A new chemoenzymatic approach towards the synthesis of rugulactone is presented here. The chirality, induced to the key intermediate by a stereoselective enzymatic reduction utilizing NADPH-dependent ketoreductase, is described in detail.

Total Synthesis of (-)-Lasonolide A

The lasonolides are novel polyketides that have displayed remarkable biological activity in vitro against a variety of cancer cell lines. Herein we describe our first-generation approach to the formal synthesis of lasonolide A. The key findings from these studies ultimately allowed us to go on and complete a total synthesis of lasonolide A. The convergent approach unites two highly complex fragments utilizing a Ru-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling. This type of coupling typically generates branched products; however, through a detailed investigation, we are now able to demonstrate that subtle structural changes to the substrates can alter the selectivity to favor the formation of the linear product. The synthesis of the fragments features a number of atom-economical transformations which are highlighted by the discovery of an engineered enzyme to perform a dynamic kinetic reduction of a β-ketoester to establish the absolute stereochemistry of the southern tetrahydropyran ring with high levels of enantioselectivity.

Chiral methyl-branched pheromones

Insect pheromones are some of the most interesting natural products because they are utilized for interspecific communication between various insects, such as beetles, moths, ants, and cockroaches. A large number of compounds of many kinds have been identified as pheromone components, reflecting the diversity of insect species. While this review deals only with chiral methyl-branched pheromones, the chemical structures of more than one hundred non-terpene compounds have been determined by applying excellent analytical techniques. Furthermore, their stereoselective syntheses have been achieved by employing trustworthy chiral sources and ingenious enantioselective reactions. The information has been reviewed here not only to make them available for new research but also to understand the characteristic chemical structures of the chiral pheromones. Since biosynthetic studies are still limited, it might be meaningful to examine whether the structures, particularly the positions and configurations of the branched methyl groups, are correlated with the taxonomy of the pheromone producers and also with the function of the pheromones in communication systems.

Influence of Cofactor Regeneration Strategies on Preparative-Scale, Asymmetric Carbonyl Reductions by Engineered Escherichia coli

This study was designed to determine whether whole cells or crude enzyme extracts are more effective for preparative-scale ketone reductions by dehydrogenases as well as learning which cofactor regeneration scheme is most effective. Based on results from three representative ketone substrates (an α-fluoro-β-keto ester, a bis-trifluoromethylated acetophenone, and a symmetrical β-diketone), our results demonstrate that several nicotinamide cofactor regeneration strategies can be applied to preparative-scale dehydrogenase-catalyzed reactions successfully.