Synthesis of alpha-methyl selenocysteine and its utilization as a glutathione peroxidase mimic

Selenocysteine (Sec) is the 21st amino acid in the genetic code where this amino acid is primarily involved in redox reactions in enzymes because of its high reactivity toward oxygen and related reactive oxygen species. Sec has found wide utility in synthetic peptides, especially as a replacement for cysteine. One limitation of using Sec in synthetic peptides is that it can undergo β-syn elimination reactions after oxidation, rendering the peptide inactive due to loss of selenium. This limitation can be overcome by substituting Cα-H with a methyl group. The resulting Sec derivative is α-methylselenocysteine ((αMe)Sec). Here, we present a new strategy for the synthesis of (αMe)Sec by alkylation of an achiral methyl malonate through the use of a selenium-containing alkylating agent synthesized in the presence of dichloromethane. The seleno-malonate was then subjected to an enzymatic hydrolysis utilizing pig liver esterase followed by a Curtius rearrangement producing a protected derivative of (αMe)Sec that could be used in solid-phase peptide synthesis. We then synthesized two peptides: one containing Sec and the other containing (αMe)Sec, based on the sequence of glutathione peroxidase. This is the first reported incorporation of (αMe)Sec into a peptide as well as the first reported biochemical application of this unique amino acid. The (αMe)Sec-containing peptide had superior stability as it could not undergo β-syn elimination and it also avoided cleavage of the peptide backbone, which we surprisingly found to be the case for the Sec-containing peptide when it was incubated for 96 hours in oxygenated buffer at pH 8.0.

Recent advances in the synthesis of functionalised monofluorinated compounds

Over the past few years, we have tackled the synthesis of interesting monofluorinated organic molecules, such as: dihydronaphthalene derivatives, β-fluoro sulfones and related carbonyl compounds, fluorohydrins and allylic alcohols.

Use of Bromine and Bromo-Organic Compounds in Organic Synthesis

Bromination is one of the most important transformations in organic synthesis and can be carried out using bromine and many other bromo compounds. Use of molecular bromine in organic synthesis is well-known. However, due to the hazardous nature of bromine, enormous growth has been witnessed in the past several decades for the development of solid bromine carriers. This review outlines the use of bromine and different bromo-organic compounds in organic synthesis. The applications of bromine, a total of 107 bromo-organic compounds, 11 other brominating agents, and a few natural bromine sources were incorporated. The scope of these reagents for various organic transformations such as bromination, cohalogenation, oxidation, cyclization, ring-opening reactions, substitution, rearrangement, hydrolysis, catalysis, etc. has been described briefly to highlight important aspects of the bromo-organic compounds in organic synthesis.

Why trans- or cis-Dimethyl Fumarate Addition to 2,5-Dimethylpyrrole Gives Exclusively trans-7-Azanorbornane

The addition mechanism of dimethyl fumarate into 2,5-dimethylpyrrole is explored using density functional theory (DFT) methods. Our calculations find that TpW(NO)(PMe3)(η(2)-3H-2,5-dimethylpyrrole) prefers to undergo two TpW(NO)(PMe3) migrations, two 1,5-hydride migrations, and one reductive elimination to isomerize into TpW(NO)(PMe3)(η(2)-1H-2,5-dimethylpyrrole), in which TpW(NO)(PMe3) plays a proton-transfer role. trans-Dimethyl fumarate and TpW(NO)(PMe3)(η(2)-1H-2,5-dimethylpyrrole) tend to adopt a concerted cycloaddition manner to afford trans-7-azanorbornane with a free-energy barrier of 21.8 kcal/mol. cis-Dimethyl fumarate and TpW(NO)(PMe3)(η(2)-1H-2,5-dimethylpyrrole) are the most likely to experience a concerted cycloaddition → ring opening → ring closing process to provide trans-7-azanorbornane in which the concerted cycloaddition and the ring-opening process are in dynamic equilibrium (with similar energy barriers of 21.5 and 21.9 kcal/mol, respectively). The presence of TpW(NO)(PMe3) not only promotes the cycloaddition of trans- or cis-dimethyl fumarate with 2,5-dimethylpyrrole by donating d-electrons of the W atom into the diene system of the Diels-Alder reaction, but also is favorable for the ring-opening process of the formed cis-7-azanorbornane. Furthermore, trans-azanorbornane is 7.4 kcal/mol more stable than cis-azanorbornane. Our calculations provide a new explanation of the addition of dimethyl fumarate with 2,5-dimethylpyrrole exclusively giving trans-7-azanorbornane.

Direct enzymatic route for the preparation of novel enantiomerically enriched hydroxylated beta-amino ester stereoisomers

Enantiomerically enriched hydroxy-substituted beta-amino esters have been synthesized through CAL-B-catalyzed enantioselective hydrolysis in organic media. Moderate to good enantiomeric excess values (ee > or = 52%) were obtained when the CAL-B-catalyzed reactions were performed in t-BuOMe, at 60 degrees C with 0.5 equiv. of added H(2)O as nucleophile.

Synthesis of four novel natural product inspired scaffolds for drug discovery

Inspired by the novel spiro structures of a number of bioactive natural products such as the histrionicotoxins, a series of novel spiro scaffolds have been designed and robust syntheses developed. The scaffolds are ready-to-use building blocks and can be easily prepared on a 5-20 g scale. They contain two amino groups (one Boc-protected) and have been designed for ease of conversion to a lead generation library, using either amide formation or reductive amination procedures. The synthesis of the 1,9-diazaspiro[5.5]undecane and 3,7-diazaspiro[5.6]dodecane ring systems was achieved using RCM as the key step. A simple workup procedure is reported for the removal of highly colored ruthenium residues. The synthesis of the 1,8-diazaspiro[4.5]decane scaffold has been achieved using a bromine-mediated 5-endo cyclization of the corresponding 4-aminobutene intermediate under acidic conditions. This is the first example of this type of cyclization to be reported. A novel mechanism involving a bromine transfer reaction from an initially formed bromonium ion to a neighboring nitrogen atom is suggested as the reason for the failure of this type of reaction under "normal" bromination conditions. An unusual rearrangement of a 1-acyl-1,9-diazaspiro[5.5]undecane to the corresponding 9-acyl-1,9-diazaspiro[5.5]undecane is reported.

Mechanistic analysis of intramolecular free radical reactions toward synthesis of 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives

The mechanisms for the formation of conformationally constrained epibatidine analogues by intramolecular free radical processes have been computationally addressed by means of DFT methods. The mechanism and the critical effect of the 7-nitrogen protecting group on the outcome of these radical-mediated cyclizations are discussed. Theoretical findings account for unexpected experimental results and can assist in the selection of proper precursors for a successful cyclization.

Synthesis of heterocyclic analogues of epibatidine via 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl radical intermediates. 1. Intermolecular reactions

The synthesis and reactivity of the 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl radical has been extensively investigated in inter- and intramolecular reaction processes for the first time. In this work we will present the preparation of the radical and its successful intermolecular reaction with radical acceptors such as tert-butylisocyanide and acrylonitrile. Computational analyses have been carried out to show and explain the mechanisms and stereochemical outcome of these transformations. Overall and from the chemical point of view, a new and convenient synthetic approach has been developed for the synthesis of exo-2-(cyano)alkyl substituted 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives, a series of compounds of wide interest for the synthesis of heterocyclic analogues of epibatidine. As a result, we describe here the synthesis of the tetrazoloepibatidines (8 and 15) and the oxadiazoloepibatidine (10).

A new constrained proline analogue with an 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton

A straightforward synthesis of 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-1-carboxylic acid, a new proline analogue with a bicyclic structure, is described. The procedure makes use of readily available starting materials and involves simple, high-yielding transformations.