Synthetic approach toward cis-disubstituted γ- and δ-lactones through enantioselective dialkylzinc addition to aldehydes: application to the synthesis of optically active flavors and fragrances

Asymmetric total syntheses of aspilactonol F and aspiketolactonol and synthetic studies toward diplofuranoxin

The first asymmetric total synthesis of C9 polyketides, aspilactonol F and aspiketolactonol has been achieved. Ring-closing-metathesis has been employed as the key step in the synthesis. The total synthesis of aspilactonol F and aspiketolactonol was accomplished in 8 and 10 steps, in good overall yields of 28% and 24%, respectively, with only four column purifications for the former. A common strategy for the concise synthesis of the key intermediate of diplofuranoxin is also presented.

Stereoselective synthesis of whisky lactone isomers catalyzed by bacteria in the genus Rhodococcus

Whisky lactone is a naturally occurring fragrance compound in oak wood and is widely used as a sensory additive in food products. However, safe and efficient methods for the production of its individual enantiomers for applications in the food industry are lacking. The aim of this study was to develop an efficient and highly stereoselective process for the synthesis of individual enantiomeric forms of whisky lactones. The proposed three-step method involves (1) column chromatography separation of a diastereoisomeric mixture of whisky lactone, (2) chemical reduction of cis-and trans-whisky lactones to corresponding syn-and anti-diols, and (3) microbial oxidation of racemic diols to individual enantiomers of whisky lactone. Among various bacteria in the genera Dietzia, Gordonia, Micrococcus, Rhodococcus, and Streptomyces, R. erythropolis DSM44534 and R. erythropolis PCM2150 effectively oxidized anti-and syn-3-methyl-octane-1,4-diols (1a-b) to corresponding enantiomerically pure cis-and trans-whisky lactones, indicating high alcohol dehydrogenase activity. Bio-oxidation catalyzed by whole cells of these strains yielded enantiomerically pure isomers of trans-(+)-(4S,5R) (2a), trans-(-)-(4R,5S) (2b), and cis-(+)-(4R,5R) (2d) whisky lactones. The optical density of bacterial cultures and the impact of the use of acetone powders as catalysts on the course of the reaction were also evaluated. Finally, the application of R. erythropolis DSM44534 in the form of an acetone powder generated the enantiomerically enriched cis-(-)-(4S,5S)-isomer (2c) from the corresponding syn-diol (1b). The newly developed method provides an improved approach for the synthesis of chiral whisky lactones.

5,5,7,7-Tetrametyl-6,7-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[c,e]azepine

5,5,7,7-Tetrametyl-6,7-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[c,e]azepine has been synthesized as a possible pro-chiral (or tropos) unit for the construction of a chiral catalyst and as a molecular chirality sensor for the absolute configuration assignment by chiroptical spectroscopy. A straightforward synthetic strategy for the preparation of the title compound in high overall yield through sequential addition of the four methyl groups on benzylic positions has been described. A VT-NMR study was used to determine the rotational barrier of the aryl–aryl bond in this biphenylazepine, revealing its torsional flexibility at room temperature, which makes the biphenylazepine suitable as both a chirality probe and a tropos moiety in chiral ligands.

Synthesis and Stereochemical Characterization of a Novel Chiral α-Tetrazole Binaphthylazepine Organocatalyst

A novel α-tetrazole-substituted 1,1′-binaphthylazepine chiral catalyst has been synthesized and its absolute configuration has been determined by DFT computational analysis of the vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectrum of its precursor. The VCD analysis, carried out through the model averaging method, allowed to assign the absolute configuration of a benzylic stereocenter in the presence of a chiral binaphthyl moiety. The 1,1′-binaphthylazepine tetrazole and the nitrile its immediate synthetic precursor, have been preliminarily tested as chiral organocatalysts in the asymmetric intramolecular oxa-Michael cyclization of 2-hydroxy chalcones for the synthesis of chiral flavanones obtaining low enantioselectivity.

Recent Advances in the Oxone-Mediated Synthesis of Heterocyclic Compounds

Oxone is a commercially available oxidant, composed of a mixture of three inorganic species, being the potassium peroxymonosulfate (KHSO5) the reactive one. Over the past few decades, this cheap and environmentally friendly oxidant has become a powerful tool in organic synthesis, being extensively employed to mediate the construction of a plethora of important compounds. This review summarizes the recent advances in the Oxone-mediated synthesis of N-, O- and chalcogen-containing heterocyclic compounds, through a wide diversity of reactions, starting from several kinds of substrate, highlighting the main synthetic differences, advantages, the scope and limitations.

A general and concise stereodivergent chiral pool approach toward trans-(4S,5R)- and cis-(4R,5R)-5-alkyl-4-methyl-γ-butyrolactones: Syntheses of (+)-trans- and (+)-cis-whisky and cognac lactones from d-(+)-mannitol

A straightforward synthesis of (+)-trans-(4S,5R)- and (+)-cis-(4R,5R)-whisky lactones starting from d-(+)-mannitol has been reported here in fewer number of efficient steps compared to existing literature processes involving d-mannitol as the chiral pool starting material. Chiron approach directly translated chirality of d-mannitol to one of the two chiral centers in these target molecules. Toward this end, stereoisomerically pure trans- and cis-iodomethyl-γ-lactones were formed in the penultimate step. These two acted as versatile advanced common intermediates as they were also converted to the (+)-trans-(4S,5R)- and (+)-cis-(4R,5R)-cognac lactones, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, till date no synthesis of cognac lactones starting from d-mannitol has been reported. All these lactones are identified as the key aroma components of aged alcoholic beverages.

Ene-reductase transformation of massoia lactone to δ-decalactone in a continuous-flow reactor

The demand for natural food flavorings increases every year. Biotransformation has become an attractive approach to obtain natural products. In this work, enantiomerically pure (R)-(+)-δ-decalactone was obtained by reduction of the C=C double bond of natural massoia lactone in a continuous-flow reactor. Of 13 different ene-reductases isolated, purified and tested, OYE3 was found to be the most efficient biocatalyst. The selected biocatalyst, either in the form of purified enzyme, cell lysate, whole cells or immobilized cells, was tested in the batch system as well as in the packed-bed flow bioreactor. The biotransformation performed in batch mode, using Ca²⁺-alginate immobilized cells of Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)/pET30a-OYE3, furnished the desired product with complete conversion in 30 min. The process was intensified using a continuous-flow reactor-membrane filtration system (flow 0.1 mL/min, substrate concentration 10 mM, pH 7, 24 °C) with cell lysate as biocatalyst combined with a cofactor regeneration system, which allowed obtaining > 99% bioconversion of massoia lactone.

δ-Lactones-A New Class of Compounds That Are Toxic to E. coli K12 and R2-R4 Strains

Lactones are among the well-known organic substances with a specific taste and smell. They are characterized by antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. In recent years, among this group of compounds, new biologically active substances have been searched by modifying the main (leading) structure with new analogs with stronger or different responses that may have a toxic effect on the cells of pathogenic bacteria and constitute an alternative to commonly used antibiotics. A preliminary study of δ-lactone derivatives as new potential candidates for antibacterial drugs was conducted. Particular emphasis was placed on the selection of the structure of lactones with the highest biological activity, especially those with fluorine in their structure as a substituent in terms of action on bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the model strains of Escherichia coli K12 (without LPS in its structure) and R2–R4 (LPS of different lengths in its structure). In the presented studies, on the basis of the conducted MIC and MBC tests, it was shown that the antibacterial (toxic) activity of lactones depends on their structure and the length of the bacterial LPS in the membrane of specific strains. Moreover, oxidative damage of bacterial DNA isolated from bacteria after modification with newly synthesized compounds after application of the repair enzyme Fpg glycosylase was analyzed. The analyzed damage values were compared with the modification with appropriate antibiotics: ciprofloxacin, bleomycin, and cloxacillin. The presented research clearly shows that lactone derivatives can be potential candidates as substitutes for drugs, e.g., the analyzed antibiotics. Their chemical and biological activity is related to coumarin derivatives and the corresponding δ-lactone groups in the structure of the substituent. The observed results are of particular importance in the case of increasing bacterial resistance to various drugs and antibiotics, especially in nosocomial infections and neoplasms, and in the era of a microbial pandemic.

Bacterial Whole Cells Synthesis of Whisky Lactones in a Solid-State Fermentation Bioreactor Prototype

Agro-industrial side streams such as oilseed cakes were used as a medium in solid-state fermentation (SSF) for microbial oxidation of anti- and syn-3-methyl-octane-1,4-diols to obtain corresponding trans- and cis-whisky lactones. In preliminary screening transformations, a wide range of whole bacterial cells were tested on the basis of oxidation activity, which is rarely described in the literature, in contrast to the widely studied lipolytic activity on SSF. Among the different oil cakes tested, biotransformations carried out on linseed cake were characterized by the highest conversion and stereoselectivity. Several preparative-scale oxidations performed in a self-constructed SSF bioreactor catalyzed by Rhodococcus erythropolis DSM44534, Rhodococcus erythropolis PCM2150 and Gordonia rubripertincta PCM2144 afforded optically active trans-(+)-(4S,5R), cis-(+)-(4R,5R) and cis-(-)-(4S,5S) isomers of whisky lactones, respectively. Bacteria of the Rhodococcus, Gordonia, Dietzia and Streptomyces genera carried out transformations with complete conversion after three days. Various extraction methods were applied for the isolation of the products, and among them, the combination of steam distillation with simple extraction were the most efficient. Biotransformations were conducted under precise control of conditions in a bioreactor based on a Raspberry Pi Zero W. The proposed low-cost (ca. USD 100) bioreactor is a standalone system that is fully autoclavable and easy to use.

Evaluation of thionolactones as a new type of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donors for a blood pressure regulation

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a gaseous molecule that exhibits various biological effects. For example, H₂S has been recognized as a blood pressure-lowering agent. Presented in this report is a new modifiable platform for H₂S supply, its preparation and H₂S release kinetics from a series of structurally diversified thionolactones. Furthermore, the properties of the obtained H₂S donors were evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The kinetic parameters of H₂S release were determined and compared with NaHS and pyrrolidine-2-thione, a thiolactame analog, using a fluorescence detection method based on 7-azido-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one probe. We have shown that H₂S release rates from the developed compounds are controllable through structural modifications. This study shows that both the thiono-lactone ring's size and the presence of a methyl group in the thiono-lactone ring significantly influenced the rate of H₂S release. Finally, we have found a significant hypotensive response to intravenous administration of the developed donors in anesthetized rats.

Kinetic resolution of racemic allylic alcohols via iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation: scope, synthetic applications and insight into the origin of selectivity

Asymmetric hydrogenation is one of the most commonly used tools in organic synthesis, whereas, kinetic resolution via asymmetric hydrogenation is less developed. Herein, we describe the first iridium catalyzed kinetic resolution of a wide range of trisubstituted secondary and tertiary allylic alcohols. Large selectivity factors were observed in most cases (s up to 211), providing the unreacted starting materials in good yield with high levels of enantiopurity (ee up to >99%). The utility of this method is highlighted in the enantioselective formal synthesis of some bioactive natural products including pumiliotoxin A, inthomycin A and B. DFT studies and a selectivity model concerning the origin of selectivity are presented.

Asymmetric hydrogenation is one of the most commonly used tools in organic synthesis, whereas, kinetic resolution via asymmetric hydrogenation was less developed.

A Novel Approach for Microbial Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure Whisky Lactones Based on Solid-State Fermentation

In this study, solid-state fermentation (SSF) was proposed as an alternative approach to obtain optically pure forms of one of the most common aroma compounds, whisky lactone. Filamentous fungi were used for enantioselective hydrolysis of a racemate of trans and cis whisky lactones, utilizing rapeseed cake as a growth medium. Among the tested fungi, Fusarium oxysporum AM13 and Papularia rosea AM17 were chosen for further studies. Various process parameters, including temperature, moisture content of solid media, and substrate concentration were optimized to maximize the efficiency of the kinetic resolution process. After optimization of the culture conditions (33 °C temperature, 60% moisture content, and substrate concentration of 3 mg/g oilseed cake), F. oxysporum AM13 resolved a mixture of trans-(+)-(4S,5R) and cis-(+)-(4R,5R) whisky lactones with enantiomeric excess (ee), ee > 99% and ee = 98%, respectively. This study presents an inexpensive and environmentally friendly method for the production of enantiomerically pure aroma lactones via the solid-state fermentation of oilseed cake. The results revealed that SSF is an effective method for acquiring highly valued and industrially demanded compounds with negligible economic cost.

Dual stereocontrolled alkylation of aldehydes with polystyrene-supported nickel complexes derived from α-amino amides

Nickel(ii) complexes derived from α-amino amide ligands anchored to gel-type and monolithic polymers act as efficient catalysts for the enantioselective addition of dialkylzinc reagents to aldehydes.