Catalytic Approaches to Optically Active 1,5-Benzothiazepines

Rational redesign of the loop dynamics of carbonyl reductase LfSDR1 to improve the stereoselectivity for asymmetric synthesis of bulky chiral alcohols

Engineering biocatalysts with enhanced stereoselectivity is highly desirable, and active-site loop dynamics play an important role in its regulation. However, knowledge of their precise roles in catalysis and evolution is limited. Here, we used the strategy of Rosetta enzyme design combined molecular dynamic simulations (MDs) to reprogram the landscapes of the key active-site loop dynamics of the carbonyl reductase LfSDR1 to improve stereoselectivity. The key flexible loop in the active site showed the potential to regulate the catalytic properties. A library of virtual variants was produced using the Rosetta design and assessed dynamic effect of the loop with the aid of MDs. A potential candidate was obtained with significant stereoselectivity (ee > 99 %) compared to the wild-type (ee = 42 %) without loss of catalytic activity or thermostability. The molecular basis of the catalytic property enhancement was flanked by MDs, which revealed the role of the G92L mutation in regulating loop dynamics to stabilize the environment of the active site. Finally, a series of the challenge bulky substrate derivatives were assessed using the G92L variant, and all showed improved stereoselectivity ee > 99 %. This study provides novel insights for improving stereoselectivity through rational engineering of the loop dynamics of biocatalysts.

NBS-Promoted Synthesis of Thiocyanated Aminomaleimides and Site-Selective Intramolecular Cyclization Access to 1,4-Benzothiazepines via S-CN Bond Cleavage

A transition metal-free concise and efficient protocol for the synthesis of thiocyanated aminomaleimides and benzo[e][1,4]thiazepine derivatives has been developed. The method involves an initial α-C-H thiocyanation of aminomaleimides with KSCN and TEMPO-mediated tandem S-CN bond cleavage/intramolecular cyclization substitution processes, which enables the formation of seven-membered S/N-heterocycles. This synthetic strategy provides a reliable method for the synthesis of biologically interesting benzo[e][1,4]thiazepine derivatives by using KSCN as sulfur sources as well as expands the application of enaminones thiocyanation reactions in heterocycles synthesis.

Sustainable asymmetric synthesis of diltiazem precursor enabled by recombinant Escherichia coli whole cells co-expressing an engineered ketoreductase and glucose dehydrogenase

As a key synthetic intermediate of the cardiovascular drug diltiazem, methyl (2R,3S)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl) glycidate ((2R,3S)-MPGM) (1) is accessible via the ring closure of chlorohydrin (3S)-methyl 2-chloro-3-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propanoate ((3S)-2). We report the efficient reduction of methyl 2-chloro-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxo-propanoate (3) to (3S)-2 using an engineered enzyme SSCRM2 possessing 4.5-fold improved specific activity, which was obtained through the structure-guided site-saturation mutagenesis of the ketoreductase SSCR by reliving steric hindrance and undesired interactions. With the combined use of the co-expression fine-tuning strategy, a recombinant E. coli (pET28a-RBS-SSCRM2 /pACYCDuet-GDH), co-expressing SSCRM2 and glucose dehydrogenase, was constructed and optimized for protein expression. After optimizing the reaction conditions, whole-cell-catalyzed complete reduction of industrially relevant 300 g L-1 of 3 was realized, affording (3S)-2 with 99% ee and a space-time yield of 519.1 g∙L-1 ∙d-1 , representing the highest record for the biocatalytic synthesis of (3S)-2 reported to date. The E-factor of this biocatalytic synthesis was 24.5 (including water). Chiral alcohol (3S)-2 generated in this atom-economic synthesis was transformed to (2R,3S)-MPGM in 95% yield with 99% ee.

Synthesis of the 1,5-Benzothiazepane Scaffold - Established Methods and New Developments

The 1,5-benzothiazepane structure is an important heterocyclic moiety present in a variety of commercial drugs and pharmaceuticals. This privileged scaffold exhibits a diversity of biological activities, including antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti-epileptic, anti-HIV, antidepressant, antithrombotic and anticancer properties. Its important pharmacological potential renders research into the development of new and efficient synthetic methods of high relevance. In the first part of this review, an overview of different synthetic approaches toward 1,5-benzothiazepane and its derivatives is provided, ranging from established protocols to recent (enantioselective) methods that promote sustainability. In the second part, several structural characteristics influencing biological activity are briefly explored, providing a few insights into the structure-activity relationships of these compounds.

Biocatalytic dynamic reductive kinetic resolution of aryl α-chloro β-keto esters: divergent, stereocontrolled synthesis of diltiazem, clentiazem, and siratiazem

The first systematic study of ketoreductase (KRED)-catalyzed dynamic reductive kinetic resolution (DYRKR) on aryl α-chloro β-keto esters was performed, and 15 structurally diverse chiral anti-aryl α-chloro β-hydroxy esters were synthesized in 74-98% isolated yields, along with moderate-to-excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >99 : 1 dr) and good-to-excellent enantioselectivity (mostly >99% ee). LfSDR1-catalyzed complete reduction of 100 g L^-1 of substrate 6b at a ten-gram scale was achieved with a continuous fed-batch strategy, affording anti-(2S,3S)-1b, the key intermediate of diltiazem, in a record-breaking space-time yield of 96 g L^-1 d^-1. An eight-step synthesis of diltiazem, clentiazem, and siratiazem was accomplished in 32-45% overall yields, featuring this versatile biocatalytic reduction reaction as well as an efficient, green chlorination reaction in flow.

Organocatalytic asymmetric addition of thioglycolates to o-quinone methides: a route to 5-substituted-5H-benzoxathiepine-2(3H)-ones

Herein we have developed the first enantioselective synthesis of 5-substituted-5H-benzoxathiepine-2(3H)-ones. 2-Sulfonylmethyl phenols and thioglycolates were employed as reaction partners in this method. The desired thia Michael products were obtained via bifunctional squaramide catalyzed conjugate addition reaction to in situ generated o-quinone methides and then basic hydrolysis followed by cyclization led to the formation of 5-substituted-5H-benzoxathiepine-2(3H)-ones. Broad scope and moderate to high enantioselectivities were observed for both products.

Rh-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Unsaturated Medium-Ring NH Lactams: Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of N-Unprotected 2,3-Dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepinones

A straightforward method to prepare 1,5-benzothiazepines was reported. Catalyzed by a Rh/Zhaophos complex, unsaturated cyclic NH lactams with a medium-size ring were hydrogenated smoothly, giving remarkably high enantioselectivities. The sulfur atom in the substrates did not bring an inhibition which was observed with commercially available bisphosphine ligands. This method was successfully applied in the scale-up synthesis of (R)-(-)-thiazesim.

Transition-Metal-Free Thioamination of Arynes Using Sulfenamides

The insertion of arynes into the S-N σ-bond of sulfenamides allowing the synthesis of o-sulfanylaniline derivatives with reasonable functional group compatibility is presented. The aryne generated from 2-(trimethylsilyl)aryl triflates using CsF in DME was the key for the success of this transition-metal-free thioamination reaction, which involves new C-N and C-S bond formations in a single step under mild conditions. Moreover, the synthetic potential of this method was demonstrated by the synthesis of the antidepressant drug vortioxetine.

Sequential cycloaddition and ring expansion reaction of arynes and methylenebenzothiopheneones: synthesis of a benzo-fused eight-membered ring via sulfonium ylides

Efficient construction of benzo-fused eight-membered ring containing sulfur. New reaction profile with sulfonium ylides.

Catalytic enantioselective one-pot approach to cis- and trans-2,3-diaryl substituted 1,5-benzothiazepines

The first enantioselective catalytic approach to cis- and trans-2,3-diaryl substituted 1,5-benzothiazepines has been conveniently developed in a one-pot fashion, starting from α,β-unsaturated acyl pyrazoles and 2-aminothiophenol. The organocatalytic two-step sulfa-Michael/lactamization sequence is promoted by a readily available bifunctional thiourea and p-toluenesulfonic acid, respectively. The protocol enables access to both N-unprotected cis- and trans-diastereoisomers in moderate to satisfactory overall yields (up to 84%) and good to excellent ee values (up to 99%). Mechanistic investigations helped to shed light on the regio- and stereoselective outcome of the process.

Thiosulfonylation of alkenes with the insertion of sulfur dioxide under non-metallic conditions

A three-component reaction of 1-(2-allylaryl)thioureas, sulfur dioxide, and aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates under mild conditions is realized, leading to sulfonated [3,1]-benzothiazepines in good yields. High efficiency is observed for this non-metallic transformation.