Biotransformations in the Synthesis of Enantiopure Bioactive Molecules

Catalysis in Single Crystalline Materials: From Discrete Molecules to Metal-Organic Frameworks

Catalysis is one of the key techniques for people's modern life. It has created numerous essential chemicals such as biomedicines, agricultural chemicals and unique materials. Heterogeneous catalysis is the new emerging method with reusable catalysts. Among heterogenous catalysis patterns developed so far, single crystalline catalysis has become the promising one owing to its high catalytic density and selectivity resulted by the inherent porosity, orderliness of the lattices and permeability. These crystalline catalysts could be used in various reactions such as photo-dimerization, Diels-Alder reaction, CO₂ transformation and so on. In this review, we highlighted the reported works about the single crystalline catalysts. Both discrete small molecules and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been used to prepare single crystals for catalysis. For discrete molecules based crystalline catalysts, coordinated and covalent molecules have been used. There were more catalytic modes in crystalline MOF catalysts. Three patterns were identified in this review: single crystalline MOFs i) without catalytic sites, ii) with inherent catalytic features and iii) with introducing catalytic units by post synthetic modification. Based on these examples, this review committed to provide the inspirations for the further design and application of single crystalline materials.

Materials Functionalization with Multicomponent Reactions: State of the Art

The emergence of neoteric synthetic routes for materials functionalization is an interesting phenomenon in materials chemistry. In particular, the union of materials chemistry with multicomponent reactions (MCRs) opens a new avenue leading to the realm of highly innovative functionalized architectures with unique features. MCRs have recently been recognized as considerable part of the synthetic chemist's toolbox due to their great efficiency, inherent molecular diversity, atom and pot economy along with operational simplicity. Also, MCRs can improve E-factor and mass intensity as important green chemistry metrics. By rational tuning of the materials, as well as the MCRs, wide ranges of functionalized materials can be produced with tailorable properties that can play important roles in the plethora of applications. To date, there has not reported any exclusive review of a materials functionalization with MCRs. This critical review highlights the state-of-the-art on the one-pot functionalization of carbonaceous and siliceous materials, polysaccharides, proteins, enzymes, synthetic polymers, etc., via diverse kind of MCRs like Ugi, Passerini, Petasis, Khabachnik-Fields, Biginelli, and MALI reactions through covalent or noncovalent manners. Besides the complementary discussion of synthetic routes, superior properties and detailed applicability of each functionalized material in modern technologies are discussed. Our outlook also emphasizes future strategies for this unprecedented area and their use as materials for industrial implementation. With no doubt, MCRs-functionalization of materials bridges the gap between materials science domain and applied chemistry.

Biotransformation: a green and efficient way of antioxidant synthesis

Antioxidant compounds play a vital role in human physiology. They prevent the oxidation of biomolecules by scavenging free radicals produced during physiochemical processes and/or as a result of several pathological states. A balance between the reactive oxygen species (free radicals) and antioxidants is essential for proper physiological conditions. Excessive free radicals cause oxidative stress which can lead to several human diseases. Therefore, synthesis of the effective antioxidants is crucial in managing the oxidative stress. Biotransformation has evolved as an effective technique for the production of structurally diverse molecules with a wide range of biological activities. This methodology surpasses the conventional chemical synthesis due to the fact that enzymes, being specific in nature, catalyze reactions affording products with excellent regio- and stereoselectivities. Structural transformation of various classes of compounds such as alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, and terpenes has been carried out through this technique. Several bioactive molecules, especially those having antioxidant potential have also been synthesized by using different biotransformation techniques and enzymes. Hydroxylated, glycosylated, and acylated derivatives of phenols, flavonoids, cinnamates, and other molecules have proven abilities as potential antioxidants. A critical review of the biotransformation of these compounds into potent antioxidant metabolites is presented here.

From D-glucose to enantiomerically pure cycloctanoses. The glycosidase inhibitory capacity of medium-ring carbasugars

Exhaustive dihydroxylation of the pair of cyclooctadienols consisting of 4 and 5, which are available in enantiomerically pure form from d-glucose, resulted in the formation of two diastereomeric tetraols in each case. The difference in polarity of the 6/7 and 8/9 pairs facilitated their chromatographic separation. Ensuing acetylation and PMB deprotection allowed for the assignment of relative (and ultimately absolute) stereochemistry to the resulting monohydric alcohols on the basis of J(HH) analysis of their (1)H NMR spectra. The highly functionalized exomethylenecyclooctanes 14-17, which were derived by periodinane oxidation and Wittig olefination, were further elaborated by hydroboration and global deprotection. The eight members of the cyclooctanose family of carbasugars and their precursor intermediates consistently showed patterns of J(HH) values in line with the contiguous stereochemical relationships. Also assayed was their specific inhibitory behavior toward glycosidases.

Synthesis and assignment of absolute configuration of (-)-oleocanthal: a potent, naturally occurring non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agent derived from extra virgin olive oils

[structure: see text] Effective total syntheses and the assignment of absolute configurations of both the (+)- and (-)-enantiomers of oleocanthal 1 (a.k.a. deacetoxy ligstroside aglycon), the latter derived from extra virgin olive oils and known to be responsible for the back of the throat irritant properties of olive oils, have been achieved. The absolute and relative stereochemistry of the naturally occurring enantiomer (-)-1 proved to be 3S,4E. Both syntheses begin with d-(-)-ribose, proceed in 12 steps, and are achieved with an overall yield of 7%. Both enantiomers proved to be non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agents.

In search of sustainability: process R&D in light of current pharmaceutical industry challenges

Is there a need for a paradigm shift in the pharmaceutical industry? Many researchers think so and take as examples the eroding corporate reputation, a regulatory environment that is harsher than ever, and the request for cheaper drugs from patient organizations and authorities. Process R&D, which interfaces medicinal chemistry and production, has taken on this challenge by increasing the delivery focus early on to ensure timely availability of desired compounds. The quest for lower costs of goods has forced the design of best synthetic routes that, given the molecular complexity, often lead to catalytic methodologies. Applying these methodologies will enable not only the cost element, but also the increasingly important aspects of environmental friendliness, and atom and stage efficiency, to be addressed.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Fredericamycin A: An Intramolecular Cycloaddition Pathway

The asymmetric total synthesis of the potent antitumor antibiotic fredericamycin A ((S)-1) was achieved by the intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition of the silylene-protected styrene derivative (S)-7 followed by the aromatic Pummerer-type reaction of the sulfoxide (S)-5. Although we had already succeeded in the total synthesis of racemic 1 by the same approach, synthesis of its asymmetric version was more complicated than we had expected due to the difficulties involved in constructing the quaternary carbon center and the tendency of this center to undergo facile racemization. Racemization of this center during the installation of the acetylene moiety on the dione (R)-8 was the most serious aspect. Systematic studies of its DE-ring analogue (R)-25 revealed that racemization of the quaternary carbon center proceeded by a retro-aldol-aldol reaction of the initial adduct, (1R)-39 a-Li, and that the degree of racemization was dependent on the reaction temperature. The racemization process could be completely depressed by keeping the reaction temperature at -78 degrees C. The construction of the stereogenic quaternary carbon center was achieved by the lipase-catalyzed desymmetrization of the prochiral 1,3-diol 9 a bearing the DEF-ring moiety. These studies enabled us to attain the asymmetric total synthesis of (S)-1 while completely retaining the chiral integrity created by the enzymatic reactions.

Synthesis and glycosidase inhibitory activity of new hexa-substituted C8-glycomimetics

Background

Glycosidases are involved in several metabolic pathways and the development of inhibitors is an important challenge towards the treatment of diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and viral infections including AIDS. Thus, inhibition of intestinal α-glucosidases can be used to treat diabetes through the lowering of blood glucose levels, and α-glucosidase inhibitors are being marketed against type 2 (non-insulinodependent mellitus) diabetes (i.e.: Glyset^® or Diastabol^®, Basen^® and Glucor^® or Precose^®).

Results

In that context, new C8-carbasugars and related aminocyclitols have been targeted in order to study the effect of the enhanced flexibility and of the new spatial distribution displayed by these structures on their adaptability in the active site of the enzymes. The synthesis of these new C8-glycomimetics is described from enantiomerically pure C₂-symmetrical polyhydroxylated cyclooctenes. Their obtention notably involved a syn-dihydroxylation, and more extended functionalization through formation of a cis-cyclic sulfate followed by amination and subsequent reductive amination. This strategy involving the nucleophilic opening of a cis-cyclic sulfate by sodium azide is to our knowledge the first example in C8-series. It revealead to be an efficient alternative to the nucleoplilic opening of an epoxide moiety which proved unsuccessful in this particular case, due to the hindered conformation of such epoxides as demonstrated by X-ray cristallographic analysis.

Conclusion

The biological activity of the synthesized glycomimetics has been evaluated towards 24 commercially available glycosidases. The weak observed activities can probably be related to the spatial disposition of the hydroxy and amino groups which depart too much from that realized in glycomimetics such as valiolamine, voglibose and valienamine. Nevertheless, the synthetic strategy described here is efficient and general, and could be extended to increase the diversity of the glycosidase inhibitors obtained since this diversity is introduced in an ultimate step of the synthesis.

An Improved Approach to Chiral Cyclopentenone Building Blocks. Total Synthesis of Pentenomycin I and Neplanocin A

An improved approach to enantiomerically pure hydroxylated cyclopentenones is reported here, which involves intramolecular nitrone cycloaddition of sugar-derived chiral pent-4-enals and hex-5-en-ones-2 followed by N-O bond cleavage, quaternization of the amine thus produced, and finally oxidative elimination of the amino group. Synthesis of pentenomycin I and neplanocin A is described following this methodology.

Asymmetric Synthesis by the Intramolecular Haloetherification Reaction of Ene Acetal: Discrimination of Prochiral Dienes in Cyclohexane Systems

A novel asymmetric synthesis of the cyclohexane derivative functionalized by some substituents has been developed from the diene acetals (1), prepared from the corresponding diene aldehyde and (+)-hydrobenzoin. The treatment of 1 with NBS in the presence of MeOCH2CH2OH predominantly afforded 2 in a stereoselective manner. Subsequent alkylation of the methoxyethoxy group produced the optically active cyclohexene compounds (3) in good yields. The stereoselective chemical modification of the remaining olefin in 3 was made by OsO4-oxidation.

Enzymes in the synthesis of bioactive compounds: the prodigious decades

The growing demand for enantiomerically pure pharmaceuticals has impelled research on enzymes as catalysts for asymmetric synthetic transformations. However, the use of enzymes for this purpose was rather limited until the discovery that enzymes can work in organic solvents. Since the advent of the PCR the number of available enzymes has been growing rapidly and the tailor-made biocatalysts are becoming a reality. Thus, it has been possible the use of enzymes for the synthesis of new innovative medicines such as carbohydrates and their incorporation to modern methods for drug development, such as combinatorial chemistry. Finally, the genomic research is allowing the manipulation of whole genomes opening the door to the combinatorial biosynthesis of compounds. In this review, our intention is to highlight the main landmarks that have led to transfer the chemical efficiency shown by the enzymes in the cell to the synthesis of bioactive molecules in the lab during the last 20 years.

Simple and efficient solid support scavenging of excess acyl donors after enzymatic acylations in organic solvents

A simple and efficient method for removing excess acyl donors following enzymatic acylations in organic solvents was developed. This method is based on selective chemical scavenging of acyl donors using an amino-functionalized solid support, and does not affect the desired acylated product. A wide variety of different acyl donors, including vinyl and trifluoroethyl esters and vinyl carbonates, can be quantitatively removed by this method, thus providing a simple and highly efficient tool for purification of reaction products after enzymatic acylation.

Deuterium isotope effect on enantioselectivity in the Comamonas testosteroni quinohemoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of rac-2,2-dimethyl-4-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxolane, solketal

Isotopic substitution provides an effective tool to probe the mechanism of enzyme-catalyzed reactions. To our knowledge, kinetic isotope effects on the enantioselectivity of enzymes have not been reported. We investigated the effect of deuterium substitution on the enantiomeric ratio, E, of PQQ-containing quinohemoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase, QH-ADH, from Comamonas testosteroni in the ferricyanide-coupled kinetic resolution of rac-2,2-dimethyl-4-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxolane, solketal. Under otherwise identical conditions, we measured E=30 for solketal and E=6 for rac-2,2-dimethyl-4-[1,1-2H]hydroxymethyl-1,3-[5,5,4-2H]dioxolane, d(5)-solketal. It is proposed that isotopic substitution affects the relative kinetic weights of the initial hydron/deuteron transfer from substrate to cofactor and the subsequent proton/deuteron shift in the cofactor-product complex. The latter step becomes more important in the deuterated complex to the extent that the enantiomer discrimination in the first step is partially overruled.

Asymmetric Induction of Conduritols via AAA Reactions: Synthesis of the Aminocyclohexitol of Hygromycin A

Two synthetic routes towards the construction of the aminocyclohexitol moiety of hygromycin A have been developed based on palladium-catalyzed asymmetric alkylation of conduritol derivatives. A protocol has been established whereby this biologically relevant molecule is formed from benzoquinone. A conduritol A derivative is synthesized in eight steps from benzoquinone and is then subjected to the palladium reaction. From this flexible intermediate, four epimers of the aminocyclitol, including the natural one, can be obtained with complete stereoselectivity. Racemic conduritol B derivatives are available in four steps from benzoquinone, and these are then made enantiomerically pure by a palladium-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution. From the chiral conduritol B, the aminocyclitol is available in six steps. Excellent levels of enantio- and diastereoselectivity highlight these strategies.

delta-Amino beta-keto esters, a designed polyfunctionalized chiral building block for alkaloid synthesis. Asymmetric synthesis of (R)-(+)-2-phenylpiperidine and (-)-SS20846A

[formula: see text] delta-Amino beta-keto esters 3 and 11 are designed polyfunctionalized chiral building blocks for alkaloid synthesis and are prepared in one step from the corresponding sulfinimine (N-sulfinyl imine). Concise highly enantioselective four-step syntheses of 2-phenylpiperidine (7) and SS20846A (14) from 3 and 11, respectively, are described.

Biocatalysis for industrial production of fine chemicals

Chiral intermediates constitute a significant part of the fine chemicals market, which is strongly influenced by trends in the pharmaceutical industries, where approximately 70% of pharmaceuticals are expected to be enantiomerically pure in the next century as compared to 25% today. The main technologies by which enantiomerically pure ingredients are obtained today are (dynamic) resolutions of racemic mixtures. Asymmetric syntheses are being developed, but their applications in industry are still under represented. Biotechnological methods, resolutions as well as asymmetric syntheses, are becoming increasingly important in the industrial production of fine chemicals.

Biocatalytic combinatorial synthesis

Combinatorial biocatalysis, based on a principle of the combinatorial use of biosynthetic steps rather than the combinatorial use of reagents, offers a complementary approach to combinatorial chemistry, which, used individually or in connection with synthetic organic transformations, provides access to analogues not readily accessible by chemical synthetic means alone. The issues and strategies particular to this approach are discussed. Examples are given demonstrating these principles as well as the unique advantages of achieving chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity under mild reaction conditions that biocatalytic methods offer.

Creation of a synthetically useful lipase with higher than wild-type enantioselectivity and maintained catalytic activity

[reaction: see text] We have found that two Geotrichum candidum lipase isozymes have remarkably different abilities to differentiate between enantiomers of ethyl 2-methyldecanoate. By rational recombination of selected portions of the two isozymes, we have created a novel lipase with an enantioselectivity superior to that of the best wild-type parent isozyme. Site-directed mutagenesis identified two key amino acid residues responsible for the improved enantioselectivity without compromised total activity of the reengineered enzyme.

Asymmetric epoxy cyclohexenyl sulfones: readily accessible progenitors of stereo defined six-carbon arrays

[formula: see text] Enantiopure epoxy vinyl sulfones serve as highly effective substrates for a variety of stereo- and regiospecific oxidation and nucleophilic functionalization reactions. These materials can be easily transformed to cyclic and acyclic six-carbon segments. Nucleophilic epoxidation of 3a,b followed by palladium[0] catalysis enables access to differentially protected arene diols 21 and 22.