Parallel synthesis and biocatalytic amplification of a cross-conjugated cyclopentenone library

Facile access to [1,2]-oxazine derivatives via annulations of aminoxy-tethered 1,7-enynes

An efficient approach for the highly diastereoselective construction of functionalized cyclopenta[d][1,2]oxazines via sequential oxyamination and Pauson-Khand reaction of readily accessible propargylic alcohols has been developed. Furthermore, the ring closing metathesis of these N-O linked 1,7-enynes afforded vinylated-[1,2]oxazines in good yields. The reduction of the N-O bond of the obtained cyclopenta[d][1,2]oxazine is accomplished to access cyclopentenone-based amino alcohols.

Two-Step Enzymatic Modification of Solid-Supported Bergenin in Aqueous and Organic Media

The natural flavonoid bergenin was directly immobilized onto carboxylic acid functionalized controlled pore glass (carboxy-CPG) at 95% yield. Immobilized bergenin was brominated via chloroperoxidase in aqueous solution and then transesterified with vinyl butyrate in diisopropyl ether by subtilisin carslberg (SC) extracted into the organic solvent via ion pairing. Enzymatic cleavage of 7-bromo-4-butyrylbergenin from carboxy-CPG (9.6% final yield) was accomplished using lipase B (LipB) in an aqueous/organic mixture (90/10 v/v of water/acetonitrile), demonstrating the feasibility of solid phase biocatalysis of a natural product in aqueous and non-aqueous media.

Synthesis and structure-antifungal activity relationships of 3-aryl-5-alkyl-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-ones and their carbanalogues: further refinement of tentative pharmacophore group

Two series of 3-(substituted phenyl)-5-alkyl-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-ones related to a natural product, (-)incrustoporine, were synthesized and their in vitro antifungal activity evaluated. The compounds with halogen substituents on the phenyl ring exhibited selective antifungal activity against the filamentous strains of Absidia corymbifera and Aspergillus fumigatus. On the other hand, the influence of the length of the alkyl chain at C(5) was marginal. The antifungal effect of the most active compound against the above strains was higher than that of ketoconazole, and close to that of amphotericin B. In order to verify the hypothesis about a possible relationship between the Michael-accepting ability of the compounds and their antifungal activity, a series of simple carbanalogues, 2-(substituted phenyl)cyclopent-2-enones, was prepared and subjected to antifungal activity assay as well.

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.

Convergent cyclopentannelation process

[reaction: see text] A triply convergent synthesis of alpha-methylene cyclopentenones has been demonstrated in which an intermediate C,O-dianion is formed and trapped on carbon by electrophiles.

Combinatorial biocatalysis

The published applications of combinatorial biocatalysis have continued to expand at a growing rate. This is exemplified by the variety of enzyme catalysts and whole-cell catalysts used for the creation of libraries through a wide range of biocatalytic reactions, including acylation, glycosylation, halogenation, oxidation and reduction. These biocatalytic methods add the capability to perform unique chemistries or selective reactions with complex or labile reagents when integrated with classical combinatorial synthesis methods. Thus, applications towards the production of libraries de novo, the expansion of chemically derived combinatorial libraries, and the generation of novel combinatorial reagents for library synthesis can be achieved. Theoretically, these results illustrate what is already evident from nature: that complex, biologically active, structurally diverse compound libraries can be generated through the application of biocatalysis alone or in combination with classical organic synthesis approaches.