[Synthesis of phosphonic acid and phosphinic acid derivatives for development of biologically active compounds]

Development of Biologically Active Compounds on the Basis of Phosphonic and Phosphinic Acid Functionalities

Phosphonic and phosphinic acids, especially α-heteroatom-substituted ones, possess unique structural and physical features which enable them to act as hydrotically stable analogs to biological phosphates in biological processes. They also act as mimetics in the transition state of the protease-induced hydrolysis of dipeptides. The first half of this review focuses on selected new synthetic methods developed by our research group for the stereoselective synthesis of α-heteroatom-substituted phosphonic and phosphinic acid derivatives, including modified nucleotide analogs and phosphinyl dipeptide isosteres. In the latter half, this review summarizes the utility of difluoromethylenephosphonic acids and phosphonic acid esters in the development of enzyme inhibitors against protein tyrosine phosphatases, sphingomyelinases, purine nucleoside phosphorylases and thrombin. The enzyme inhibitors developed were used as probes to elucidate signal transductions and the mechanisms of enzyme actions. The findings of the studies are briefly described.

Pd-catalyzed highly regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective allylic alkylation of α-fluorophosphonates

α-Fluorophosphonates with two chiral centers have been synthesised in high diastereo- and enatioselectivites via Pd-catalyzed AAA of 2-fluoro-2-(diethoxyphosphoryl)acetate with monosubstituted allylic substrates. Their transformations were also demonstrated.

Diametric stereocontrol in dynamic catalytic reduction of racemic acyl phosphonates: divergence from α-keto ester congeners

An unexpected dichotomy was observed in the Ru-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of acyl phosphonates: reduction proceeded from the opposite face relative to that observed in the analogous reduction of α-keto esters. The first highly selective catalytic hydrogenation of acyl phosphonates was utilized in the dynamic kinetic resolution of α-aryl acyl phosphonates, providing β-stereogenic α-hydroxy phosphonic acid derivatives.

Organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of both diastereomers of alpha-hydroxyphosphinates

Racemic alpha-acylphosphinates and formylphosphinate hydrate were used directly as the substrates in a proline derivative-catalyzed cross aldol reaction with ketones. Because of the preexisting phosphorus stereogenic center, a mixture of two diastereomers of the corresponding alpha-hydroxyphosphinates was obtained in this reaction. Good to high enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) were obtained simultaneously for the two diastereomers in good yields. Good diastereoselectivities were also obtained when the reaction generates an additional carbon stereogenic center.