Γ-amino Esters Research Articles

Stereoselective synthesis of backbone extended π-conjugated amino esters.

Utilization of the Wittig reaction to synthesize conjugative multiple double bonds is rare. We examined the utility of the Wittig reaction to construct conjugative two and three carbon-carbon double bonds on the N-protected amino acid backbone. The ethyl esters of N-Boc amino acids with multiple carbon-carbon double bonds in the backbone were isolated in excellent yields with exceptional E-selectivity of the double bonds. The allylic alcohols of α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters were selectively synthesized from the DIBAL-H and BF3·OEt2. The allylic alcohols were transformed into aldehydes using IBX oxidation. Using this protocol, we synthesized ethyl esters of N-Boc-(E,E)-α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated ε-amino acids with various side-chain functionalities and ethyl esters of N-Boc-(E,E,E)-α,β,γ,δ,ε,ζ-unsaturated η-amino acids with excellent yields. We speculated the exceptional E-selectivity is probably due to the stabilization of the planar transition state of the Wittig reaction with the double bond p-orbitals. No racemization was observed in the synthesis of amino acids. The reported process may serve as an excellent route to synthesize multiple conjugative carbon-carbon double bonds.

Synthesis of 1,5-Substituted Pyrrolidin-2-ones from Donor–Acceptor Cyclopropanes and Anilines/Benzylamines

We developed a straightforward synthetic route to pharmacologically important 1,5-substituted pyrrolidin-2-ones from donor-acceptor cyclopropanes bearing an ester group as one of the acceptor substituents. This method includes a Lewis acid-catalyzed opening of the donor-acceptor cyclopropane with primary amines (anilines, benzylamines, etc.) to γ-amino esters, followed by in situ lactamization and dealkoxycarbonylation. The reaction has a broad scope of applicability; a variety of substituted anilines, benzylamines, and other primary amines as well as a wide range of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes bearing (hetero)aromatic or alkenyl donor groups and various acceptor substituents can be involved in this transformation. In this process, donor-acceptor cyclopropanes react as 1,4-C,C-dielectrophiles, and amines react as 1,1-dinucleophiles. The resulting di- and trisubstituted pyrrolidin-2-ones can be also used in subsequent chemistry to obtain various nitrogen-containing polycyclic compounds of interest to medicinal chemistry and pharmacology, such as benz[g]indolizidine derivatives.

Visible-Light-Induced Multicomponent Synthesis of γ-Amino Esters with Diazo Compounds.

A visible-light-induced multicomponent reaction of ethyl diazoacetate, diarylamines, and styrene-type alkenes is described. This novel 1,2-difunctionalization of alkenes can be readily achieved under a simple operation and mild conditions, affording γ-amino esters as major products. The reaction proceeds through the generation of carbon-centered radicals from diazo compounds by a visible-light-promoted proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) process. The carbon radicals then add to diverse alkenes, delivering new carbon radical species, and the final products are formed with N-centered radicals via a radical-radical coupling.

Radical-Mediated Strategies for the Functionalization of Alkenes with Diazo Compounds.

One of the most common reactions of diazo compounds with alkenes is cyclopropanation, which occurs through metal carbene or free carbene intermediates. Alternative functionalization of alkenes with diazo compounds is limited, and a methodology for the addition of the elements of Z-CHR2 (with Z = H or heteroatom, and CHR2 originates from N2═CR2) across a carbon-carbon double bond has not been reported. Here we report a novel reaction of diazo compounds utilizing a radical-mediated addition strategy to achieve difunctionalization of diverse alkenes. Diazo compounds are transformed to carbon radicals with a photocatalyst or an iron catalyst through PCET processes. The carbon radical selectively adds to diverse alkenes, delivering new carbon radical species, and then forms products through hydroalkylation by thiol-assisted hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), or forms azidoalkylation products through an iron catalytic cycle. These two processes are highly complementary, proceed under mild reaction conditions, and show high functional group tolerance. Furthermore, both transformations are successfully performed on a gram-scale, and diverse γ-amino esters, γ-amino alcohols, and complex spirolactams are easily prepared with commercially available reagents. Mechanistic studies reveal the plausible pathways that link the two processes and explain the unique advantages of each.

Cyclobutane-Containing Scaffolds as Useful Intermediates in the Stereoselective Synthesis of Suitable Candidates for Biomedical Purposes: Surfactants, Gelators and Metal Cation Ligands

Efficient and versatile synthetic methodologies are reported for the preparation of products that are suitable candidates to be used as surfactants, gelators for hydroxylic solvents or metal cation ligands, with potential use in several fields including biomedical applications. The common structural feature of all the synthesized products is the presence of a cis or trans-1,2- or cis-1,3-difunctionalized cyclobutane ring. In the two first cases, the key intermediates including enantiomerically pure 1,3-diamines and 1,3-amino alcohols have been prepared from β-amino acid derivatives obtained, in turn, from a chiral half-ester. This compound is also precursor of γ-amino esters. Furthermore, two kind of polydentate ligands have also been synthesized from a symmetric 1,5-diamine obtained from norpinic acid, which was easily prepared from commercial verbenone.

Stereoselective Conjugate Addition of the Lithium Anion of N-Allyl Imine to Unsaturated Esters: Application to the Enantiospecific Total Synthesis of (-)-Epibatidine.

A regio- and diastereoselective conjugate addition of the lithium anion of N-allyl imine (prepared from allylamine and benzophenone) to α,β-unsaturated esters in good yields is reported. The reaction was general and provided the γ-amino esters resulting from the regioselective C-C bond formation between the α-carbon to the nitrogen in the imine and the β-carbon of the unsaturated ester. Synthetic utility of the formed products was illustrated in the nonracemic total synthesis of the bioactive alkaloid (-)-epibatidine.

Synthesis of γ-Amino Esters by Copper-Catalyzed Intermolecular 1,2-Aminoalkylation of Alkenes with Amines and α-Bromoalkyl Esters

A new copper-catalyzed intermolecular 1,2-aminoalkylation of alkenes with α-bromoalkyl esters and amines for the synthesis of γ-amino esters is described. Employing the Cu(OTf)2 and 2,2′-bipyridine catalytic system, the three-component reaction allows the formation of two new chemical bonds, including one C–C bond and one C–N bond, in a single reaction, and represents a new alkene difunctionalization using a radical strategy.

Synthesis of Chiral α,β-Unsaturated γ-Amino Esters via Pd-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Amination.

A Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic amination of 4-substituted 2-acetoxybut-3-enoates with amines has been developed for the regiospecific synthesis of chiral α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters. The desired chiral aminated products can be obtained in up to 98% yield, and 99% ee and can be conveniently transformed to chiral γ-amino acid/alcohol derivatives and chiral γ-lactams, which can then be subjected to the synthesis of several types of chiral drugs and drug candidates. The preferential formation of chiral γ-amino esters may be attributed to the bulky substituents on the right side of the allyl substrates. This work provides an efficient strategy for the synthesis of chiral α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters and their derivatives.

A theoretical study on synthesis mechanisms of α,β-unsaturated carbon γ-amino ester catalyzed by PPh3

In this paper, generation mechanism of α,β-unsaturated carbon γ-amino esters catalyzed by triphenylphosphine (PPh3) have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT). Two possible mechanisms (Mechanism A and Mechanism B) are proposed, in which there are three possible reaction pathways (Path A1/A2/A3 in Mechanism A and Path B1/B2/B3 in Mechanism B) except for the generation of the intermediate M1. The calculated results demonstrate that the energy favorable pathways (Path A2 and Path B2) include three process: the first step is an intermolecular proton transfer accompanied by a nucleophilic attack, the second step is an intramolecular proton transfer process, and the last step is the dissociation of PPh3 and the product generation. Furthermore, the reaction pathway associated with the E-isomer is the most favorable pathway and leads to the main product (E-P), which is in good agreement with the experimental results. This work might be helpful for understanding the significant roles of catalyst PPh3 and thus provide valuable insights on the rational design of potential catalysts for this kind of reactions.

Metal-free, direct conversion of α-amino acids into α-keto γ-amino esters for the synthesis of α,γ-peptides.

An efficient, metal-free synthesis of unusual α-keto γ-amino esters from α-amino acids is achieved by a radical scission-oxidation-addition of silyloxy acrylates procedure, where no purification of the reaction intermediates is needed. This protocol can be applied to the selective modification of the C-terminal position in peptides to give α,γ-hybrids.

ChemInform Abstract: Stereoselective Syntheses of α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Amino Esters Through Phosphine‐Catalyzed γ‐Umpolung Additions of Sulfonamides to γ‐Substituted Allenoates.

α,β-Unsaturated γ-amino esters can be synthesized efficiently and stereoselectively through phosphine-catalyzed γ-umpolung additions of sulfonamides to γ-substituted allenoates. The structures of the sulfonamide and γ-substituted allenoate partners can be varied to achieve a range of α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters with potentially interesting chemical and biological properties.

Stereoselective syntheses of α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters through phosphine-catalyzed γ-umpolung additions of sulfonamides to γ-substituted allenoates

α,β-Unsaturated γ-amino esters can be synthesized efficiently and stereoselectively through phosphine-catalyzed γ-umpolung additions of sulfonamides to γ-substituted allenoates. The structures of the sulfonamide and γ-substituted allenoate partners can be varied to achieve a range of α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters with potentially interesting chemical and biological properties.

ChemInform Abstract: Iridium‐Catalyzed Regiospecific and Stereospecific Allylic Amination for the Syntheses of α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Amino Esters and the Bifurcation of the Reaction Pathway Leading to the Formation of Oxazolidin‐2‐ones.

A pair of iridium-catalyzed regiospecific and stereospecific reactions of the carbonates of γ-hydroxy α,β-unsaturated esters were developed. The reaction pathways are strongly affected by the choice of amines employed. A diverse range of γ-substituted α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters were prepared in excellent yields with various amine nucleophiles such as benzylamine, diallylamine, morpholine, aniline and N-methylaniline. Substitution at the γ-position was well tolerated, encompassing alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl substituents. Enantioenriched (E)-α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters could also be synthesized from the corresponding enantioenriched allylic carbonates with complete chirality transfer. In sharp contrast, a series of 3,4-disubstituted oxazolidin-2-ones were obtained by using allylamine as a nucleophile.

Iridium-catalyzed regiospecific and stereospecific allylic amination for the syntheses of α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters and the bifurcation of the reaction pathway leading to the formation of oxazolidin-2-ones

A pair of iridium-catalyzed regiospecific and stereospecific reactions of the carbonates of γ-hydroxy α,β-unsaturated esters were developed. The reaction pathways are strongly affected by the choice of amines employed. A diverse range of γ-substituted α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters were prepared in excellent yields with various amine nucleophiles such as benzylamine, diallylamine, morpholine, aniline and N-methylaniline. Substitution at the γ-position was well tolerated, encompassing alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl substituents. Enantioenriched (E)-α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters could also be synthesized from the corresponding enantioenriched allylic carbonates with complete chirality transfer. In sharp contrast, a series of 3,4-disubstituted oxazolidin-2-ones were obtained by using allylamine as a nucleophile.

Synthesis and stereochemical analysis of β-nitromethane substituted γ-amino acids and peptides

The high diastereoselectivity in the Michael addition of nitromethane to α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters, crystal conformations of β-nitromethane substituted γ-amino acids and peptides are studied. Results suggest that the N-Boc protected amide NH, conformations of α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters and alkyl side chains play a crucial role in dictating the high diastereoselectivity of nitromethane addition to E-vinylogous amino esters. Investigation of the crystal conformations of both α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters and the Michael addition products suggests that an H-C(γ)-C(β)=C(α) eclipsed conformer of the unsaturated amino ester leads to the major (anti) product compared to that of an N-C(γ)-C(β)=C(α) eclipsed conformer. The major diastereomers were separated and subjected to the peptide synthesis. The single crystal analysis of the dipeptide containing β-nitromethane substituted γ-amino acids reveals a helical type of folded conformation with an isolated H-bond involving a nine-atom pseudocycle.

Palladium-catalyzed insertion of α-diazocarbonyl compounds for the synthesis of cyclic amino esters

Two different cyclic amino esters are synthesized by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of diazoesters with N-substituted-2-iodoanilines. Aryldiazoacetates lead to cyclic α-amino esters with an α-quaternary carbon centre in the presence of CO. Additionally, arylvinyldiazoacetates afford cyclic α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters.

ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis of α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Amino Esters with a Quaternary Center by Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Codimerization of N‐Acetyl α‐Arylenamines and Acrylates.

Ruthenium-catalyzed highly selective codimerization of N-acetyl α-arylenamines with ethyl acrylates is reported. This codimerization reaction provides a new efficient method for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters with a quaternary center.

SmI2-Mediated Coupling of Nitrones and tert-Butanesulfinyl Imines with Allenoates: Synthesis of β-Methylenyl-γ-lactams and Tetramic Acids

Nitrones and tert-butanesulfinyl imines undergo conjugate addition to alkyl allenoates under SmI(2)-mediated reductive coupling conditions to produce novel β-methylenyl-substituted γ-amino esters. The latter were readily transformed into the corresponding β-methylenyl-γ-lactams by simple zinc reduction (N-hydroxy amines) or by acid hydrolysis (sulfinamides). The diastereoselective preparation of various β-methylenyl-γ-lactams offers a route to tetramic acids, the key structural features of an important class of bioactive natural products.

Synthesis of α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters with a quaternary center by ruthenium-catalyzed codimerization of N-acetyl α-arylenamines and acrylates

Ruthenium-catalyzed highly selective codimerization of N-acetyl α-arylenamines with ethyl acrylates is reported. This codimerization reaction provides a new efficient method for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated γ-amino esters with a quaternary center.

Catalytic Asymmetric Ring-Opening of meso-Aziridines with Malonates under Heterodinuclear Rare Earth Metal Schiff Base Catalysis

Catalytic asymmetric ring-opening of meso-aziridines with malonates is described. The combined use of two rare earth metal sources with different properties promoted the desired ring-opening reaction. A 1:1:1 mixture of a heterobimetallic La(O-iPr)(3)/Yb(OTf)(3)/Schiff base 1a (0.25-10 mol %) efficiently promoted the reaction of five-, six-, and seven-membered ring cyclic meso-aziridines as well as acyclic meso-aziridines with dimethyl, diethyl, and dibenzyl malonates, giving chiral cyclic and acyclic γ-amino esters in 99-63% yield and >99.5-97% ee.