High Enantiomeric Purity Research Articles

The Fatty-Acid Hydratase Activity of the Most Common Probiotic Microorganisms

In this work, we studied the biotechnological potential of thirteen probiotic microorganisms currently used to improve human health. We discovered that the majority of the investigated bacteria are able to catalyze the hydration reaction of the unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). We evaluated their biocatalytic activity toward the three most common vegetable UFAs, namely oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids. The whole-cell biotransformation experiments were performed using a fatty acid concentration of 3 g/L in anaerobic conditions. Through these means, we assessed that the main part of the investigated strains catalyzed the hydration reaction of UFAs with very high regio- and stereoselectivity. Our biotransformation reactions afforded almost exclusively 10-hydroxy fatty acid derivatives with the single exception of Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC SD5212, which converted linoleic acid in a mixture of 13-hydroxy and 10-hydroxy derivatives. Oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids were transformed into (R)-10-hydroxystearic acid, (S)-(12Z)-10-hydroxy-octadecenoic, and (S)-(12Z,15Z)-10-hydroxy-octadecadienoic acids, respectively, usually with very high enantiomeric purity (ee > 95%). It is worth noting that the biocatalytic capabilities of the thirteen investigated strains may change considerably from each other, both in terms of activity, stereoselectivity, and transformation yields. Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 and Lactobacillus plantarum 299 V proved to be the most versatile, being able to efficiently and selectively hydrate all three investigated fatty acids.

Direct catalytic asymmetric and anti-selective vinylogous addition of butenolides to chromones.

An anti-selective catalytic asymmetric Michael-type vinylogous addition of β,γ-butenolides to chromones was developed. The catalyst system developed herein is characterized by tuning of the steric and electronic effects using a proper Biphep-type chiral ligand to invert the diastereoselection, and improvement of the catalyst turnover by a coordinative phenolic additive. The catalytic protocol renders potentially biologically active natural product analogs accessible in good yield with moderate diastereoselectivity and high enantiomeric purity, mostly greater than 99% ee.

A Catalytic Approach for Enantioselective Synthesis of Homoallylic Alcohols Bearing a Z-Alkenyl Chloride or Trifluoromethyl Group. A Concise and Protecting Group-Free Synthesis of Mycothiazole.

A protecting group-free strategy is presented for diastereo- and enantioselective routes that can be used to prepare a wide variety of Z-homoallylic alcohols with significantly higher efficiency than is otherwise feasible. The approach entails the merger of several catalytic processes and is expected to facilitate the preparation of bioactive organic molecules. More specifically, Z-chloro-substituted allylic pinacolatoboronate is first obtained through stereoretentive cross-metathesis between Z-crotyl-B(pin) (pin = pinacolato) and Z-dichloroethene, both of which are commercially available. The organoboron compound may be used in the central transformation of the entire approach, an α- and enantioselective addition to an aldehyde, catalyzed by a proton-activated, chiral aminophenol-boryl catalyst. Catalytic cross-coupling can then furnish the desired Z-homoallylic alcohol in high enantiomeric purity. The olefin metathesis step can be carried out with substrates and a Mo-based complex that can be purchased. The aminophenol compound that is needed for the second catalytic step can be prepared in multigram quantities from inexpensive starting materials. A significant assortment of homoallylic alcohols bearing a Z-F3C-substituted alkene can also be prepared with similar high efficiency and regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity. What is more, trisubstituted Z-alkenyl chloride moiety can be accessed with similar efficiency albeit with somewhat lower α-selectivity and enantioselectivity. The general utility of the approach is underscored by a succinct, protecting group-free, and enantioselective total synthesis of mycothiazole, a naturally occurring anticancer agent through a sequence that contains a longest linear sequence of nine steps (12 steps total), seven of which are catalytic, generating mycothiazole in 14.5% overall yield.

Catalytic Enantioselective Boryl and Silyl Substitution with Trifluoromethyl Alkenes: Scope, Utility, and Mechanistic Nuances of Cu-F β-Elimination.

Catalytic enantioselective methods are introduced that allow access to a variety of allyl boronates and silanes that contain a difluoroalkene unit; the resulting products may be used for the preparation of organofluorine compounds in high enantiomeric purity. Furthermore, a number of key mechanistic aspects of the transformations have been investigated and analyzed. Thus, first, an NHC-Cu-catalyzed method for boryl substitution with F3C-substituted alkenes is introduced. These processes, unlike the previously reported strategies, are applicable to alkyl as well as aryl substituted substrates, afford allyl boronates bearing a difluoroalkene moiety (up to 98% yield and 95:5 er). Second, the corresponding silyl substitutions, the first reported cases of their kind, are presented (up to 94% yield and 97:3 er). Third, experimental and computational (DFT) investigations are described that shed light on key mechanistic aspects of the catalytic processes. Evidence (X-ray structures of Cu-alkyl intermediates and kinetic studies) is put forth illustrating that the initial Cu-boryl and Cu-silyl addition is significantly faster than the ensuing Cu-F elimination, and that the latter step can be facilitated by either a mild Lewis acid (e.g., a Li or Na cation) or a nucleophilic promoter (e.g., an alkoxide). These findings together with DFT studies demonstrate that Cu-F β-elimination probably proceeds with anti-stereochemistry. Representative cases of ways through which the new mechanistic understanding may be used to rationalize previously disclosed findings, significantly improve a transformation, or develop new diastereo- and enantioselective catalytic methods are provided. For example, an explanation is provided regarding why bisphosphine-Cu complexes do not efficiently promote boryl substitutions with aryl-substituted substrates, but the corresponding silyl substitutions are facile, and how the size of a ligand can impact regioselectivity and efficiency.

Recent progress of enantioseparation under scale production (2014–2019)

Very different from enantiorecognition at an analytical level, preparative enantioseparation at scale production has to confront many problems. In recent years, various separation techniques have been developed with much progress including high-performance liquid chromatography, liquid-liquid extraction, membrane separation, enantioselective solid-phase absorption, and enantioselective precipitation. Among them, in order to achieve high enantiomerical purity of the enantiomers after separation, two approaches are commonly carried out. One is that continuous separation is necessary when one-step separation cannot have satisfactory efficiency. Another is that most of the research groups focus on the construction of novel chiral environment with much more rigid structures of the selectors. Combined with these two aspects, we mainly introduce current topics, trends, strategies related to enantioseparation under large scale.

Organic fraction of municipal solid waste for the production of L-lactic acid with high optical purity

The organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is an abundant biowaste with great potential in the bioeconomy model. Previous reports have demonstrated that OFMSW hydrolysates are good substrates for lactic acid (LA) production. However, LA can exist in two enantiomeric forms (L- and D-) and most commercial LA applications require a high enantiomeric purity, typically of the L-isomer. Due to natural occurring bacteria in the waste, a mixture of D- and L-LA can form in the substrate, reducing the final enantiomeric purity of the product and limiting its commercial application. In the research reported in this article, hydrolysates from OFMSW were evaluated for the production L-LA with high enantiomeric purity. Firstly, a pre-treatment with monopolar electrodialysis membranes was implemented to remove the unfavourable D-LA in the hydrolysate. This step allowed the reduction in LA concentration and subsequent fermentations of the hydrolysate resulted in enantiomeric purities over 98%. At the pilot scale, a fermentation of the pre-treated hydrolysate, by B. coagulans A166, resulted in a final LA concentration of 61.1 g L−1 and a yield of 0.94 g g−1. The downstream of the process resulted on a LA recovery of 51.5% and a L-LA optical purity of 98.7%.

Stereospecific Assembly of Fused Imidazolidines via Tandem Ring Opening/Oxidative Amination of Aziridines with Cyclic Secondary Amines Using Photoredox Catalysis.

Sustainable assembly of imidazolidines is accomplished via a sequential stereospecific ring opening and C-H amination using aziridines with secondary cyclic amines under visible light mediated indazoloquinoline photoredox catalysis at ambient conditions. Optically active aziridines are coupled with high enantiomeric purities. The computational studies provide insights on the redox properties of the catalysts as well as a profile of the reaction.

Synthesis of Belt- and Möbius-Shaped Cycloparaphenylenes by Rhodium-Catalyzed Alkyne Cyclotrimerization.

A belt-shaped [8]cycloparaphenylene (CPP) and an enantioenriched Möbius-shaped [10]CPP have been synthesized by high-yielding rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular cyclotrimerizations of a cyclic dodecayne and a pentadecayne, respectively. This Möbius-shaped [10]CPP possesses stable chirality and isolated with high enantiomeric purity. It is evident from the reaction Gibbs energy calculation that the above irreversible cyclotrimerizations are highly exothermic; therefore establishing that the intramolecular alkyne cyclotrimerization is a powerful route to strained cyclic molecular strips.

Bifunctional Thio/Squaramide Catalyzed Stereoselective Michael Additions of Aldehydes to Nitroalkenes towards Synthesis of Chiral Pyrrolidines

AbstractBifunctional squaramide and thiosquaramide organocatalysts were assessed in a stereoselective Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroalkenes. Organocatalysts feature pyrrolidine unit for enamine activation of aldehydes and hydrogen bond donating fragment for nitroalkene activation. The corresponding Michael adducts were obtained in good yields and good to high enantiomeric purities. Solvent‐free conditions were also tested but did not provide any significant improvement. Michael adducts were transformed into chiral pyrrolidines via reductive cyclization.

Practical method for increasing optical purity of cis-verbenol.

R/S mixture of monoterpene alcohol cis-verbenol can be separated in preparative scale by its conversion into phthalic mono-ester and subsequent crystallization of its diastereomeric salts with (R)-α-methylbenzylamine and (S)-α-methylbenzylamine. Finally, basic methanolysis of the resolved phthalic mono-esters results (S)-cis-verbenol and (R)-cis-verbenol in high enantiomeric and diastereomeric purity.

Deracemizing α-Branched Carboxylic Acids by Catalytic Asymmetric Protonation of Bis-Silyl Ketene Acetals with Water or Methanol.

We report a highly enantioselective catalytic protonation of bis-silyl ketene acetals. Our method delivers α-branched carboxylic acids, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory arylpropionic acids such as Ibuprofen, in high enantiomeric purity and high yields. The process can be incorporated in an overall deracemization of α-branched carboxylic acids, involving a double deprotonation and silylation followed by the catalytic asymmetric protonation.

Synthesis and in vivo evaluation of [18F]UCB-J for PET imaging of synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A).

Synaptic abnormalities have been implicated in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders, including epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia. Hence, PET imaging of the synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) may be a valuable in vivo biomarker for neurologic and psychiatric diseases. We previously developed [11C]UCB-J, a PET radiotracer with high affinity and selectivity toward SV2A; however, the short radioactive half-life (20min for 11C) places some limitations on its broader application. Herein, we report the first synthesis of the longer-lived 18F-labeled counterpart (half-life: 110min), [18F]UCB-J, and its evaluation in nonhuman primates. [18F]UCB-J was synthesized from the iodonium precursors. PET imaging experiments with [18F]UCB-J were conducted in rhesus monkeys to assess the pharmacokinetic and in vivo binding properties. Arterial samples were taken for analysis of radioactive metabolites and generation of input functions. Regional time-activity curves were analyzed using the one-tissue compartment model to derive regional distribution volumes and binding potentials for comparison with [11C]UCB-J. [18F]UCB-J was prepared in high radiochemical and enantiomeric purity, but low radiochemical yield. Evaluation in nonhuman primates indicated that the radiotracer displayed pharmacokinetic and imaging characteristics similar to those of [11C]UCB-J, with moderate metabolism rate, high brain uptake, fast and reversible binding kinetics, and high specific binding signals. We have accomplished the first synthesis of the novel SV2A radiotracer [18F]UCB-J. [18F]UCB-J is demonstrated to be an excellent imaging agent and may prove to be useful for imaging and quantification of SV2A expression, and synaptic density, in humans.

Enantioselective Organocatalysis-Based Synthesis of 3-Hydroxy Fatty Acids and Fatty γ-Lactones

3-Hydroxy fatty acids have attracted the interest of researchers, since some of them may interact with free fatty acid receptors more effectively than their non-hydroxylated counterparts and their determination in plasma provides diagnostic information regarding mitochondrial deficiency. We present here the development of a convenient and general methodology for the asymmetric synthesis of 3-hydroxy fatty acids. The enantioselective organocatalytic synthesis of terminal epoxides, starting from long chain aldehydes, is the key-step of our methodology, followed by ring opening with vinylmagnesium bromide. Ozonolysis and subsequent oxidation leads to the target products. MacMillan’s third generation imidazolidinone organocatalyst has been employed for the epoxide formation, ensuring products in high enantiomeric purity. Furthermore, a route for the incorporation of deuterium on the carbon atom carrying the hydroxy group was developed allowing the synthesis of deuterated derivatives, which may be useful in biological studies and in mass spectrometry studies. In addition, the synthesis of fatty γ-lactones, corresponding to 4-hydroxy fatty acids, was also explored.

Asymmetric Library Synthesis of P-Chiral t-Butyl-Substituted Secondary and Tertiary Phosphine Oxides.

An asymmetric synthesis, amenable to library preparation of structurally diverse P-chiral t-butyl substituted secondary phosphine oxides (SPOs) and tertiary phosphine oxides (TPOs), was developed. A P-chiral H-phosphinate building block was prepared via a two-step, one-pot condensation of a chiral auxiliary with t-BuPCl2, followed by hydrolysis. Nucleophilic displacement of the chiral auxiliary with Grignard reagents, followed by hydrolysis, provided a library of P-chiral SPOs. In situ treatment of the prehydrolysis intermediate with electrophiles also provided a library of P-chiral TPOs in high enantiomeric purity.

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Monocerin, a Dihydroisocoumarin Derivative with Potent Antimalarial Properties.

We describe here the enantioselective synthesis of (+)-monocerin and its acetate derivative. The present synthesis features an efficient optically active synthesis of the β-hydroxy-γ-lactone derivative with high enantiomeric purity using Sharpless dihydroxylation as the key step. The synthesis also highlights a tandem Lewis acid-catalyzed, oxocarbenium ion-mediated diastereoselective syn-allylation reaction, and a methoxymethyl group promoted methylenation reaction. We investigated this reaction with a variety of Lewis acids. A selective CrO3-mediated oxidation of isochroman provided the corresponding lactone derivative. The synthesis is quite efficient and may be useful for the preparation of derivatives.

Enantiomeric Tartaric Acid Production Using cis-Epoxysuccinate Hydrolase: History and Perspectives.

Tartaric acid is an important chiral chemical building block with broad industrial and scientific applications. The enantioselective synthesis of l(+)- and d(−)-tartaric acids has been successfully achieved using bacteria presenting cis-epoxysuccinate hydrolase (CESH) activity, while the catalytic mechanisms of CESHs were not elucidated clearly until very recently. As biocatalysts, CESHs are unique epoxide hydrolases because their substrate is a small, mirror-symmetric, highly hydrophilic molecule, and their products show very high enantiomeric purity with nearly 100% enantiomeric excess. In this paper, we review over forty years of the history, process and mechanism studies of CESHs as well as our perspective on the future research and applications of CESH in enantiomeric tartaric acid production.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Saturated Hydroxy Fatty Acids and Fatty Acid Esters of Hydroxy Fatty Acids

The recent discovery of a novel class of endogenous lipids, named Fatty Acid esters of Hydroxy Fatty Acids (FAHFAs), that present antidiabetic and anti‐inflammatory activities, has attracted the interest on hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) and their derivatives. We present herein the development of a convenient and general methodology for the asymmetric synthesis of HFAs and FAHFAs. The enantioselective organocatalytic synthesis of asymmetric terminal epoxides starting from monoprotected α,ω‐diols and their subsequent ring opening by a Grignard reagent are the key‐steps for our methodology, allowing the introduction of the hydroxy group at different positions of the long chain by proper selection of the starting diol and the Grignard reagent. MacMillan's third generation imidazolidinone organocatalyst has been employed for the epoxide formation, ensuring products in high enantiomeric purity. Furthermore, an approach for the synthesis of deuterated HFAs and FAHFAs was developed, leading to deuterated derivatives, which can be useful in biological studies and in mass spectrometry studies as internal standards.

Stereospecific assembly of tetrahydroquinolines via tandem ring-opening/oxidative cyclization of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes with N-alkyl anilines.

An aerobic copper-catalyzed tandem reaction of N-alkyl anilines with donor-acceptor cyclopropanes is presented for the construction of tetrahydroquinolines via a sequential stereospecific ring opening and oxidative cyclization. The catalyst plays a dual role as a Lewis acid as well as being a redox catalyst. The use of air as an oxidant and the broad substrate scope are the important practical features.

Iron‐ or Zinc‐Mediated Synthetic Approach to Enantiopure Dihydroquinoxalinones

A general and efficient synthesis of enantiopure dihydroquinoxalinones has been developed using naturally occurring amino acids as starting materials. The reductive cyclization of N‐(o‐nitroaryl)amino esters was performed by using iron and zinc metal under mild conditions in a water/ethyl acetate mixture. The corresponding dihydroquinoxalinones were obtained in moderate to high yields and high enantiomeric purity, among which 7 new compounds were unprecedented in the literature.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Tetrahydroquinolines via Asymmetric Domino Reaction Catalyzed by a Recyclable Ionic‐Liquid‐Supported Bifunctional Tertiary Amine

The most recyclable ionic liquid‐supported bifunctional tertiary amine–squaramide organocatalyst for the asymmetric domino reaction has been found. Over this catalyst, ortho‐aminochalcones protected with Tosyl or Nosyl groups underwent the aza‐Michael/Michael domino reaction with nitroolefins to afford corresponding 2,3,4‐trisubstituted tetrahydroquinolines as single diastereomers in nearly quantitative yield with up to 99 % ee. The catalyst was readily separated from the reaction mixture via a simple centrifugation/decantation workup and 19 times reused in the catalytic reaction without noticeable conversion or enantioselectivity reduction. The N‐nosylated products proved their synthetic value for pharmacology given their facile conversion to fused pirrolidino‐tetrahydroquinolines of high diastreomeric and enantiomeric purity via successive deprotection and reductive amination.