Key Chiral Intermediates Research Articles

Gene hunting and semi-rational design of carbonyl reductase from Kosakonia radicincitans for highly efficient synthesis of the key chiral intermediate of Telotristat ethyl

Carbonyl reductase exhibits significant potential in the asymmetric production of chiral alcohols. (αR)-4-Chloro-2-(3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-α-(trifluoromethyl)benzenemethanol ((R)-CMPPFO) is a critical precursor for the synthesis of Telotristat ethyl, an oral drug for the treatment of diarrhea in carcinoid syndrome. Herein, a novel carbonyl reductase KrSDR5 from Kosakonia radicincitans was obtained using gene hunting strategy, capable of asymmetrically reducing the precursor ketone 1-[4‑chloro-2-(3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl]-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone (CMPPFA) to (R)-CMPPFO with strict R-stereoselectivity (>99.9 % ee). Further, semi-rational design was adopted to acquire a positive mutant KrSDR5T91V/V141M/I159V, with assistance from a comparative analysis of enzyme-substrate binding mode in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. This variant displayed a 12.4-fold increase in kcat/Km towards CMPPFA compared to the wild-type (WT) KrSDR5. Insights were gained on the high enantioselectivity and the enhancement of enzyme catalytic activity of the mutant through MD simulations. Using the whole-cells of KrSDR5T91V/V141M/I159V as biocatalyst, the asymmetric synthesis of (R)-CMPPFO was achieved within 20 h at 500 mM CMPPFA concentration, resulting in a 95.0 % yield with >99.9 % ee, and a highest space-time yield (STY) of 165.7 g·L-1·d-1 compared with previous reports. This study provides a robust biocatalyst for highly efficient production of the key precursor (R)-CMPPFO for Telotristat ethyl, highlighting its potential in the biosynthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates.

Enhanced catalytic efficiency for chiral alcohol pharmaceutical intermediate production using polyacrylic acid (PAA)-based nano-bienzyme conjugates at the organic-buffer biphasic interface

Nano-bienzyme conjugates (nano-BECs) for catalysing one-pot reactions can simplify the reaction process and improve the efficiency of biocatalytic reactions. In this work glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) and Candida parapsilosis secondary alcohol dehydrogenase (CpSADH) were immobilised with polyacrylic acid (PAA) to form two types of PAA-based nano-BECs (2-S, 2-P), which achieved in situ regeneration of NADH for the production of chiral alcohols in oil-water biphasic systems, such as the key chiral pharmaceutical intermediate of (S)-1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)ethanol ((S)-TMPE). At a substrate concentration of 100 mM 3-trifluoromethylacetophenone (TMAP), the conversion catalyzed by nano BEC was 98.2 % in dipentyl phthalate-phosphate buffer biphasic system. In contrast, the conversion was only 39.5 % and 38.9 % in the PB buffer and 8.4 % and 7.7 % in dipentyl phthalate system. The experiments on kinetic constants demonstrated that the catalytic efficiencies (Kcat/Km) of nano-BECs (2-S, 2-P) were enhanced by 6.7-fold and 7-fold, respectively, compared to free CpSADH. Additionally, nano-BECs showed stronger coenzyme regeneration ability. Under optimal reaction conditions, nano-BECs achieved 96.2 % conversion of TMAP to (S)-TMPE in an organic-buffer system with e.e. > 99.6 % at 300 mM substrate concentration. This research expands the potential applications of polymers and proteins, and offers valuable insights into the synergistic effects of PAA on bienzyme catalytic systems in biocatalysis.

A dynamic kinetic resolution catalyzed by immobilized lipase coupled with a novel grinding immobilized oxovanadium：Kinetic model and performance

A dual immobilized lipase and oxovanadium co-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) system was established and successfully applied to synthesize (R)-1-(3-Methoxyphenyl) acetate in batch, resulting in a key chiral intermediate of (S)-rivastigmine with highly yield (97.6 %), e.e (99.01 %) and selectivity Sel (99.4 %). Herein, oxovanadium was immobilized onto diatomite via grinding immobilization for the first time to access a novel immobilized oxovanadium (V-D) used to catalyze an in situ racemization of undesired enantiomer substrate. The racemization rate of hydrated vanadyl sulfate was found for the first time to be much higher than that of vanadyl sulfate without crystalline water because water molecules in the former may form ion clusters of solvation membranes to disperses the charge density of positive carbon ions and promote their stability. This grinding immobilization approach may become a promising alternative for the immobilization of metals, especially precious metals due to its low cost, high efficiency, easily separated and large reaction interface. The kinetic model of the kinetic resolution catalyzed by LA-MR was developed, which may obey the sequential mechanism with both substrate and product inhibition, while the in-situ racemization reaction catalyzed by V-D may comply with power law.

Directed Evolution and Immobilization of Lactobacillus brevis Alcohol Dehydrogenase for Chemo-Enzymatic Synthesis of Rivastigmine.

Rivastigmine is one of the several pharmaceuticals widely prescribed for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, its practical synthesis still faces many issues, such as the involvement of toxic metals and harsh reaction conditions. Herein, we report a chemo-enzymatic synthesis of Rivastigmine. The key chiral intermediate was synthesized by an engineered alcohol dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus brevis (LbADH). A semi-rational approach was employed to improve its catalytic activity and thermal stability. Several LbADH variants were obtained with a remarkable increase in activity and melting temperature. Exploration of the substrate scope of these variants demonstrated improved activities toward various ketones, especially acetophenone analogs. To further recycle and reuse the biocatalyst, one LbADH variant and glucose dehydrogenase were co-immobilized on nanoparticles. By integrating enzymatic and chemical steps, Rivastigmine was successfully synthesized with an overall yield of 66 %. This study offers an efficient chemo-enzymatic route for Rivastigmine and provides several efficient LbADH variants with a broad range of potential applications.

Computer-aided design to enhance the stability of aldo-keto reductase KdAKR.

The aldo-keto reductase (AKR) KdAKR from Kluyvermyces dobzhanskii can reduce t-butyl 6-chloro-(5S)-hydroxy-3-oxohexanoate ((5S)-CHOH) to t-butyl 6-chloro-(3R,5S)-dihydroxyhexanoate ((3R,5S)-CDHH), which is the key chiral intermediate of rosuvastatin. Herein, a computer-aided design that combined the use of PROSS platform and consensus design was employed to improve the stability of a previously constructed mutant KdAKRM6 . Experimental verification revealed that S196C, T232A, V264I and V45L produced improved thermostability and activity. The "best" mutant KdAKRM10 (KdAKRM6 -S196C/T232A/V264I/V45L) was constructed by combining the four beneficial mutations, which displayed enhanced thermostability. Its T50 15 and Tm values were increased by 10.2 and 10.0°C, respectively, and half-life (t1/2 ) at 40°C was increased by 17.6h. Additionally, KdAKRM10 demonstrated improved resistance to organic solvents compared to that of KdAKRM6 . Structural analysis revealed that the increased number of hydrogen bonds and stabilized hydrophobic core contributed to the rigidity of KdAKRM10 , thus improving its stability. The results validated the feasibility of the computer-aided design strategy in improving the stability of AKRs.

Revisitation of the Preparation of (S,S)‐2,8‐Diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane Through Enzymatic Resolution.

AbstractA chemo‐enzymatic route for the preparation of (S,S)‐2,8‐diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane, a key chiral intermediate of Moxifloxacin, has been evaluated and improved. The activity of immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B was found to be increased four times for the selective hydrolysis of cis‐dimethyl 1‐acetylpiperidine‐2,3‐dicarboxylate at 50 °C as compared to 27 °C. The reaction has an optimum temperature of 50–60 °C and an optimum pH of 7.5. The reaction follows typical Michaelis‐Menten kinetics with Vmax,obsd=2472 units/g, Km,obsd=0.334 M, n=6, correlation coeff. r=0.995 at 50 °C. The reaction time and enzyme loading were reduced to 26 h at 15 % (w/w) as compared to 14 days at 50 % (w/w) loading. The enzyme was found to be recyclable up to 5 times. Further, the reduction of dimethyl pyridine‐2,3‐dicarboxylate was performed at a temperature of 27 °C under an H2‐filled balloon, in the presence of Pd/C and acetic acid, under atmospheric pressure to give cis‐(±)‐Dimethylpiperidine‐2,3‐dicarboxylate. We anticipate that our results will be beneficial to the pharmaceutical industry for the large‐scale production of (S,S)‐2,8‐diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane.

Diversity-oriented synthesis of P-stereogenic and axially chiral monodentate biaryl phosphines enabled by C-P bond cleavage.

Chiral monodentate biaryl phosphines (MOPs) have attracted intense attention as chiral ligands over the past decades. However, the creation of structurally diverse chiral MOPs with both P- and axial chirality is still in high demand but challenging. Here, we show a distinct strategy for diversity-oriented synthesis of structurally diverse MOPs containing both P- and axial chirality enabled by enantioselective C-P bond cleavage. The key chiral PdII intermediates, generated through the stereoselective oxidative addition of C-P bond, could be trapped by alkynes, R3Si-Bpin, diboron esters or reduced by H2O/B2pin2, leading to enantioenriched structurally diverse MOPs in excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Based on the outstanding properties of the parent scaffolds, the P- and axially chiral monodentate biaryl phosphines serve as excellent catalysts in asymmetric [3 + 2] annulation of MBH carbonate affording the chiral functionalized bicyclic imide.

Merger of Visible Light-Driven Chiral Organocatalysis and Continuous Flow Chemistry: An Accelerated and Scalable Access into Enantioselective α-Alkylation of Aldehydes.

The electron donor-acceptor complex-enabled asymmetric photochemical alkylation strategy holds potential to attain elusive chiral α-alkylated aldehydes without an external photoredox catalyst. The photosensitizer-free conditions are beneficial concerning process costs and sustainability. However, lengthy organocatalyst preparation steps as well as limited productivity and difficult scalability render the current approaches unsuitable for synthesis on enlarged scales. Inspired by these limitations, a protocol was developed for the enantioselective α-alkylation of aldehydes based on the synergistic combination of visible light-driven asymmetric organocatalysis and a controlled continuous flow reaction environment. With the aim to reduce process costs, a commercially available chiral catalyst has been exploited to achieve photosensitizer-free enantioselective α-alkylations using phenacyl bromide derivates as alkylating agents. As a result of elaborate optimization and process development, the present flow strategy furnishes an accelerated and inherently scalable entry into enantioenriched α-alkylated aldehydes including a chiral key intermediate of the antirheumatic esonarimod.

Synthesis of beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 inhibitors BI 1147560 and BI 1181181 labeled with carbon-14 and deuterium.

The generation of amyloid beta peptides that aggregate in the brain is believed to play a major role in Alzheimer's disease. In theory, the inhibition of beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), which catalyzes the initial rate-limiting step in amyloid beta production, may slow or stop Alzheimer's disease. Herein, we report the preparation of two potent BACE1 inhibitors, BI 1147560 (1) and BI 1181181 (2), labeled with carbon-14 and with deuterium. The use of advanced key chiral intermediates like 3 and 5 shortened the carbon-14 syntheses of these two compounds to five and six steps, respectively, and helped in preparing them with very high chemical purity and enantiomeric excess without deviating from the process chemistry route. For the deuterium synthesis, oxetan-3-ylmethanamine [2 H6 ]-7 and 2-fluoro-2-methylpropan-1-amine [2 H6 ]-9 were prepared then used with the chiral intermediate 5 to furnish deuterium labeled 1 and 2, respectively.

Green One‐Pot Chemo‐Enzymatic Synthesis of a Key Chiral Amine Intermediate: Useful to Pralsetinib Synthesis

AbstractA facile, chemo‐enzymatic one‐pot and scalable procedure was developed for the synthesis of the key chiral intermediate of pralsetinib in an aqueous micellar medium. This method afforded the desired chiral intermediate with high enantioselectivity without the use of any expensive chiral ligands and toxic reagents that are difficult to handle. A green synthesis of chiral intermediate of pralsetinib was carried out using an enzyme ATA‐260 in an aqueous media with >99.9 % ee that was confirmed by a chiral reverse‐ phase HPLC. This study hence represents a mild and scalable procedure for the synthesis of the chiral intermediate of Pralsetinib with yields exceeding 80 %, which forms a crucial step in the synthesis of the anti‐ cancer drug.

Chemoenzymatic Enantioselective Synthesis of the Hancock Alkaloids (S)- and (R)-Galipeine, (S)-Cuspareine, (S)-Galipinine, and (S)-Angustureine

AbstractThe enantioselective synthesis of the Hancock 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline alkaloids (S)-galipeine, (S)-cuspareine, (S)-galipinine, and (S)-angustureine and the nonnatural enantiomer (R)-galipeine is described herein. The target compounds were obtained in five steps from a racemic quinaldinic acid derived α-amino ester in overall yields of 21.2% to 37.5%. The synthetic route comprised two key steps: an enzymatic kinetic resolution to control the C-2 stereocenter, affording (R)- and (S)-α-amino esters as key chiral intermediates with 94% and 72% ee, respectively, and Wittig olefination of (R)- and (S)-α-amino aldehyde synthons with the corresponding phosphonium salts using a phase-transfer system (t-BuOH/CH2Cl2), thereby allowing the introduction of alkyl substituents at C-2. Finally, the enantioselective synthesis was concluded with the catalytic hydrogenation of olefinic bonds on the Wittig adducts to furnish the target Hancock alkaloids, including (R)-galipeine, whose synthesis is described here for the first time.

Process Study on the Enzyme-Catalyzed Preparation of Key Chiral Intermediates for Saxagliptin

AbstractSaxagliptin is a therapeutic drug for diabetes. The key synthesis process of the drug involves catalyzing 2-(3-hydroxy-1-adamantyl)-2-oxoacetic acid (A) into (S)-3-hydroxyadamantane glycine (B), during which enzymes phenylalanine dehydrogenase mutant from Thermoactinomyces intermedius (TiPDHm) and formate dehydrogenase (FDH) were most often used for biocatalysis. However, the process was limited due to difficulty in enzyme preparation and a low conversion rate. This study focuses on co-expression of TiPDHm and FDH in recombinant Escherichia coli, cell homogenate clarification, enzyme concentration as well as the optimized conditions of enzyme-catalyzed reaction. Our data showed that the wet weight density of bacteria reached 300 g/L, and the yields of TiPDHm and FDH were 7674.24 and 2042.52 U/L, respectively. The combination of ammonium formate and polyethyleneimine favors the clarification of the bacteria homogenate. The clarified enzyme solution obtained can be concentrated by ultrafiltration and directly used in a reductive amination reaction in a high concentration of keto acid A. The reaction time was only 12 hours and the conversion rate reached 95%. Therefore, this process could provide a reference for enzyme-catalyzed preparation of saxagliptin on an industrial scale.

Engineered Imine Reductase for Larotrectinib Intermediate Manufacture

Imine reductases (IREDs) are increasingly identified and characterized for the reduction of imines and reductive amination of ketones. However, their practical application is still limited due to the low activity and poor stability of native enzymes. Herein, we developed an engineered IRED through three rounds of evolution from wild-type Streptomyces clavuligerus. The specific activity of the engineered enzyme, ScIRED-R3-V4, was increased >100-fold, and stability was increased >270-fold. Using the more active and stable ScIRED-R3-V4, 80 g L–1 cyclic imine 2-(2,5-difluorophenyl)-pyrroline was completely reduced, producing kilogram quantities of a key chiral intermediate of larotrectinib in 82.5% yield, with >99.5% enantiomeric excess and a space–time yield of 352 g L–1 day–1. In addition, crystal structures of enzyme–substrate complexes and molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to gain insight into the molecular mechanism for improved enzyme performance. The significantly improved process demonstrated the potential of the engineered IRED in industrial applications.

Efficient Synthesis of Key Chiral Intermediate in Painkillers (R)-1-[3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethanamine by Bienzyme Cascade System with R-ω-Transaminase and Alcohol Dehydrogenase Functions.

(R)-1-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethanamine, a key chiral intermediate of selective tetrodotoxin-sensitive blockers, was efficiently synthesized by a bienzyme cascade system formed by with R-ω-transaminase (ATA117) and an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) co-expression system. Herein, we report that the use of ATA117 as the biocatalyst for the amination of 3,5-bistrifluoromethylacetophenone led to the highest efficiency in product performance (enantiomeric excess > 99.9%). Moreover, to further improve the product yield, ADH was introduced into the reaction system to promote an equilibrium shift. Additionally, bienzyme cascade system was constructed by five different expression systems, including two tandem expression recombinant plasmids (pETDuet-ATA117-ADH and pACYCDuet-ATA117-ADH) and three co-expressed dual-plasmids (pETDuet-ATA117/pET28a-ADH, pACYCDuet-ATA117/pET28a-ADH, and pACYCDuet-ATA117/pETDuet-ADH), utilizing recombinant engineered bacteria. Subsequent studies revealed that as compared with ATA117 single enzyme, the substrate handling capacity of BL21(DE3)/pETDuet-ATA117-ADH (0.25 g wet weight) developed for bienzyme cascade system was increased by 1.50 folds under the condition of 40 °C, 180 rpm, 0.1 M pH9 Tris-HCl for 24 h. To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first report demonstrating the production of (R)-1-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethanamine using a bienzyme cascade system, thus providing valuable insights into the biosynthesis of chiral amines.

Protein engineering of carbonyl reductase for asymmetric synthesis of ticagrelor precursor (1S)-2-chloro-1-(3,4-difluorophenyl)ethanol

(1S)− -2-chloro-1-(3,4-difluorophenyl)ethanol ((S)-CFPL) is the key chiral intermediate of antiplatelet inhibitor ticagrelor. An NADPH-dependent carbonyl reductase KmCR from Kluyveromyces marxianus ZJB14056 displayed enantioselective reduction activity toward 2-chloro-1-(3,4-difluorophenyl)ethanone (CFPO) with moderate stereoselectivity (eep =80.3%, S). Key residues controlling the stereoselectivity of KmCR were identified, guided by our previous research; saturation mutation and combinatorial mutation were performed to enhance the stereoselectivity of KmCR toward CFPO, generating mutant KmCR-A129W/V239N (KmCR-W2) with strict enantioselectivity (eep >99.7%, S). Next, a triple mutant KmCR-A129W/V239N/V268A (KmCR-W3, eep >99.7%, S) with 83 % increase in catalytic activity was obtained by regional error-prone PCR (epPCR). The enantioselective reduction of (S)-CFPL was achieved by using KmCR coupled with the glucose dehydrogenase EsGDH from Exiguobacterium sibiricum to recycle NADPH. The “best” mutant KmCR-W3 was able to transform 30 g/L CFPO completely with strict enantioselectivity (eep >99.7%, S, yield=95.5%). Moreover, the substrate scope of KmCR was extended. Although there is much space for improvement in the catalytic performance of KmCR-W3, our work enriches the knowledge of carbonyl reductase’s structure and function relationships.

Microbial Proline Racemase-Proline Dehydrogenase Cascade for Efficient Production of D-proline and N-boc-5-hydroxy-L-proline from L-proline.

D-proline and N-boc-5-hydroxy-L-proline are key chiral intermediates in the production of eletriptan and saxagliptin, respectively. An efficient proline racemase-proline dehydrogenase cascade was developed for the enantioselective production of D-proline. It included the racemization of L-proline to DL-proline and the enantioselective dehydrogenation of L-proline in DL-proline. The racemization of L-proline to DL-proline used an engineered proline racemase (ProR). L-proline up to 1000g/L could be racemized to DL-proline with 1g/L of wet Escherichia coli cells expressing ProR within 48h. The efficient dehydrogenation of L-proline in DL-proline was achieved using whole cells of proline dehydrogenase-producing Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes XW-40. Moreover, using a cell-recycling strategy, D-proline was obtained in 45.7% yield with an enantiomeric excess of 99.6%. N-boc-5-hydroxy-L-proline was also synthesized from L-glutamate semialdehyde, a dehydrogenated product of L-proline, in a 16.7% yield. The developed proline racemase-proline dehydrogenase cascade exhibits great potential and economic competitiveness for manufacturing D-proline and N-boc-5-hydroxy-L-proline from L-proline.

Synergistic promotion for microbial asymmetric preparation of (R)-2-chloro-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)ethanol by NADES and cyclodextrin

Microbial whole-cell catalysis has been a popular method for chiral alcohols preparation. In this study, Cyberlindnera saturnus ZJPH1807 was successfully employed as a biocatalyst to reduce 2-chloro-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)ethanone (CPE) to (R)-2-chloro-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)ethanol ((R)-CPEO), a key chiral intermediate of antifungal drug miconazole. In order to further improve the bioprocess yield, natural deep eutectic solvent and cyclodextrin were introduced into the reaction system as additives. It was found that carnitine/trehalose (C/Tre, 1:1 mol/mol) could increase the permeability of cell membrane appropriately and improve the mass transfer rate. And the addition of methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MCD) could improve the solubility of CPE in buffer solution, simultaneously promoting cofactor recycling. Furthermore, MCD and C/Tre exerted a synergistic effect on the acceleration of CPE bioreduction, producing 91.0% yield in 1.5 h at 35.8 mM CPE in a C/Tre-MCD-containing system, with a 12.4-fold increase in productivity compared to neat buffer solution only. When the substrate loading was increased to 67.1 mM, the yield could also achieve 84.2%. The established bioreduction process was also feasible at 100 mL preparation scale with a 88.5% (R)-CPEO yield. The integration of C/Tre and MCD can significantly improve catalytic efficiency for hydrophobic substrates and be applied in biocatalysis.

Facile immobilization of his-tagged Microbacterial esterase on Ni-SBA-15 with enhanced stability for efficient synthesis of key chiral intermediate of d-biotin.

A series of nickel-incorporated SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieves (Ni-SBA-15) were prepared as support for the immobilization of his-tagged recombinant Microbacterium esterase. The Ni-SBA-15 could strongly and specific absorb the his-tagged esterase from cell disrupted supernatant. It was found that the nickel amount in Ni-SBA-15 has dramatic influence on the activity and thermo-stability of immobilized enzyme, while the kinds of nickel precursor had little effect on enzyme stability. The morphology, chemical composition and structure of the best support NiCl2-SBA-15 (Ni-SBA-15 prepared from NiCl2 precursor) were characterized by various spectroscopy techniques. The immobilized esterase retained full activity of free esterase and showed high immobilized yield (> 90%) with higher thermo-stability, pH stability and organic solvent resistance compared with free enzyme. The optimum reaction temperature increased from 35 to 40°C and the optimal reaction pH moved from 10.0 to 8.0 after enzyme immobilization. The immobilized esterase exhibited excellent storage stability and keeping 92% of the initial activity after 30days' storage at 25°C. In addition, the immobilized esterase had excellent reusability for the synthesis of key chiral intermediate of d-biotin and the substrate conversion could still keep 100% after 13 cycles continuously. Finally, optical pure (4S, 5R)-hemiester was obtained in 80.8% isolated yield and 99% purity in the gram preparative scale.

Ir/f-Ampha complex catalyzed asymmetric sequential hydrogenation of enones: a general access to chiral alcohols with two contiguous chiral centers.

A general and highly efficient method for asymmetric sequential hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated ketones has been developed by using an iridium/f-Ampha complex as the catalyst, furnishing corresponding chiral alcohols with two contiguous stereocenters in high yields with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield, >20 : 1 dr and >99% ee). Control experiments indicated that the C Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> C and CO bonds of the enones were hydrogenated sequentially, and the final stereoselectivities were determined by the dynamic kinetic resolution of ketones. Moreover, DFT calculations revealed that an outer sphere pathway was involved in both reduction of CC and CO bonds of enones. The synthetic utility of this method was demonstrated by a gram-scale reaction with very low catalyst loading (S/C = 20 000) and a concise synthetic route to key chiral intermediates of the antiasthmatic drug CP-199,330.

Enantiodivergent Synthesis of Benzoquinolizidinones from L-Glutamic Acid.

Benzoquinolizidinone systems were synthesized in both enantiomeric forms from L-glutamic acid. The key chiral arylethylglutarimide intermediate was synthesized from dibenzylamino-glutamate and homoveratrylamine. Aldol reaction of the glutarimide afforded a mixture of syn and anti-aldol adducts. Subsequent regioselective hydride reduction of the glutarimide carbonyl followed by N-acyliminium ion cyclization afforded a product with opposite absolute configurations at C3 and C11b. Cope elimination of the dibenzylamino group then converted the two diastereomers into enantiomers.