Selective Alkylation Research Articles

Doping In Vivo Alkylation in E. coli by Introducing the Direct Sulfurylation Pathway of S. cerevisiae

AbstractMethylation and alkylation are important techniques used for the synthesis and derivatisation of small molecules and natural products. Application of S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM)‐dependent methyltransferases (MTs) in biotechnological hosts such as Escherichia coli lowers the environmental impact of alkylation compared to chemical synthesis and facilitates regio‐ and chemoselective alkyl chain transfer. Here, we address the limiting factor for SAM synthesis, methionine supply, to accelerate in vivo methylation activity. Introduction of the direct sulfurylation pathway, consisting of O‐acetylhomoserine sulfhydrolase (ScOAHS) and O‐acetyltransferase (ScMET2), from S. cerevisiae into E. coli and supplementation with methanethiol or the corresponding disulfide improves atom‐economic methylation activity in three different MT reactions. Up to 17‐fold increase of conversion compared to the sole expression of the MT and incorporation of up to 79 % of the thiol compound added were achieved. Promiscuity of ScOAHS allowed in vivo production of methionine analogues from organic thiols. Further co‐overproduction of a methionine adenosyltransferase yielded SAM analogues which were further transferred by MTs onto different substrates. For methylation of non‐physiological substrates, conversion rates up to 73 % were achieved, with an isolated yield of 41 % for N‐methyl‐2,5‐aminonitrophenol. The here described technique enables E. coli to become a biotechnological host for improved methylation and selective alkylation reactions.

Selective Functionalization of White Phosphorus with Alkyl Bromides under Photocatalytic Conditions: A Chlorine-Free Protocol to Dialkyl and Trialkyl Phosphine Oxides.

A novel and efficient method for the direct selective alkylation of white phosphorus (P4) with alkyl bromides has been developed, utilizing 4DPAIPN as the photocatalyst and Hantzsch ester as the reductant. This method facilitates the synthesis of structurally diverse dialkyl phosphine oxides in good yields, offering a streamlined alternative to the traditional stepwise approach of chlorinating P4 with Cl2 and subsequently displacing the chlorine atom. Noteworthy features of this reaction include excellent product selectivity, remarkable functional group tolerance, and a broad substrate scope. Additionally, this method is effective for the synthesis of trialkyl phosphine oxides.

Brønsted acid-catalyzed selective alkylation of tetrazoles with acetone

The alkylation of tetrazole and acetone under the catalysis of TfOH has been shown to be an efficient process with high levels of regioselective control. This protocol features simple and readily accessible starting materials, unique reaction mechanism, excellent compatibility with diverse functional groups.

Solvent- and Catalyst-Controlled Regioselective O- and N-Alkylation of 2-Pyridones by 2H-Azirines.

The synthesis of O-substituted 2-hydroxypyridines and N-substituted 2-pyridones, crucial for many bioactive compounds and drugs, faces challenges due to the tautomeric nature of 2-pyridones, which complicates selective alkylation. Here we developed an efficient method for regioselective O- and N-alkylation of 2-pyridones using Bro̷nsted acid-catalyzed ring opening of 2H-azirines. The process involves triflic acid for O-alkylation and p-toluenesulfonic acid for N-alkylation, achieving high yields under optimized conditions. For O-alkylation, a variety of 2-pyridones and 2H-azirines were used, resulting in significant yields of the desired products. Similarly, for N-alkylation, the optimized conditions produced excellent yields, highlighting the method's versatility. This methodology was further demonstrated through scaled-up syntheses and subsequent transformations, showcasing its practicality for complex molecular architectures. The proposed mechanism involves the protonation of 2H-azirine, followed by a regioselective SN2-type attack and acid-catalyzed hydrolysis, leading to the desired alkylated products. This innovative approach, emphasizing Bro̷nsted acid catalysis and careful control of reaction conditions, represents a significant advancement in the selective alkylation of 2-pyridones, with broad implications for medicinal chemistry.

Doping In Vivo Alkylation in E. coli by Introducing the Direct Sulfurylation Pathway of S. cerevisiae.

Methylation and alkylation are important techniques used for the synthesis and derivatisation of small molecules and natural products. Application of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferases (MTs) in biotechnological hosts such as Escherichia coli lowers the environmental impact of alkylations compared to chemical synthesis and facilitates regio- and chemoselective alkyl chain transfer. Here, we address the limiting factor for SAM synthesis, methionine supply, to accelerate in vivo methylation activity. Introduction of the direct sulfurylation pathway, consisting of O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrolase (ScOAHS) and O-acetyltransferase (ScMET2), from S. cerevisiae into E. coli and supplementation with methanethiol or the corresponding disulfide improves atom-economic methylation activity in three different MT reactions. Up to 17-fold increase of conversion compared to the sole expression of the MT and incorporation of up to 79% of the thiol compound added were achieved. Promiscuity of ScOAHS allowed in vivo production of methionine analogues from organic thiols. Further co-overproduction of a methionine adenosyltransferase yielded SAM analogues which were further transferred by MTs onto different substrates. For methylation of non-physiological substrates, conversion rates up to 73% were achieved, with an isolated yield of 41% for N-methyl-2,5-aminonitrophenol. Our here described technique enables E. coli to become a biotechnological host for improved methylation and selective alkylation reactions.

A Modified Arbuzov-Michalis Reaction for Selective Alkylation of Nucleophiles.

The alkylation of nucleophiles is among the most fundamental and well-developed transformations in chemistry. However, to achieve selective alkylation of complex substrates remains a nontrivial task. We report herein a general and selective alkylation method without using strong acids, bases, or metals. In this method, the readily available phosphinites/phosphites, in combination with ethyl acrylate, function as effective alkylating agents. Various nucleophilic groups, including alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids, imides, and thiols can be alkylated. This method can be applied in the late-stage alkylation of natural products and pharmaceutical agents, achieving chemo- and site-selective modification of complex substrates. Experimental studies indicate the relative reactivity of a nucleophile depends on its acidity and its steric environment. Mechanistic studies suggest the reaction pathway resembles that of the Arbuzov-Michalis reaction.

A Modified Arbuzov‐Michalis Reaction for Selective Alkylation of Nucleophiles

AbstractThe alkylation of nucleophiles is among the most fundamental and well‐developed transformations in chemistry. However, to achieve selective alkylation of complex substrates remains a nontrivial task. We report herein a general and selective alkylation method without using strong acids, bases, or metals. In this method, the readily available phosphinites/phosphites, in combination with ethyl acrylate, function as effective alkylating agents. Various nucleophilic groups, including alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids, imides, and thiols can be alkylated. This method can be applied in the late‐stage alkylation of natural products and pharmaceutical agents, achieving chemo‐ and site‐selective modification of complex substrates. Experimental studies indicate the relative reactivity of a nucleophile depends on its acidity and its steric environment. Mechanistic studies suggest the reaction pathway resembles that of the Arbuzov‐Michalis reaction.

Superhydrophobic and superacid magnetic catalyst induced highly selective aldol condensation and alkylation for high-density biofuels

Aldol condensation and hydroxyalkylation/alkylation reactions are the most widely used C–C coupling strategies to synthesize high-density biofuels. But their in-situ generated water is unavoidable and can reduce the acidity of catalyst, thereby inhibiting catalytic activity or triggering side reactions. Herein, novel superhydrophobic and superacid magnetic catalyst Fe3O4@SiO2@F-SO3H is designed and synthesized through simple cladding and chemical grafting. This magnetic catalyst can withstand high temperature up to 215 °C and displays much better superhydrophobicity (contact angle of 155.3°) and lipophilicity (contact angle of 0°) than those of classical Amberlyst-15 and Nafion-212. Notably this catalyst exhibits excellent activity, selectivity and stability for both aldol condensation and hydroxyalkylation/alkylation reactions of lignocellulose derived cyclic ketones and furans. After hydrodeoxygenation, three high-density fuels with density of 0.825, 0.881 and 0.887 g/mL were achieved. This work illustrates an efficient and convenient strategy to achieve high-performance acidic catalyst for synthesizing high-density fuels.

Efficient synthesis of durene from syngas utilizing composite catalyst of Zr/Al activity-regulated CuZn oxides and alkali-treated HZSM-5-PEG

The one-step syngas conversion process for high-value aromatics represents a promising avenue for transforming non-petroleum resources into valuable chemicals. The utilization of Cu-based catalyst coupled with HZSM-5 enables a highly selective conversion of 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene (durene). The adjustment of structure promoter Zr-Al in CuZn oxide impaired excessive hydrogenation, which solved the temperature mismatch of methanol intermediate synthesis on metal oxides and the aromatization on HZSM-5 zeolites. Multiple characterizations such as N2 adsorption and desorption, XRD, TPR/TPD, SEM-(EDS) proved that high proportion doping of zirconium greatly affected the crystal structure and morphology, which passivated the interaction of CuO/Cu with hydrogen. In addition, Polyethylene glycol modified HZSM-5 with more inter-crystalline mesopores had better diffusion performance to obtain heavy aromatics and prevent the accumulation of carbon deposits. Alkali treatment modulated the ratio of Brønsted and Lewis acids, which was favorable to specific selective alkylation for durene. The relationship between methanol space time yield and aromatic distribution was confirmed and the preferred CuZnZrAl/HZSM-5-PEG obtained CO conversion of 74.4 % with 40.6 % 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene selectivity at 320 ℃ and 4.0 MPa.

Direct and selective alkylation of indazole-3-carboxylic acid for the preparation of synthetic cannabinoids and metabolites

The most common method for the synthesis of synthetic cannabinoids with an indazole core utilizes methyl indazole-3-carboxylate as a starting material. However, this method commonly suffers from poor selectivity and low yield. In the current work, a method using indazole-3-carboxylic acid as the starting material was developed and successfully applied in the synthesis of nine synthetic cannabinoids and six of their metabolites. The method provided selective alkylation at the N1-position and resulted in overall yields in the range of 51–96 %. Five of the synthetic cannabinoids have not been reported in the literature and were synthesized in a proactive attempt to predict future SCs. All of the synthesized metabolites have previously been encountered in either in vitro studies or authentic urine samples. Hence, the method proved to be useful for production of SC metabolites, which are relevant for forensic toxicology. All synthesized compounds were characterized with NMR and LC-QTOF-HRMS.

Unveiling the enhanced catalytic performance of low-Si/Al-ratio beta-zeolite on C4 alkylation combing with experiments and molecular simulations

The acidity and pore structure of zeolite catalysts play a crucial role in the selectivity and stability of C4 alkylation due to the synergistic effect of reaction activity and diffusion. Herein, the effect of three acidic beta zeolites with different Si/Al ratios on adsorption, diffusion, and catalytic performance was studied using experiments and molecular simulations. The beta zeolite with the lower Si/Al ratio leads to the faster relative diffusion of isobutane to 1-butene and the smaller adsorption amount of alkylate products. Furthermore, the diffusion of molecules in the zigzag channel along the z direction of beta zeolites is much slower than other two directions. The experimental results indicate that lower Si/Al ratio cause the higher content of strong BAS in the zeolite, resulting in the higher hydride activity and the longer catalytic lifetime. This work provides a theoretical basis for the development of high catalytic activity zeolite catalysts.

Directing Group Guided Site−Selective Alkylation of Indoles by Epoxides: Synthesis of β‐Indolylethyl Alcohol Derivatives

A Palladium catalyzed C4‐ alkylation of indoles using epoxide as an alkylating agent and pivaloyl as a weak chelating group has been demonstrated. A variety of substituted epoxides and indoles furnished the desired β‐indolylethylalcohols in 38% ‐ 87% yields. Control experiments indicate that the C−H cleavage step is irreversible. The resultant hydroxyl group has been converted to various functional groups to demonstrate the synthetic utility of this protocol.

Synthesis of Secondary Amines via Self-Limiting Alkylation.

N-centered nucleophilicity increases upon alkylation, and thus selective partial alkylation of ammonia and primary amines can be challenging: Poor selectivity and overalkylation are often observed. Here we introduce N-aminopyridinium salts as ammonia surrogates for the synthesis of secondary amines via self-limiting alkylation chemistry. Readily available N-aryl-N-aminopyridinium salts engage in N-alkylation and in situ depyridylation to afford secondary aryl-alkyl amines without any overalkylation products. The method overcomes classical challenges in selective amine alkylation by accomplishing alkylation via transient, highly nucleophilic pyridinium ylide intermediates and can be applied in the context of complex molecular scaffolds. These findings establish N-aminopyridinium salts as ammonia synthons in synthetic chemistry and a strategy to control the extent of amine alkylation.

CuI-Amidobis(phosphine)-Catalyzed Direct Amidation of Unactivated Alkanes via C(sp3)-H Activation.

Herein, we describe an acid-base-free, sustainable, and efficient method for direct amidation of unactivated alkanes and toluene derivatives, using the dimeric CuI complex [CuI{o-Ph2PC6H4CONC6H4PPh2-o}2] (here onward referred to as [PNP-Cu]2). Using this method, C(sp3)-N bond formation was achieved through the activation of very challenging C(sp3)-H bonds in cycloalkanes, alkenes, allyl groups, and benzyl groups, with tolerance toward ketonic groups, heterocycles, and halide functionalities. One of the precatalysts, (PNHP-Cu-Npht) was isolated and structurally characterized. Isomerization in allyl-functionalized alkanes and selective benzylic alkylation in ketones were observed. This is a novel method for C(sp3)-N bond formation via direct N-alkylation of phthalimide, sulfonamide, benzamide, and phosphamidate.

Shape selective alkylation of ethylbenzene with isobutylene over ZSM-12: Effect of acid distribution and morphology

Para-tert-butyl ethylbenzene (p-TBEB) is an important polymer monomer raw material to produce poly (tert-butylstyrene). Achieving relatively high selectivity to p-TBEB (Sp-TBEB) by shape selective alkylation of ethylbenzene with isobutylene is highly attractive, and it is crucial to clarify the major factors affecting Sp-TBEB. Herein, ZSM-12 zeolites with various morphology or acid distribution were synthesized by altering alkalinity or structure directing agent (SDA). Despite different morphology of MTW(70)-M-x series samples using MTEACl as the SDA, they show similar catalytic performance in alkylation of ethylbenzene with isobutylene due to their similar acid distribution. On the other hand, MTW(100)-M-0.06 and MTW(100)-T with various morphology, synthesized with MTEACl and TEAOH as the SDA, respectively, exhibit quite different selectivity to the target product in this reaction. MTW(100)-M-0.06 has much higher STBEB (87 % vs. 70 %) and Sp-TBEB (95 % vs. < 60 %) than MTW(100)-T, which is attributed to that MTW(100)-M-0.06 possesses much more Brønsted acid sites distributed in the micropore channel. This provides a route to improve the selectivity to main product (TBEB, especially p-TBEB) of alkylation of ethylbenzene with isobutylene over ZSM-12 zeolite even other zeolites.

One-Pot Synthesis of 1,3-Cyclohexadienes by Birch Reduction in the Presence of Carbonyl Compounds.

Birch reductions are well-known transformations of arenes, applied for large scale synthesis of 1,4-cyclohexadienes. Herein, we describe first reactions of benzoic acids in the presence of carbonyl compounds, affording aldol products in moderate to high yields. Alkyl aldehydes give the expected nonconjugated dienes by reaction at the α-position. Interestingly, the intermediately formed enolate attacks aryl aldehydes and ketones from its γ-position, which can be explained by steric hindrance. This opens the door for the one-pot synthesis of 1,3-cyclohexadienes, which are not accessible by classical Birch reductions. Our method is applicable to benzoic, m- and p-toluic acid and various carbonyl compounds, and more than 25 new products were isolated in up to 93 % yield. Prochiral aryl aldehydes afford diastereomeric mixtures in ratios of about 4 : 1, but in the cyclohexadiene ring only trans isomers are formed with high selectivity. Finally, the 1,3-cyclohexadienes are suitable precursors for further transformations, which we have demonstrated in first examples. Thus, aromatization affords products of a formal meta selective Friedel-Crafts alkylation, and four new stereocenters were generated by cycloaddition of singlet oxygen with excellent selectivity.

Adamantylated Calix[4]arenes Bearing CuAAC-Ready 2-Azidoethyl or Propargyl Functionalities

1,3-Alternate calix[4]arenes were prepared, having bulky adamantyl groups in the p-positions of all four aromatic units of the macrocycles and pairs of propargyl or 2-azidoethyl groups alternating with n-propyl groups at the phenol oxygen atoms. The step-wise syntheses were carried out through a selective distal alkylation of the parent p-adamantylcalix[4]arene with propargyl bromide or 1,2-dibromoethane, resulting in calix[4]arenes bearing pairs of propargyl or 2-bromoethyl groups at their narrow rims. The bromine atoms were replaced by azide groups, and then both calix[4]arene diethers were exhaustively alkylated at the remaining OH-groups with 1-iodopropane under stereoselective conditions to fix the macrocycles in an 1,3-alternate shape. The structures of the prepared p-adamantylcalix[4]arenes were confirmed by NMR and HRMS data, and, for the 1,3-alternate dipropargyl ether, the X-ray diffraction data were also collected. Preliminary data on the reactivity of the prepared calixarenes under the CuAAC conditions suggested a strong steric hampering created by the adamantane units nearby the reacting alkyne or azide groups that affected the outcome of the two-fold cycloaddition involving the calixarene bis(azides) or bis(alkynes) as complementary partners.

Preparation of Cs/CuAl-LDO@Al2O3@Fe3O4 magnetic catalysts and reaction mechanism of the side-chain alkylation of toluene to styrene

A series of Cs/CuAl-LDO@Al2O3@Fe3O4 magnetic catalysts with varied CuAl-LDO contents were prepared by growing CuAl-LDH layers on the surface of Al2O3@Fe3O4 magnetic cores, impregnated with Cs and followed by calcination. The as-synthesized catalysts were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption, SEM, TEM(EDS), XPS, NH3-TPD, CO2-TPD, and VSM techniques. The catalytic performance and reusability of the catalysts for the side-chain alkylation of toluene with formaldehyde were evaluated in a micro-high-pressure reactor, and the reaction mechanism was further studied. The results showed that the Al2O3@Fe3O4 magnetic core of the catalyst was about 110 nm, and the CuAl-LDO formed a staggered lamellar structure with a shell thickness of around 30–45 nm. The magnetic catalyst demonstrated excellent catalytic performance and reusability for the side-chain alkylation of toluene with formaldehyde in one-step to styrene. As-synthesized magnetic Cs/CuAl-LDO@Al2O3@Fe3O4 catalyst with CuAl-LDO content of 20 wt% delivered toluene conversion of 7.97% under optimized conditions, while the styrene selectivity and the selectivity of side-chain alkylation were 90.17% and 98.36%, respectively. The reaction mechanism showed that the benzene ring of toluene was stably adsorbed on the Al3+ acid sites of the CuAl-LDO layers. The C–H group of the side-chain of toluene formed carboanions and protons under the action of the Cuδ+–Oδ– base sites. Formaldehyde formed a transition state of adsorbed formaldehyde under the action of Cuδ+ acid sites. Finally, these adsorbed states and intermediate species accomplished the side-chain alkylation of toluene with formaldehyde to styrene in one-step under the synergic action of acid-base sites. The synergistic effects of suitable acid-base sites and lamellar spatial structures in the catalyst were the key to styrene formation with high selectivity.

Development of the Synthetic Route to PF-06878031 Part 1: Selective Alkylation Route

Development of the Synthetic Route to PF-06878031 Part 1: Selective Alkylation Route

Efficient Transferase Engineering for SAM Analog Synthesis from Iodoalkanes.

S-Adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) is an important cosubstrate in various biochemical processes, including selective methyl transfer reactions. Simple methods for the (re)generation of SAM analogs could expand the chemistry accessible with SAM-dependent transferases and go beyond methylation reactions. Here we present an efficient enzyme engineering strategy to synthesize different SAM analogs from "off-the-shelf" iodoalkanes through enzymatic alkylation of S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (SAH). This was achieved by mutating multiple hydrophobic and structurally dynamic amino acids simultaneously. Combinatorial mutagenesis was guided by the natural amino acid diversity and generated a highly functional mutant library. This approach increased the speed as well as the scale of enzyme engineering by providing a panel of optimized enzymes with orders of magnitude higher activities for multiple substrates in just one round of enzyme engineering. The optimized enzymes exhibit catalytic efficiencies up to 31 M-1 s-1, convert various iodoalkanes, including substrates bearing cyclopropyl or aromatic moieties, and catalyze S-alkylation of SAH with very high stereoselectivities (>99 % de). We further report a high throughput chromatographic screening system for reliable and rapid SAM analog analysis. We believe that the methods and enzymes described herein will further advance the field of selective biocatalytic alkylation chemistry by enabling SAM analog regeneration with "off-the-shelf" reagents.