Amino acids chemical yields

Poly(amino acid) Chemical yield (%) Optical yield (%)... 

There are two main routes for the production of D-amino acids chemical synthesis and enzymatic catalysis. As regards conventional chemical synthesis, unless asymmetrical starting compounds or catalysts are used, a mixture of the D- and L-stereoisomers is obtained in equal proportions. The racemic mixture is therefore optically inactive and the stereoisomers must be separated. The separation of the enantiomers by classical crystallization of diastereomeric salts is the most costly production step and in any case this method can only yield 50% of the desired enantiomer [3]. Enzymatic synthesis can solve the above problems, providing optical purity of the D-amino acid and a 100% yield, as well as mild, environment-friendly reaction conditions. 

Enzymatic hydrolysis is also used for the preparation of L-amino acids. Racemic D- and L-amino acids and their acyl-derivatives obtained chemically can be resolved enzymatically to yield their natural L-forms. Aminoacylases such as that from Pispergillus OTj e specifically hydrolyze L-enantiomers of acyl-DL-amino acids. The resulting L-amino acid can be separated readily from the unchanged acyl-D form which is racemized and subjected to further hydrolysis. Several L-amino acids, eg, methionine [63-68-3], phenylalanine [63-91-2], tryptophan [73-22-3], and valine [72-18-4] have been manufactured by this process in Japan and production costs have been reduced by 40% through the appHcation of immobilized cell technology (75). Cyclohexane chloride, which is a by-product in nylon manufacture, is chemically converted to DL-amino-S-caprolactam [105-60-2] (23) which is resolved and/or racemized to (24)... 

Amino-4-nitropheno1 is produced commercially by the partial reduction of 2,4-dinitrophenol This reduction may be achieved electrolyticaHy using vanadium (159) or chemically with polysulftde, sodium hydrosulftde, or hydrazine and copper (160). Alternatively, 2-acetamidophenol or 2-methylbenzoxazole may be nitrated in sulfuric acid to yield a mixture of 4- and 5-nitro derivatives that are then separated and hydrolyzed with sodium hydroxide (161). 

The importance of chemical syntheses of a-amino acids on industrial scale is limited by the fact that the standard procedure always yields the racemic mixture (except for the achiral glycine H2N-CH2-COOH and the corresponding amino acid from symmetrical ketones R-CO-R). A subsequent separation of the enantiomers then is a major cost factor. Various methods for the asymmetric synthesis of a-amino acids on laboratory scale have been developed, and among these are asymmetric Strecker syntheses as well. ... 

Good chemical yields were obtained with the lithium derivative whereas very high diastereose-lectivities were obtained with the titanium derivative. These adducts were readily hydrolyzed with 0.1 N hydrochloric acid to enantiomerically enriched nitro amino acids, methyl 2-amino-3-methyl-4-nitrobutanoates. 

Based on these preliminary findings, related couplings to pyruvates and iminoacetates were explored as a means of accessing a-hydroxy acids and a-amino acids, respectively. It was found that hydrogenation of 1,3-enynes in the presence of pyruvates using chirally modified cationic rhodium catalysts delivers optically enriched a-hydroxy esters [102]. However, chemical yields were found to improve upon aging of the solvent 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE), which led to the hypothesis that adventitious HC1 may promote re-... 

Analogous techniques facilitating sequencing from a polypeptide s C-terminus remain to be satisfactorily developed. The enzyme carboxypeptidase C sequentially removes amino acids from the C-terminus, but often only removes the first few such amino acids. Furthermore, the rate at which it hydrolyses bonds can vary, depending on what amino acids have contributed to bond formation. Chemical approaches based on principles similar to the Edman procedure have been attempted. However, poor yields of derivatized product and the occurrence of side reactions have prevented widespread acceptance of this method. 

This methodology provides a general synthesis of L-amino acids in 92-96% ee and in chemical yields of about 40-60%. Thus reaction of 3 (X = Br) with NaN3 under phase-transfer conditions provides 6, which is homologated to the 1-chloro-2-azidoboronate 7. This product is oxidized by sodium chlorite directly to an azido carboxylic acid (8). Hydrogenation of 8 provides L-amino acids (9). 

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