Amino acids from acyl halides

Surface-active betaines can be synthesized also by quatemisation of long-chain tertiary amines with acrylic acid or P-propiolactone and from partially acylated dibasic amino acids and alkyl halides. 

This reaction was first reported by Schotten in 1884 and subsequently extended by Baumann in 1886. It is the acylation of alcohols and amines from acyl halide or anhydride in an aqueous alkaline solution (e.g., 1 M NaOH), and is generally known as the Schotten-Baumann reaction or Schotten-Baumann acylation. Occasionally, it is also referred to as the Schotten-Baumann method,or Schotten-Baumann esterification. Likewise, the formation of benzoyl ester under these conditions is called the Schotten-Baumann benzoylation." It is assumed that the reaction would perform well if carried out in a biphasic system of water and an immiscible organic solvent (e.g., CH2CI2), which has an important application in the acylation of amino acids.For example, p-nitrohippuric acid and dibenzoylornithine (ornithuric acid) all can be prepared under these conditions. 

Peptide bond formation involves activation of the carboxyl group of an amino acid residue, followed by aminolysis of the activated residue by the amino group of a second amino acid residue. Two types of activated molecules are recognized those that are not detectable but are postulated and those that are detectable and can be isolated. Postulated intermediates are necessary to account for the formation of the detectable intermediates. The postulated intermediates are consumed as fast as they are formed, either by aminolysis by an amino group or by nucleophilic attack by an oxygen nucleophile, which produces activated molecules that are also immediate precursors of the peptide. More than one activated compound may be generated by a postulated intermediate. Activated esters, acyl halides and azides, and mixed and symmetrical anhydrides are isolatable activated compounds that are generated from postulated intermediates. Peptides are produced by one of three ways ... 

The syntheses of simple 1,3-oxazines (74AG596 86G361) from acylated amino acids (86G361) by treatment with dihalotriphenylphosphorane and of heterocondensed l,3-oxazin-4-ones from several N-acylated heterocyclic /3-enamino esters (81CB3188) have been implemented by aza-Wittig reactions of heterocyclic 2-(triphenylphosphoranylidenamino)esters with acid halides. 

There are several types of chiral derivatizing reagents commonly used depending on the functional group involved. For amines, the formation of an amide from reaction with an acyl halide [147,148], chloroformate reaction to form a carbamate [149], and reaction with isocyanate to form the corresponding urea are common reactions [150]. Carboxyl groups can be effectively esterified with chiral alcohols [151-153]. Isocynates have been used as reagents for enantiomer separation of amino acids, iV-methylamino acids, and 3-hydroxy acids [154]. In addition to the above-mentioned reactions, many others have been used in the formation of derivatives for use on a variety of packed and capillary columns. For a more comprehensive list, refer to References 155-159. 

OxazoIones are alkylated at position 4 by alkyl halides, allyl halides and electrophilic alkynes, such as methyl propiolate (equation 36). In contrast, 2-phenyloxazolones react with methyl vinyl ketone at both C(4) and C(2) to yield a mixture of Michael adducts (equation 37). If the phenyl substituent is replaced by the bulky 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl group the addition is directed exclusively to C(4) (81CB2580). Alkylation of 5(4//)-oxazolones is a key step in the synthesis of ketones from a-amino acids (Scheme 16). The outcome of this sequence is the union of the electrophilic fragment R3 with the group R2CO the amino acid thus functions as the equivalent of an acyl anion (78AG(E)450). 

C-Alkylation of the sodio derivative is accomplished by a technique similar to the alkylation of malonic ester. Primary halogen compounds, quaternary ammonium salts,and an alkene oxide have been used as alkylating agents. Alkylation by secondary halides has been less successful. Hydrolysis of the substituted esters to acetylated amino acids is described for leucine (64%) and phenylalanine (83%). Hydrolysis with deacylation has been used to prepare histidine (45%) and phenylalanine (67%). Glutamic acid (75%) is obtained from substituted acylaminomalonates prepared by the Michael condensation of methyl acrylate and the acylated amino esters. ... 

Preparation from Acid Chlorides.—If instead of an alkyl halide we use an acyl halide, i.e., an acid chloride, a similar reaction takes place with the formation of a compound in which the amino group has replaced the chlorine. 

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