Amino acids phase-transfer reactions

Nitrobenzoyl chloride and 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl chloride were each reacted with dl-1-phenylethylamine and 4-amino-l-benzylpiperidine using a phase-transfer reaction [23]. The amines were in the aqueous phase and the acid chlorides in the organic phase. By this means, a 2 x 2 library was created in one experimental run. 

M. J. O Donnell, Asymmetric PTC Reactions. Part 1 Amino Acids , Phases - The Sachem Phase Transfer Catalysis Review 1998, Issue 4, pp. 5-8. 

Solid phase-transfer reactions.2 A strong base ion-exchange resin (Duolile A-109, Diamond Shamrock) can serve as a solid phase-transfer catalyst for synthesis of /1-lactams (3) from oc-methyl-a./l-dibromopropionyl chloride (I) and an amino acid (2) U / 9, 360). 

Maruoka and coworkers also investigated the substantial reactivity enhancement of N-spiro chiral quaternary ammonium salt and simplification of its structure, the aim being to establish a truly practical method for the asymmetric synthesis of a-amino acids and their derivatives. As ultrasonic irradiation produces homogenization (i.e., very fine emulsions), it greatly increases the reactive interfacial area, which may in turn deliver a substantial rate acceleration in the liquid-liquid phase-transfer reactions. Indeed, sonication of the reaction mixture of 2, methyl iodide and (S,S)-lc (1 mol%) in toluene-50% KOH aqueous solution at 0 °C for 1 h gave rise to the corresponding alkylation product in 63% yield with 88% ee. Hence, the reaction was speeded up markedly, and the chemical yield and enantioselectivity were comparable with those of the reaction with simple stirring (0°C for 8h 64%, 90% ee) (Scheme 5.5) [10]. 

Mechanism of the first phase of transamination. The -NH2 group from the amino acid is transferred to pyridoxal phosphate, with formation of the corresponding a-keto acid. The second phase occurs by the reversal of the first phase reactions and is initiated by formation of a Schiff base with the a-keto acid substrate and pyridoxamine phosphate. The transamination cycie is compieted with formation of the corresponding a-amino acid and pyridoxal phosphate. 

Phase transfer reactions have featured in several sections of this book, including epoxidation (Section 4.5), Darzens condensation (Section 7.5) and Wadsworth-Emmons reactions (Section 12.5). Another important aspect of phase-transfer catalysed reactions has been with alkylation reactions. The asymmetric alkylation of glycinate Schiff base (12.45) using N-benzylcinchoninium halides as catalysts is particularly noteworthy, since the products are readily converted into amino acids. Corey and coworkers have developed the original work. 

The synthesis of amino acids by phase transfer reactions. M. J. O Donnell Jr.,... 

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). 

Methyl esters undergo trans-esterification with the quaternary ammonium salts at high temperature and the reaction has been used with some effect for the preparation of, for example, n-butyl esters by heating the methyl ester with tetra-n-butylammo-nium chloride at 140°C [31]. Optimum yields (>75%) are obtained in HMPA or in the absence of a solvent. A two-step (one-pot) trans-esterification under phase-transfer catalysed conditions in which the carboxylate anion generated by initially hydrolysis of the ester is alkylated has been reported for Schiff s bases of a-amino acids [32] and for A-alkoxycarbonylmethyl [1-lactams [33]. Direct trans-esterification of methyl and ethyl esters with alcohols under basic catalytic conditions occurs in good yield in the presence of Aliquat [34, 35]. 

An interesting preparation of alkyl carboxylates in high yield (Table 3.14) from the sodium salt of the carboxylic acids under mild phase-transfer catalytic conditions involves their reaction with alkyl chlorosulphate [50] and has been used with success in the preparation of alkyl esters derived from p-lactam antibiotics. The procedure is also excellent for the production of chloromethyl esters, particularly where the carboxylic acids will not withstand the classical Lewis acid-catalysed procedure using an acid chloride and formaldehyde, or where the use of iodochloromethane [51] results in the formation of the bis(acyloxy)methane. The procedure has been applied with some success to the synthesis of chloromethyl A-protected a-amino carboxylates [52],... 

Alkylation of trifluoro- and trichloroacetamides with a-bromoacetic esters has been utilized for the synthesis of a wide range of a-aminoacetic acids [11-13] (Table 5.13). Hydrolysis of the intermediate a-trihaloacetamidoacetic esters with methanolic potassium hydroxide converts the methyl and ethyl esters directly into the amino carboxylic acids. /-Butyl a-aminoacetates are more stable, but they are hydrolysed under phase-transfer catalytic conditions (see Chapter 9.2). Reaction of the trihaloacetamides with 1,4-dibromobutane and 1,5-dibromopentane and subsequent hydrolysis provides a simple route to pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (75%) and piperidine-2-carboxylic acid (58%) [11, 12],... 

Mildly basic liquiddiquid conditions with a stoichiometric amount of catalyst prevent hydrolysis during alkylation [101] and, more recently, it has been established that solid-liquid or microwave promoted reactions of dry materials are more effective for monoalkylation [102-106] of the esters and also permits dialkylation without hydrolysis. Soliddiquid phase-transfer catalytic conditions using potassium f-butoxide have been used successfully for the C-alkylation of diethyl acetamido-malonate and provides a convenient route to a-amino acids [105, 107] use of potassium hydroxide results in the trans-esterification of the malonate, resulting from hydrolysis followed by O-alkylation. The rate of C-alkylation of malonic esters under soliddiquid phase-transfer catalytic conditions may be enhanced by the addition of 18-crown-6 to the system. The overall rate is greater than the sum of the individual rates observed for the ammonium salt or the crown ether [108]. 

For the synthesis of amino acids, the reaction of an a-haloalkyl boronic ester 4 with sodium azide and a phase-transfer catalyst in dichloromethane/water requires a large excess of azide in order to form the a-azidoalkyl boronic ester 5 with only 1-2% epimer34. With the exception of R1 = benzyl, where epimerization of 4 is relatively rapid, bromoalkyl boronic esters are preferred. Chloroalkyl boronic esters react so slowly that the azide and dichloromethane may generate hazardously explosive diazidomethane65,66. Chain extension of 5 to 6 proceeds normally. Sodium chlorite, which is known to oxidize aldehydes to carboxylic acids67-69, also oxidizes a-chloroalkyl boronic esters to carboxylic acids34. The azido acid is hydrogenated to the amino acid. 

Scheme 17 illustrates enantioselective synthesis of a-amino acids by phase-transfer-catalyzed alkylation (46). Reaction of a protected glycine derivative and between 1.2 and 5 equiv of a reactive organic halide in a 50% aqueous sodium hydroxide-dichloromethane mixture containing 1-benzylcinchoninium chloride (BCNC) as catalyst gives the optically active alkylation product. Only monoalkylated products are obtained. Allylic, benzylic, methyl, and primary halides can be used as alkylating agents. Similarly, optically active a-methyl amino acid derivatives can be prepared by this method in up to 50% ee. 

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