Amino group modification acylation

Chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis of this compound allows to obtain large quantities of 7-aminocephalosporanic acid. A number of semisynthetic beta-lactam cephalosporin antibiotics were created by acylating the amino group of the last with various acid derivatives (analogous to the semisynthetic penicillin series) and currently there are about 25,000 of them, of which about 100 are used in medicine. Unlike penicillins, semisynthetic cephalosporins are synthesized not only by expanding the spectrum of various acids by which 7-aminocephalosporanic acid is acylated, but also by internal modifications of aminocephalosporanic nucleus (Rj and Rj). 

The above-described acylation of the sugar moiety of the nucleotide adenosine (3) [2] has been followed by a series of papers reporting on the chemoselec-tive enzymatic modification of natural compounds carrying both hydroxyl and amino groups. In addition to the extensive work on nucleosides developed by Gotor and coworkers [8], the biocatalyzed esterification of the hydroxylated alkaloids castanospermine (4) and 1-deoxynojirimidn (5) should be mentioned. Both compounds were selectively acylated at their C-6 and/or C-2 OH by the protease subtilisin, despite the presence of a potentially more reactive amino functions [9]. 

In the case of amino-/3-lactarns, an additional reaction step with acetic anhydride was necessary to protect the amino groups of AMO and AMP (82). This step was also incorporated into the assay for determination of five penicillins (AMO, AMP, PenG, PenV, CLO) (83). The previously described methods were modified by replacing the acylating agent, acetic anhydride, with benzoic anhydride this permitted the elution of all derivatives under isocratic conditions within a very short period of time. This modification reduced analysis time per sample from over 1 hour to about 22 min without loss in detection sensitivity (84). 

Maleic acid is a linear four-carbon molecule with carboxylate groups on both ends and a double bond between the central carbon atoms. The anhydride of maleic acid is a cyclic molecule containing five atoms. Although the reactivity of maleic anhydride is similar to that of other cyclic anhydrides, the products of maleylation are much more unstable toward hydrolysis, and the site of unsaturation lends itself to additional side reactions. Acylation products of amino groups with maleic anhydride are stable at neutral pH and above, but they readily hydrolyze at acid pH values around 3.5 (Buder et al., 1967). Maleylation of sulfhydryls and the phenolate of tyrosine are even more sensitive to hydrolysis. Thus, maleic anhydride is an excellent reversible blocker of amino groups to mask them temporarily from reactivity while another reaction is being done. For additional information and a protocol for the modification of proteins with this reagent, see Section 4.2. 

It has been suggested that the modification of the protein s isoelectric point could result in an alteration of its pharmacokinetic profile. Avidin acylation was performed by lysine amino group derivatization with succinyl anhydride or other anhydrides, which allowed the isoelectric point to be shifted to more acidic values, depending on the level of modification. Indeed, the protein anionization induced a reduction of accumulation in the liver, but resulted only in a limited prolongation of residence time in the circulation [30, 31]. 

The reactions of the homocyclic ring of benzofuroxans, which are described in detail in Section 4.22.3.3, provide access to numerous derivatives. Nucleophilic displacement of halides is facile when activating nitro groups are present, allowing alkoxy, aryloxy, thio and amino groups to be introduced. Electrophilic substitutions, e.g. nitration, are also valuable. Further transformations may also be performed on benzo-ring substituents. Such modifications include acetoxy to hydroxy acetamido to amino and acyl halides to esters and amides. Some reactions of the substituents of monocyclic furoxans allow hetero-substituted analogues of benzofuroxans to be prepared. For example, pyridazinofuroxans are formed by condensation of diacylfuroxans with hydrazine. 

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