Ammonia reaction with, amino acid synthesis

Raney nickel desulfurization has been applied especially to the synthesis of different kinds of amino acids. a-Amino acids have been prepared by the Strecker synthesis of substituted thiophenealdehydes, followed by desulfurization of the thiophene a-amino acids. a-Amino-n-enantic acid, a-amino-n-caprylic acid, and norleucin have been obtained in about 50% yield from the appropriate thiophene aldehydes. From the desulfurization of thiophene -amino acids, obtained from the reaction of thiophenealdehydes with malonic acid in ammonia, aliphatic j8-amino acids, isolated as acetates, have been obtained in high yields. The desulfurization of 3-nitrothiophenes, such as (232), in ammonia leads to y-substituted amino acids (233). ... 

The Strecker amino acid synthesis, which involves treatment of aldehydes with ammonia and hydrogen cyanide (or equivalents) followed by hydrolysis of the intermediate a-amino nitriles to provide a-amino acids (Scheme 1), was first reported in 1850 [1], This method has been applied on an industrial scale toward the synthesis of racemic a-amino acids, but more recently interest in nonproteinogenic a-amino acids in a variety of scientific disciplines has prompted intense activity in the asymmetric syntheses of a-amino acids [2]. The catalytic asymmetric Strecker-type reaction offers one of the most direct and viable methods for the asymmetric synthesis of a-amino acid derivatives. It is the purpose of this Highlight to disclose recent developments in this emerging field of importance. 

Strecker amino acid synthesis. Synthesis of a-amino acids by simultaneous reaction of aldehydes with ammonia and hydrogen cyanide followed by hydrolysis of the resulting amino nitriles. 

The combination of transaminases with amino acid oxidases opens oppormnities for selectively inverting chiral centers. An example of such an operation is in the synthesis of (5)-[l- C]valine (20). Racemic [l- C]valine, produced by Strecker synthesis from isobutyraldehyde, K CN and ammonia in 83% yield, was treated with (R)-amino oxidase and branched-amino acid amino transferase in order to invert the (R)-enantiomer into the (5)-enantiomer via the a-ketoacid 19. Addition of a substantial excess of glutamic acid drove the aminotransferase reaction to completion, giving (5)-[ l- C] valine in 75% overall yield from K CN on a 30 mmol scale. Due to the low substrate specificity of the enzymes, it is anticipated that this approach will also be effective for most standard amino acids. ... 

Some imine-forming reactions are shown in Figure 14.30—all of these were part of longer synthetic sequences. Imines undergo many of the same types of addition reactions as aldehydes and ketones. A particularly useful example of this is their reaction with cyanide ion, the Strecker reaction (Figure 14.31). When a carbonyl compound is treated with ammonia and sodium or KCN, the ammonia adds to the carbonyl to give an unstable imine. This is attacked by cyanide to give the a-aminocyanide. Since the cyanide can be hydrolyzed to a carboxylic acid, this constitutes a simple amino acid synthesis. 

Strecker synthesis (Section 27 4) Method for prepanng amino acids in which the first step is reaction of an aldehyde with ammonia and hydrogen cyanide to give an amino nitnle which IS then hydrolyzed... 

In 1959 a new non-protein L-a-amino acid was isolated from the seeds of Acacia willardiana and later from other species of Acacia-, it proved to be l-/3-amino-/3-carboxyethyluracil (977) (59ZPC(316)164). The structure was confirmed by at least four syntheses in the next few years. The most important involves a Shaw synthesis (Section 2.13.3.1.2e) of the acetal (975) and hydrolysis to the aldyhyde (976) followed by a Strecker reaction (potassium cyanide, ammonia and ammonium chloride) to give DL-willardiine (977) after resolution, the L-isomer was identical with natural material (62JCS583). Although not unambiguous, a Principal Synthesis from the ureido acid (978) and ethyl formylacetate is the most direct route (64ZOB407). 

Alpha amino acids (and aldehydes) synthesis by reaction of an alpha keto add with another amino acid (Herbst-EngeO or by reaction of a keto acid with ammonia tmdef reducing conditions (Knoop-Oe sterling). 

In the second major method of peptide synthesis the carboxyl group is activated by converting it to an active ester, usually a p-nitrophenyl ester. Recall from Section 20.12 that esters react with ammonia and amines to give fflnides. p-Nitrophenyl esters are much more reactive than methyl and ethyl esters in these reactions because p-nitrophenoxide is a better (less basic) leaving group than methoxide and ethoxide. Simply allowing the active ester and a C-protected amino acid to stand in a suitable solvent is sufficient to bring about peptide bond formation by nucleophilic acyl substitution. 

An a-amino acid 3 can be prepared by treating aldehyde 1 with ammonia and hydrogen cyanide and a subsequent hydrolysis of the intermediate a-amino nitrile 2. This so-called Strecker synthesis - is a special case of the Mannich reaction-, it has found application for the synthesis of a-amino acids on an industrial scale. The reaction also works with ketones to yield a, a -disubstituted a-amino acids. 

Yet a third method for the synthesis of a-amino acids is by reductive amination of an a-keto acid with ammonia and a reducing agent. Alanine, for instance, is prepared by treatment of pyruvic acid with ammonia in the presence of NaBH As described in Section 24.6, the reaction proceeds through formation of an intermediate imine that is then reduced. 

A regioselective synthesis of 2-amino[l, 2,4]triazinones 708 was reported (82JHC1583 83JHC1671) by reaction of 706 with 0-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-hydroxylamine 707 as an amino transfer agent. Subsequent reaction of 708 with ammonia or amines, followed by ring closure with formic acid, provided 709. 

The synthesis of a-amino acids by reaction of aldehydes or ketones with ammonia and hydrogen cyanide followed by hydrolysis of the resulting a-aminonitrile is called the Strecker synthesis. Enzymatic hydrolysis has been applied to the kinetic resolution of intermediate a-aminonitriles [90,91]. The hydrolysis of (rac)-phenylglycine nitrile... 

A particularly useful variation of this reaction uses cyanide rather than HCN. a-Amino nitriles can be prepared in one step by the treatment of an aldehyde or ketone with NaCN and NH4CI. This is called the Strecker synthesisand it is a special case of the Mannich reaction (16-15). Since the CN is easily hydrolyzed to the acid, this is a convenient method for the preparation of a-amino acids. The reaction has also been carried out with NH3-I-HCN and with NH4CN. Salts of primary and secondary amines can be used instead of NH to obtain N-substituted and N,N-disubstituted a-amino nitriles. Unlike 16-51, the Strecker synthesis is useful for aromatic as well as aliphatic ketones. As in 16-51, the Me3SiCN method has been used 64 is converted to the product with ammonia or an amine. ... 

The classic syntheses of the antibacterial sulfonamides involve reaction of the appropriate arylamine with an acid addition salt of p-amino-benzenesulfonyl chloride, or p-nitrobenzenesulfonyl chloride followed by reduction. Chemical interest largely resides in preparation of the corresponding arylamines. For the synthesis of sulfacytine (134), N-ethyl uracil (131) was converted to its thioamide (132) by reaction with phosphorous pentasulfide. The newly introduced sulfur is then displaced with ammonia in methanol to give 133. Standard reactions complete... 

---