Enhancer Racemization

The observations of the interconversion of allylic sulfenates and sulfoxides made by Braverman and Stabinsky34-38 are confirmed by the work of Mislow and coworkers44-47 who approached the problem from a different angle, namely, enhanced racemization of optically active allylic sulfoxides. 

The aliphatic side chains in alanine and leucine have no major influence but branching at the ) -carbon atom in valine and isoleucine can enhance racemization because the combination of electron release and steric hindrance results in reduced coupling rates. The ensuing increase in the life-time of the reactive intermediate provides an extended opportunity for proton abstraction by base. It is obvious from these examples that the effect of individual side chains, the influence of various methods of coupling and the conditions of the peptide bond forming reaction (solvents, concentration, temperature, additives) must be studied in well designed experiments. Several model systems have been proposed for this purpose. 

Solvent for Base-Catalyzed Reactions. The abihty of hydroxide or alkoxide ions to remove protons is enhanced by DMSO instead of water or alcohols (91). The equiUbrium change is also accompanied by a rate increase of 10 or more (92). Thus, reactions in which proton removal is rate-determining are favorably accompHshed in DMSO. These include olefin isomerizations, elimination reactions to produce olefins, racemizations, and H—D exchange reactions. 

Studies of reaction mechanisms ia O-enriched water show the foUowiag cleavage of dialkyl sulfates is primarily at the C—O bond under alkaline and acid conditions, and monoalkyl sulfates cleave at the C—O bond under alkaline conditions and at the S—O bond under acid conditions (45,54). An optically active half ester (j -butyl sulfate [3004-76-0]) hydroly2es at 100°C with iaversion under alkaline conditions and with retention plus some racemization under acid conditions (55). Effects of solvent and substituted stmcture have been studied, with moist dioxane giving marked rate enhancement (44,56,57). Hydrolysis of monophenyl sulfate [4074-56-0] has been similarly examined (58). 

Fig. 5-17. Principle of micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF). The d-enantiomer of a racemic mixture is preferentially bound to the micelles, which are retained by the membrane. The bulk containing the 1-enantiomer is separated through the membrane [72].

The mixture of free amino acids is reacted with OPA (Fig. 7-8) and a thiol compound. When an achiral thiol compound is used, a racemic isoindole derivative results. These derivatives from different amino acids can be used to enhance the sensitivity of fluorescence detection. Figure 7-9 shows the separation of 15 amino acids after derivatization with OPA and mercaptothiol the racemic amino acids may be separated on a reversed-phase column. If the thiol compound is unichiral, the amino acid enantiomers may be separated as the resultant diastereomeric isoindole compound in the same system. Figure 7-10 shows the separation of the same set of amino acids after derivatization with the unichiral thiol compound Wisobutyryl-L-cysteine (IBLC). 

Racemic l-methyl-2-butenylboronates (E)- and (Z)-3 may be prepared selectively via reactions of the l-methyl-2-butenyl Grignard reagent with the appropriate borate ester. Use of triisopropyl borate provides a 96 4 mixture of (E)-3l(Z)-3 on a 0.36 mol scale15. Use of a bulkier borylating agent, such as 2-isopropyloxy-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-l,3,2-dioxaborolane, reverses the selectivity, enabling a 91 9 mixture of (Z)-3/( )-3 to be obtained on a 0.5 mol scale. The diastereomeric purity of this mixture may be enhanced to 95 5 by treatment with 0.15 equivalents of benzaldehyde, since ( )-l-mcthyl-2-butenylboronatc ( )-3 is more reactive than (Z)-3. Repetition of this process provides (Z)-3 that is 98% isomerically pure. 

Another example of reagent-induced asymmetric synthesis is the enantioselective preparation of phosphoramides 6 by addition of dialkylzine reagents to A-diphenylphosphinoylimincs 4 in the presence of the enantiomerically pure 1,2-amino alcohols 5a or 5 b (diethylzinc does not add to A-silyl- or A-phenylimines)12. Phosphoramides 6 (crystalline solids) are obtained in moderate to good yield and good enantioselectivity. The latter can be enhanced by recrystallization. Acidic hydrolysis with dilute 3 M hydrochloric acid/tetrahydrofuran provides the corresponding amines 7 without any racemization. 

Optically active hydroperoxides 244 were found285 to oxidize prochiral sulphides into the corresponding sulphoxides in higher optical yields (up to 27%) in comparison with those observed with peracids (equation 132). Moreover, the optical purity of the sulphoxides formed may be enhanced by addition of Ti(OPr-i)4. The oxidation of racemic 2-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzothiophene 246 with these peroxides gave a mixture of cis and trans-sulphoxides 247 (equation 133). In all cases of the oxidation with the hydroperoxide alone the formation of the trans-isomer was strongly preferred and the e.e. value (up to 42%) of the cis-isomer was always higher than that of the trans-isomer. Moreover, the addition of Ti(OPr-i)4 furthermore promoted the selective formation of the frans-sulphoxide 247 and remarkably enhanced the e.e. value of both isomers. 

Esterases have a catalytic function and mechanism similar to those of lipases, but some structural aspects and the nature of substrates differ [4]. One can expect that the lessons learned from the directed evolution of lipases also apply to esterases. However, few efforts have been made in the directed evolution of enantioselective esterases, although previous work by Arnold had shown that the activity of esterases as catalysts in the hydrolysis of achiral esters can be enhanced [49]. An example regarding enantioselectivity involves the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of racemic esters catalyzed by Pseudomonasfluorescens esterase (PFE) [50]. Using a mutator strain and by screening very small libraries, low improvement in enantioselectivity was... 

Subsequently Turner and coworkers were able to show that the Asn336Ser variant possessed broad substrate specificity, with the ability to oxidize a wide range of chiral amines of interest [19]. They also discovered a second mutation, Ile246Met, which conferred enhanced activity toward chiral secondary amines as exemplified by the deracemization of racemic 1-methyltetrahydroisoquinoline (MTQ) (9) (Figure 5.9)[20j. 

The DKRs of (J-azido alcohols and p-hydroxy nitriles were also accomplished hy employing 1 and CALB with PCPA as the acyl donor. The DKRs of p-azido alcohols were performed at 60°C while those of (3-hydroxy nitriles required higher temperature (100°C) primarily to enhance the racemization rate. The optical purities of products were satisfactory in all cases. In the case of p-hydroxy nitriles, dehydrogenation lowered the yield. 

The carbon-carbon double bond that undergoes hydrogenation is remote from the modifier and no rate enhancement for the enantioselective process is to be expected. None was observed. Moreover, since the rate at the enantioselective sites is the same as that at other sites on the surface that experience no chiral environment and so give racemic product, the overall enantiomeric excess should be modest, as is the case To obtain higher... 

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