L -Aspartic acid

Kenso Soai Science University of Tokyo, Japan 

The method has been applied to the diastereoselective synthesis of naturally occurring compounds such as frontalin (84-100% ee) and(—)-malyngolide (95% ee). On the other hand, diastereoselective alkylation of chiral formylaminal with Grignard reagents and the subsequent hydrolysis afford optically active S-a-hydroxyaldehydes with moderate stereoselectivity (60% ee).  

Diastereoselective 1,2- and 1,4-Additions of Chiral Aminals. The organolithium reagent derived from a chiral bromoaminal and BuLi adds to pentanal to afford an optically active lactol. Subsequent oxidation affords the optically active lactone with 88% ee (eq 3).  

Diastereoselective 1,4- (conjugate) additions of Grignard reagents to a chiral a,3-unsaturated aminals afford optically active 3-substituted succinaldehydic acid methyl esters with 85-93% ee (eq 4).  

Related Reagents. (2S,4S)-2-(Anilinomethyl)-l-ethyl-4-hy droxypyrrolidine R,R)-1,2-Diphenyl-1,2-diaminoethane A,A -Bis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzenesulfonamide] 

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The naturally occurring substance is L-aspartic acid. One of the acidic-amino acids obtained by the hydrolysis of proteins. 

There are numerous further appHcations for which maleic anhydride serves as a raw material. These appHcations prove the versatiHty of this molecule. The popular artificial sweetener aspartame [22839-47-0] is a dipeptide with one amino acid (l-aspartic acid [56-84-8]) which is produced from maleic anhydride as the starting material. Processes have been reported for production of poly(aspartic acid) [26063-13-8] (184—186) with appHcations for this biodegradable polymer aimed at detergent builders, water treatment, and poly(acryHc acid) [9003-01-4] replacement (184,187,188) (see Detergency). 

Manometric determiaation of L-lysiae, L-argioine, L-leuciae, L-ornithine, L-tyrosiae, L-histidine, L-glutamic acid, and L-aspartic acid has been reviewed (136). This method depends on the measurement of the carbon dioxide released by the T.-amino acid decarboxylase which is specific to each amino acid. 

Enzymatic Process. Chemically synthesized substrates can be converted to the corresponding amino acids by the catalytic action of an enzyme or the microbial cells as an enzyme source, t - Alanine production from L-aspartic acid, L-aspartic acid production from fumaric acid, L-cysteine production from DL-2-aminothiazoline-4-catboxyhc acid, D-phenylglycine (and D-/> -hydtoxyphenylglycine) production from DL-phenyUiydantoin (and DL-/)-hydroxyphenylhydantoin), and L-tryptophan production from indole and DL-serine have been in operation as commercial processes. Some of the other processes shown in Table 10 are at a technical level high enough to be useful for commercial production (24). Representative chemical reactions used ia the enzymatic process are shown ia Figure 6. 

L-alanine L-aspartic acid Asp artic- P - decarb oxylase Pseud. dacunhae tQ 192... 

L-aspartic acid fumaric acid + NH aspartase E. coii ... 

The existence of protein receptors in the tongues of mice and cows have been shown. Monosodium L-glutamate MSG [142-47-2] is utilized as a food flavor enhancer in various seasonings and processed foods. D-Glutamate is tasteless. L-Aspartic acid salt has a weaker taste of umami. Glycine and L-alanine are slightly sweet. The relationship between taste and amino acid stmcture has been discussed (222). 

Aspartame (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester [22839-47-0]) is about 200 times sweeter than sucrose. The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) has been estabUshed by JECFA as 40 mg/kg/day. Stmcture-taste relationship of peptides has been reviewed (223). Demand for L-phenylalanine and L-aspartic acid as the raw materials for the synthesis of aspartame has been increasing, d-Alanine is one component of a sweetener "Ahtame" (224). 

Aspartame (1) is the primary nonnutritive sweetener used in carbonated soft drinks. It is approximately 200 times sweeter than sucrose. Aspartame is the methyl ester of a dipeptide of T.-phenylalanine and L-aspartic acid. 

N-Benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartic acid-a-p-nitrophenyl, /3-benzyl Diester Hydrogen... 

A solution of 88.5 parts of L-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride in 100 parts of water is neutralized by the addition of dilute aqueous potassium bicarbonate, then is extracted with approximately 900 parts of ethyl acetate. The resulting organic solution is washed with water and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. To that solution is then added 200 parts of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartic acid-a-p-nitrophenyl, -benzyl diester, and that reaction mixture is kept at room temperature for about 24 hours, then at approximately 65°C for about 24 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature, diluted with approximately 390 parts of cyclohexane, then cooled to approximately -18°C in order to complete crystallization. The resulting crystalline product is isolated by filtration and dried to afford -benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonvI-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, melting at about 118.5°-119.5°C. 

It is a peptide containing 27 amino acid residues containing the amino acids L-histidine (His) L-aspartic acid (Asp) L-serine (Ser) glycine (Gly) L-threonine (Thr) L-phenyl-alanine (Phe) L-glutamic acid (Glu) L-glutamine [Glu(NHj)] L-leucine (Leu) L-arginine (Arg) L-alanine (Ala) and L-valinamide (Va -NHj). 

Labetalol HCI 4-Benzyloxyaniline HCI Hydroxytryptophan N-BenzyloxycarbonyI-L-aspartic acid-a-nitrophenyl,/3-benzyl diester Aspartame... 

Intermediate 10 must now be molded into a form suitable for coupling with the anion derived from dithiane 9. To this end, a che-moselective reduction of the benzyl ester grouping in 10 with excess sodium borohydride in methanol takes place smoothly and provides primary alcohol 14. Treatment of 14 with methanesulfonyl chloride and triethylamine affords a primary mesylate which is subsequently converted into iodide 15 with sodium iodide in acetone. Exposure of 15 to tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride and triethylamine accomplishes protection of the /Mactam nitrogen and leads to the formation of 8. Starting from L-aspartic acid (12), the overall yield of 8 is approximately 50%, and it is noteworthy that this reaction sequence can be performed on a molar scale. 

The elimination of the amino donor, L-aspartic acid, resulted in an almost complete reduction of activity. Neither cell permeabilisation nor cofactor (pyridoxalphosphate) addition were essential for L-phenylalanine production. Maximum conversion yield occurred (100%, 22 g r) when the amino donor concentration was increased. Aspartic add was a superior amino donor to glutamic add 35 g l 1 was used. 

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