Methyl-thiazoles side-chain acidity

In NRPS, the cyclization domain catalyzes cyclization of the side-chain nucleophile from a dipeptide moiety such as AA-Ser or AA-Cys (AA = amino acids) to form a tetrahedral intermediate, followed by dehydration to form oxazolines and thiazolines (Scheme 7.1) [20]. The synthesis of a 2-methyl oxazoline from threonine follows a similar mechanism. Once a heterocycle is formed, it can be further modified by reductase to form tetrahydro thiazolidine in the case of pyochelin biosynthesis. Conversely, oxidation of the dehydroheterocycles lead to heteroaro-mahc thiazoles or oxazoles as in the case of epothilone D (Figure 7.2) [21]. 

The incorporation of complex side chains at the 7 position based on alkyloximes of 2-amino-thiazole-5-gyloxylamides has provided drugs with very wide antibacterial activity that extend to hitherto resistant species such as pseudomonas. The preparation of one of the simpler side chains involves, first, the formation of the methyl ether from the oxime obtained by the nitrosation of methyl acetoacetate. Chlorination of the product, for example with sulfuryl chloride, gives the intermediate (21-1). The aminothiazole ring is then formed by reaction of that with thiourea to give (21-2). The free acid (21-3) is obtained by saponification of the product. The protected acid chloride (21-5) is obtained by sequential acylation of the amino group with chloroacetyl chloride and then reaction with thionyl chloride. 

Protons on alkyl groups at the 1,3-azole 2-positions are sufficiently acidic for strong base deprotonation,and are more acidic than methyl groups at other positions even the assistance of an or/Ao-related carboxylate is usually insufficient to overcome the intrinsic tendency for 2-methyl-lithiation, though an adjacent tertiary amide can do this. The side-chain metallated derivatives can be utilised in reactions with electrophiles. The presence of a 5-nitro group allows much milder, base-catalysed condensations to occur. The condensation at the 2-methyl of thiazoles proceeds in organic acid solution. ... 

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