Pyroglutamic acid chemistry

Enantiospecific syntheses of amino derivatives of benzo[ ]quinolizidine and indolo[2,3- ]quinolizidine compounds have also been achieved via A-acyliminium ion cyclization reactions, as an alternative to the more traditional Bischler-Napieralski chemistry (see Section 12.01.9.2.2). One interesting example involves the use of L-pyroglutamic acid as a chiral starting material to construct intermediates 240 via reaction with arylethylamine derivatives. Diisobutylaluminium hydride (DIBAL-H) reduction of the amide function in 240 and subsequent cyclization and further reduction afforded piperidine derivatives 241, which stereoselectively cyclized to benzo[ ]quinolizidine 242 upon treatment with boron trifluoride (Scheme 47) <1999JOC9729>. 

The high tendency of glutamine and to a lesser extent of glutamic acid and related derivatives to form pyroglutamic acid which is exploited for the synthesis of pyroglutamyl peptides (Section 6.7.1.1.1), at the same time represents a source of undesirable side reactions in peptide chemistry (for reviews, see refs 16-18 ). 

Ostendorf, M., Dijkink, J., Rutjes, F.E J.T. and Hiemstra, H. (2000) (5)-Pyroglutamic acid, (5)-malic acid, and (5)-serine as useful starting materials in the synthesis of enantiopure hydro-xyamidines. European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 115-124. 

Figure 9 A synthetic mixture of water-soluble carboxylic acids separated by anion-exchange chromatography. Column 0.3 cm x 300 cm Diaoion CA 08, 16-20 p (Mitsubishi Kasei Kogyo). Eluant 200 mM HC1. Detection reaction with Fe3-benzohy-droxamic acid-dicyclohexy carbodiimide-hydroxylamine perchlorate-triethyl amine with absorbance at 536 nm. Analytes (1) aspartate, (2) gluconate, (3) glucuronate, (4) pyroglutamate, (5) lactate, (6) acetate, (7) tartrate, (8) malate, (9) citrate, (10) succinate, (11) isocitrate, (12) w-butyrate, (13) a-ketoglutarate. (Reprinted with permission from Kasai, Y., Tanimura, T., and Tamura, Z., Anal. Chem., 49, 655, 1977. 1977 Analytical Chemistry).

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