A new and concise strategy to the enantioselective synthesis of (S)-2-amino-4-oxo-4-(pyridine-2-yl) butanoic acid from aspartic acid

COMMUNICATION

A new and concise strategy to the enantioselective synthesis of (S)-2-amino-4-oxo-4-(pyridine-2-yl) butanoic acid from aspartic acid

Evanoel Crizanto de Lima^I; Paulo G. de Lima^II; Carolina C. de Souza^I; Marta C. L. S. Maior^I; Ayres G. Dias^III; Paulo R. R. Costa^*,I

^INúcleo de Pesquisas de Produtos Naturais, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-540 Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil

^IIInstituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-909 Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil

^IIIInstituto de Química, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, 22250-040 Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil

ABSTRACT

The a-amino acid (S)-5 was synthesized using in the key step a chemoselective nucleophilic substitution between a diester derived from L-aspartic acid and 2-lithium pyridine. The overall yield (13%, 5 steps) was similar to those previously described by our group for the R isomer (the first exogen full agonist of the NMDA receptors) from D-mannitol (12%, 10 steps) and by Lovey and Copper for the racemic synthesis (17%, 5 steps).

Keywords: stereoselective synthesis, chemoselective acyl substitution, aspartic acid diester, neuroactive amino acid, NMDA, L-tryptophan metabolism

RESUMO

O a-aminoácido (S)-5 foi sintetizado usando na etapa chave uma reação de substituição nucleofílica quimiosseletiva entre um diéster derivado do ácido L-aspártico e a 2-lítio piridina. O rendimento global (13%, 5 etapas) foi semelhante ao previamente descrito por nosso grupo (12%, 10 etapas) para obtenção do isômero R (o primeiro agonista pleno exógeno de receptores do sub-tipo NMDA) a partir do D-manitol e ao da síntese racêmica relatada por Lovey e Copper (17%, 5 etapas).

Introduction

Around 99% of the essential amino acid L-tryptophan obtained in the diet is metabolized through the kynurenine pathway. Kynurenine (1a) is the first metabolite of tryptophan, being formed by oxidation of the indol ring by enzymes IDO (indoleamine dioxygenase) and TDO (tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase). This compound can be further transformed by the enzyme KAT (kynurenine aminotransferase) into kynurenic acid, a neuroprotector compound (Figure 1).¹ On the other hand, the enzyme kynurenine 3-hydroxilase oxidizes 1a into 3-hydroxykynurenine (1b), which is further transformed in quinolinic acid, a neurotoxic agent. Quinolinic acid can be alternatively formed from 1a by the action of kyrureninase. Thus, the inhibition of kyrureninase and kynurenine 3-hydroxylase drives the tryptophan metabolism toward kynurenic acid, leading to neuroprotection.¹

It was found that quinolinic acid acts as an agonist at NMDA sub-type of glutamate receptors at the CNS while kynurenic acid acts as an antagonist at the same receptors, suggesting that these pathways could be involved in synaptic plasticity and neurodegeneration.¹ These pathways are also important in the regulation of cell proliferation and present a multitude of potential sites for drug discovery in neuroscience, oncology and visceral pathology.² Some synthetic analogues of 1a (compounds 2-4, Figure 1) showed to be strong inhibitors of kynureninase,¹ significantly increasing the brain content of kynurenic acid and preventing the induction of seizures.

Some years ago compound (R)-5 (Figure 2) was tested on NMDA receptors from rat neurons in culture, using the patch-clamp electrophysiological technique. Whole-cell currents evoked by NMDA (10 µmol L^-1) were potentiated by the natural co-agonist glycine and also by (R)-5 in a concentration-dependent manner. When compared to glycine in the same cells, (R)-5 showed the same maximal response, but lower potency (50x larger mean effective concentration).^3,4 These data suggest that (R)-5 interacts with the glycine site (GlyB) of the NMDA and is the first exogen full agonist of this receptor described in the literature.^3,4 Confirming this view, currents induced by co-application of NMDA and (R)-5 were blocked by the selective GlyB antagonist 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid (5,7-DCKA 1 µmol L^-1).⁴

Compound (R)-5 (unnatural D-configuration), was designed and previously prepared by our group from an enoate derived from D-mannitol,³ in 12% overall yield after 10 steps.³ However, to obtain its enantiomer using the same strategy, the starting chiral enoate should be prepared from vitamin C, in more steps and lower yield.⁵ Lovey and Copper also synthetized 5 in 5 steps and 17% overall yield, however the a-amino acid was obtained in its racemic form.^6,7

The biological importance of (R)-5 as a neuroactive compound makes its synthesis a relevant task. In order to have a shorter enantioselective synthesis for this type of amino acid in both R and S configuration, we decided to use aspartic acid as starting material. We describe in this paper our efforts on the preparation of (S)-5 from more inexpensive L-aspartic acid. The key step proposed in this synthesis is a chemoselective nucleophilic substitution at a C4 methylester group in 6 and 7 by 2-lithiumpyridine, leading to a stable six membered chelated intermediates (Ia,b) which could be transformed into the corresponding ketone after workup (Figure 2). The role of b-amino groups in the control of the reaction course of an ester group toward ArLi species was previously described by our group in the synthesis of (R)-5 from D-mannitol.³

Results and Discussion

The chemical differentiation between the two carboxyl groups in aspartic acid is a key step to use this chiron, commercially available in L and D configuration, as starting material in organic synthesis.⁸ The monomethyl ester 6 and the diester 7 (Figure 2) were designed as appropriate intermediates for the syntheses of amino acids type 4 through chemoselective nucleophilic acyl-substitution and were easily prepared from aspartic acid.^8,10

We firstly used compound 6 as starting material, avoiding the steps of protection and deprotection at C1 acid group, which are required in the approach using 7. We realize that in basic medium the carboxy group in this intermediate would be transformed into the carboxylate, providing in situ protection of this group toward nucleophiles (Scheme 1). Firstly, we carried out the reaction using ⁿBuLi as a model and 6 in THF at –78 ºC, which led to ketone 8 in 38% yield. The formation of tertiary alcohol was not observed in the crude product. This ketone was transformed to corresponding methyl ester 9 with diazomethane (100%) to prove that the addition had occurred chemoselectively at carbonyl group C1 and the Boc group had been removed leading to amino acid 10. After these encouraging results, we tried the addition of 2-lithiumpyridine to monoester 6 under the same conditions to obtain 11, but unfortunately a complex mixture of products was formed in this case.

Our next goal was to use diester (S)-7 to obtain amino acid (S)-5. This compound was prepared from N-Boc derivative (S)-6 by esterification with tert-butanol in the presence of DCC (Scheme 2).⁹ The carboxy group in 6 presented low reactivity, requiring the use of 10 equiv. of tert-butanol to consume all starting material. Diester (S)-7 was then allowed to react with 2-lithiumpyridine at –78 ^oC leading to the product of chemoselective nucleophilic acyl substitution at the methyl ester group (S)-13, after acidic work-up. Also in this case the formation of tertiary alcohol was not observed in the crude product. The intermediate Ib is proposed to explain the exclusive formation of ketone 12. The corresponding amino acid (S)-5 was prepared as a salt by protecting group cleavage using trifluoracetic acid and H₂O in a 9:1 mixture.

Conclusions

Amino acid (S)-5 was prepared from commercially available aspartic acid in 12% overall yield in 5 steps, improving its stereoselective synthesis. Our approach allows the syntheses of both R and S enantiomers of 5 from the commercially available D and L aspartic acids, respectively.

Experimental

(S)- 4-Methyl N-tert-butoxycarbonyl aspartate, 6

Compound 6 was prepared according to literature.^{8,10 1}H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 4.42-4.34 (1H, m), 3.62 (3H, s), 2.89 (1H, dd, J 16.6 Hz, 4.4 Hz), 2,70 (1H, dd, J 16.6 Hz, 5.0 Hz), 1.3s (9H, s).

(S)-1-tert-Butyl-4-methyl N-tert-butoxycarbonyl aspartate, 7¹⁰

To a solution of monomethyl ester 6 (1.87g, 7.46 mmol) in dichlorometane (40 mL) were added tert-butanol (74.6 mmol) and DMAP (0.75 mmol). DCC (9.70 mmol) was added at the reaction mixture at 0 ºC, which was then stirred 5 min at 0 ºC and overnight at room temperature. Precipitated urea was filtered off and the solvent was removed by evaporation in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/hexane, 1:9) affording 7 as a solid (1.56 g, 70%). ¹H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 4.48-4.20 (1H, m), 3.71 (3H, s), 2.97 (1H, dd, J 17.9 Hz, 4.4 Hz), 2.77 (1H, dd, J 17.9 Hz, 4.8 Hz), 1.47 (18H, s).

(S)-2-N-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-4-oxooctanoic acid, 8

To a solution of monoester 6 (0.24 g; 0.97 mmol) in THF (1.95 mL) at –78 ºC ⁿBuLi 1.6 M (3.9 mmol) was slowly added. After 3h, the reaction was quenched with AcOH 20% v/v in THF. The medium was neutralized with NaHCO₃ 10%, the aqueous phase was separated, and extracted with AcOEt. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and the solvent was removed by evaporation in vacuo to give 8 (0.10 g, 38%). [α]_D = – 6.8° (c 1.8, CHCl₃); ¹H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 5.58 (1H, s), 4.54 (1H, m), 3.19 (1H, dd, J 18.0 Hz, 3.6 Hz), 2.95 (1H, dd, J 18.0 Hz, 3.8 Hz), 2.43 (2H, t, J 7.2 Hz), 1.44 (9H, s), 1.60-1.25 (4H, m), 0.90 (3H, t, J 7.2 Hz).

(S)-1-tert-Butyl-N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-4-oxo-4-(pyridin-2-yl) butanoate, 12

ⁿBuLi 3.13 mol L^-1 (1.2 mL; 3.76 mmol) was cooled at –78 ºC and diluted with 10 mL THF. A solution of 2-bromopyridine (0.35 mL; 3.66 mmol) in THF (3.6 mL) was then slowly added. After 15 min, a solution of diester 7 (0.32 g; 1.05 mmol) in THF (2.6 mL) was added dropwise. After 3h the reaction was quenched with AcOH 20% v/v in THF. The medium was neutralized with NaHCO₃ 10%, the aqueous phase was separated, and extracted with AcOEt. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and the solvent was removed by evaporation in vacuo. After flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/hexane, 1:9), 12 was obtained in 38% yield as viscous oil (0.14 g). [α]_D = – 2.34° (c 1.71, CHCl₃); ¹H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 8.70 (1H, d), 8.01 (1H, d), 7.84 (1H, t), 7.49 (1H, t), 4.67-4.63 (1H, m), 3.88 (1H, dd, J 18.1 Hz, 5.0 Hz), 3.65 (1H, dd, J 18.1 Hz, 4.5 Hz), 1.41 (18H, s). ¹³C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 199.4, 170.6, 155.5, 152.8, 149.0, 136.8, 127.3, 121.6, 81.8, 50.2, 40.4, 29.6, 28.2, 27.6.

(S)-2-Amino-4-oxo-4-(pyridin-2-yl) butanoic acid, 5

Ketone 12 (0.08 g) was dissolved in a mixture of trifluoroacetic acid-water (9:1). The resulting solution was stirred for 5 h and the solvent was evaporated in vacuo to furnish amino acid (S)-5 in 78% yield (0.055 g), as the corresponding monotrifluoroacetate salt (viscous oil). [α]_D = + 8.8° (c 1.4, CH₃OD); ¹H NMR (200 MHz, CH₃OD) δ (ppm): 8.73 (1H, d), 8.12 (1H, d), 8.01 (1H, t), 7.67 (1H, t), 4.54-4.49 (1H, m), 3.98-3.92 (2H, m); ¹³C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm): 198.7, 171.4, 153.3, 150.5, 138.8, 129.9, 129.5, 123.1, 76.7, 38.8, 30.8, 17.7.

Supplementary Information

Supplementary data are available free of charge at http://jbcs.sbq.org.br, as PDF file.

Acknowledgments

Financial supports were provided by CAPES, FAPERJ, CNPq and FINEP. Evanoel Crizanto de Lima and Paulo R. R. Costa thank to CNPq and Ayres G. Dias thanks to UERJ for fellowships. The authors also thank professor Alessandro B. C. Simas for helpful suggestions.

References

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7. Anothers analogues have also prepared in the literature: Pellicciari, R.; Gallo-Mezo, M. A.; Natalini, B.; Amer, A. M.; Tetrahedron Lett. 1992, 33, 3003; Rilatt, I.; Caggiano, L.; Jackson, R. F. W.; Synlett 2005, 2701; Deguest, G.; Bischoff, L.; Fruit, C.; Marsais, F.; Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 2006, 17, 2120; Golubev, A. S.; Sewald, N.; Burger, K.; Tetrahedron 1996, 52, 14757; Melillo, D. G.; Larsen, R. D.; Mathre, D. J.; Shukis, W. F.; Wood, A. W.; Colleluori, J. R.; J. Org. Chem. 1987, 52, 5143.

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Received: December 2, 2009

Web Release Date: March 4, 2010

Supplementary Information

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  13 July 2010
• Date of issue
  2010

History

• Received
  02 Dec 2009
• Accepted
  04 Mar 2010