The synthesis of novel chiral coumarins functionalized with proteinogenic amino acid side chains via N-protected γ-amino-β-keto esters and their incorporation into the cell permeable HIV-1 TAT peptide through the modified solid phase peptide synthesis are described.

A copper-catalyzed cascade reaction of α,β-unsaturated esters with keto esters is reported. It features a copper-catalyzed reductive aldolization followed by a lactonization. This method provides a facile approach to prepare γ-carboxymethyl-γ-lactones and δ-carboxymethyl-δ-lactones under mild reaction conditions.

A facile synthetic route for the preparation of N-protected γ-amino β-keto esters from amino aldehydes and ethyl diazoacetate is described. The two component coupling is facilitated by tin(II) chloride followed by semipinacol rearrangement leading to the product in quantitative yield. The reaction is mild, instantaneous and compatible with Boc-, Fmoc- and Cbz-amino protecting groups.

To All(oc) involved: A palladium-catalyzed formal 5-endo-trig heteroannulation of enones generated in situ from amino acid derived β-keto nitriles has been realized (see scheme; Alloc=allyl carbamate). The reaction proceeds with allyl-group transfer from the carbamate protecting group to generate two new contiguous stereocenters, including one quaternary center, with high selectivity.

Background Interests in renewable fuels have exploded in recent years as the serious effects of global climate change become apparent. Microbial production of high-energy fuels by economically efficient bioprocesses has emerged as an attractive alternative to the traditional production of transportation fuels. Here, we engineered Pichia pastoris, an industrial workhorse in heterologous enzyme p...

The general method for the tandem phosphination-decarboxylation-oxidation of alkynyl acids under aerobic conditions has been developed. In the presence of CuSO4·5H2O and TBHP, the reactions provide a novel access to β-ketophosphine oxides in good to excellent yields. This transformation allows the direct formation of a P-C bond and the construction of a keto group in one reaction.

We disclose herein a highly enantioselective de novo-synthesis of chiral 1-cyclopentenyl-α-keto esters starting from a simple bis-silyl-1,3-dienediolate and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes via a domino vinylogous Michael-intramolecular Knoevenagel-type condensation. The cyclopentenes proved to be highly versatile and were readily converted into various structural motifs.