Mitsuru Kawada

Enantioselective hydrogenation of β-keto esters catalyzed by P-chiral bis(dialkylphosphino)ethanes-Ru(II)

Abstract Asymmetric hydrogenation of keto esters using a BisP ∗ RuBr 2 catalyst is reported. High enantioselectivities up to 98% were achieved in the hydrogenation of β-keto esters.

Kinetic Resolution of an Indan Derivative Using Bacillus sp.SUI-12 : Synthesis of a Key Intermediate of the Melatonin Receptor Agonist TAK-375

The chiral indan derivative (S)-2 (2-[(8S)-1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[5,4-b]furan-8-yl]ethyl-amine) was synthesized by enzyme-catalyzed asymmetric hydrolysis of the racemic acetamide 1 (N-[2-(1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[5,4-b]furan-8-yl)ethyl]acetamide). The reaction was carried out using Bacillus sp. SUI-12 screened for the ability to hydrolyze 1 to give (S)-2 with high enantioselectivity. In a scaled-up experiment, a low reaction rate was observed. However, by changing the culture medium and the reaction conditions, it became possible to run the reaction to 40% conversion on a 10-g or more scale, obtaining (S)-2 at >;99% enantiomeric excess (ee). The (S)-2 obtained was available for the synthesis of the melatonin receptor agonist TAK-375 (N-[2-[(8S)-1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[5,4-b]furan-8-yl]ethyl]propanamide).

Effects of Q metabolites and related compounds on mitochondrial succinate and NADH oxidase systems

The effects of Q metabolites (Q acid-I, Q acid-II) and related compounds (dihydro Q acid-I, dehydro Q acid-II, QS-n, and their esters) on mitochondrial succinate and NADH oxidase systems were investigated. The activity restoring succinate oxidation in acetone-treated beef heart mitochondria was found to decrease with descending order of carbon number (n) of the side chain of the Q metabolites; activity was restored with Q acid-I (n = 7) to one-third as much as that with Q-7 and Q-10, but Q acid-II (n = 5) did not restore any activity. Of the related compounds with a carboxyalkyl group (QS-n), QS-16-QS-18 (n = 16-18) were found to be most active, and their activities were also correlated with n. The relationship between the restoration of activity and the partition coefficient was considered. NADH oxidation in pentane-treated beef heart submitochondrial particles could be restored with esters of low molecular weight quinones to the same extent as with Q-10, but not with the metabolites.

Purification and Characterization of Ethyl 2-Methyl-3-oxobutanoate Reductase from Klebsiella pheumoniae IFO3319

An enzyme that catalyzes a reduction of ethyl 2-methyl-3-oxobutanoate (1) to ethyl (2R,3S) 3-hydroxy- 2-methylbutanoate was found in Klebsiella pneumoniae IFO 3319 cells. The enzyme was isolated from the cells and purified 250-fold by ammonium sulfate fractionation, ion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography, and gel filtration. The purified enzyme was found to be a monomer protein with a molecular weight of approximately 31,000 and an isoelectric point of 6.2. It was NADPH-dependent and had maximum activity at pH 7.0 and 45°C for the reduction and at pH 10.0 and 45°C for oxidation. The Kms at pH 7.0 were 5.6 mM for 1 and 12.5 mM for benzyl 2-methyl-3-oxobutanoate, respectively. Esters of 2-oxocycloalkane carboxylic acids as well as esters of 2-methyl-3-oxobutanoic acid served as substrates, and the corresponding reduced products were obtained with high stereoselectivity.