Samit Kumar Dutta

Radical-induced Opening of Trisubstituted Epoxides: Application in the Synthesis of C1–C12 Segment of Epothilones

Abstract Diastereo- and regioselective opening of a trisubstituted epoxy ketone at the more substituted carbon using samarium(II) iodide presents an alternate approach to the C 5 –C 7 aldol moiety with β-hydroxyketo framework in the stereoselective synthesis of C 1 –C 12 segment of epothilones.

Self-Assembling Cyclic Tetrapeptide from Alternating C-Linked Carbo-β-amino Acid [(S)-β-Caa] and α-Aminoxy Acid [(R)-Ama]: A Selective Chloride Ion Receptor

A cyclic tetrapeptide is prepared from alternating (S)-beta-Caa (C-linked carbo-beta-amino acid) and (R)-Ama (alpha-aminoxy acid). Extensive NMR (in CDCl(3) solution) and mass spectral (MS) studies show its halide binding capacity, with a special affinity to the chloride ion. At higher concentration it was found to form molecular aggregates as evidenced from transmission electron microscopic and atomic force microscopic analysis, confirming the formation of nanorods.

Chirality and template-mediated induction of helical preferences in achiral β-peptides.

This study describes chirality- or template-mediated helical induction in achiral β-peptides for the first time. A strategy of end capping β-peptides derived from β-hGly (the smallest achiral β-amino acid) with a chiral β-amino acid that possesses a carbohydrate side chain (β-Caa; C-linked carbo β-amino acid) or a small, robust helical template derived from β-Caas, was adopted to investigate folding propensity. A single chiral (R)-β-Caa residue at the C- or N-terminus in these oligomers led to a preponderance of right-handed 12/10-helical folds, which was reiterated more strongly in peptides capped at both the C- and N-terminus. Likewise, the presence of a template (a 12/10-helical trimer) at both the C- and N-terminus resulted in a very robust helix. The propagation of the helical fold and its sustenance was found in a homo-oligomeric sequence with as many as seven β-hGly residues. In both cases, the induction of helicity was stronger from the N terminus, whereas an anchor at the C terminus resulted in reduced helical propensity. Although these oligomers have been theoretically predicted to favor a 12/10-mixed helix in apolar solvents, this study provides the first experimental evidence for their existence. Diastereotopicity was found in both the methylene groups of the β-hGly moieties due to chirality. Additionally, the β-hGly units have shown split behavior in the conformational space to accommodate the 12/10-helix. Thus, end capping to assist chiralty- or template-mediated helical induction and stabilization in achiral β-peptides is a very attractive strategy.