Direct Biomimetic Synthesis of β-Carboline Alkaloids from Two Amino Acids

J Org Chem. 2018 Oct 5;83(19):12247-12254. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.8b01668. Epub 2018 Sep 6.

Abstract

The increasing importance of enzyme mimics in organic synthesis inspired us to design a novel biomimetic synthesis of β-carboline alkaloids directly from tryptophan and a second amino acid. This novel one-pot protocol utilizes abundant and readily available starting materials and thus presents a green and user-friendly alternative to conventional methods that rely on stepwise synthesis. Driven by molecular iodine and TFA, decarboxylation, deamination, Pictet-Spengler reaction, and oxidation reactions proceeded sequentially, transforming biomass amino acids into value-added alkaloid motifs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / chemical synthesis*
  • Alkaloids / chemistry*
  • Biomimetics*
  • Carbolines / chemistry*
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Tryptophan / chemistry*

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Carbolines
  • Tryptophan