A facile synthesis of fully protected meso-diaminopimelic acid (DAP) and its application to the preparation of lipophilic N-Acyl iE-DAP

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules18011162

Synthesis of beneficial protected meso-DAP 9 by cross metathesis of the Garner aldehyde-derived vinyl glycine 1b with protected allyl glycine 2 in the presence of Grubbs second-generation catalyst was performed. Preparation of lipophilic N-Acyl iE-DAP as potent agonists of NOD 1-mediated immune response from 9 is described.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules18011162

Molecules 2013, 18, 1162-1173; doi:10.3390/molecules18011162
OPEN ACCESS
molecules
ISSN 1420-3049
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
Article
A Facile Synthesis of Fully Protected meso-Diaminopimelic Acid
(DAP) and Its Application to the Preparation of Lipophilic
N-Acyl iE-DAP
Yukako Saito, Yuichi Yoshimura, Hideaki Wakamatsu and Hiroki Takahata *
Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Tohoku Pharmaceutical University, 4-4-1 Komatsushima, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981-8558, Japan;
E-Mails: yukako-s@tohoku-pharm.ac.jp (Y.S.); yoshimura@tohoku-pharm.ac.jp (Y.Y.);
hiwaka@tohoku-pharm.ac.jp (H.W.)
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: takahata@tohoku-pharm.ac.jp;
Tel./Fax: +81-22-727-0144.
Received: 5 December 2012; in revised form: 8 January 2013 / Accepted: 9 January 2013 /
Published: 16 January 2013
Abstract: Synthesis of beneficial protected meso-DAP 9 by cross metathesis of the Garner
aldehyde-derived vinyl glycine 1b with protected allyl glycine 2 in the presence of Grubbs
second-generation catalyst was performed. Preparation of lipophilic N-acyl iE-DAP as
potent agonists of NOD 1-mediated immune response from 9 is described.
Keywords: protected meso-diaminopimelic acid; N-acyl iE-DAP; cross metathesis
1. Introduction
Peptidoglycan (PGN) is an essential component of the cell walls of virtually all bacteria. The
function of the PGN is to preserve cell integrity by withstanding the internal osmotic pressure [1,2].
The biosynthesis of PGN is a well-recognized target for antibiotic development [3]. Bacterial cell wall
PGN can function as a potent immunostimulator and an adjuvant for antibody production. PGN partial
structures are recognized by the intracellular nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain proteins 1 and
2 (NOD1 and NOD2) that mediate host recognition of bacterial molecules [4–6]. The recognition core
of Nod1 stimulatory molecules is γ-D-glutamyl-meso-diaminopimelic acid (iE-DAP) which is a
constituent of most Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, synthetic, lipophilic,
N-acyl iE-DAP derivatives have been shown to be potent NOD 1 agonists [7]. Thus, DAP scaffold

Molecules 2013, 18
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peptides would be expected to function as NOD 1 agonists. In connection with our interest in the
synthesis of DAP [8], we report herein on a new synthesis of orthogonally protected meso-DAP and
applications to preparing N-acyl iE-DAP from protected iE-DAP (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Structures of meso-DAP and iE-DAP.
2. Results and Discussion
Because DAP-containing peptides such as iE-DAP and FK565 [9,10] have significant biological
activities and functions, the synthesis of orthogonally protected meso-DAP as synthetic intermediates
has been a subject of considerable interest by several groups [11–26]. However, available methods
suffer from several disadvantages, including the use of commercially inaccessible starting
materials, harsh reaction conditions, multi steps, and lower product yields. We envisaged that
orthogonally protected meso-DAP could be conveniently prepared by a cross metathesis (CM) between
the readily available Garner aldehyde-derived vinyl glycine equivalent 1 and protected allyl glycine 2
(Scheme 1).
Scheme 1. Cross metathesis of Garner aldehyde-derived vinyl glycine equivalents 1 and
protected allyl glycine 2.
A variety of substituted olefins 1a–e as vinyl glycine equivalents were obtained from the Garner
aldehyde in high yields according to the corresponding literature reports [27–31]. It is expected that a
homocoupling of 1 would scarcely occur due to a bulkiness of N-Boc-oxazolidine. First, a coupling
began with the CM of 1a with 2 [32,33]. Treatment of 1a (5 mmol) with 2 (1 mmol) using the Grubbs
second-generation catalyst A (5 mol%, Figure 2) in CH2Cl2 under reflux gave a desired product 3 in
56% together with homo-coupling products traces of 4 and 5 (22%) (entry 1 in Table 1).

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Figure 2. Catalysts for cross metathesis.
H3C
CH3
N
H3C
N
H3C
Cl
N
N
N
N
CH3
H3C
Cl
CH3
H3C
CH3
Cl
CH3
Ru
Cl
Ru
Ph
Cl
Ru
P
Cl
P
H3C
O
CH3
C
B
A : Grubbs 2nd generation
H3C
CH3
N
N
H3C
CH3
N
N
CH3
H3C
Cl
CH3
Ru
H3C
CH3
H3C
Cl
CH3
Ru
H3C
Cl
H3C
O
Cl
H3C
O
H3C
CH3
D : Hoveyda-Grubbs 2nd generation
E : Blechert' catalyst
Table 1. CM of 1a with 2.
Entry
1
Catalyst
Solvent
CH2Cl2
CH2Cl2
CH2Cl2
Toluene
Time (h)
Yield (%)
1
2
3
4
1a
1a
1a
1a
A
B
C
A
7
4.5
36
3
56
28
33
64
All reactions were carried out with a ratio (1a:2 = 5:1) under reflux.
Next, the use of a combination of catalysts B [34] and C [34] gave lower yields (28% and 33%) of
3, respectively (entries 2 and 3). On the other hand, when toluene was used as the solvent in place of
CH2Cl2, a higher yield (64%) of 3 was obtained (entry 4).
In addition, the use of CM using several substituted olefins 1b–e as vinyl glycine units in toluene
was examined and the results are shown in Table 2. The use of 1b (E:Z = 1:10) gave the best yield
(76%) of 3. Unfortunately, CM using other derivatives, such as 1c–e, resulted in lower yields (entries
4~6). Furthermore, the CM of 1b with the Hoveyda-Grubbs 2nd generation D [34] and the Blechert E [35]
catalysts afforded lower yields (56% and 9%), respectively. Accordingly CM in conjunction with a
combination of 1b and A as a catalyst resulted in better yields. Additionally, CM using the pure
E isomer and the Z isomer of 1b resulted in nearly the same yields (75%) (entry 7). Furthermore, the
CM in Table 2 produced no the homocoupling product 4 as expected.
With 3 in hand, our interest was focused on the synthesis of orthogonally protected meso-DAP. The
hydrogenation of 3 in the presence of PtO2 as a catalyst gave 6, which was transformed by hydrolysis
of the amino acetal with with p-TsOH in aqueous MeOH into the alcohol 7 in 81% yield in two steps.

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The primary alcohol of 7 was converted into the carboxylic acid 8 by oxidation with TEMPO, which
was esterfied, without isolation, with benzyl alcohol using our developed 1-tert-butoxy-2-tert-
butoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydroisoquinoline (BBDI) [36] to yield the fully protected meso-DAP 9 in 94%
yield in two-steps.
Table 2. CM of Garner aldehyde-derived vinyl glycine equivalents 1b–e with 2.
Entry
1
Catalyst
Time (h)
Yield (%)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1b
1b
1b
1c
1d
1e
A
D
E
A
A
A
A
4
3
4
4
3
3
4
76
56
9
trace
9
10
75
1b (E:Z = 10:1)
All reactions were carried out with a ratio (1:2 = 5:1) under reflux in toluene.
Having the desired 9 in hand, we embarked on the synthesis of N-acyl iE-DAP, which is known to
function as a strong agonist for the stimulation of NOD 1 [6]. Deprotection of the tert-butoxycarbonyl
group of 9 by treatment with trifluoroacetic acid followed by condensation of the resulting amine 10 [37]
with Fmoc-D-Glu-OBn [38,39] using EDC in the presence of HOBT and triethylamine gave the
protected iE-DAP 11 in 54% yield in two steps. Next, 11 was treated with diethylamine to afford the
deprotected amine 12, which was subsequently acylated with capryloyl chloride and myristoyl chloride
to produce the corresponding N-acyl derivatives 13 and 14 in 68% and 89% yields, respectively.
Finally, the deprotection of 13 and 14 with Pd(OH)2 as the catalyst under hydrogen gave N-capryloyl
iE-DAP 15 and N-myristoyl iE-DAP 16, respectively, in quantitative yields (Scheme 2).
Scheme 2. Synthesis of N-acyl iE-DAP.

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3. Experimental
3.1. General
Infrared (IR) spectra were recorded on a Perkin-Elmer 1600 series FT-IR spectrometer. Mass
spectra (MS) were recorded on a JEOL JMN-DX 303/JMA-DA 5000 spectrometer (Tokyo, Japan).
Microanalyses were performed on a Perkin-Elmer CHN 2400 Elemental Analyzer (Tokyo, Japan).
Optical rotations were measured with a JASCO DIP-360 or JASCO P-1020 digital polarimeter. Proton
nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectra were recorded on JEOL JNM-EX 270 (270 MHz) or
JEOL JNM-AL 400 (400 MHz) or JNM-LA (600 Mhz) spectrometer (Tokyo, Japan), using
tetramethylsilane as an internal standard. The following abbreviations are used: s = singlet, d = doublet,
t = triplet, q = quartet, m = multiplet, br = broad. Column chromatography was carried out on Merck
Silica gel 60 (230–400 mesh) or KANTO Silica Gel 60N (40–50 μm) for flash chromatography.
3.2. Synthesis
(S)-tert-butyl 2,2-dimethyl-4-vinyloxazolidine-3-carboxylate (1a) [27], (S)-tert-butyl 2,2-dimethyl-4-
(prop-1-en-1-yl)oxazolidine-3-carboxylate (1b) [28], (S)-tert-butyl 4-(3-ethoxy-3-oxoprop-1-en-1-yl)-
2,2-dimethyloxazolidine-3-carboxylate (1c) [29], (S)-tert-butyl 4-(3-hydroxyprop-1-en-1-yl)-2,2-
dimethyloxazolidine-3-carboxylate (1d) [30], (S)-tert-butyl 2,2-dimethyl-4-styryloxazolidine-3-
carboxylate (1e) [31] and (S)-benzyl 2-(((benzyloxy)carbonyl)amino)pent-4-enoate (2) [32,33] were
prepared by the reported procedures.
(S)-tert-Butyl 4-((R)-5-(benzyloxy)-4-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)-5-oxopent-1-enyl)-2,2-dimethyl-
oxazolidine-3-carboxylate (3), (4S,4'S)-di-tert-butyl 4,4'-((E)-ethene-1,2-diyl)bis(2,2-
dimethyloxazolidine-3-carboxylate) (4), and (2R,7R,E)-dibenzyl 2,7-
bis(((benzyloxy)carbonyl)amino)oct-4-enedioate (5)
To a solution of N-Cbz-(R)-allylglycine benzyl ester (124 mg, 0.36 mmol) and (Z)-(S)-N-Boc-2,2-
dimethyl-4-(1-propenyl)oxazolidine (408 mg, 1.8 mmol) in dry CH2Cl2 (1.8 mL) was added
tricyclohexylphosphine[1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-yl-idene][benzylidine]-
ruthenium (IV) dichloride (2nd Grubbs catalyst) (15 mg, 0.018 mmol). After the mixture was refluxed
for 7 h, the solvent was evaporated. The residue was chromatographed using (n-hexane/AcOEt = 2:1)
as eluent to yield 4 (17 mg), 3 (109 mg, 56%), and 5 (26 mg, 22%).
3: [α]25 +9.73° (c 1.49, CHCl3). IR (neat) cm−1: 3329, 2937, 1726, 1697, 1389, 1366, 1255, 1176.
D
1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3)  1.31–1.56 (15H, m), 2.53–2.60 (2H, m), 3.62 (1H, dd, J = 2.17, 8.93 Hz),
3.97 (1H, dd, J = 6.04, 8.94 Hz), 4.17 (0.5H, br s), 4.30 (0.5H, br s), 4.44–4.49 (1H, m), 5.06–5.24
(4H, m), 5.35–5.56 (3H, m), 7.34 (10H, s). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3)  23.4, 24.8, 26.5, 27.2, 28.1,
28.3, 34.6, 58.6, 66.7, 66.8, 67.0, 67.8, 67.9, 68.1, 79.5, 80.1, 93.4, 93.8, 125.1, 125.6, 128.0, 128.1,
128.1, 128.4, 128.5, 134.1, 135.1, 136.0, 151.7, 155.6, 171.3. EI-MS m/z 538 (M+). Anal. Calcd for
C30H38N2O7: C, 66.90; H, 7.11; N, 5.20. Found : C, 66.80; H, 7.31; N, 5.38.

Molecules 2013, 18
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4: [α]23D +31.5° (c 0.9, CHCl3). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) 1.43–1.83 (30H, m), 3.37 (2H, d, J = 8.7 Hz),
4.03–4.05 (2H, m), 4.29–4.44 (2H, m), 5.59 (1H, br s). EI-MS m/z 426 (M+). HRMS Calcd for
C22H38N2O6: 426.2730. Found 426.2728.
5: m.p. 73–74 °C. [α]24D −4.31° (c 1.05, CHCl3). IR (KBr) cm−1: 3320, 3064, 3035, 2956, 1741, 1692,
1
1536, 1346, 1262, 1221, 1052. H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3)  2.35–2.46 (4H, m), 4.40–4.45 (2H, m),
5.08–5.18 (8H, m), 5.24–5.26 (2H, m), 5.40 (2H, br d, J = 7.73 Hz), 7.32 (20H, s). 13C-NMR (100 MHz,
CDCl3) 35.3, 53.4, 66.9, 67.2, 128.1, 128.1, 128.4, 128.5, 128.5 128.6, 135.2, 136.2, 155.7, 171.4.
EI-MS m/z 650 (M+). HRMS Calcd for C38H38N2O8: 650.2628. Found 650.2624.
To a solution of N-Cbz-(R)-allylglycine benzyl ester (139 mg, 0.41 mmol) and (Z)-(S)-N-Boc-2,2-
dimethyl-4-(1-propenyl)oxazolidine (497 mg, 2.06 mmol) in dry toluene(3 mL) was added 2nd Grubbs
catalyst (18 mg, 0.021 mmol). After the mixture was refluxed for 4 h, the solvent was evaporated. The
residue was chromatographed using (n-hexane/AcOEt = 3:1) as eluent to yield 3 (168 mg, 76%).
(2R,6S)-Benzyl 2-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)-6-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-7-hydroxyheptanoate (6)
A mixture of 3 (263 mg, 0.49 mmol) in the presence of PtO2 (1.8 mg, 0.02 mmol) under hydrogen
atomosphere in AcOEt (3.5 mL) was stirred for 14 h at room temperature. After the mixture was
filtered through Celite, the filtrate was evaporated to provide (S)-tert-Butyl 4-((R)-5-(benzyloxy)-4-
(benzyloxycarbonylamino)-5-oxopentyl)-2,2-dimethyloxazolidine-3-carboxylate (6) (257 mg, 97%) as
an oil. [α]25D +11.18° (c 1.2, CHCl3). IR (neat) cm−1: 3340, 2979, 2938, 1695, 1532, 1456, 1392, 1366,
1257, 1210, 1174. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3)  1.26–1.84 (21H, m), 3.61–3.67 (1.5H, m), 3.82 (1H,
br s), 4.41 (1H, br s), 5.09 (2H, s), 5.15 (2H, s), 5.42 (0.5H, br d, J = 7.25 Hz), 5.60 (0.5H, br d,
13
J = 6.76 Hz), 7.33 (10H, s). C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3)  21.8, 23.1, 24.4, 26.7, 27.5, 28.3, 29.6,
32.0, 32.4, 32.5, 33.1, 53.8, 56.8, 57.0, 66.7, 66.8, 66.9, 67.1, 79.4, 80.1, 93.1, 93.6, 128.0, 128.2,
128.4, 128.5, 135.2, 139.2, 152.3, 155.9, 172.1. EI-MS m/z 540 (M+).
Seven drops of water were added to a mixture of carboxylic acid (299 mg, 0.55 mmol) and
p-TsOH·H2O (0.07 mmol, 13 mg) in MeOH (5 mL) and then the mixture was stirred for 36 h at room
temperature. The whole was evaporated. AcOEt (40 mL) was added to the residue. The mixture was
successively washed with sat. NaHCO3 (10 mL) and brine (10 mL), dried over Na2SO4, and
evaporated. The residue was purified with chromatography using (n-hexane/AcOEt = 1:1) as eluent to
yield 6 (225 mg, 81%) as solid. M.p. 66–67 °C. [α]25 −2.27° (c 1.0, CHCl3). IR (KBr) cm−1: 3353,
D
2939, 1742, 1694, 1537, 1289, 1247, 1171, 1048. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3)  1.31–1.42 (13H, m),
1.54–1.70 (1H, m), 1.80–1.89 (1H, m), 3.45–3.55 (3H, m), 4.39–4.44 (1H, m), 4.83 (1H, br s), 5.09
(2H, s), 5.12–5.21 (2H, m), 5.57 (1H, br s), 7.30–7.36 (10H, m). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3)  21.3,
28.3, 30.5, 32.5, 52.0, 53.3, 64.5, 67.0, 67.1, 79.4, 128.0, 128.1, 128.2, 128.4, 128.4, 128.6, 135.2,
136.1, 156.2, 156.2, 172.2. EI-MS m/z 500 (M+). HRMS Calcd for C27H36N2O7: 500.2523. Found
500.2503.

Molecules 2013, 18
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(2R,6S)-Dibenzyl 2-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)-6-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)heptanedioate (9)
2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPO) (7 mg, 0.045 mmol) and 2 M NaClO2 (0.43 mL,
0.86 mmol) were added to a solution of 7 (225 mg, 0.45 mmol) in MeCN: sodium phosphate buffer
consisted of a 1:1 mixture of 0.67 M NaH2PO4 and 0.67 M Na2HPO4 (pH = 6.5 ) (3:2, 6.5 mL) at 40 °C.
A diluted solution of commercial bleach (25.5 μL) in H2O (485 μL) was then added to the gradually
over 0.5 h, and the reaction was stirred at 40 °C for 18 h. The reaction was cooled to room temperature
and quenched with sat. aq. Na2SO3 until the mixture became colorless. The solvent was evaporated,
the aqueous mixture acidified to pH < 3 with 1 M HCl and extracted with ether (10 mL) five times.
Organic layers were washed with brine, dried overNa2SO4 and evaporated to yield (2S,6R)-7-
(benzyloxy)-6-(((benzyloxy)carbonyl)amino)-2-((tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino)-7-oxoheptanoic acid (8).
Without further purification, a mixture of 8 and BBDI (164 mg, 0.54 mmol) and benzyl alcohol (48 mg,
0.45 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (2 mL) was stirred for 19 h at room temperature. AcOEt (40 mL) was added to
the mixture and the whole was successively washed with 5% HCl (10 mL) and brine (10 mL). The
solvent was dried over Na2SO4 and evaporated. The residue was purified with chromatography using
n-hexane/AcOEt (3:1) to yield 7 (256 mg, 94%, 2 steps). M.p. 82–83 °C. [α]24D −0.28° (c 1.4, CHCl3).
1
IR (neat) cm−1: 3345, 2955, 1741, 1716, 1525, 1367, 1215, 1167. H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) 
1.22–1.42 (11H, m), 1.53–1.67 (2H, m), 1.75–1.88 (2H, m), 4.26–4.31 (1H, m), 4.34–4.39 (1H, m),
5.02 (1H, br d, J = 7.25 Hz), 5.06–5.20 (6H, m), 5.33 (1H, br d, J = 7.25 Hz), 7.26–7.34 (15H, m).
13C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3)  20.8, 28.2, 31.8, 32.1, 53.0, 53.6, 67.0, 67.1, 79.9, 128.1, 128.1, 128.3,
128.4, 128.5, 128.6, 128.6, 135.2, 135.3, 136.1, 155.4, 155.9, 172.0, 172.3. EI-MS m/z 604 (M+). Anal.
Calcd for C34H40N2O8: C, 67.53; H, 6.67; N, 4.63. Found: C, 67.29; H, 6.81; N, 4.43.
(2S,6R)-Dibenzyl 2-((R)-4-(((9H-fluoren-9-yl)methoxy)carbonylamino)-5-(benzyloxy)-5-oxopentan-
amido)-6-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)heptanedioate (11)
TFA (0.6 mL) was added to a mixture of 9 (78 mg, 0.13 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (0.7 mL) and then the
mixture was stirred for 2 h at room temperature. CH2Cl2 (5 mL) was added to the reaction mixture and
the whole neutralized with sat. NaHCO3. The mixture was extracted with CH2Cl2, dried over Na2SO4
and evaporated to yield an amine 10. Fmoc-D-Glu benzyl ester (59 mg, 0.129 mmol) was added to a
solution of the prepared amine 10 in DMF (1.5 mL). Et3N (20 μL, 0.142 mmol), HOBt (21 mg,
0.155 mmol), and EDC·HCl (27 mg, 0.142 mmol) were successively added to the mixture at −20 °C.
The reaction was stirred for 20 min at the same temperature and then was done at room temperature for
20 h. After addition of AcOEt (100 mL), the mixture was successively washed with 1 N HCl, brine
(10 mL × 2), water (10 mL), and 5% NaHCO3 (10 mL). The organic layer was dried over Na2SO4 and
evaporated. The residue was purified with chromatography using (n-hexane/AcOEt = 1:1) as eluent to
yield 11 (70 mg, 57%, 2 steps) as an oil. [α]23D −2.0° (c 1.6, CHCl3). IR (neat) cm−1: 3367, 2920, 2851,
1
1734, 1722, 1662, 1534, 1250, 1211. H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3)  1.30–1.39 (1H, m), 1.56–1.67
(3H, m), 1.77–1.84 (2H, m), 1.91–2.00 (1H, m), 2.20 (3H, br s), 4.14–4.19 (1H, m), 4.32–4.48 (3H,
m), 4.55 (1H, dd, J = 7.24, 13.04 Hz), 5.06–5.18 (9H, m), 5.34 (1H, br d, J = 7.24 Hz), 5.71(1H, br d,
J = 7.73 Hz), 6.51 (1H, br d, J = 6.76 Hz), 7.29–7.40 (24H, m), 7.58 (2H, br d, J = 7.25 Hz), 7.75 (2H,
br d, J = 7.73 Hz). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3)  20.8, 28.6, 31.3, 31.9, 32.0, 47.1, 51.9, 53.3, 53.5,

Molecules 2013, 18
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66.9, 67.0, 67.1, 119.9, 119.9, 125.1, 127.0, 127.7, 128.0, 128.1, 128.2, 128.2, 128.4, 128.5, 128.6,
135.1, 135.2, 135.2, 136.1, 141.2, 141.2, 143.6, 143.8, 156.0, 156.3, 171.8, 171.8, 171.9, 171.9.
FAB-MS m/z 946 (M++1). HRMS Calcd for C56H55N3O11: 946.3870. Found 946.3934.
(2S,6R)-Dibenzyl 2-((R)-4-heptanecarbonylamino-5-(benzyloxy)-5-oxopentanamido)-6-
(benzyloxycarbonylamino)heptanedioate (13)
Et2NH (2.5 mL) was gradually added to a solution of 11 (62 mg, 0.066 mmol) in THF (1 mL) with
ice cooling over 20 min. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 3 h and then was evaporated.
The residue was purified with chromatography using (CHCl3/MeOH = 100:1) as eluent to yield (2S,6R)-
Dibenzyl 2-((R)-4-amino-5-(benzyloxy)-5-oxopentanamido)-6-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)heptanedioate
(12). [α]24D −3.1° (c 1.0, CHCl3). IR (neat) cm−1: 3309, 2925, 1739, 1648, 1534, 1215. 1H-NMR (400 MHz,
CDCl3)  1.21–1.41 (2H, m), 1.56–1.66 (3H, m), 1.74–1.83 (3H, m), 2.06–2.11 (1H, m), 2.21–2.28
(1H, m), 2.32–2.38 (1H, m), 3.45–3.49 (1H, m), 4.32–4.37 (1H, m), 4.55–4.60 (1H, m), 5.07–5.15
13
(8H, m), 5.38 (1H, br d, J = 7.73 Hz), 6.59 (1H, br d, J = 7.73 Hz), 7.30–7.33 (20H, m). C-NMR
(100 MHz, CDCl3)  20.8, 29.7, 31.6, 31.9, 32.4, 51.7, 53.5, 53.5, 66.7, 67.0, 67.1, 67.1, 128.0, 128.1,
128.2, 128.3, 128.3, 128.4, 128.4, 128.5, 128.6, 128.6, 135.2, 135.5, 136.1, 156.0, 172.0, 172.0, 172.1,
175.4. FAB-MS m/z 724 (M++1). HRMS Calcd for C41H45N3O9: 724.3189. Found 724.3230.
Et3N (9 μL, 0.063 mmol) and n-octanoyl chloride (9 μL, 0.053 mmol) were added to a solution of
the amine 12 in CH2Cl2 (1 mL) with ice cooling. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 7 h
and then evaporated. After addition of AcOEt (30 mL), the mixture was washed with 10% citric acid
(10 mL) and brine (10 mL). The organic solvent was dried over Na2SO4 and evaporated. The residue
was purified with chromatography using (n-hexane/AcOEt = 1:1)) as eluent to yield 13 (38 mg, 68%,
2 steps) as an oil. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3)  0.87 (3H, t, J = 6.76 Hz), 1.19–1.41 (8H, m), 1.54–1.71
(6H, m), 1.75–1.93 (2H, m), 2.16–2.24 (6H, m), 4.33–4.38 (1H, m), 4.55 (1H, dd, J = 7.25, 12.57 Hz),
4.73–4.77 (1H, m), 5.09–5.15 (8H, m), 5.50 (1H, br d, J = 8.21 Hz), 6.46 (1H, br d, J = 7.25 Hz), 7.04
(1H, br d, J = 7.73 Hz), 7.29–7.33 (20H, m). FAB-MS m/z 850 (M++1). HRMS Calcd for
C49H59N3O10: 850.4234. Found 850.4278.
(2S,6R)-Dibenzyl 2-((R)-4-tridecanecarbonylamino-5-(benzyloxy)-5-oxopentanamido)-6-
(benzyloxycarbonylamino)heptanedioate (14)
According to the procedure described for a preparation of 13, a treatment of 11 (71 mg, 0.075 mmol)
with Et2NH (2 mL) gave 12 (39 mg, 72%), which was converted with Et3N (8 μL, 0.058 mmol) and
myristoyl chloride (16 μL, 0.058 mmol) into 14 (40 mg, 89%) as a solid. M.p. 90–92 °C. [α]27D −4.6°
(c 1.3, CHCl3). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3)  1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3)  0.88 (3H, t, J = 6.76 Hz),
1.24–1.41 (22H, m), 1.56–1.92 (8H, m), 2.16–2.23 (4H, m), 4.33–4.36 (1H, m), 4.53–4.58 (1H, m),
4.71–4.77 (1H, m), 5.07–5.18 (8H, m), 5.55 (1H, br d, J = 8.21 Hz), 6.51 (1H, br d, J = 7.73 Hz), 7.06
(1H, br d, J = 7.73 Hz), 7.29–7.32 (20H, m). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3)  14.1, 21.0, 22.6, 25.6,
29.0, 29.2, 29.3, 29.3, 29.5, 29.6, 29.6, 29.6, 31.1, 31.8, 31.9, 32.2, 36.5, 51.6, 52.0, 53.6, 67.0, 67.0,
67.1, 67.3, 128.0, 128.1, 128.2, 128.4, 128.4, 128.5, 128.6, 128.6, 135.1, 135.2, 135.3, 136.2, 156.0,
172.0, 172.1, 173.9. FAB-MS m/z 935 (M++2). Anal. Calcd for C55H71N3O10: C, 70.71; H, 7.66; N,
4.50. Found C, 70.73; H, 7.90; N, 4.48.

Molecules 2013, 18
1170
(2R,6S)-2-Amino-6-((R)-4-carboxy-4-octanamidobutanamido)heptanedioic acid (15)
A suspension of 13 (34 mg, 0.04 mmol) in the presence Pd(OH)2 (25 mg) under hydrogen
atomosphere in MeOH (1.5 mL) was stirred for 3 h. The mixture was filtered through Celite. The
filtrate was evaporate to yield 15 quantitatively as an oil. [α]23 −1.3° (c 1.0, MeOH:CHCl3 = 1:1).
D
1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3)  0.90 (3H, t, J = 6.28 Hz), 1.31–1.32 (10H, m), 1.52–1.64 (4H, m),
1.73–1.76 (1H, m), 1.85–2.04 (4H, m), 2.14–2.19 (1H, m), 2.23–2.27 (2H, m), 2.35–2.38 (2H, m), 3.68
(br s, 1H), 4.37–4.40 (2H, m). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3)  14.4, 22.6, 23.7, 26.9, 28.7, 30.2, 30.3,
31.6, 32.3, 32.9, 33.1, 36.9, 53.5, 53.6, 55.4, 173.8, 175.0, 175.4, 175.6, 176.4. FAB-MS m/z 446
(M++1).
(2R,6S)-2-Amino-6-((R)-4-carboxy-4-tetradecanamidobutanamido)heptanedioic acid (16)
A suspension of 14 (32 mg, 0.034 mmol) in the presence Pd(OH)2 (20 mg) under hydrogen
atomosphere in MeOH (1.5 mL) was stirred for 3 h. The mixture was filtered through Celite. The
filtrate was evaporate to yield 16 quantitatively as an oil. IR (neat) cm−1: 3425, 2919, 2850, 1710,
1637, 1538. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CD3OD)  0.89 (3H, t, J = 6.76 Hz), 1.28–1.31 (20H, m), 1.52–1.63
(4H, m), 1.69–1.79 (1H, m), 1.83–2.02 (4H, m), 2.14–2.18 (1H, m), 2.24 (2H, t, J = 7.25 Hz), 2.36
13
(2H, t, J = 7.49 Hz), 3.78–3.81 (1H, m), 4.36–4.44 (2H, m). C-NMR (100 MHz, CD3OD)  14.4,
22.6, 23.7, 26.9, 28.6, 30.3, 30.5, 30.5, 30.7, 30.8, 30.8, 30.8, 31.3, 32.2, 33.1, 33.1, 36.8, 53.3, 53.4,
54.7, 172.9, 175.0, 175.1, 175.3, 176.5. FAB-MS m/z 530 (M++1). HRMS Calcd for C26H47N3O8:
530.3447. Found 530.3397.
4. Conclusions
In summary, a concise synthesis of N-acyl iE-DAP was accomplished starting from the protected
meso-DAP 9 as a convenient synthon via the use of CM between the Garner aldehyde-derived vinyl
glycine 1b and the protected allyl glycine 2 in nine steps in yields in the range of 22%~29%.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported in part by a grant of Strategic Research Foundation Grant-aided Project
for Private Universities from Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science, and Technology, Japan
(MEXT).
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