NH), 7.45–7.65 (m, 3 H, Ar), 7.8–8.1 (m, 3 H, Ar), 8.65–8.75 (m,
1 H, Ar); m/z (FAB) 358 (10%, MH), 302 (70, M Ϫ C4H8 ), 258
(100, M Ϫ C4H8OCO); [α]2D0 ϩ18.0 (c 0.3, dichloromethane).
MHz, CDCl3 ) 1.4 [s, 9 H, C(CH3 )3 ], 3.3–3.7 [m, 2 H, C(3)H], 3.7
(s, 3 H, OCH3 ), 4.6 [m, 1 H, C(2)H], 5.6 (d, 1 H, J 8, NH), 6.6
(m, 2 H, NH2 ), 7.4–7.8 (m, 4 H, Ph); m/z (FAB) 323 (40%, MH),
267 (35, M Ϫ C4H8 ), 223 (75, M Ϫ C4H8OCO); [α]2D0 ϩ3.0 (c
0.15, dichloromethane).
(S)-Methyl
2-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-oxo-4-(4Ј-
methylphenyl)butanoate 8c. Using 4-iodotoluene 7c, the ketone
8c (77 mg, 39%) was isolated as a brown oil (Found: Mϩ Ϫ
CO2CH3, 265.0937. C13H15NO5 requires M, 265.0950); νmax(cap.
film)/cmϪ1 3440 (N᎐H), 1748 (C᎐O), 1717 (C᎐O), 1682 (C᎐O);
(2S)-Methyl
2-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-oxo-4-(2Ј-
fluorophenyl)butanoate 8j. Using 2-fluoroiodobenzene 7j, the
ketone 8j (71.4 mg, 29%) was isolated as a yellow oil (Found:
᎐
᎐
᎐
δH (200 MHz, CDCl3 ) 1.4 [s, 9 H, C(CH3 )3 ], 2.4 (s, 3 H, CH3 ),
3.45–3.75 [m, 2 H, C(3)H], 3.75 (s, 3 H, OCH3 ), 4.65 [m, 1 H,
C(2)H], 5.6 (d, 1 H, J 8, NH), 7.25 (d, 2 H, J 7, Ph), 7.8 (d, 2 H,
J 7, Ph); m/z (FAB) 322.5 (30%, M), 266.4 (100, M Ϫ CO2CH3 ),
222.5 (95, M Ϫ C4H8OCO); [α]2D0 ϩ11.0 (c 0.3, dichloromethane).
M
ϩ Ϫ CO2Me, 266.1184. C14H17FNO3 requires M, 266.1192);
νmax(cap. film)/cmϪ1 3440 (N᎐H), 1748 (C᎐O), 1717 (C᎐O), 1682
᎐
᎐
(C᎐O); δ (200 MHz, CDCl ) 1.4 [s, 9 H, C(CH ) ], 3.4–3.8 [m,
᎐
H
3
3 3
2 H, C(3)H], 3.7 (s, 3 H, OCH3 ), 4.7 [m, 1 H, C(2)H], 5.6 (d, 1 H,
J 8.5, NH), 7.1–7.3 (m, 2 H, Ph), 7.45–7.6 (m, 1 H, Ph), 7.8–7.95
(m, 1 H, Ph); m/z (FAB) 326 (40%, MH), 270 (35, M Ϫ C4H8 ),
226 (75, M Ϫ C4H8OCO); [α]2D0 ϩ21.2 (c 0.5, dichloromethane).
(2S)-Methyl
2-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-oxo-4-(2Ј-
methoxyphenyl)butanoate 8d. Using 2-iodoanisole 7d, the
ketone 8d (127 mg, 50%) was isolated as a yellow oil (Found:
(2S)-Methyl
2-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-oxo-4-(3Ј-
M
ϩ Ϫ C5H8O2, 237.1004. C12H15NO4 requires M, 237.1001);
fluorophenyl)butanoate 8k. Using 3-fluoroiodobenzene 7k, the
ketone 8k (30 mg, 12%) was isolated as a yellow oil (Found: C,
59.5; H, 6.3; N, 3.9; Mϩ Ϫ C5H9O2, 224.0714. C16H20FNO5
requires C, 59.1; H, 6.2; N, 4.3%; C11H11FNO3 requires M,
νmax(cap. film)/cmϪ1 3440 (N᎐H), 1748 (C᎐O), 1717 (C᎐O), 1680
᎐
᎐
(C᎐O); δ (200 MHz, CDCl ) 1.4 [s, 9 H, C(CH ) ], 3.45–3.8 [m,
᎐
H
3
3 3
2 H, C(3)H], 3.75 (s, 3 H, OCH3 ), 3.95 (s, 3 H, OCH3 ), 4.6 [m,
1H, C(2)H], 5.6(br d, 1H, NH), 6.95–7.05(m, 2H, Ph), 7.45–7.55
(m, 1 H, Ph), 7.75–7.85 (m, 1 H, Ph); m/z (FAB) 338.5 (80%,
MH), 282.4 (100, M Ϫ C4H8), 238.4 (10, M Ϫ C4H8OCO);
[α]2D0 ϩ21.1 (c 0.35, dichloromethane).
224.0723); νmax(cap. film)/cmϪ1 3440 (N᎐H), 1748 (C᎐O), 1717
᎐
(C᎐O), 1683 (C᎐O); δ (200 MHz, CDCl ) 1.4 [s, 9 H,
᎐
᎐
H
3
C(CH3 )3 ], 3.4–3.7 [m, 2 H, C(3)H], 3.7 (s, 3 H, OCH3 ), 4.7 [m,
1 H, C(2)H], 5.5 (d, 1 H, J 8.7, NH), 7.2–7.8 (m, 4 H, Ph); m/z
(FAB) 326 (10%, MH), 270 (45, M Ϫ C4H8 ), 226 (100,
M Ϫ C4H8OCO); [α]2D0 ϩ19.0 (c 0.05, dichloromethane).
(2S)-Methyl
2-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-oxo-4-(3Ј-
methoxyphenyl)butanoate 8e. Using 3-iodoanisole 7e, the
ketone 8e (102 mg, 40%) was isolated as a brown oil (Found:
MHϩ Ϫ C4H8, 282.0991. C13H16NO6 requires M, 282.0976); νmax
(cap. film)/cmϪ1 3440 (N᎐H), 1748 (C᎐O), 1717 (C᎐O), 1685
(2S)-Methyl
2-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-oxo-4-(4Ј-
fluorophenyl)butanoate 8l. Using 4-fluoroiodobenzene 7l, the
ketone 8l (83 mg, 34%) was isolated as a yellow oil (Found: Mϩ,
326.1393. C16H20FNO5 requires M, 326.1404); νmax(cap. film)/
cmϪ1 3440 (N᎐H), 1748 (C᎐O), 1717 (C᎐O), 1682 (C᎐O); δ (200
᎐
᎐
(C᎐O); δ (200 MHz, CDCl ) 1.4 [s, 9 H, C(CH ) ], 3.4–3.8 [m,
᎐
H
3
3 3
2 H, C(3)H], 3.7 (s, 3 H, OCH3 ), 3.85 (s, 3 H, OCH3 ), 4.7 [m, 1 H,
C(2)H], 5.65 (br d, 1 H, NH), 7.1–7.6 (m, 4 H, Ph); m/z (FAB)
338.4 (30%, MH), 282.4 (90, M Ϫ C4H8 ), 238.4 (100, M Ϫ
C4H8OCO); [α]2D0 ϩ6.7 (c 0.15, dichloromethane).
᎐
᎐
᎐
H
MHz, CDCl3 ) 1.4 [s, 9 H, C(CH3 )3 ], 3.4–3.8 [m, 2 H, C(3)H], 3.7
(s, 3 H, OCH3 ), 4.7 [m, 1 H, C(2)H], 5.6 (d, 1 H, J 8.5, NH), 7.0–
7.2 (m, 2 H, Ph), 7.9–8.1 (m, 2 H, Ph); m/z (FAB) 326 (90%,
MH), 270 (60, M Ϫ C4H8 ), 226 (50, M Ϫ C4H8OCO);
[α]2D0 ϩ40.8 (c 0.25, dichloromethane).
(2S)-Methyl
2-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-oxo-4-(4Ј-
methoxyphenyl)butanoate 8f. Using 4-iodoanisole 7f, the
ketone 8f (147 mg, 58%) was isolated as a yellow oil (Found: C,
60.8; H, 7.2; N, 3.7; Mϩ Ϫ C4H8, 281.0906. C17H23NO6 requires
C, 60.5; H, 6.9; N, 4.15%; C13H15NO6 requires M, 281.0899);
νmax(cap. film)/cmϪ1 3440 (N᎐H), 1748 (C᎐O), 1717 (C᎐O), 1688
(2S)-Methyl
2-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-oxo-4-(2Ј-
nitrophenyl)butanoate 8m. Using 2-iodonitrobenzene 7m, the
ketone 8m (35 mg, 13%) was isolated as a brown oil (Found: C,
54.7; H, 5.9; N, 8.0; Mϩ, 296.0639. C16H20N2O7 requires C, 54.5;
H, 5.7; N, 7.95%; M, 296.0644); νmax(cap. film)/cmϪ1 3440
᎐
᎐
(C᎐O); δ (200 MHz, CDCl ) 1.4 [s, 9 H, C(CH ) ], 3.4–3.8 [m,
᎐
H
3
3 3
2 H, C(3)H], 3.7 (s, 3 H, OCH3 ), 3.82 (s, 3 H, OCH3 ), 4.7 [m, 1 H,
C(2)H], 5.6 (br d, 1 H, NH), 7.1–7.6 (m, 4 H, Ph); m/z (FAB) 338
(49%, MH), 282 (100, M Ϫ C4H8 ), 238 (50, M Ϫ C4H8OCO);
[α]2D0 ϩ30.1 (c 0.35, dichloromethane).
(N᎐H), 1748 (C᎐O), 1717 (C᎐O), 1684 (C᎐O); δ (200 MHz,
᎐ ᎐ ᎐
H
CDCl3 ) 1.4 [s, 9 H, C(CH3 )3 ], 3.5–3.8 [m, 2 H, C(3)H], 3.8 (s,
3 H, OCH3 ), 4.7 [m, 1 H, C(2)H], 5.6 (d, 1 H, J 8, NH), 7.6–7.8
(m, 1 H, Ph), 8.2–8.5 (m, 1 H, Ph), 8.4–8.5 (m, 1 H, Ph), 8.8 (m,
1 H, Ph); m/z (FAB) 353 (80%, MH), 297 (25, M Ϫ C4H8 ), 253
(30, M Ϫ C4H8OCO).
(2S)-Methyl
2-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-oxo-4-(2Ј-
aminophenyl)butanoate 8g. Using 2-iodoaniline 7g, the ketone
8g (126 mg, 52%) was isolated as a yellow oil (Found: Mϩ,
322.3595. C16H22N2O5 requires M, 322.3602); νmax(cap. film)/
cmϪ1 3440 (N᎐H), 1748 (C᎐O), 1717 (C᎐O), 1687 (C᎐O); δ (200
(2S)-Methyl
2-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-oxo-4-(3Ј-
nitrophenyl)butanoate 8n. Using 3-iodonitrobenzene 7n, the
ketone 8n (71 mg, 27%) was isolated as a brown oil (Found: C,
54.2; H, 5.3; N, 7.9; Mϩ Ϫ C4H8, 296.0636. C16H20N2O7 requires
C, 54.5; H, 5.7; N, 7.95%; C12H12N2O7 requires M, 296.0644);
νmax(cap. film)/cmϪ1 3440 (N᎐H), 1748 (C᎐O), 1717 (C᎐O), 1682
᎐
᎐
᎐
H
MHz, CDCl3 ) 1.4 [s, 9 H, C(CH3 )3 ], 3.4–3.6 [m, 2 H, C(3)H], 3.7
(s, 3 H, OCH3 ), 4.7 [m, 1 H, C(2)H], 5.6 (d, 1 H, J 9, NH), 6.65
(m, 2 H, NH2 ), 7.2–7.7 (m, 4 H, Ph); m/z (FAB) 323 (18%,
MH), 267 (100, M Ϫ C4H8 ), 223 (70, M Ϫ C4H8OCO); [α]2D0
ϩ14.0 (c 0.5, dichloromethane).
᎐
᎐
(C᎐O); δ (200 MHz, CDCl ) 1.4 [s, 9 H, C(CH ) ], 3.5–3.8 [m,
᎐
H
3
3 3
2 H, C(3)H], 3.8 (s, 3 H, OCH3 ), 4.7 [m, 1 H, C(2)H], 5.6 (m, 1 H,
NH), 7.6–7.8 (m, 1 H, Ph), 8.2–8.5 (m, 1 H, Ph), 8.4–8.5 (m, 1 H,
Ph), 8.8 (m, 1 H, Ph); m/z (FAB) 353 (80%, MH), 297 (25,
M Ϫ C4H8 ), 253 (30, M Ϫ C4H8OCO); [α]2D0 ϩ13.3 (c 0.3,
dichloromethane).
(2S)-Methyl
2-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-oxo-4-(3Ј-
aminophenyl)butanoate 8h. Using 3-iodoaniline 7h, the ketone
8h (42 mg, 17%) was isolated as an amber oil (Found: Mϩ,
322.1534. C16H22N2O5 requires M, 322.1528); νmax(cap. film)/
cmϪ1 3440 (N᎐H), 1745 (C᎐O), 1708 (C᎐O); δ (200 MHz,
᎐
᎐
H
CDCl3 ) 1.4 [s, 9 H, C(CH3 )3 ], 3.4–3.6 [m, 2 H, C(3)H], 3.7 (s,
3 H, OCH3 ), 4.7 [m, 1 H, C(2)H], 5.6 (d, 1 H, J 9, NH), 6.65 (m,
2 H, NH2 ), 7.2–7.7 (m, 4 H, Ph); m/z (FAB) 323 (18%, MH),
267 (100, M Ϫ C4H8 ), 223 (70, M Ϫ C4H8OCO); [α]2D0 ϩ27.9
(c 0.2, dichloromethane).
Synthesis of L-kynurenine 411
Compound 8g (36.2 mg, 0.11 mmol) was stirred in 30% HBr in
acetic acid (1 cm3 ) for 20 min at room temperature. Diethyl
ether (12 cm3 ) was then added to precipitate the bis(hydro-
bromide salt) as a colourless solid. The diethyl ether layer was
decanted and the procedure repeated several times to remove as
much HBr as possible. The last traces of diethyl ether were
removed in vacuo, and the colourless solid was thoroughly dried.
This material was dissolved in propan-2-ol (5 cm3 ) and treated
with propylene oxide (46.5 µl, 0.7 mmol). -Kynurenine 4 (21
(2S)-Methyl
2-(N-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-oxo-4-(4Ј-
aminophenyl)butanoate 8i. Using 4-iodoaniline 7i, the ketone 8i
(135 mg, 58%) was isolated as a brown oil (Found: Mϩ Ϫ C4H8,
265.0823. C12H13N2O5 requires M, 265.0824); νmax(cap. film)/
cmϪ1 3440 (N᎐H), 1748 (C᎐O), 1717 (C᎐O), 1687 (C᎐O); δ (200
᎐
᎐
᎐
H
868
J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1997