Synthesis 2014; 46(04): 515-521
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1340462
paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

An Efficient Synthesis of 4(5)-Benzyl-l-histidines Employing Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenolysis at Elevated Temperatures

D. David Smith*
a   Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA   Fax: +1(402)2802690   Email: dsmith@creighton.edu
,
Audrey T. Gallagher
b   Department of Chemistry, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
,
Vincent M. Crowley
b   Department of Chemistry, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
,
Wayne M. Gergens
b   Department of Chemistry, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
,
Peter W. Abel
c   Department of Pharmacology, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
,
Martin Hulce
b   Department of Chemistry, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 15 October 2013

Accepted after revision: 21 November 2013

Publication Date:
10 December 2013 (online)


Abstract

An efficient two-step synthesis of 4(5)-benzyl-l-histidine from l-histidine was developed. A Pictet–Spengler reaction between l-histidine and benzaldehyde in the presence of excess strong base yielded 4-l-phenylspinacine within one hour. Catalytic transfer hydrogenolysis in methanol at reflux using ammonium formate rapidly converted 4-l-phenylspinacine to 4(5)-benzyl-l-histidine within five minutes. No racemization of the final product 4(5)-benzyl-l-histidine was observed using the Marfey reagent. To show the utility of this method, a series of fluorinated benzylhistidines were prepared.

Supporting Information

 
  • References

  • 1 Brain SD, Grant AD. Physiol. Rev. 2004; 84: 903
  • 2 Poyner DR, Sexton PM, Marshall I, Smith DM, Quirion R, Born W, Muff R, Fischer JA, Foord SM. Pharmacol. Rev. 2002; 54: 233
  • 3 Chiba T, Yamaguchi A, Yamatani T, Nakamura A, Morishita T, Inui T, Fukase M, Noda T, Fujita T. Am. J. Physiol. 1989; 256: E331
  • 4 Hay DL, Poyner DR, Quirion R. Pharmacol. Rev. 2008; 60: 143
  • 5 Smith DD, Saha S, Fang G, Schaffert C, Waugh DJ, Zeng W, Toth G, Hulce M, Abel PW. J. Med. Chem. 2003; 46: 2427
  • 6 Taylor CK, Smith DD, Hulce M, Abel PW. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 2006; 319: 749
  • 7 Taylor CK, Abel PW, Hulce M, Smith DD. Chem. Biol. Drug Des. 2007; 70
  • 8 Brown T, Jones JH, Richards JD. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1 1982; 1553
  • 9 Guzman F, Cain M, Larscheid P, Hagen T, Cook JM, Schweri M, Skolnick P, Paul SM. J. Med. Chem. 1984; 27: 564
  • 10 Yutilov YM, Abramyants MG, Smolyar NN. Russ. J. Org. Chem. 2001; 37: 119
  • 11 Smolyar NN, Abramyants MG, Zavyazkina TI, Matveeva DI, Borodkin YS, Voloskii IA. Russ. J. Org. Chem. 2009; 45: 1219
  • 12 Emmett JC, Durant GJ, Ganellin CR, Roe AM, Turner JL. J. Med. Chem. 1982; 25: 1168
  • 13 Yutilov YM, Abramyants MG, Smolyar NN. Russ. J. Org. Chem. 1995; 31: 1429
  • 14 Anwer MK, Spatola AF. Tetrahedron Lett. 1985; 26: 1381
  • 15 Ram S, Spicer LD. Synth. Commun. 1992; 22: 2673
  • 16 Wiener H, Blum J, Sasson Y. J. Org. Chem. 1991; 56: 6145
  • 17 Johnston RA. W, Wilby AH, Entwistle ID. Chem. Rev. 1985; 85: 129
  • 18 Young RJ, Grushin VV. Organometallics 1999; 18: 294
  • 19 Prasad K, Jiang X, Slade JS, Clemens J, Repic O, Blacklock TJ. Adv. Synth. Catal. 2005; 347: 1769
  • 20 Rajagopal S, Spatola AF. J. Org. Chem. 1995; 60: 1347
  • 21 Cortese NA, Heck RF. J. Org. Chem. 1977; 42: 3491
  • 22 Sawama Y, Yabe Y, Shigetsura M, Yamada T, Nagata S, Fujiwara Y, Maegawa T, Monguchi Y, Sajiki H. Adv. Synth. Catal. 2012; 354: 777
  • 23 Marfey P. Carlsberg Res. Commun. 1984; 49: 591
  • 24 Adamson JG, Hoang T, Crivici A, Layoie GA. Anal. Biochem. 1992; 202: 210
  • 25 Fujii K, Ikai Y, Mayumi T, Oka H, Suzuki M, Harada K.-i. Anal. Chem. 1997; 69: 3346
  • 26 Fujii K, Ikai Y, Oka H, Suzuki M, Harada K.-i. Anal. Chem. 1997; 69: 5146
  • 27 Fluorine NMR Data. Reference Compounds. http://www.chem.wisc.edu/areas/reich/handouts/nmr/f-data.htm (accessed Dec. 2, 2013).
  • 28 Wille MA. Ph.D. Dissertation; University of Pennsylvania: USA, 1969..
  • 29 WARNING: Loading of the derivatization mixture directly on to the RP-HPLC column following the reagent manufacturer’s protocols resulted in severe deterioration of the chromatography column after five injections.
  • 30 Marfey P, Ottesen M. Carlsberg Res. Commun. 1984; 49: 585