PROCESS FOR PRODUCING OPTICALLY ACTIVE THREO-DIHYDROXYPHENYLSERINE DERIVATIVES

Abstract: Optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives represented by the forumla: wherein R₁ and R₂ each represents or form together a protecting group for the phenolic hydroxyl group, R₃ represents a protecting group for the amino group and R₄ represents a protecting group for the carboxyl group, which are intermediates for L-threo-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-­ serine, are prepared by asymmetrical hydrogenation of ketones represented by the formula: wherein R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ are as defined above, in a solvent in the presence of optically active ruthenium phosphine complexes represented by the formula: wherein X represents a chlorine atom, a bromine atom or an acetoxy group, R₅ represents a lower alkyl group of 1 - 5 carbon atoms, Z represents a phenyl group or a p-tolyl group and n is 0 or 1.

Description: The present invention relates to a process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives useful as intermediates for L-threo-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-serine which has been known to have various pharmacological actions. Hitherto, L-threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives have been obtained by optical resolution of D,L-threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives. However, according to this process, yield is lower than 50 % and unnecessary D-threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives must be recovered and reused. The recovery and reuse is usually effected by racemization. Two asymmetric carbon atoms in threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives make the racemization hardly proceed in practice, since difficulty is encountered in control of configuration at 2- and 3-positions. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide an economically advantageous process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives without the above-mentioned problems in conventional techniques. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives represented by the formula (I): wherein R₁ and R₂ each represents or form together a protecting group for the phenolic hydroxyl group, R₃ represents a protecting group for the amino group and R₄ represents a protecting group for the carboxyl group, which comprises asymmetrically hydrogenating ketones represented by the formula (II): wherein R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ are as defined above, in a solvent in the presence of optically active ruthenium phosphine complexes represented by the formula (III): wherein X represents a chlorine atom, a bromine atom or an acetoxy group, R₅ represents a lower alkyl group of 1 - 5 carbon atoms, Z represents a phenyl group or a p-tolyl group and n is 0 or 1. Any protecting groups for the phenolic hydroxyl group, amino group and carboxyl group in the ketones represented by the formula (II) may be used as long as they are inert for the asymmetric hydrogenation reaction and easily eliminated when the serin derivatives (I) obtained by this reaction are converted to L-threo-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-serine. As the protecting groups for the phenolic hydroxyl group which are represented by R₁ and R₂ in case of independent protecting groups, mention may be made of, for example, aralkyl groups such as a benzyl group and a p-chlorobenzyl group and lower alkenyl groups such as an allyl group and a 3-butenyl group. The protecting groups which are formed by R₁ and R₂ together include, for example, a methylene group. The protecting groups for the amino group represented by R₃ include, for example, those which form amides such as a formyl group, an acetyl group, a propionyl group and a trifluoroacetyl group and those which form carbamates, e.g., lower alkenyloxycarbonyl groups such as an allyloxycarbonyl group, and a 3-butenyloxycarbonyl group and aralkyloxycarbonyl groups such as a benzyloxycarbonyl group and a p-chlorobenzyloxycarbonyl group. The protecting groups for the carboxyl group which are represented by R₄, include, for example, alkyl groups of 1 - 5 carbon atoms, preferably, a methyl group and an ethyl group, aralkyl groups such as a benzyl group and a p-chlorobenzyl group, and lower alkenyl groups such as an allyl group and a 3-butenyl group. The ketones represented by the formula (II) are produced according to known processes mentioned in, for example, Syn. Commun. 2 , 237 (1972). For instance, condensation between ether derivatives of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl halides and isocyanoacetates in the presence of a base provides oxazole derivatives which are then hydrolyzed under acidic conditions to obtain salts of 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-oxo-alanine ester, followed by amidation or carbamation of the amino group of the resulting derivatives until the amino group is protected. The optically active ruthenium phosphine complexes represented by the formula (III) are produced by known processes, too. For example, RuBr₂(BINAP) is produced by the process mentioned in J.A.C.S. 110 629-631 (1988) and J.C.S. Chem. Commun. 922 (1985). That is, RuCl₂(COD), BINAP and triethylamine are allowed to react to obtain RuCl₂·(BINAP)·N(C₂H₅)₃ complex. This complex is allowed to react with sodium acetate to prepare Ru·(CH₃COO)₂·(BINAP), which is then allowed to react with hydrogen bromide to obtain RuBr₂(BINAP). Here, COD denotes cyclo-octa-1,5-diene and BINAP denotes The thus obtained optically active ruthenium phosphine complexes (III) compose optically active phosphine derivatives and ruthenium salts. As the optically active phosphine derivatives, mention may be made of, for example, the above-mentioned BINAP or The ruthenium salts include, for example, ruthenium halides such as ruthenium chloride and ruthenium bromide, complex salts of these ruthenium halides with tertiary amines such as trimethylamine, triethylamine, tripropylamine, tributylamine and tripentylamine, and ruthenium acetate. Preferable optically active ruthenium phosphine complexes (III) are, for example, RuCl₂(BINAP), RuCl₂(BINAP)·N(C₂H₅)₃, RuBr₂(BINAP) and ruthenium acetate· (BINAP). The complexes (III) are used in an amount of 0.0001 - 10 mol%, preferably 0.001 - 10 mol% based on the ketone (II). Hydrogen pressure in the asymmetric hydrogenation reaction of the present invention is 1 kg/cm² or higher, but preferably 50 - 150 kg/cm² from a viewpoint of reaction time. Reaction temperature is 20 - 200 °C and reaction time is normally 20 - 150 hours. Reaction solvents used in the asymmetric hydrogenation of the present invention may be those which are inert to the reaction. Examples are alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propyl alcohol and buty alcohol and halogenated hydrocarbons such as chloroform, dichloromethane and 1,2-dichloroethane. Recovery of complex (III) is usually carried out by adsorption to celite, silica gel and the like or by crystallization. The recovered complex may be reused for the next reaction. After completion of the reaction, followed by for exmaple, removal of complexes (III), the optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives represented by the formula (I) are obtained by distilling off the reaction solvent. If necessary, purification may be effected by crystallization and the like. As examples of the thus obtained optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives (I), mention may be made of L-threo-N-acetyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)serine methyl ester, L-threo-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)serine methyl ester, L-threo-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-3-(3,4-dibenzyloxyphenyl)-serine benzyl ester, L-threo-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-3-(3,4-dibenzyloxyphenyl)-serine methyl ester, L-threo-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-3-(3,4-diallyloxyphenyl)-serine allyl ester, L-threo-N-allyloxycarbonyl-3-(3,4-diallyloxyphenyl)-serine allyl ester, L-threo-N-propionyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)serine ethyl ester, L-threo-N-propionyl-3-{3,4-di(3-butenyl)oxyphenyl}-serine ethyl ester, L-threo-N-(3-butenyl)oxycarbonyl-3-{3,4-di(3-butenyl)oxyphenyl}-serine (3-butenyl) ester, and L-threo-N-p-chlorobenzyloxycarbonyl-3-{3,4-di-(p-chlorobenzyl)oxyphenyl}-serine p-chlorobenzyl ester. The phenylserine derivatives (I) obtained by the present invention are led to L-threo-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-serine by elimination of the protecting group. It is preferred that, from a viewpoint of elimination of the protecting group, the protecting group for the phenolic hydroxyl group is the same as that for the carboxyl group and the protecting group for the amino group is one which produces carbamate corresponding to the protecting groups for the phenolic hydroxyl group or the carboxyl group. According to the present invention, the optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives useful as intermediates for L-threo-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-serine are produced from ketones (II), starting racemic compounds, through one step in a high yield. Besides, since the derivatives (I) are of high chemical and optical purity and have high threo isomer ratio, they are easily led to L-threo-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-serine by elimination of the protecting groups under proper reaction conditions. The present invention will be explained by the following examples. Reference Example 1 (1) Preparation of 3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-oxo-alanine methyl ester: Triethylamine (59 ml) and solution of 3,4-methylenedioxybenzoly chloride (23.3 g) in tetrahydrofuran (40 ml) were dropped to solution of methyl α-isocyanoacetate (14.2 g) in tetrahydrofuran (250 ml), followed by stirring for 2 days at room temperature. The solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure and the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed with saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution. The ethyl acetate layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and thereafter the solvent was distilted off under reduced pressure and the residue was recrystallized from methanol to obtain 5-(3,4-methylenedioxy)phenyl-4-carbomethoxy oxazole. m.p. 130 - 132 °C. This oxazole derivative (2.47 g) was suspended in a mixture of 3N-hydrochloric acid (50 ml) and methanol (100 ml), followed by stirring at 50 - 60 °C for 2 hours. The solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure and the residue was recrystallized from methanolethyl acetate to obtain hydrochloride of 3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-oxo-alanine methyl ester. m.p. 170 - 171 °C. (2) Preparation of D,L-N-acetyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-oxo-alanine methyl ester: Acetic anhydride (5 ml) was dropped at 20 - 30 °C to the hydrochloride of alanine methyl ester (1 g) which was obtained in (1), followed by stirring at 80 °C for 10 minutes. To the reaction mixture was added water, followed by extraction with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution, followed by removal of aqueous layer. The solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure to obtain D,L-N-acetyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-oxo-alanine methyl ester. m.p. 99 - 101 °C. Example 1 D,L-N-acetyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-oxo-alanine methyl ester (1 g), RuBr₂[(R)-BINAP] (12 mg) and dichloromethane (20 ml) were charged in an autoclave in argon gas stream and reaction was allowed to proceed at 50 °C for 120 hours under a hydrogen pressure of 100 kg/cm² with stirring. After completion of the reaction, the solvent was distilled off and the concentrated residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (eluent: chloroform/methanol = 10/1) to obtain L-threo-N-acetyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)serine methyl ester. (yield: 99.3 %; threo/erythro ratio: 99.6/0.4; L form/D form ratio: 97.1/2.9) m.p.: 182 - 183 °C, [α] 14 / D +26.4° (c = 0.504, chloroform/methanol = 1/1) RuBr₂[(R)-BINAP] indicates Example 2 Reaction, after-treatment and purification were carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that methanol (10 ml) was used in place of the dichloromethane (20 ml) as a solvent for the reaction and reaction time was changed from 120 hours to 36 hours, thereby to obtain L-threo-N-acetyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)serine methyl ester. (Yield: 100 %; threo/erythro ratio: 92.9/7.1; L form/D form ratio: 93.8/6.2). Example 3 Reaction, after-treatment and purification were carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that Ru(OAc)₂[(R)-BINAP] (12 mg) was used as a catalyst in place of the RuBr₂[(R)-BINAP], amount of solvent was 5 ml in place of 20 ml and reaction time was 72 hours in place of 120 hours, thereby to obtain L-threo-N-acetyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)serine methyl ester. (Yield: 85 %; threo/erythro ratio: 98.2/1.8; L form/D form ratio: 96.3/3.7). Ru(OAc)₂[(R)-BINAP] denotes (wherein Ac denotes an acetyl group). Example 4 Reaction, after-treatment and purification were carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that amount of solvent was 5 ml in place of 20 ml and reaction time was 137 hours in place of 120 hours, thereby to obtain L-threo-N-acetyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-serine methyl ester. (Yield: 100 %; threo/erythro ratio: 99.1/0.9; L form/D form ratio: 96.1/3.9). Reference Example 2 Preparation of D,L-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-oxo-alanine methyl ester: Reaction, after-treatment and purification were carried out in the same manner as in Reference Example 1 (1) except that benzene was used in place of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent for reaction, thereby to obtain 3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-oxo-alanine methyl ester hydrochloride. A solution of KOH (264 mg) in methanol (10 ml) was dropped to a mixture of the above alanine methyl ester hydrochloride (547 mg) and methanol (30 ml) and then benzyl chloroformate (341 mg) was dropped thereto. After stirring at 5 °C for 2 hours, unsoluble materials were filtered off and the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (eluent: dichloromethane) and furhter recrystallized from methanol to obtain D,L-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-oxo-alanine methyl ester. m.p.: 95 - 95.5 °C. Example 5 Reaction, after-treatment and purification were carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that D,L-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-oxo-alanine methyl ester obtained in Reference Example 2 was used in place of the D,L-N-acetyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-oxo-alanine methyl ester, thereby to obtain L-threo-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-serine methyl ester. (Yield: 97.3 %; threo/erithro ratio: 99.0/1.0; L form/D form ratio: 95.8/4.2). m.p.: 119 - 120 °C, [α] 14 / D -36.8° (c = 0.544 chloroform). Example 6 Reaction, after-treatment and purification were carried out in the same manner as in Example 5 except that amount of solvent was 5 ml in place of 20 ml and reaction time was 72 hours in place of 120 hours, thereby to obtain L-threo-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-serine methyl ester. (Yield: 100 %; threo/erythro ratio: 98.9/1.1; L form/D form ratio: 96.1/3.9). Example 7 Reaction, after-treatment and purification were conducted in the same manner as in Example 6 except that reaction temperature was 100 °C in place of 50 °C and reaction time was 96 hours in place of 120 hours, thereby to obtain L-threo-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-serine methyl ester. (Yield: 100 %; threo/erythro ratio: 97.2/2.8; L form/D form ratio: 92.7/7.3).

Claims: A process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives represented by the formula: wherein R₁ and R₂ each represents or form together a protecting group for the phenolic hydroxyl group, R₃ represents a protecting group for the amino group and R₄ represents a protecting group for the carboxyl group which comprises asymmetrically hydrogenating ketones represented by the formula: wherein R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ are as defined above, in a solvent in the presence of optically active ruthenium phosphine complexes represented by the formula: wherein X represents a chlorine atom, a bromine atom or an acetoxy group, R₅ represents a lower alkyl group of 1 - 5 carbon atoms, Z represents a phenyl group or a p-tolyl group and n is 0 or 1. A process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives according to claim 1, wherein R₁ and R₂ which may be identical or different are a benzyl group, a p-chlorobenzyl group, an allyl group, or a 3-butenyl group or R₁ and R₂ form together a methylene group. A process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives according to claim 1, wherein R₁ and R₂ form together a methylene group. A process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives according to any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein R₃ is a protecting group which forms an amide. A process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives according to any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein R₃ is a formyl group, an acetyl group, a propionyl group or a trifluoroacetyl group. A process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives according to any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein R₃ is an acetyl group. A process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives according to any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein R₃ is a protecting group which forms a carbamate. A process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives according to any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein R₃ is an allyloxycarbonyl group, a 3-butenyloxycarbonyl group, a benzyloxycarbonyl group or a p-chlorobenzyloxycarbonyl group. A process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives according to any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein R₃ is a benzyloxycarbonyl group. A process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives according to any one of claims 1 - 9, wherein R₄ is a protecting group which forms an ester. A process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives according to any one of claims 1 - 9, wherein R₄ is an alkyl group of 1 - 5 carbon atoms, a benzyl group, a p-chlorobenzyl group, an allyl group, or a 3-butenyl group. A process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives according to any one of claims 1 - 9, wherein R₄ is a methyl group or an ethyl group. A process for producing optically active threo-dihydroxyphenylserine derivatives according to any one of claims 1 - 12, wherein n in the formula of the optically active ruthenium phosphine complexes is 0.

Inventors: IKEDA, TAKAHARU, ISHIZUMI, KIKUO, KITAMURA, MASATO, NOYORI, RYOJI, TERASHIMA, TORU, YAMACHIKA, HIROSHI
Applicants: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
Application year: 1989
Main classification: C07C227
IPC codes: C07B53, C07C227, B01J31, C07B61, C07C229