Novel aspartyldipeptide derivatives and sweetener

Abstract: A low-calory sweetener is provided which is highly stable and safe and has a high sweetness potency. This sweetener comprises novel aspartyldipeptide derivatives of the following general formula (1) and their salts: L-Asp-X-NH-C*HR₁R₂ (1) wherein R₁ represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an alkoxymethyl group having from 2 to 7 carbon atoms; R₂ represents a phenyl group, a benzyl group, a cyclohexyl group, or a cyclohexylmethyl group; the structure having the C* atom is of an (S) form when R₁ is an alkyl group but is of an (R) form when R₁ is an alkoxymethyl group; X represents a residue of a D-α-amino acid or DL-α-amino acid, or a residue of a cyclic or acyclic α,α-dialkylamino acid having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, when R₁ is an alkyl group, but X represents a residue of a D-α-amino acid or DL-α-amino acid, or a residue of a cyclic or acyclic α,α-dialkylamino acid having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, when R₁ is an alkoxymethyl group; and the bond between L-Asp and X is an α-bond.

Description: Background of the Invention With advanced eating habits in these days, obesity to be caused by over-intake of sugar and its related various diseases have become problematic, and the development of low-calory sweeteners substitutable for sugar is desired. At present, aspartame is one popular sweetener which is safe and has good taste. However, aspartame is disadvantageous regarding the stability. Therefore, as an attempt to improve the stability and the sweetness potency of aspartame, studies of amide derivatives of aspartyl-D-amino acids having no ester bond have been made. For example, the compounds described in U.S. Patents 4,411,925 and 5,286,509 have been found. EP-A-0 069 811, EP-A-0 034 876, WO 94/00028, and Zeng, G.-Z. et al. (1991) J. Agric. Food Chem. 39, pp. 782-785 disclose L-aspartyl-D-amino acid derivatives that are useful as sweeteners. However, none of these documents discloses aspartyldipeptide derivatives having the specific structural elements- and configuration of the compounds according to the present invention. Problems to be Solved by the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide novel aspartyldipeptide amide derivatives and their salts which can be produced from easily available amino acid components and amine components and which are highly stable and highly safe and also to provide low-calory sweeteners containing them as the active ingredients. Means for Solving the Problems We, the present inventors have assiduously studied various amino acid components and amine components so as to solve the above-mentioned problems and, as a result, have found that aspartyldipeptide amide derivatives of the following general formula (1) can be sweeteners which are satisfactorily stable, sweet and safe. On the basis of this finding, we have completed the present invention. The present invention provides novel aspartyl-dipeptide derivatives of the following general formula (1) and their salts : L-Asp-X-NH-C * HR 1 R 2 wherein R 1 represents an alkoxymethyl group having from 2 to 7 carbon atoms; R 2 represents a phenyl group, a benzyl group, a cyclohexyl group, or a cyclohexylmethyl group; the structure having the C* atom is of the (R) form; X represents a residue of a D-α-amino acid or DL-α-amino acid, such as D-alanine, D-α-aminobutyric acid, D-norvaline, D-valine, D-norleucine, D-leucine, D-isoleucine, D-alloisoleucine, D-t-leucine, D-serine, D-O-methylserine, D-threonine, D-O-methylthreonine, D-allothreonine, D-O-methylallothreonine, D-phenylglycine, D- or DL-furylglycine, or a residue of a cyclic or acyclic α,α-dialkylamino acid having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms; and the bond between L-Asp and X is an α-bond. As salts of the compounds of the present invention, for example, mentioned are salts with alkali metals such as sodium, potassium, salts with alkaline earth metals such as calcium, magnesium, salts with amines such as monoethanolamine, salts with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and salts with organic acids such as citric acid, acetic acid. The aspartyldipeptide derivatives of the present invention can be produced according to ordinary peptide synthesis (see Izumiya, et al., Bases and Experiments of Peptide Synthesis, published by Maruzen on January 20, 1985). Concretely, an α-amino acid where the amino group has been protected is condensed with the corresponding amine and thereafter the protective group is removed. Next, the thus-obtained amino acid amide is condensed with L-aspartic acid where the β-positioned carboxylic acid and the amino group have been protected to give a dipeptidamide and thereafter the protective groups are removed to obtain the intended α-L-aspartyl-α-amino acid amide. Alternatively, L-aspartic acid where the β-positioned carboxylic acid and the amino group have been protected is esterified to be an active ester, thereafter this ester is reacted with an α-amino acid and then condensed with the corresponding amine, and finally the protective groups are removed to obtain the intended α-L-aspartyl-α-amino acid amide. However, the production of the compounds of the present invention is not limited to only these methods. β-alkoxyamines to be used for producing the compounds of the present invention can be easily derived from amino acids in optically-active form according to known methods (see A.I. Meyers, et al., J. Org. Chem., 43, 892 (1978)). However, the methods disclosed in the reference are not limitative. N-benzyloxycarbonyl-DL-furylglycine to be used for producing the compounds of the present invention can be easily obtained according to known methods (see D. Ben-Ishai, et al., Tetrahedron, 31, 863 (1975); ibid., 32, 1571 (1976)). However, the methods disclosed in the references are not limitative. The sensory evaluation for the sweetness of the compounds and their salts of the present invention have revealed that their taste is similar to that of sugar and their sweetness is strong. For example, the sweetness potency value of α-L-aspartyl-D-α-aminobutyric acid (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide was about 1200 times that of sugar; that of α-L-aspartyl-D-valine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide was about 1300 times that of sugar; and that of α-L-aspartyl-DL-furylglycine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide was about 1200 times that of sugar. The test for the toxicity of the compounds of the present invention where 2.0 g/kg of each compound was perorally administered once to ICR male mice has revealed that α-L-aspartyl-D-valine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide and α-L-aspartyl-DL-furylglycine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide all are not problematic in the toxicity and are therefore safe. The structures of some aspartyldipeptide derivatives of the present invention and some comparative structures that have been produced herein are shown in Table 1 below along with the results of the sensory evaluation of the compounds. L-Asp-X-NH-C * HR 1 R 2 Structures and Sweetness Potency Value of Aspartyldipeptide Derivatives X Configuration of C * R1 R2 Sweetness 1) Potency Comparative structures D-Leu (S) Et Ph 100 D- Ile (S) Et Ph 500 D-allo-Ile (S) Et Ph 90 D-Thr (S) Et Ph 1300 D-Thr(Me) (S) Et Ph 150 DL-Fug 2) (S) Et Ph 1200 AIB 3) (S) Et Ph 200 DEG 4) (S) Et Ph 200 DL- 1 Val 5) (S) Et Ph 100 AC5C 6) (S) Et Ph 1000 AC6C 7) (S) Et Ph 1000 Structures of the present invention D-Ala (R) CH 2 OMe Ph 300 D-Abu 8) (R) CH 2 OMe Ph 1200 D-Ile (R) CH 2 OMe Ph 500 D-Phg 9) (R) CH 2 OMe Ph 500 AC6C 7) (R) CH 2 OMe Ph 250 D-Thr (R) CH 2 OMe Ph 500 DL-Fug 2) (R) CH 2 OMe Ph 1200 D-Val (R) CH 2 OMe Ph 1300 D-Val (R) CH 2 OEt Ph 500 Comparative structures D-Val (S) CH 2 OMe Ph <20 D-Val (R) CH 2 OMe 1 Pr 30 D-Val (S) CH 2 OMe 1 Pr 40 In Table 1; 1) this is based on aqueous solution of 4 % sucrose having a sweetness potency of 1 (one); 2) Fug = furylglycine; 3) AIB = α-aminoisobutyric acid; 4) DEG = α,α-diethylglycine; 5) iVal = isovaline; 6) AC5C = α-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid 7) AC6C = α-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid 8) Abu = α-aminobutyric acid 9) Phg = phenylglycine Ph is phenyl and i Pr is isopropyl. When the compounds or their salts of the present invention are used as sweeteners, they may be combined with any other sweeteners, as a matter of course, unless such combination detracts from the advantages of the present invention. (Comparative Example 1) Production of α-L-aspartyl-D-threonine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide: To a solution of 2.50 g (8.1 mmols) of N-t-butyoxycarbonyl-O-benzyl-D-threonine and 1.31 g (9.7 mmols) of (S)-α-ethylben-zylamine in 50 ml of methylene chloride were added 1.55 g (8.1 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride and 1.09 g (8.1 mmols) of HOBt (1-hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate) under cooling, and the mixture was stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 100 ml of ethyl acetate were added to the resulting residue, which was washed two times each with 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid, once with 50 ml of water, two times each with 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and once with 50 ml of brine in order. The organic layer thus washed was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate, the magnesium sulfate was removed by filtration, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 3.45 g (8.1 mmols) of a solid product of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-O-benzyl-D-threonine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. To a solution of 3.41 g (8.0 mmols) of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-O-benzyl-D-threonine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide in 35 ml of methylene chloride was added 120 ml of formic acid and the mixture was stired at room temperature for 5 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 50 ml of ethyl acetate was added to the resulting residue, which was washed with 50 ml of aqueous solution of saturated sodium hydrogencarbonate. The organic layer thus washed was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate, the magnesium sulfate was removed by filtration, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was dissolved in 80 ml of methylene chloride, and 3.16 g (8.9 mmols) of β-benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartate was added thereto. 1.70 g (8.9 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride and 1.20 g (8.9 mmols) of HOBt were added thereto under cooling and stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 100 ml of ethyl acetate was added to the resulting residue, which was washed two times each with 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid, once with 50 ml of water, two times each with 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and once with 50 ml of brine in order. The organic layer thus washed was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate, the magnesium sulfate was removed by filtration, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 5.30 g (8.0 mmols) of a solid product of N-benzyloxycarbonyl -β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-O-benzyl-D-threonine-(S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. To a solution of 5.30 g (8.0 mmols) of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-O-benzyl-D-threonine -α-ethylbenzylamide in 150 ml of methanol were added 1.0 ml of acetic acid and 3.0 g of 5 % Pd-carbon (water content 50 %), and the mixture was reduced under hydrogen overnight at room temperature and then at 50°C for 3 hours. The catalyst was removed by filtration, the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure, and the residue was crystallized from water to obtain 1.60 g (4.6 mmols) of α-L-aspartyl-D-threonine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:0.84 (t, 3H) 1.06 (d, 3H), 1.69 (quint, 2H) 2.32 (dd, 1H), 2.54 ( dd, 1H). 3.83 (dd, 1H), 4.03 (dq, 1.H), 4.19 ( brs, 1H), 4.70 (dd, 1H), 7.18-7.35 (m, 5H) 8.17 (d, 1H), 8.59 (brd, 1H). FAB-MS 352 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 1300 times that of sugar. (Comparative Example 2) Production of α-L-aspartyl-D-threonine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide: The same process as in Comparative Example 1 was repeated, except that (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamine was used in place of (S)-α-ethylbenzylamine, and α-L-aspartyl-D-threonine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide was obtained as a solid product. The total yield was 75.3 %. 1 HNMP (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:1.07 (d, 3H), 2.32 (dd , 1H), 2.56 (dd, 1H), 3.24 (S, 3H), 3.47-3.5 6 (2dd, 2H), 3.87 (dd, 1H), 3.96-4.04 (m, 1H ), 4.21 (brs, 1H), 5.03 (dd, 1H), 7.22-7.38 (m, 5H). 8.32 (d, 1H), 8.66 (brd, 1H). FAB-MS 368 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 500 times that of sugar. (Comparative Example 3) Production of α-L-aspartyl-D-isoleucine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide: To a mixture comprised of 5.08 g (14.2 mmols) of β-benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartate, 1.64 g (14.2 mmols) of HOSu (N-hydroxy succinic acid) and 90 ml of tetrahydrofuran was added 2.94 g (14.2 mmols) of dicyclohexycarbodiimide under cooling, and the mixture was stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was filtered and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in 100 ml of dioxane, to which added was a solution that had been prepared by dissolving 2.20 g (16.8 mmols) of D-isoleucine and 1.9 ml (13 mmols) of triethylamine in 10 ml of dioxane and 20 ml of water. These were stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 80 ml of water was added thereto. The aqueous layer thus separated was made acidic by adding aqueous solution of 10 % citric acid thereto, and this was extracted two times each with 50 ml of ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with 50 ml of water and then with 50 ml of brine. This was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate, the magnesium sulfate was removed by filtration, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 6.69 g (14.2 mmols) of syrup-like N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-D-isoleucine. To a solution of 6.69 g (14.2 mmols) of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-D-isoleucine and 2.04 g (15.1 mmols) of (S)-α-ethylbenzylamine in 200 ml of methylene chloride were added 2.73 g (14.2 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride and 1.92 g (14.2 mmols) of HOBt under cooling and stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 150 ml of ethyl acetate was added to the resulting residue, which was washed two times each with 70 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid, once with 70 ml of water, two times each with 70 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and once with 70 ml of brine in order. The organic layer thus washed was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate, the magnesium sulfate was removed by filtration, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was dissolved in chloroform and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting solid residue was washed with ethyl acetate and dried to obtain 2.81 g (4.7 mmols) of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-D-isoleucine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. To a suspension of 2.81 g (4.7 mmols) of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-D-isoleucine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide in 150 ml of methanol and 50 ml of water was added 2.0 g of 10 % Pd-carbon (water content 50 %). The mixture was reduced under hydrogen at room temperature for 5 hours. The catalyst was removed by filtration, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to be 20 ml. The crystals thus precipitated were taken out by filtration and dried to obtain 1.22 g (3.4 mmols) of α-L-aspartyl-D-isoleucine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:0.82 (t, 3H), 0.84 (t, 3H), 0.86 (d, 3H), 1.03-1.18 (m, 1H), 1.34-1.47 (m, 1H), 1.63-1.85 (m, 3H), 2.86 (d, 2H ), 4.07-4.17 (m, 1H), 4.34 (dd, 1H), 4.70 (d d, 1H), 7.19-7.36 (m, 5H), 8.27 (brd, 2.H), 8 56 (d, 1H), 8.62 (d, 1H) FAB-MS 364 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 500 times that of sugar. The stability (in terms of the survival rate in an acidic aqueous solution) was about 9 times that of α-L-aspartyl-D-α-aminobutyric acid (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. (Comparative Example 4) Production of α-L-aspartyl-DL-furylglycine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide: To a solution of 2.20 g (8.0 mmols) of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-DL-furylglycine and 1.08 g (8.0 mmols) of (S)-α-ethylbenzylamine in 30 ml of methylene chloride were added 1.69 g (8.8 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride and 1.19 g (8.8 mmols) of HOBt under cooling, and the mixture was stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 100 ml of ethyl acetate was added to the resulting residue, which was washed two times each with 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid, once with 50 ml of water, two times each with 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and once with 50 ml of brine in order. The organic layer thus washed was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate, the magnesium sulfate was removed by filtration, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. This was recrystallized from ethyl acetate-hexane to obtain 2.81 g (7.2 mmols) of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-DL-furylglycine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. To a solution of 2.33 g (5.9 mmols) of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-DL-furylglycine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide in 50 ml of methanol were added 590 mg of 5 % Pd-carbon (water content 50 %) and 30 mg of quinoline. The mixture was reduced under hydrogen at room temperature for 1.5 hours. The catalyst was removed by filtration, the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure, and the residue was dissolved in 100 ml of chloroform. The organic layer was washed with 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and then with 50 ml of brine. Next, this was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate, the magnesium sulfate was removed by filtration, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in 50 ml of methylene chloride, and 2.33 9 (6.5 mmols) of β-benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartate was added thereto. Next, 1.25 g (6.3 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride and 0.88 g (6.5 mmols) of HOBt were added thereto under cooling and stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 150 ml of ethyl acetate was added to the residue, which was washed two times each with 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid, once with 50 ml of water, two times each with 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and once with 50 ml of brine in order. The organic layer was dried with magnesium sulfate, the magnesium sulfate was removed by filtration, the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure, and the residue was recrystallized from ethyl acetate-hexane to obtain quantitatively N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-DL-furylglycine-(S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. To a suspension of 3.64 g (6.1 mmols) of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-DL-furylglycine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide in 50 ml of methanol was added 630 mg of 5 % Pd-carbon (water content 50 %) and 34 mg of quinoline. The mixture was reduced under hydrogen at room temperature for 1.5 hours. The catalyst was removed by filtration, and the methanol was removed under reduced pressure. 200 ml of water was added to the residue, the crystals formed were separated from the mother liquid by filtration. The both were well washed with diethyl ether and ethyl acetate. The crystals were dissolved in 100 ml of methanol and combined with the mother liquid. This was concentrated under reduced pressure to about 1/10, and the crystals thus precipitated were taken out by filtration and dried to obtain 1.67 g (4.5 mmols) of α-L-aspartyl-DL-furylglycine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:0.77 (t, J = 6.9 Hz, 1.5H ), 0.85 (t, J = 7.4 Hz, 1.5H), 1.60-1.75 (m, 2 H), 2.19-2.33 (m, 1H), 2.41-2.57 (m, 1H), 3 .65-3.80 (m, 1H). 4.63-4.72 (m, 1H), 5.61 ( s, 1H), 6.22-6.44 (m, 2H), 7.19-7.40 (m, 5H ), 7.59 (m, 0.5H), 7.64 (m, 0.5H), 8.72 (d, J = 9.1 Hz, 0.5H), 8.76 (d, J = 9.3 Hz, 0.5H), 8.9 5 (brs, 1H). FAB-MS 374 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 1200 times that of sugar. (Example 1) Production of α-L-aspartyl-DL-furylglycine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide: The same process as in Comparative Example 4 was repeated, except that (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamine was used in place of (S)-α-ethylbenzylamine, and α-L-aspartyl-DL-furylglycine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide was obtained as a solid product. The total yield was 60.7 %. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:2.21-2.34 (m, 1H), 2.42-2.57 (m, 1H), 3.22 (S, 1.5H), 3.26 (S, 1.5H), 3.46-3.60 (m, 2H), 3 .69-3.80 (m, 1H), 4.98-5.07 (m, 1H), 5.65 (s, 1H), 6.27-6.45 (m, 2H), 7.18-7.40 (m, 5H), 7.59 (m, 0.5H), 7.64 (m, 0.5H), 8.87 (d, J = 8.3 Hz, 0.5H), 8.96 (d, 3-8.1 Hz, 0.5H), 9.10 (brs, 1H). FAB-MS 390 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 1200 times that of sugar. (Comparative Example 5) Production of α-L-aspartyl-α-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide: To a solution of 1.15 g (5.0 mmols) of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-α-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid and 0.68 g (5.0 mmols) of (S)-α-ethylbenzylamine in 35 ml of methylene chloride were added 0.96 g (5.5 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride and 0.68 g (5.0 mmols) of HOBt under cooling, and the mixture was stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid was added to the resulting residue, which was extracted two times each with 50 ml of ethyl acetate and then washed with 20 ml of water, 25 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and 20 ml of brine in order. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 1.63 g (4.7 mmols) of a solid product of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-α-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. 13 ml of 4N-HCl/dioxane solution was added to 0.87 g (2.5 mmols) of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-α-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for one hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, 30 ml of ether was added to the residue, and this was again concentrated. The residue was dissolved in 30 ml of methylene chloride and 0.39 ml (2.75 mmols) of triethylamine, and 0.98 g (2.5 mmols) of β -benzyl-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartate were added thereto. Under cooling, 0.53 g (2.75 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride and 0.34 g (2.5 mmols) of HOBt were added thereto, and the mixture was stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid was added to the residue, which was extracted two times each with 50 ml of ethyl acetate and then washed with 20 ml of water, 25 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and 20 ml of brine in order. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in 30 ml of methanol, 0.25 g of 10 % Pd-carbon (water content 50 %) was added thereto, and the mixture was reduced under hydrogen. 40 ml of water was added to this, the catalyst was removed by filtration, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated to about 1/4. This was then stored in a refrigerator overnight. The crystals thus precipitated were taken out by filtration and dried to obtain 0.64 g (1.77 mmols) of α-L-aspartyl-α-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:0.83 (t, 3H), 1.55-1. 78 (t, 6H), 1.85-2,08 (m, 4H), 2.44 (dd, 1H) , 2.66 (dd, 1H), 3.82 (brt, 1H), 4.67 (brq, 1 H), 7.15-7.22 (m, 1H), 7.22-7.35 (m, 4H), 7 .87 (d, 1H), 8.51 (brs, 1H). FAB-MS 362 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 1000 times that of sugar. (Comparative Example 6) Production of α-L-aspartyl-α-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide: To a solution of 1.22 g (5.0 mmols) of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-α-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid and 0.68 g (5.0 mmols) of (S)-α-ethylbenzylamine in 35 ml of methylene chloride were added 0.96 g (5.5 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride and 0.68 g (5.0 mmols) of HOBt under cooling, and the mixture wwas stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid was added to the resulting residue, which was extracted two times each with 50 ml of ethyl acetate and then washed with 20 ml of water, 25 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and 20 ml of brine in order. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 1.66 g (4.6 mmols) of a solid product of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-α-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. 13 ml of 4N-HCl/dioxane solution was added to 0.68 g (1.88 mmols) of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-α-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for one hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, 30 ml of ether was added to the residue, and this was again concentrated. The residue was dissolved in 30 ml of methylene chloride, and 0.29 ml (2.07 mmols) of triethylamine, and 0.74 g (2.07 mmols) of β-benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartate were added thereto. While cooling, 0.40 g (2.07 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride and 0.25 g (1.88 mmols) of HOBt were added thereto, and the mixture was stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid was added to the residue, which was extracted two times each with 50 ml of ethyl acetate and then washed with 20 ml of water, 25 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and 20 ml of brine in order. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in 30 ml of methanol, 0.25 g of 10 % Pd-carbon (water content 50 %) was added thereto, and the mixture was reduced under hydrogen. 40 ml of water was added to this, the catalyst was removed by filtration, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated to about 1/4. This was then stored in a refrigerator overnight. The crystals thus precipitated were taken out by filtration and dried to obtain 0.40 g (1.07 mmols) of α-L-aspartyl-α-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:0.83 (t, 3H), 1.10-1. 27 (m, 1H), 1.33-1.78 (m, 9H), 1.93-2.13 (m , 2H), 2.45 (dd, 1H), 2.65 (dd, 1H), 3.90-3. 98 (m, 1H), 4.65 (brq, 1H), 7.15-7.22 (m, 1H ), 7.22-7.30 (m, 4H), 7.78 (brd, 1H), 8.25 ( brs, 1H) FAB-MS 376 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 1000 times that of sugar. (Comparative Example 7) Production of α-L-aspartyl-α-aminoisobutyric acid (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide: To a solution of 1.02 g (5.0 mmols) of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-α-aminoisobutyric acid and 0.68 g (5.0 mmols) of (S)-α-ethylbenzylamine in 35 ml of methylene chloride were added 0.96 g (5.5 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride and 0.68 g (5.0 mmols) of HOBt under cooling, and the mixture was stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid was added to the resulting residue, which was extracted two times each with 50 ml of ethyl acetate and then washed with 20 ml of water, 25 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and 20 ml of brine in order. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 1.55 g (4.83 mmols) of a solid product of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-α-aminoisobutyric acid (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. 25 ml of 4N-HCl/dioxane solution was added to 1.55 g (4.83 mmols) of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-α-aminoisobutyric acid (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for one hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, 30 ml of ether was added to the residue, and this was again concentrated. The residue was dissolved in 30 ml of methylene chloride, and 0.74 ml (5.28 mmols) of triethylamine and 1.71 g (5.28 mmols) of β-benzyl-N-t-butoxycarbonyl-L-aspartate were added thereto. Under cooling, 1.01 g (5.28 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride and 0.65 g (4.80 mmols) of HOBt were added thereto, and the mixture was stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid was added to the residue, which was extracted two times each with 50 ml of ethyl acetate and then washed with 20 ml of water, 25 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and 20 ml of brine in order. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. 20 ml of 4N-HCl/dioxane solution was added to the residue and stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, 30 ml of methanol was added thereto, and this was further concentrated. The residue was dissolved in 30 ml of methanol, 0.40 g of 10 % Pd-carbon (water content 50 %) was added thereto, and the mixture was reduced under hydrogen. 40 ml of water was added to this, the catalyst was removed by filtration, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in 50 ml of water and passed through 80 ml of an adsorption resin (SP207). After thus adsorbed, the resin was washed with 300 ml of water. This was subjected to elution with 300 ml of an eluent of water/methanol (1/1). The resulting eluate was concentrated under reduced pressure, and the residue was crystallized in ethanol. The crystals thus precipitated were taken out by filtration and dried to obtain 0.87 g (2.60 mmols) of α-L-aspartyl-α-aminoisobutyric acid (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:0.82 (t, 3H), 1.38 (d, 6H), 1.60-1.75 (m, 2H), 2.29 (dd, 1H), 2.50 (m, 1H), 3.58 (brt, 1H), 4.63 (q, 1H), 7.12-7.20 (m, 1H), 7.20-7.33 (m, 4H), 8.07 (d, 1H ), 8.48 (brs, 1H). FAB-MS 336 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 200 times that of sugar. (Comparative Example 8) Production of α-L-aspartyl-α,α-diethylglycine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide: To a solution of 1.99 g (8.6 mmols) of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-α, α-diethylglycine and 1.16 g (8.6 mmols) of (S)-α-ethylbenzylamine in 40 ml of methylene chloride were added 1.81 g (9.5 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride and 1.16 g (8.6 mmols) of HOBt under cooling, and the mixture was stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid was added to the resulting residue, which was extracted two times each with 50 ml of ethyl acetate and then washed with 20 ml of water, 25 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and 20 ml of brine in order. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 1.31 g (3.76 mmols) of a solid product of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-α,α-diethylglycine-(S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. 19 ml of 4N-HCl/dioxane solution was added to 1.31 g (3.76 mmols) of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-α,α-diethylglycine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for one hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, 30 ml of ether was added to the residue, and this was again concentrated. The residue was dissolved in 25 ml of methylene chloride, and 0.55 ml (4.13 mmols) of triethylamine and 1.48 g (4.13 mmols) of β-benzyl-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartate were added thereto. Under cooling, 0.79 g (4.13 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride and 0.51 g (3.76 mmols) of HOBt were added thereto, and these were stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid was added to the residue, which was extracted two times each with 50 ml of ethyl acetate and then washed with 20 ml of water, 25 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and 20 ml of brine in order. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in 30 ml of methanol, 0.30 g of 10 % Pd-carbon (water content 50 %) was added thereto, and the mixture was reduced under hydrogen. 40 ml of water was added to this, the catalyst was removed by filtration, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated to about 1/4. This was then stored in a refrigerator overnight. The crystals thus precipitated were taken out by filtration and dried to obtain 0.40 g (1.10 mmols) of α-L-aspartyl-α,α-diethylglycine (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:0.46 (t, 3H), 0.65 (t, 3H), 0.87 (t, 3H), 1.60-1.92 (m, 4H), 2.12-2.30 (m, 2H), 2.43 (dd, 1H), 2.54 (m, 1H), 3. 77 (brt, 1H). 4.69 (brq, 1H). 7.15-7.22 (m, 1H), 7.22-7.35 (m, 4H), 8.20 (d, 1H), 8.22 ( brs, 1H). FAB-MS 364 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 1000 times that of sugar. (Comparative Example 9) Production of α-L-aspartyl-DL-isovaline (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide: To a solution of 0.50 g (2.3 mmols) of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-DL-isovaline and 0.31 g (2.3 mmols) of (S)-α-ethylbenzylamine in 50 ml of methylene chloride was added 0.44 g (2.3 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride under cooling, and the mixture was stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 40 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid was added to the resulting residue, which was extracted two times each with 30 ml of ethyl acetate and then washed with 20 ml of water, 20 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and 15 ml of brine in order. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 0.68 g (2.03 mmols) of a solid product of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-DL-isovaline (S)-a-ethylbenzylamide. 10 ml of 4N-HCl/dioxane solution was added to 0.66 g (1.97 mmols) of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-DL-isovaline (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for one hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, 30 ml of ether was added to the residue, and this was again concentrated. The residue was dissolved in 20 ml of methylene chloride and 0.24 ml (1.76 mmols) of triethylamine and 0.63 g (1.76 mmols) of β-benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartate were added thereto. Under cooling, 0.34 g (1.76 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride was added thereto, and these were stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid was added to the residue, which was extracted two times each with 40 ml of ethyl acetate and then washed with 20 ml of water, 25 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and 20 ml of brine in order. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in 20 ml of methanol, 0.10 g of 10 % Pd-carbon (water content 50 %) was added thereto, and the mixture was reduced under hydrogen. 20 ml of water was added to this, the catalyst was removed by filtration, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated to about 1/5. This was then stored in a refrigerator overnight. The crystal thus precipitated was taken out by filtration and dried to obtain 0.21 g of α-L-aspartyl-DL-isovaline (S)-α-ethylbenzylamide. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:0.69, 0.70 (t × 2.3H), 0.86 (t, 3H), 1.40, 1.41 (s × 2.3H), 1.66-1. 96 (m, 4H), 2.72-2.85 (m, 1H), 2.92 (dd, 1H) , 4.17 (t, 1H), 4.63-4.72 (m, 1H), 7.13-7.3 5 (m, 7H), 7.95, 8.07 (d × 2.1H). 8.31, 8.37 (s × 2,1H), 8.48 (brs, 1H), 8.22 (brs, 1H). FAB-MS 350 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 100 times that of sugar. (Example 2) Production of α-L-aspartyl-D-valine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide: 60 ml of 4N-HCl/dioxane solution was added to 4.02 g (16.0 mmols) of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-(R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamine, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for one hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, 30 ml of ether was added to the residue, and this was further concentrated to obtain (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamine hydrochloride at a quantitative yield. The thus-obtained (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamine hydrochloride and 3.37 g (15.5 mmols) of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-D-valine were dissolved in 50 ml of methylene chloride, 2.67 g (16.5 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride, 2.23 g (16.5 mmols) of HOBt and 2.63 ml (17.5 mmols) of triethylamine were added thereto under cooling, and these were stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 150 ml of ethyl acetate was added to the resulting residue, which was washed two times each with 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid, once with 50 ml of brine, two times each with 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and once with 50 ml of brine in order. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was recrystallized from ethyl acetate-hexane to obtain 4.20 g (12.0 mmols, 77.3 %)) of a solid product of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-D-valine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide. 60 ml of 4N-HCl/dioxane solution was added to 4.20 g (12.0 mmols) of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-D-valine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for one hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, 30 ml of ether was added to the residue, and this was again concentrated. The residue was dissolved in 50 ml of methylene chloride, and 1.84 ml (13.2 mmols) of triethylamine and 4.29 g (12.0 mmols) of β-benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartate were added thereto. Under cooling, 2.53 g (13.2 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride was added thereto, and these were stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. 150 ml of methylene chloride and 150 ml of ethyl acetate were added to the reaction mixture, which was washed two times each with 50 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid, once with 50 ml of brine, twice each with 50 ml of aqueous solution and once with 50 ml of brine in order. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was recrystallized from ethyl acetate-hexane to obtain 6.79 g (11.5 mmols) of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-D-valine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide as a solid product. To a suspension of 6.20 g (10.5 mmols) of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-D-valine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide in 200 ml of methanol and 50 ml of water was added 1.50 g of 10 % Pd-carbon (water content 50 %). The mixture was reduced under hydrogen under heat at 40 °C. The catalyst was removed by filtration, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to 15 ml. The crystal thus precipitated was taken out by filtration and dried to obtain 2.69 g (7.36 mmols, 70.0 %) of α-L-aspartyl-D-valine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:0.84 (d, 3H), 0.88 (d, 3H), 1.90-2.05 (m, 1H), 2.20 (dd, 1H), 2.46 (dd, 1H), 3.23 (s, 3H), 3.45-3.55 (m, 2H), 3 70-3.78 (m, 1H), 4.25 (brs, 1H), 5.04 (q, 1 H), 7.20-7.29 (m, 1H),7.29-7.37 (m, 4H), 8 .42 (brs, 1H), 8.52 (d, 1H). FAB-MS 366 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 1300 times that of sugar. (Example 3) Production of α-L-aspartyl-D-phenylglycine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide: The same process as in Example 2 was repeated, except that N-t-butoxycarbonyl-D-phenylglycine was used in place of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-D-valine, and α-L-aspartyl-D-phenylglycine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide was obtained as a solid product. The total yield was 24.4 %. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:2.22 (dd, 1H), 2.44 (d d, 1H), 3.15 (s, 3H), 3.44 (d, 2H), 3.73 (dd, 1H), 4.99 (q, 1H), 5.59 (s, 1H), 7.23-7.45 ( m, 10H), 8.90 (d, 2H). FAB-MS 400 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 500 times that of sugar. (Example 4 ) Production of α-L-aspartyl-α-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide: The same process as in Example 2 was repeated, except that N-t-butoxycarbonyl-α-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid was used in place of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-D-valine, and α-L-aspartyl-α-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide was obtained as a solid product. The total yield was 81.0 %. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:1.11-1.73 (m, 8H), 2. 05-2.12 (m, 2H), 2.41 (dd, 1H), 2.65 (dd, 1H ), 3.24 (s, 3H), 3.48-3.59 (m, 2H), 3.91 (dd , 1H), 4.96 (dd, 1H), 7.19-7.35 (m, 5H), 7.9 3 (d, 1H), 8.37 (brs, 1H) FAB-MS 392 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 250 times that of sugar. (Example 5) Production of α-L-aspartyl-D-valine (S)-α-methoxymethyl-β-methylpropylamide: The same process as in Example 2 was repeated, except that (S)-α-methoxymethyl-β-methylpropylamine hydrochloride was used in place of (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamine hydrochloride, and α-L-aspartyl-D-valine (S)-α-methoxymethyl-β-methylpropylamide was obtained as a solid product. The total yield was 93.6 %. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:0.83 (d, 3H), 0.85 (d, 6H), 0.88 (d, 3H), 1.76-1.87 (m, 1H), 1.96-2.07 (m, 1H), 2.53 (dd, 1H), 2.67 (dd, 1H) 3 .25 (s, 3H), 3.31-3.34 (2dd, 2H), 3.71-3.7 9 (m, 1H), 4.01 (dd, 1H), 4.35 (dd, 1H) 7.92 (d, 1H), 8.43 (d, 1H). FAB-MS 332 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 40 times that of sugar. (Example 6) Production of α-L-aspartyl-D-valine (R)-α-ethoxymethylbenzylamide: 12.5 ml of 4N-HCl/dioxane solution was added to 0.66 g (2.5 mmols) of N-t-butoxycarbonyl-(R)-α-ethoxymethylbenzylamine, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for one hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, 30 ml of ether was added to the residue, and this was further concentrated to obtain (R)-α-ethoxymethylbenzylamine hydrochloride at a quantitative yield. The thus-obtained (R)-α-ethoxymethylbenzylamine hydrochloride and 1.09 g (2.4 mmols) of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-D-valine were dissolved in 12 ml of methylene chloride, 0.50 g (2.6 mmols) of water-soluble carbodiimide hydrochloride, 0.35 g (2.6 mmols) of HOBt and 0.40 ml (2.7 mmols) of triethylamine were added thereto under cooling, and these were stirred for one hour under cooling and then overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 50 ml of ethyl acetate was added to the resulting residue, which was washed two times each with 25 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % citric acid, once with 25 ml of brine, two times each with 25 ml of aqueous solution of 5 % sodium hydrogencarbonate and once with 25 ml of brine in order. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was recrystallized from ethyl acetate-hexane to obtain 1.30 g (2.15 mmols, 89.6 %) of a solid product of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-D-valine (R)-α-ethoxymethylbenzylamide. To a suspension of 1.20 g (1.99 mmols) of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-D-valine (R)-α-ethoxymethylbenzylamide in 50 ml of methanol and 10 ml of water was added 0.30 g of 10 % Pd-carbon (water content 50 %). The mixture was reduced under hydrogen under heat at 40 °C. 40 ml of water was added thereto, the catalyst was removed by filtration, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to 5 ml. The crystals thus precipitated were taken out by filtration and dried to obtain 0.38 g (1.00 mmol, 50.3 %) of α-L-aspartyl-D-valine (R)-α-ethoxymethylbenzylamide. 1 HNMR (DSMO-d 6 ) δ:0.85 (d, 3H), 0.89 (d, 3H), 1.06 (t, 3H), 1.93-2.03 (m, 1H), 2.23 ( dd, 1H), 2.46 (dd, 1H), 3.35-3.48 (m, 2H), 3 .51 (d, 2H), 3.76 (dd, 1H), 4.26 (brs, 1H), 5. 03 (q, 1H), 7.20-7.30 (m, 1H), 7.30-7.38 ( m, 4H), 8.43 (brd, 1H), 8.52 (d, 1H) FAB-MS 380 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 500 times that of sugar. (Example 7) Production of α-L-aspartyl-D-α-aminobutyric acid (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide: The same process as in Example 6 was repeated, except that N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-D-aminobutyric acid was used in place of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-D-valine and that (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamine hydrochloride was used in place of (R)-α-ethoxymethylbenzylamine hydrochloride, and α -L-aspartyl-D-α-aminobutyric acid (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide was obtained as a solid product. The total yield was 56.7 %. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:0.86 (t, 3H), 1.52-1. 75 (m, 2H), 2.22 (dd, 1H), 2.44 (dd, 1H), 3.2 4 (s, 3H), 3.48-3.51 (2dd, 2H), 3.64-3.68 ( m, 1H), 4.28 (brs, 1H), 4.99-5.06 (m, 1H), 7 .24-7.34 (m, 5H), 8.43 (brs, 1H), 8.52 (d, 1 H) FAB-MS 352 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 1200 times that of sugar. (Example 8) Production of α-L-aspartyl-D-isoleucine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide: The same process as in Example 6 was repeated, except that N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-D-isoleucine was used in place of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-D-valine and that (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamine hydrochloride was used in place of (R)-α-ethoxymethylbenzylamine hydrochloride, and α-L-aspartyl-D-isoleucine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide was obtained as a solid product. The total yield was 22.1 %. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:0.84 (t, 3H), 0.88 (d, 3H), 1.01-1.31 (m, 2H), 1.71-1.85 (m, 1H) 2.40 (dd, 1H), 2.57 (dd, 1H), 3.25 (s, 3H), 3 .45-3.55 (m, 2H), 3.87 (dd, 1H) 4.31 (brt, 1H), 5.66 (dd, 1H), 7.24-7.38 (m, 5H), 8.49 (brd, 1H), 8.59 (d, 1H) FAB-MS 380 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 500 times that of sugar. (Example 9) Production of α-L-aspartyl-D-alanine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide: The same process as in Example 6 was repeated, except that N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-D-alanine was used in place of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-β-benzyl-L-aspartyl-D-valine and that (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamine hydrochloride was used in place of (R)-α-ethoxymethyl benzylamine hydrochloride, and α-L-aspartyl-D-alanine (R)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide was obtained as a solid product. The total yield was 57.3 %. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:1.26 (d, 3H), 2.25 (dd , 1H), 2.46 (dd, 1H), 3.26 (s, 3H), 3.50-3.5 3 (2d, 2H), 3.61 (q, 1H), 4.31-4.43 (m, 1H), 4.96-5.05 (m, 1H), 7.23-7.39 (m, 5H), 8.35 -8.45 (m, 1H), 8.47 (d, 1H). FAB-MS 338 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 300 times that of sugar. (Comparative Example 10) Production of α-L-aspartyl-D-valine (R)-α-methoxymethyl-β-methylpropylamide: The same process as in Example 6 was repeated, except that (R)-α-methoxymethyl-β-methylpropylamine hydrochloride was used in place of (R)-α-ethoxymethylbenzylamine hydrochloride, and α-L-aspartyl-D-valine (R)-α-methoxymethyl-β-methylpropylamide was obtained as a solid product. The total yield was 61.2 %. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:0.83 (d, 6H), 0.85 (d, 6H), 1.67-1.80 (m, 1H), 1.90-2.22 (m, 1H), 2.22 (dd, 1H), 2.44 (dd, 1H), 3.20 (s, 3H), 3 .28 (d, 2H), 3.65-3.80 (m, 2H), 4.20 (brs, 1 H), 7.73 (d, 1H). 8.37 (brs , 1H) FAB-MS 332 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was 30 times that of sugar . (Comparative Example 11) Production of α-L-aspartyl-D-valine (S)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide: The same process as in Example 6 was repeated, except that (S)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamine hydrochloride was used in place of (R)-α-ethoxymethylbenzylamine hydrochloride, and α-L-aspartyl-D-valine (S)-α-methoxymethylbenzylamide was obtained as a solid product. The total yield was 64.6 %. 1 HNMR (DMSO-d 6 ) δ:0.74 (d, 3H), 0.76 (d, 3H), 1.90-2.00 (m, 1H), 2.44 (dd, 1H), 2.58 (dd, 1H), 3.25 (s, 3H), 3.41-3.56 (m, 2H), 3 .89-3.96 (m, 1H), 4.33 (brt, 1H), 5.01 (q, 1 H), 7.20-7.26 (m, 1H), 7.26-7.3 (m, 4H), 8 .45 (d, 1H) 8.65 (d, 1H) FAB-MS 366 (MH + ) The sweetness potency of the compound was not more than 20 times that of sugar.

Claims: Aspartyldipeptide derivatives of the following general formula (1) and their salts: L-Asp-X-NH-C*HR 1 R 2 wherein R 1 represents an alkoxymethyl group having from 2 to 7 carbon atoms; R 2 represents a phenyl group, a benzyl group, a cyclohexyl group, or a cyclohexylmethyl group; the structure having the C* atom is in the (R) form; X represents the residue of a D-α-amino acid or DL-α-amino acid or the residue of a cyclic or acyclic α,α-dialkylamino acid having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms; and the bond between L-Asp and X is an α-bond. Compounds as claimed in Claim 1, wherein X represents the residue of a D-α-amino acid or DL-α-amino acid selected from D-alanine, D-α-aminobutyric acid, D-norvaline, D-valine, D-norleucine, D-leucine, D-isoleucine, D-alloisoleucine, D-t-leucine, D-serine, D-O-methylserine, D-threonine, D-O-methylthreonine, D-allothreonine, D-O-methylallothreonine, D-phenylglycine, D-or DL-furylglycine. Compounds as claimed in claim 1, in which X is a residue of D-α-aminobutyric acid, R 1 is a methoxymethyl group, and R 2 is a phenyl group. Compounds as claimed in claim 1, in which X is a residue of D-valine, R 1 is a methoxymethyl group, and R 2 is a phenyl group. Compounds as claimed in claim 1, in which X is a residue of D-isoleucine, R 1 is a methoxymethyl group, and R 2 is a phenyl group. Compounds as claimed in claim 1, in which X is a residue of D-threonine, R 1 is a methoxymethyl group, and R 2 is a phenyl group. Compounds as claimed in claim 1, in which X is a residue of D-α-phenylglycine, R 1 is a methoxymethyl group, and R 2 is a phenyl group. Compounds as claimed in claim 1, in which X is a residue of the α-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid, R 1 is a methoxymethyl group, and R 2 is a phenyl group. Compounds as claimed in claim 1, in which X is a residue of D-valine, R 1 is an ethoxymethyl group, and R 2 is a phenyl group. Compounds as claimed in claim 1, in which X is a residue of D- or DL-furylglycine, R 1 is a methoxymethyl group, and R 2 is a phenyl group. A sweetener containing, as the active ingredient, a novel aspartyldipeptide derivative of the above-mentioned formula (1) or its salt, according to any of the claims 1 to 10.

Inventors: AMINO YUSUKE, NAKAMURA RYOICHIRO, TAKEMOTO TADASHI, AMINO, YUSUKE, NAKAMURA, RYOICHIRO, TAKEMOTO, TADASHI, AMINO, YUSUKE, C/O AJINOMOTO CO., INC., NAKAMURA, RYOICHIRO, C/O AJINOMOTO CO., INC., TAKEMOTO, TADASHI, C/O AJINOMOTO CO., INC.
Applicants: AJINOMOTO KK, AJINOMOTO CO., INC.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: C07K5
IPC codes: C07K5, A23L1