U.S. patent application number 12/757947 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-05 for process for producing optically active alpha-methylcysteine derivative.
This patent application is currently assigned to KANEKA CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Tatsuya Honda, Kenji Inoue, Masashi Izumida, Kohei Mori, Nobuo Nagashima, Hirokazu Nanba, Takahiro Ohishi, Masanobu Sugawara, Satohiro Yanagisawa.
Application Number | 20100197934 12/757947 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29740538 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100197934 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ohishi; Takahiro ; et
al. |
August 5, 2010 |
PROCESS FOR PRODUCING OPTICALLY ACTIVE ALPHA-METHYLCYSTEINE
DERIVATIVE
Abstract
The present invention provides a simple industrial process for
producing an L- or D-optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine
derivative or its salt, which is a useful pharmaceutical
intermediate, from readily available, inexpensive raw materials. In
a process for producing an L- or D-optically active
.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative or its salt, a racemic
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative or its salt is
D-selectively cyclized with hydantoinase to produce a
D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative or its salt and an
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative or its salt, which
are then subjected to deprotection of the amino group and the
sulfur atom, and hydrolysis.
Inventors: |
Ohishi; Takahiro;
(Takasago-shi, JP) ; Nanba; Hirokazu;
(Takasago-shi, JP) ; Sugawara; Masanobu;
(Takasago-shi, JP) ; Izumida; Masashi;
(Takasago-shi, JP) ; Honda; Tatsuya;
(Takasago-shi, JP) ; Mori; Kohei; (Takasago-shi,
JP) ; Yanagisawa; Satohiro; (Takasago-shi, JP)
; Nagashima; Nobuo; (Takasaog-shi, JP) ; Inoue;
Kenji; (Takasago-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
KANEKA CORPORATION
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
29740538 |
Appl. No.: |
12/757947 |
Filed: |
April 9, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10515658 |
Jan 6, 2006 |
|
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PCT/JP03/07108 |
Jul 5, 2003 |
|
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12757947 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
548/319.1 ;
435/113; 435/121; 562/557 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C12P 13/12 20130101;
C07D 233/76 20130101; C07C 319/06 20130101; C12P 17/10 20130101;
C07C 323/58 20130101; C07C 319/06 20130101; C12P 17/04 20130101;
C12P 41/009 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
548/319.1 ;
435/121; 435/113; 562/557 |
International
Class: |
C12P 17/10 20060101
C12P017/10; C12P 13/12 20060101 C12P013/12; C07C 321/00 20060101
C07C321/00; C07D 233/02 20060101 C07D233/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 5, 2002 |
JP |
2002-164598 |
Aug 16, 2002 |
JP |
2002-237698 |
Mar 12, 2003 |
JP |
2003-067299 |
Claims
1. A process for producing a D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin
derivative represented by formula (2) or its salt: ##STR00015##
(wherein R.sup.1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl
group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted
aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, or a substituted or
unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms); and an
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative represented by
formula (3) or its salt: ##STR00016## (wherein R.sup.1 represents
the same as the above), the process comprising treating a racemic
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative represented by
formula (1) or its salt: ##STR00017## (wherein R.sup.1 represents
the same as the above) with hydantoinase to selectively cyclize the
D-isomer.
2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the hydantoinase is
derived from microorganisms of the genus Agrobacterium, Bacillus,
or Pseudomonas.
3. The process according to claim 2, wherein the hydantoinase is
derived from Agrobacterium sp. KNK712 (FERM BP-1900), Bacillus sp.
KNK245 (FERM BP-4863), or Pseudomonas putida IFO12996.
4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the hydantoinase is
used as an immobilized enzyme.
5. The process according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.1 is a
substituted or unsubstituted tertiary alkyl group having 4 to 15
carbon atoms.
6. The process according to claim 5, wherein the tertiary alkyl
group is a tert-butyl group.
7. A racemic N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative
represented by formula (1) or its salt: ##STR00018## (wherein
R.sup.1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group
having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl
group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, or a substituted or
unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms).
8. The compound according to claim 7, wherein R.sup.1 is a tertiary
alkyl group having 4 to 15 carbon atoms.
9. The compound according to claim 8, wherein the tertiary alkyl
group is a tert-butyl group.
10. An L- or D-optically active N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
derivative represented by formula (3): ##STR00019## (wherein
R.sup.1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group
having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl
group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, or a substituted or
unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms), or formula
(10): ##STR00020## (wherein R.sup.1 represent the same as the
above), or its salt.
11. The compound according to claim 10, wherein R.sup.1 is a
tertiary alkyl group having 4 to 15 carbon atoms.
12. The compound according to claim 11, wherein the tertiary alkyl
group is a tert-butyl group.
13. A D- or L-optically active 5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin
derivative represented by formula (2): ##STR00021## or formula (7):
##STR00022## (wherein R.sup.1 is a tertiary alkyl group having 4 to
15 carbon atoms), or its salt.
14. The compound according to claim 13, wherein the tertiary alkyl
group is a tert-butyl group.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a process for producing an
optically active L- or D-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative or its
salt which is useful as an intermediate for pharmaceutical
products.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Known processes for producing an optically active L- or
D-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative or its salt include the
following:
[0003] 1) A process asymmetric methylation of an optically active
thiazolidine compound produced from optically active cysteine and
pivalaldehyde (WO01/72702).
[0004] 2) A process of asymmetric thiomethylation of an optically
active oxazolone compound produced from optically active alanine
and benzaldehyde (J. Org. Chem., 1996, 61, 3350-3357).
[0005] 3) A process of methylation of a thiazoline compound
produced from cysteine and cyanobenzene, and isolating and
purifying the resulting racemic thiazoline compound by chiral HPLC
(Synlett., 1994, 9, 702-704).
[0006] 4) A process of asymmetric bromomethylation of an optically
active diketopiperazine compound synthesized from optically active
valine and alanine, and replacement of the bromine atom of the
resulting compound by an alkali metal alkylthiolate (Synthesis,
1983, 37-38).
[0007] 5) A process for the reaction of thiol with the optically
active aziridine which is prepared from the optically active
2-methylglycidol obtained by Sharpless asymmetric oxidation of
2-methyl-2-propene-1-ol (J. Org. Chem., 1995, 60, 790-791).
[0008] 6) A process of methylation of aminomalonic acid
derivatives, desymmetrization of the product with pig liver
esterase (abbreviated as "PLE" hereinafter), and reaction of the
resulting asymmetric ester with an alkali metal thioacetate (J. Am.
Chem. Soc., 1993, 115, 8449-8450).
[0009] Any of processes 1) to 4) requires low-temperature reaction
with an expensive base such as butyl lithium. Process 5) is
complicated by a large number of steps, and requires various kinds
of expensive reagents. The key step of process 6) is the
desymmetrization of the diester by PLE as esterase etc., but PLE
cannot be easily stably secured on an industrial scale because of
difficulty in mass production of PLE, thereby making the process
unpractical. Therefore, any one of the processes has problems to be
solved as an industrial process for producing an optically active
methylcysteine derivative or its salt.
[0010] The optically active methylcysteine derivative produced by
any one of the above-described processes and the like) can be
converted to optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt by
appropriate deprotection if necessary. The resulting optically
active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt is preferably isolated
and purified by crystallization. However, there has been no known
example of isolation of optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or
its salt by crystallization. Only the above-described WO01/72702
etc. disclose examples of isolation. These examples relate to a
method in which a thiazolidine compound which is an optically
active .alpha.-methylcysteine derivative is deprotected with
hydrochloric acid, resulting an aqueous solution of optically
active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt is concentrated to
produce a solid, and in some cases, the solid is washed with an
organic solvent to isolate the compound. However, as a result of
isolation of the compound according to this method, the inventors
have found that a solid is precipitated with concentration of the
aqueous solution, and at the same time, the solid becomes a large
lump containing water to make stirring difficult. Also, when
concentration is continued, the solid strongly adheres to the wall
and comes to a non-fluid state. Therefore, the operation of
concentrating the aqueous solution to precipitate a solid is
disadvantageous as an industrial operation, and the solid tends to
be aggregated with concentration. This causes difficulty in
stirring a crystallization solution and isolating the solid.
Therefore, the isolation methods disclosed in the above WO01/72702
etc. are unsuitable for industrial production.
[0011] Furthermore, if the insoluble inorganic salts generate and
are mixed in the optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its
salt obtained by deprotection of optically active methylcysteine
derivative during the reaction or a post-treatment step like
neutrization etc., the inorganic salt cannot be removed by the
above-described conventional method.
[0012] Furthermore, .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt is unstable
against oxidation and is easily converted to a disulfide by
dimerization. For example, dimerization of cysteine having a
similar structure rapidly proceeds to produce cystine (Protein
Chemistry 1, Amino Acid Peptide, Kyoritsu Shuppan, p. 326). Also,
dimerization of .alpha.-methylcysteine proceeds to produce a
disulfide, and the disulfide cannot be easily removed and is
unavoidably mixed in a product. Therefore, it is important to
establish a process capable of significantly suppressing the
production and mixing of a disulfide.
[0013] It is thus strongly demanded to establish an industrially
practical process for appropriately crystallizing a high-quality
optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt to obtain the
compound as crystals.
[0014] Apart from the conventional processes, a conceivable process
for simply producing an optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine
derivative is to convert a racemic .alpha.-methylcysteine
derivative to an optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine derivative
by enzymatic resolution. In order to realize this method, it is
important to establish a process for producing a racemic
.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative to be supplied to optical
resolution and enzymatic reaction having high optical resolution
ability. It is also important to properly select a racemic
.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative to be supplied to the enzymatic
optical resolution.
[0015] In order to realize the process using enzymatic optical
resolution, it is required that a racemic .alpha.-methylcysteine
derivative used as a substrate can be simply effectively produced,
conforms to the substrate specificity of an enzyme, and has a
protecting group or an auxiliary group suitable for achieving high
stereoselectivity, and the protecting group or auxiliary group can
be simply removed after enzymatic reaction. From this viewpoint, a
preferred racemic .alpha.-methylcysteine derivative is an
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative.
[0016] It has been known for a long time that hydantoinase known as
a hydrolase for ring opening of hydantoin also catalyzes a reverse
reaction of converting N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acid to
corresponding 5-substituted hydantoin. It is thus expected that one
of the optical isomers of the racemic
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative is selectively
converted to hydantoin with the enzyme and subjected to optical
resolution. The optically active N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
derivative obtained by optical resolution can easily be converted
to an optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine derivative by
decarbamoylation. The other product of the optical resolution,
i.e., an optically active 5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin
derivative, is equivalent to an optically active
.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative and can thus be led to an
optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine derivative (having a
configuration reverse to that of the product directly obtained by
optical resolution) through ring-opening hydrolysis and
decarbamoylation.
[0017] The racemic N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative
can be produced by combination of a general chemical method for
synthesizing an amino acid and N-carbamoylation reaction. However,
a process for producing the racemic
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative in a small number of
steps and high yield has not yet been established.
[0018] A known example of a general process for producing a racemic
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-disubstituted amino acid comprises converting
an acetone derivative to racemic 5,5-disubstituted hydantoin by the
Bucherer method, hydrolyzing the racemic 5,5-disubstituted
hydantoin to produce a racemic .alpha.-disubstituted amino acid
derivative (Agr. Biol. Chem., 1971, 35, 53-58), and then
N-carbamoylating the derivative by treatment with potassium
cyanate. However, in this method, the ureylene group (--NHCONH--)
of the racemic 5,5-disubstituted hydantoin cannot be effectively
used as the ureido group (carbamoylamino group: --NHCONH.sub.2) of
the racemic N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-disubstituted amino acid
derivative. Also, the method requires the three steps and is thus
inefficient.
[0019] On the other hand, as a method for producing a carbamoyl
compound without passing through an amino acid produced by
hydrolysis of hydantoin, a method of hydrolyzing with calcium
hydroxide used as a base is known (U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,859).
However, as a result of production of a racemic
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative according to this
method, the inventors found that the target compound can be
obtained in only 25% yield. Namely, a process for producing a
racemic N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-disubstituted amino acid derivative,
particularly a racemic N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
derivative, in a small number of steps and high yield has not yet
been established.
[0020] On the other hand, with respect to enzymatic optical
resolution of a racemic N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
derivative, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
1-124398 discloses a resolution process in which a racemic
N-carbamoyl-amino acid derivative is stereoselectively cyclized by
treatment with hydantoinase. However, the possibility of reaction
of an N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative is neither
disclosed nor suggested.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] In consideration of the above-described situation, an object
of the present invention is to provide an industrially practical
process capable of simply producing an optically active L- or
D-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative or its salts, which is useful
as a pharmaceutical intermediate, from readily available,
inexpensive raw materials.
[0022] As a result of intensive research in consideration of the
above-described situation, the inventors found a process for
producing an .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative or its salt, the
process comprising treating a racemic
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative or its salt with a
hydantoinase to selectively cyclize the D-isomer and form a
D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative or its salt and an
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative or its salt, and
then decarbamoylating the N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine
derivative or its salt and deprotecting the sulfur atom.
[0023] The inventors also found a process for producing an
.alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine derivative or its salt, the process
comprising hydrolyzing a D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin
derivative or its salts and deprotecting the sulfur atom.
Furthermore, the inventors established a simple method for
effectively producing a racemic N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
derivative used as a raw material of the above-described processes.
These processes resulted in the completion of the present
invention.
[0024] Namely, the present invention relates to a process for
producing a D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative represented
by formula (2) or its salt:
##STR00001##
(wherein R.sup.1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl
group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted
aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, or a substituted or
unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms); and an
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative represented by
formula (3) or its salt:
##STR00002##
(wherein R.sup.1 represents the same as the above), the process
comprising treating a racemic N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
derivative represented by formula (1) or its salt with a
hydantoinase to selectively cyclize the D-isomer:
##STR00003##
(wherein R.sup.1 represents the same as the above).
[0025] Also, the present invention relates to a process for
producing an .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative represented by
formula (4) or its salt:
##STR00004##
(wherein R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or Was described
above), the process comprising decarbamoylating the
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative represented by
formula (3) or its salts, and, if required, deprotecting the sulfur
atom.
[0026] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for
producing an .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine represented by formula (5)
or its salt:
##STR00005##
the process comprising treating an
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative represented by
formula (3) or its salt in which R.sup.1 is a tertiary alkyl group
having 4 to 15 carbon atoms with an acid to simultaneously perform
decarbamoylation and deprotection of the sulfur atom.
[0027] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for
producing L-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin represented by formula
(6) or its salt:
##STR00006##
the process comprising cyclizing
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative (3) or its salt
and deprotecting the sulfur atom thereof.
[0028] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for
producing L-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin (6) or its salt, the
process comprising cyclizing N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine
derivative (3) or its salt to produce a
L-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative represented by formula
(7) or its salt:
##STR00007##
(wherein R.sup.1 represents the same as the above), and then
treating the derivative or its salt with an acid to deprotect the
sulfur atom thereof.
[0029] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for
producing an .alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine derivative represented by
formula (8) or its salt:
##STR00008##
(wherein R.sup.2 represents the same as the above), the process
comprising hydrolyzing D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative
(2) or its salt, and, if required, deprotecting the sulfur atom
thereof.
[0030] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for
producing .alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine represented by formula (9) or
its salt:
##STR00009##
the process comprising treating the compound represented by formula
(2) in which R.sup.1 is a tertiary alkyl group having 4 to 15
carbon atoms with an acid to simultaneously perform hydrolysis
reaction and deprotection of the sulfur atom.
[0031] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for
producing D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin represented by formula
(11) or its salt:
##STR00010##
the process comprising carbamoylating an .alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine
derivative represented by formula (8) or its salt in which R.sup.2
is the same as R.sup.1 to produce an
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine derivative represented by
formula (10) or its salt:
##STR00011##
(wherein R.sup.1 represents the same as the above), and then
cyclizing the derivative or its salt and deprotecting the sulfur
atom thereof.
[0032] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for
producing D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin represented by formula
(11) or its salt, the process comprising treating the compound
represented by formula (2) with an acid to deprotect the sulfur
atom. The optically active 5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin
derivative or its salt can be easily converted to optically active
.alpha.-methylcysteine by hydrolysis, and as well as optically
active .alpha.-methylcysteine, the optically active
5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative or its salt can be
suitably used as a synthetic intermediate for pharmaceuticals and
the like.
[0033] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for
crystallizing optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt,
the process comprising crystallizing from an aqueous solution of an
optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt in the presence
of an organic solvent.
[0034] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for
producing a racemic N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acid derivative
represented by formula (13) or its salt:
##STR00012##
(wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently represent a substituted
or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a
substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon
atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 20
carbon atoms), particularly a racemic
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative represented by
formula (1) or its salt, the process comprising hydrolyzing, with
an organic base or an alkali metal hydroxide, a racemic
5,5-disubstituted hydantoin derivative represented by formula (12)
or its salt:
##STR00013##
(wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 represent the same as the above),
particularly a racemic 5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative
represented by formula (14) or its salt:
##STR00014##
(wherein R.sup.1 represents the same as the above).
[0035] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a racemic
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative represented by
formula (1) or its salt; an L- or D-optically active
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative represented by
formula (3) or (10) or its salt; a D- or L-optically active
5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative represented by formula
(2) or (7) or its salt in which R.sup.1 is a tertiary alkyl group
having 4 to 15 carbon atoms; an L- or D-optically active
.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative represented by formula (4) or (8)
or its salt in which R.sup.2 is a substituted or unsubstituted
alkyl group having 1 to 20 atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted
aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, or a substituted or
unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms; and an L- or
D-optically active 5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin represented by
formula (6) or (11) or its salt.
DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0036] The present invention will be described in detail below.
First, compounds of the present invention will be described.
[0037] In racemic N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative (1)
used in the present invention, R.sup.1 represents a substituted or
unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a
substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon
atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 20
carbon atoms.
[0038] Examples of an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms
include linear alkyl groups such as a methyl group, an ethyl group,
a n-propyl group, and a n-butyl group; and branched alkyl groups
such as an isopropyl group, an isobutyl group, a tert-butyl group,
a neopentyl group, a tert-pentyl group, and a tert-hexyl group. An
alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms is preferred.
[0039] Examples of an aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms
include a benzyl group, a p-methoxybenzyl group, a phenethyl group,
and a naphthylmethyl group. An aralkyl group having 7 to 15 carbon
atoms is preferred.
[0040] Examples of an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms
include a phenyl group and a naphthyl group. An aryl group having 6
to 15 carbon atoms is preferred.
[0041] Each of the alkyl group, aralkyl group, and aryl group may
be unsubstituted or substituted. Examples of a substituent include
an amino group, a hydroxyl group, an aryl group, an alkanoyl group,
an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkoxy group, a nitro group,
and halogen atoms.
[0042] Examples of an aryl group as the substituent include aryl
groups each having 6 to 15 carbon atoms, such as a phenyl group, a
naphthyl group, a p-methylphenyl group, a m-methylphenyl group, and
an o-methylphenyl group. Examples of an alkanoyl group include
alkanoyl groups each having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, such as an acetyl
group, a propanoyl group, and a butanoyl group. Examples of an
alkenyl group include alkenyl groups each having 2 to 10 carbon
atoms, such as an ethenyl group and a propenyl group. Examples of
an alkynyl group include alkyl groups each having 2 to 10 carbon
atoms, such as an ethynyl group and a propynyl group. Examples of
an alkoxy group include alkoxy groups each having 1 to 10 carbon
atoms, such as a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a n-propoxy group,
and an isopropoxy group. Examples of halogen atoms include a
fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine
atom.
[0043] From the viewpoint of the ease of deprotection and the
reactivity of stereoselective cyclization reaction with
hydantoinase, R.sup.1 is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted
tertiary alkyl group having 4 to 15 carbon atoms. Specifically,
R.sup.1 is a tert-butyl group, a tert-pentyl group, or a tert-hexyl
group, and preferably a tert-butyl group.
[0044] In racemic N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acid derivative (13),
R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently represent a substituted or
unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a
substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon
atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 20
carbon atoms. Examples of an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon
atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, and an aryl
group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms include the same groups as those
described above for R.sup.1.
[0045] The alkyl group, aralkyl group, and aryl group may be
unsubstituted or substituted. Examples of the substituent include
the same as those described above for R.sup.1, and substituted thio
groups represented by formula (15):
--SR.sup.1 (15)
wherein R.sup.1 represents the same as the above. Preferred
examples of R.sup.1 in formula (15) include the same as described
above.
[0046] In order to prepare compound (13) by hydrolyzing
corresponding hydantoin as described below, each of R.sup.3 and
R.sup.4 is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group
having 1 to 6 carbon atoms from the viewpoint of reactivity of
hydrolysis reaction. Examples of such an alkyl group include a
methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a n-butyl group, a
n-pentyl group, and a n-hexyl group. More preferably, at least one
of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is a methyl group. When one of R.sup.3 and
R.sup.4 is a methyl group, and the other is a methyl group
substituted by substituted thio group (15), of course, compound
(13) corresponds to compound (I).
[0047] Racemic N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative (1)
and racemic N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acid derivative (13) may be
salts with a base. The salts with a base are not particularly
limited, but examples of the salts include salts with alkali metal
hydroxides (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium
hydroxide, and the like); and salts with alkaline earth metal
hydroxides (calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and the like).
Salts with sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are
preferred.
[0048] In the racemic optically active
5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative represented by formula
(2), (7), or (14), R.sup.1 is defined as described above for the
compound represented by formula (1).
[0049] In the racemic 5,5-disubstituted hydantoin derivative
represented by formula (12), R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are defined as
described above for the compound represented by formula (13). Of
course, when one of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is a methyl group, and the
other is a methyl group substituted by substituted thio group (15),
compound (12) corresponds to compound (14).
[0050] The 5,5-disubstituted hydantoin derivatives may be salts
with a base formed at the imido groups of the hydantoin rings. The
salts are not particularly limited, but examples of the salts
include salts with alkali metal hydroxides (sodium hydroxide,
potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, and the like); and salts
with alkaline earth metal hydroxides (calcium hydroxide, magnesium
hydroxide, and the like). Salts with sodium hydroxide and potassium
hydroxide are preferred.
[0051] In the optically active N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
derivative represented by formula (3) or (10), R.sup.1 represents
the same as the above. The optically active
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivatives may be salts, and
examples of the salts include the same as described above for the
compound represented by formula (1).
[0052] In the optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine derivative
represented by formula (4) or (8), R.sup.2 represents R.sup.1 or a
hydrogen atom. The R.sup.1 represents a substituted or
unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 20 atoms, a substituted or
unsubstituted aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, or a
substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon
atoms, and defined as described above for the compound represented
by formula (1). The optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine
derivatives may be salts with an acid or a base. Examples of an
acid include hydrohalic acids (hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid,
and hydrofluoric acid), sulfonic acids (methanesulfonic acid,
benzenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, and the like),
sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and carboxylic acids (formic aid,
acetic acid, propionic acid, oxalic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, and
the like). Examples of a base include organic bases (ammonia,
triethylamine, aniline, pyridine, and the like), alkali metal
hydroxides (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium
hydroxide, and the like), and alkaline earth metal hydroxides
(calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and the like).
[0053] The optically active 5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin
represented by formula (6) or (11) may be a salt. Examples thereof
include the same as those described above for the compound
represented by formula (1).
[0054] A process for producing the compounds represented by formula
(1) and (13) will be described in detail below. Racemic
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acid derivative (13) or its salt can be
produced by hydrolysis of the racemic 5,5-disubstituted hydantoin
derivative represented by formula (12) or its salt with an organic
base or an alkali metal hydroxide.
[0055] Racemic 5,5-disubstituted hydantoin derivative (12) or its
salt used as a raw material can be synthesized from a corresponding
ketone by the Bucherer method well known to persons skilled in the
art.
[0056] In this method, hydrolysis is performed using a base such as
an organic base or an alkali metal hydroxide. The organic base is
not particularly limited, but examples of the organic base include
methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, ethylamine,
diethylamine, triethylamine, diisopropylethylamine, pyridine, and
aniline. These organic bases may be used alone or in a mixture of
two or more.
[0057] Examples of the alkali metal hydroxides include lithium
hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and cesium
hydroxide. These alkali metal hydroxides may be used alone or in a
mixture of two or more.
[0058] In view of yield and economics, the base used in hydrolysis
is preferably an alkali metal hydroxide, and more preferably sodium
hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.
[0059] Although the amount of the base used is not particularly
limited, the amount of the base is preferably 1 to 10 molar
equivalents, and more preferably 2 to 5 molar equivalents, based on
the amount of the substrate used.
[0060] As a reaction solvent, water only may be used, or a mixture
of water and an organic solvent may be used.
[0061] Although the organic solvent mixed with water to be used as
the solvent is not particularly limited, examples of the organic
solvent include hydrocarbon solvents, ester solvents, ether
solvents, alcoholic solvents, nitrile solvents, and amide solvents.
Hydrocarbon solvents are preferred.
[0062] The hydrocarbon solvents are not particularly limited.
Examples of the hydrocarbon solvents include toluene, benzene,
xylene, hexane, cyclohexane, and heptane. These solvents may be
used alone or in a mixture of two or more at any desired ratio.
Among these solvents, toluene is preferred.
[0063] Examples of the ester solvents include ethyl formate, methyl
acetate, ethyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, and methyl
propionate.
[0064] Examples of the ether solvents include diethyl ether,
tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane, and methyl tert-butyl ether.
[0065] Examples of the alcoholic solvents include methanol,
ethanol, 1-propanol, isopropanol, 1-butanol, and 2-butanol.
[0066] Examples of the nitrile solvents include acetonitrile and
propionitrile.
[0067] Examples of the amide solvents include dimethylformamide and
dimethylacetamide.
[0068] The amount of water used for reaction is preferably 0.1 to
100 times the weight of the substrate used. In view of yield and
volumetric efficiency, the amount of water is more preferably 0.1
to 10 times, and most preferably 0.2 to 3 times, the weight of the
substrate used.
[0069] When the amount of the water used is 0.2 to 3 times the
weight of the substrate, and the amount of the base used is 2 to 5
molar equivalents relative to the substrate used, the reaction
proceeds in the highest yield.
[0070] The reaction temperature depends on the type of the
substrate used, and the amounts of the materials used, and thus
cannot be determined unconditionally. However, the reaction
temperature can be selected from 50.degree. C. to 150.degree. C.,
and it is preferably 80.degree. C. to 110.degree. C., and more
preferably 85.degree. C. to 100.degree. C.
[0071] The reaction time depends on the type of the substrate used,
the amounts of the materials used, and the reaction temperature,
and thus cannot be determined unconditionally. However, the
reaction time is preferably 1 to 50 hours, and more preferably 2 to
24 hours for producing the product in high yield.
[0072] As a post-treatment after the reaction, the reaction product
may be directly used in a next reaction, or may be subjected to
isolation by extraction and purification after neutralization with
an acid. Alternatively, the reaction mixture may be filtered to
isolate the target compound.
[0073] Similarly, the compound represented by formula (1) can be
synthesized by producing the racemic 5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin
derivative represented by formula (14) from a thioacetone
derivative by the Bucherer method, and then hydrolyzing the
derivative represented by formula (14).
[0074] Description will now be made of a process in which racemic
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative (1) or its salt is
subjected to D-selective cyclization reaction using hydantoinase to
synthesize D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative (2) or its
salt and N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative (3) or
its salt.
[0075] The hydantoinase is an enzyme having an activity to
hydrolyze a 5-substituted hydantoin derivative or its salt to
produce an N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acid derivative. It is
generally known that this enzyme produces a 5-substituted hydantoin
derivative by cyclization of an N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acid
derivative in a reverse reaction of hydrolysis (Japanese Unexamined
Patent Application Publication No. 1-1243989).
[0076] In the present invention, hydantoinase derived from plants,
animals, or microorganisms may be used as the hydantoinase
catalyzing the O-stereo-selective cyclization reaction. Among them,
hydantoinase derived from microorganisms is preferably used for
industrial application. Any microorganisms can be used as an enzyme
source as long as the microorganisms have the ability of producing
the enzyme. Examples of the microorganisms include the known
microorganisms below which are capable of producing the enzyme.
[0077] Examples of the microorganisms include bacteria of the
genera Acetobacter, Achromobacter, Aerobacter, Agrobacterium,
Alcaligenes, Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Brevibacterium,
Corynebacterium, Enterobacter, Erwinia, Escherichia, Klebsiella,
Microbacterium, Micrococcus, Protaminobacter, Proteus, Pseudomonas,
Sartina, Serratia, Xanthomonas, Aeromonas, Flavobacterium, and
Rhizobium; actinomyces of the genera Actinomyces, Mycobacterium,
Nocardia, Streptomyces, Actinoplanes, and Rhodococcus; molds of the
genera Aspergillus, Paecilomyces, and Penicillium; and yeasts of
the genera Candida, Phichia, Rhodotorula, and Torulopsis.
[0078] Preferably, an enzyme derived from microorganisms of the
genus Agrobacterium, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, or Rhizobium is
used.
[0079] More preferably, an enzyme derived from Agrobacterium sp.
KNK712 (FERM BP-1900), Bacillus sp. KNK245 (FERM BP-4863),
Pseudomonas putida IF012996, Pseudomonas sp. KNK003A (FERM BP-3181)
or Rhizobium sp. KNK1415 is used.
[0080] The Agrobacterium sp. KNK712, Bacillus sp. KNK245, and
Pseudomonas sp. KNK003A are deposited as international deposits
according to the Butapest Treaty in International Patent Organism
Depositary, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and
Technology, AIST Tsukuba Central 6, 1-1, Higashi 1-chome,
Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, Japan with accession number FERM BP-1900
on May 31, 1988, with accession number FERM BP-4863 on Nov. 2,
1994, and with accession number FERM BP-3181 on Dec. 1, 1990,
respectively.
[0081] The microorganisms may be a wild strain or a variant with
hydantoinase activity increased by mutation. Alternatively, the
microorganisms may be transformed microorganisms produced by a gene
recombination method or the like so as to produce hydantoinase
derived from the microorganisms with high efficiency.
[0082] In a method for forming the transformed microorganisms
capable of producing hydantoinase with high efficiency, a
hydantoinase gene is cloned from a strain exhibiting hydantoinase
activity, and an appropriate recombinant plasmid vector is formed
and used for transformation of proper host cells to produce the
transformed microorganisms, as described in, for example,
WO96/20275. The recombinant DNA technology is well known in this
field, and described in, for example, Molecular Cloning 2nd Edition
(Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989), Current Protocols in
Molecular Biology (Greene Publishing Associates and
Wiley-Interscience).
[0083] Examples of the transformed microorganisms capable of
producing hydantoinase with high efficiency include the
microorganisms described in WO96/20275, such as Escherichia coli
HB101 pTH104 (FERN BP-4864) containing a hydantoinase gene derived
from Bacillus sp. KNK245 (FERN BP-4863), Escherichia coli HB101
pAH1043 (FERN BP-4865) containing a hydantoinase gene derived from
Agrobacterium sp. KNK712 (FERN BP-1900), and Escherichia coli HB101
pPHD301 (FERM BP-4866) containing a hydantoinase gene derived from
Pseudomonas sp. KNK003A (FERM BP-3181).
[0084] The Escherichia coli HB101 pTH104, Escherichia coli HB101
pAH1043, and Escherichia coli HB101 pPHD301 are deposited as
international deposits according to the Butapest Treaty in
International Patent Organism Depositary, National Institute of
Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, AIST Tsukuba Central 6,
1-1, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, Japan on Nov. 2,
1994 with accession number FERN BP-4864, accession number FERN
BP-4865 and accession number FERM BP-4866, respectively.
[0085] When the hydantoinase is produced from the microorganisms
exhibiting hydantoinase activity or the transformed microorganisms,
culture may be performed using an ordinary nutrient medium, and, if
required, enzyme induction treatment may be performed, as described
in, for example, WO96/20275. The enzyme induction can be performed
by, for example, adding uracil to the culture medium.
[0086] In the present invention, the hydantoinase produced from the
microorganisms can be used directly as an enzyme or used in the
form of microorganisms having activity for the enzyme or a
treatment product thereof. Examples of the treatment product of
microorganisms include a crude extract, lyophilized organisms
prepared from cultured cells, acetone-dried cells, and disrupted
products of these cells.
[0087] The enzyme may be immobilized in the form of an enzyme or
cells by a known means and used as an immobilized enzyme. When the
enzyme is stabilized by immobilization, enzymatic reaction can be
performed in a severer temperature region to effectively accelerate
the reaction. Furthermore, it is possible to expect the advantage
that the production cost can be decreased due to repeatable use of
the enzyme and simplification of the production process.
[0088] The immobilization can be performed by a method well known
to persons skilled in the art, such as a cross-linking method, a
covalent bonding method, a physical adsorption method, or an
inclusion method. Examples of a support suitably used for
immobilizing the enzyme include phenol-formaldehyde anion exchange
resins such as Duolite A-568 and DS17186 (Rohm and Haas Co.:
trademark), and anion exchange resins comprising polystyrene resins
having amine-, ammonium salt- or diethanolamine-type functional
groups, such as Amberlite IRA935, IRA945, and IRA901 (Rohm and Haas
Co.: trademark), Lewatit OC1037 (Bayer Corp.: trademark), and
Diaion EX-05 (Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation: trademark). As the
support, DEAE-celluose can also be used.
[0089] The immobilized enzyme is preferably produced by the method
described in, for example, WO96/20275. In this method, cells are
collected from a culture solution of a strain having hydantoinase
activity and then disrupted by ultrasonic waves or the like, and,
for example, anion exchange resin Duolite A-568 is added to the
resultant enzyme solution, followed by stirring for adsorption of
the enzyme. In order to further improve stability, for example, a
cross-linking agent such as glutaraldehyde may be added to the
resin having the enzyme adsorbed thereon, and the resultant mixture
may be subjected to cross-linking treatment by stirring. After
these treatments, the resin is filtered off and then washed to
produce immobilized hydantoinase.
[0090] In the present invention, the enzymatic reaction can be
performed by the following method: The racemic
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative represented by
formula (1) or its salt is used as a substrate and subjected to
reaction in an aqueous medium in the presence of the hydantoinase.
The concentration of the substrate charged is 0.1% (w/v) to 90%
(w/v), and preferably 1% (w/v) to 50% (w/v). The substrate is
subjected to the reaction in a dissolved or suspended state by
standing or stirring for a while at a reaction temperature properly
adjusted to 10.degree. C. to 80.degree. C., preferably 20.degree.
C. to 60.degree. C., and a pH kept at 4 to 9, preferably 5 to 8.
Alternatively, the substrate can be continuously added. The
reaction can be performed in a batch system or a continuous system.
In the present invention, the reaction can be performed with the
immobilized enzyme, a membrane reactor, and the like.
[0091] Examples of the aqueous medium include water, buffers (for
example, a phosphate buffer, a Tris buffer, and a carbonate
buffer), and solvents each containing such a buffer and a
water-soluble organic solvent (for example, ethanol, methanol, or
acetonitrile). The aqueous medium may be combined with an organic
solvent (for example, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, toluene,
chloroform, or n-hexane) insoluble in water to form a two-phase
system. If required, an antioxidant, a surfactant, a coenzyme, a
metal, and the like can be further added to the medium.
[0092] As the result of the above-described reaction, only the
D-isomer of racemic N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative
(1) or its salt is cyclized to be converted to
D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative (2) or its salt and
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative (3) or its
salt.
[0093] The produced N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine
derivative (3) or its salt may be subjected to decarbamoylation
reaction in the form of the reaction solution, or may be isolated
and purified by a conventional separation method such as
extraction, concentration, crystallization, or column
chromatography, or combination thereof.
[0094] For example, when
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine having a tert-butyl
group at R.sup.1 in formula (1) is used as the substrate of
D-selective cyclization reaction with the hydantoinase,
D-5-methyl-5-tert-butylthiomethylhydantoin precipitated as an
insoluble substance after the reaction can be easily removed by
filtration.
[0095] In this case, the filtrate containing the resultant
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine may be used in a next step
directly or after purification. In the purification, the filtrate
is controlled to acid pH to precipitate crystals, and then filtered
to obtain the target compound.
[0096] The D-5-methyl-5-tert-butylthiomethylhydantoin precipitated
as an insoluble substance may be used directly in a next step or
used in the form of an aqueous alkali solution in a next step.
Alternatively, the aqueous alkali solution may be neutralized to
crystallize the D-5-methyl-5-tert-butylthiomethylhydantoin. Any one
of these methods may be used.
[0097] Description will now be made of a process for producing the
.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative represented by formula (4) or
its salt, the process comprising decarbamoylating
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative (3) or its salt,
and, if required, deprotecting the sulfur atom.
[0098] The protecting group of the sulfur atom is selected from the
groups described above as R.sup.1. In the deprotection,
decarbamoylation (deprotection of the amino group) and deprotection
of the sulfur atom may be simultaneously performed. Alternatively,
one of the deprotection steps may be first performed, and then the
other step may be performed to remove the remaining protecting
group. The deprotection method may be appropriately selected
according to the protecting group and the purpose.
[0099] First, the method of simultaneously performing
decarbamoylation and deprotection of the sulfur atom will be
described. As a result of intensive research, the inventors found
that when a tertiary alkyl group having 4 to 15 carbon atoms, such
as a tert-butyl group, is used as the protecting group (R.sup.1) of
the sulfur atom, decarbamoylation (deprotection of the amino group)
and deprotection of the sulfur atom can be simultaneously performed
in one step by treating N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine
derivative (3) or its salt with an acid.
[0100] Examples of the acid used in this method include
hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrobromic acid, nitric acid,
acetic acid, and trifluoroacetic acid. Any one of these acids may
be used alone, or at least two of the acids may be mixed at any
desired ratio. From the viewpoint of reactivity and economics,
hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic aid is preferred, and hydrochloric
acid is more preferred. As hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic acid,
commercially available concentrated hydrochloric acid or
hydrobromic acid can be used, and such an acid can also be used as
the reaction solvent. Although water or an organic solvent may be
added, the acid is preferably also used as the reaction solvent
from the viewpoint of reactivity.
[0101] With respect to the reaction conditions, for example, when
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine having a tert-butyl
group as the protecting group of the sulfur atom is treated with
hydrochloric acid to produce .alpha.-methylcysteine hydrochloride
in one step, the reaction temperature is preferably 70.degree. C.
to 180.degree. C., and more preferably 90.degree. C. to 150.degree.
C., and the reaction time is preferably about 2 to 4 days, for
example, at 100.degree. C. to 110.degree. C. and atmospheric
pressure. The reaction can be performed using a pressure-resisting
reactor at a higher temperature to reduce the reaction time.
[0102] Next, description will be made of a process for producing
.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine represented by formula (5) or its salt,
the process comprising decarbamoylating
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative (3) or its salt to
produce the .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative represented by
formula (4) or its salt in which R.sup.2 is the same as R.sup.1 in
formula (1), and then deprotecting the sulfur atom.
[0103] In this process, the decarbamoylation method is not
particularly limited as long as the carbamoyl group can be removed.
For example, a nitrous acid oxidation method, an alkaline
hydrolysis method, or an acid hydrolysis method can be used. When
the protecting group of the sulfur atom is a tertiary alkyl group
such as a tert-butyl group, the acid hydrolysis method using
hydrochloric acid or the like tends to progress the deprotection of
the sulfur atom. Therefore, when only decarbamoylation is desired,
another method is preferably performed.
[0104] The nitrous acid oxidation method can use the reaction
conditions generally used for decarbamoylation. For example,
nitrous acid alone or a combination of a nitrite and an appropriate
acid can be used. However, a combination of a nitrite and an acid
is preferably used.
[0105] Examples of the nitrite include sodium nitrite, potassium
nitrite, calcium nitrite, cesium nitrite, magnesium nitrite, and
barium nitrite. Among these nitrites, potassium nitrite and sodium
nitrite are preferred. As the acid combined with the nitrite,
acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and hydrobromic acid
are preferred, and hydrochloric acid is particularly preferred.
Although the solvent is not particularly limited, water or an
alcohol (for example, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, or the like)
is preferably used from the viewpoint of solubility of the
substrate.
[0106] The reaction temperature of the nitrous acid oxidation
method is preferably in the range of -5.degree. C. to 100.degree.
C., and more preferably in the range of 0.degree. C. to 50.degree.
C. from the viewpoint of product stability and improvement in
yield.
[0107] The alkali used in the alkaline hydrolysis method is not
particularly limited. For example, sodium hydroxide, lithium
hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, magnesium
hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, and the like are preferred, and
lithium hydroxide is more preferred.
[0108] The reaction temperature of alkaline hydrolysis is
preferably in the range of -5.degree. C. to 150.degree. C., and
more preferably in the range of 80.degree. C. to 120.degree. C.
from the viewpoint of productivity and improvement in yield.
[0109] The compound represented by formula (4) in which R.sup.2 is
the same as R.sup.1 in formula (1) may be used in a next step
directly or after purification. For example, when R.sup.2 is a
tert-butyl group, purification can by performed by adding an acid
to the reaction solution after the alkaline hydrolysis to decrease
the pH of the solution. As a result, the .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine
derivative represented by formula (4) or its salt in which R.sup.2
is a tert-butyl group can be obtained as crystals.
[0110] In this case, the alkali used for the alkaline hydrolysis is
arbitrarily selected from sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide,
potassium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium
hydroxide, and the like. Examples of the acid added to the reaction
solution after the alkaline hydrolysis include hydrochloric acid,
sulfuric acid, hydrobromic acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, and
trifluoroacetic acid. Any one of these acids may be used alone, or
two or more may be mixed at any desired ratio. However, a
combination of lithium hydroxide used as the alkali and
hydrochloric acid used as the acid is preferably used because an
inorganic salt produced in neutralization has high solubility in
water to facilitate desalting.
[0111] The term "neutralization" means that the pH of the reaction
solution is adjusted to a crystallization region. In order to
efficiently produce crystals of the .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine
derivative represented by formula (4) or its salt in which R.sup.2
is a tert-butyl group, the upper limit of the pH is preferably 9.5
or less, and more preferably 7.0 or less, and the lower limit of
the pH is generally 1.0 or more, preferably 2.0 or more, and more
preferably 3.0 or more.
[0112] When deprotection of the sulfur atom is further required
after the above-described decarbamoylation, for example, the sulfur
atom can be deprotected under reaction conditions suitable for the
protecting group directly using the reaction solution or after
isolation of the .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative.
[0113] For example, when the protecting group is a tertiary alkyl
group such as a tert-butyl group or the like, the sulfur atom can
be deprotected by treatment with an acid. Examples of the acid
include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrobromic acid, nitric
acid, acetic acid, and trifluoroacetic acid. Any one of these acids
may be used alone, or two or more may be mixed at any desired
ratio. Among these acids, hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic acid is
preferred, and hydrochloric acid is more preferred. As hydrochloric
acid or hydrobromic acid, commercially available conc. hydrochloric
acid or conc. hydrobromic acid can be used, and such an acid can
also be used as the reaction solvent. Although water or an organic
solvent may be added, the acid is preferably also used as the
solvent from the viewpoint of reactivity. The reaction temperature
is preferably 50.degree. C. to 120.degree. C., and more preferably
80.degree. C. to 100.degree. C.
[0114] Description will now be made of the process for producing
.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine (5) or its salt from the
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative represented by
formula (3) or its salt through L-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin
(6) or its salt.
[0115] First, the method for performing sulfur atom deprotection
and cyclization reaction of N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine
derivative (3) or its salt in one step will be described. When the
protecting group of the sulfur atom is a tertiary alkyl group such
as a tert-butyl group, deprotection and cyclization can be
simultaneously performed by treatment with an acid.
[0116] Examples of the acid include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric
acid, hydrobromic acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, and
trifluoroacetic acid. Any one of these acids may be used alone, or
two or more may be mixed at any desired ratio. Among these acids,
hydrochloric acid is preferred. As hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic
acid, commercially available conc. hydrochloric acid or conc.
hydrobromic acid can be used, and such an acid can also be used as
the reaction solvent. Although water or an organic solvent may be
added, the acid is preferably also used as the solvent from the
viewpoint of reactivity.
[0117] Although the reaction temperature is not particularly
limited, mild conditions are preferred for suppressing the
hydrolysis of L-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin (6) or its salt. For
example, the reaction may be performed in the range of 0.degree. C.
to 100.degree. C., preferably 60.degree. C. to 90.degree. C., for
several hours, and terminated when the major product is the desired
compound.
[0118] Next, the method comprising synthesizing
L-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative (7) or its salt by
cyclization and then deprotecting the sulfur atom will be
described. When the protecting group of the sulfur atom is a
tertiary alkyl group such as a tert-butyl group, cyclization is
preferably performed by alkali treatment because deprotection of
the sulfur atom proceeds when cyclization is performed with an
acid.
[0119] The alkali used is not particularly limited, and examples of
the alkali include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium
hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, and calcium
hydroxide. In view of availability and cost, sodium hydroxide,
potassium hydroxide or lithium hydroxide is preferred.
[0120] The reaction temperature of cyclization is preferably
0.degree. C. to 100.degree. C., and more preferably 60.degree. C.
to 90.degree. C. The solvent may comprise only water, or a mixture
of water and an organic solvent. The solvent preferably comprises
only water.
[0121] L-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative (7) or its salt
may be used in a next step directly or after extraction with an
organic solvent or isolation by crystallization or the like.
[0122] The resultant derivative (7) or its salt can be further
treated with an acid to advance deprotection of the sulfur atom,
and thereby L-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin (6) or its salt can be
produced.
[0123] Examples of the acid include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric
acid, hydrobromic acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, and
trifluoroacetic acid. Any one of these acids may be used alone, or
two or more may be mixed at any desired ratio. In view of yield and
cost, hydrochloric acid is preferred. The acid treatment can be
preferably performed under the same conditions as those described
above for performing deprotection and cyclization in one step.
[0124] L-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin (6) or its salt produced as
described above can be converted to .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine (5)
or its salt by acid or alkaline hydrolysis. The hydrolysis with an
acid is preferred.
[0125] Examples of the acid include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric
acid, hydrobromic acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, and
trifluoroacetic acid. Any one of these acids may be used alone, or
two or more may be mixed at any desired ratio. Among these acids,
hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic acid is preferred, and
hydrochloric acid is more preferred. Preferred examples of the
alkali include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and lithium
hydroxide.
[0126] Description will now be made of a process for producing
.alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine or its salt by hydrolyzing
D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative (2) or its salt, and
then deprotecting the sulfur atom of the resultant
.alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine derivative represented by formula (8) or
its salt in which R.sup.2 is the same as R.sup.1 in formula
(1).
[0127] The hydrolysis is usually performed with an alkali. The
alkali used in the hydrolysis is not particularly limited, but
examples of the alkali include sodium hydroxide, potassium
hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, magnesium
hydroxide, and calcium hydroxide. Among these alkalis, sodium
hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and lithium hydroxide are
preferred. Particularly, lithium hydroxide is preferably used
because an inorganic salt impurity produced in crystallization of
the product after the reaction has high solubility in water.
[0128] The solvent may comprise only water or a mixture of water
and an organic solvent, but the solvent preferably comprises only
water.
[0129] The reaction temperature is preferably -5.degree. C. to
150.degree. C., and more preferably 80.degree. C. to 120.degree.
C.
[0130] For example, when R.sup.2 is a tert-butyl group, an acid is
added to the reaction solution to decrease its pH after the
hydrolysis reaction, and thereby the resulting
.alpha.-methyl-S-tert-butyl-D-cysteine can be obtained as
crystals.
[0131] The acid used is not particularly limited as long as the pH
of the reaction solution can be decreased. Examples of the acid
include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrobromic acid, nitric
acid, acetic acid, and trifluoroacetic acid. Any one of these acids
may be used alone, or two or more may be mixed at any desired
ratio. Among these acids, hydrochloric acid is preferably used
because when the hydrolysis is performed with lithium hydroxide, an
inorganic salt impurity produced in neutralization has high
solubility in water and is thus little mixed into the crystals.
[0132] The term "neutralization" means that the pH of the reaction
solution is adjusted to a crystallization region. In order to
efficiently produce crystals of the
.alpha.-methyl-S-tert-butyl-D-cysteine, the upper limit of the pH
is preferably 9.5 or less, and more preferably 7.0 or less, and the
lower limit of the pH is 1.0 or more, preferably 2.0 or more, and
more preferably 3.0 or more.
[0133] The resulting compound represented by formula (8) in which
R.sup.2 is the same as R.sup.1 can be converted to
.alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine (9) or its salt by deprotecting the
sulfur atom. The deprotecting method is selected according to the
protecting group of the sulfur atom. When the protecting group is a
tertiary alkyl group such as a tert-butyl group or the like, the
deprotection can be easily performed by treatment with an acid.
[0134] Examples of the acid used in the method include hydrochloric
acid, sulfuric acid, hydrobromic acid, nitric acid, acetic acid,
and trifluoroacetic acid. Any one of these acids may be used alone,
or two or more may be mixed at any desired ratio. From the
viewpoint of reactivity and economics, hydrochloric acid or
hydrobromic acid is preferred, and hydrochloric acid is more
preferred. As hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic acid, commercially
available conc. hydrochloric acid or conc. hydrobromic acid can be
used, and such an acid can also be used as the reaction solvent.
Although water or an organic solvent may be added, the acid is
preferably also used as the solvent from the viewpoint of
reactivity.
[0135] The reaction temperature is preferably 70.degree. C. to
180.degree. C., and more preferably 90.degree. C. to 150.degree.
C.
[0136] Next, the method for performing sulfur atom deprotection and
hydrolysis reaction of D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative
(2) or its salt using an acid in one step will be described. For
example, when R.sup.1 in formula (2) is a tertiary alkyl group
having 4 to 15 carbon atoms, such as a tert-butyl group,
.alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine (9) or its salt can be obtained by
treatment with an acid in one step.
[0137] Examples of the acid include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric
acid, hydrobromic acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, and
trifluoroacetic acid. Any one of these acids may be used alone, or
two or more may be mixed at any desired ratio. Among these acids,
hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic acid is preferred, and
hydrochloric acid is more preferred. As hydrochloric acid or
hydrobromic acid, commercially available conc. hydrochloric acid or
conc. hydrobromic acid can be used, and such an acid can also be
used as the reaction solvent. Although water or an organic solvent
may be added, the acid is preferably also used as the solvent from
the viewpoint of reactivity.
[0138] The reaction temperature is preferably 70.degree. C.
180.degree. C., and more preferably 90.degree. C. to 150.degree.
C.
[0139] Next, description will be made of a process for producing
.alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine (9) or its salt, the process comprising
synthesizing D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin (11) or its salt by
deprotecting the sulfur atom of D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin
derivative (2) or its salt and then hydrolyzing the compound (II)
or its salt.
[0140] First, the method of selectively deprotecting the sulfur
atom of D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative (2) or its salt
to produce D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin (11) or its salt will
be described. As described above, when the protecting group of the
sulfur atom is a tertiary alkyl group such as a tert-butyl group,
deprotection can easily be performed by treatment with an acid.
[0141] Examples of the acid include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric
acid, hydrobromic acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, and
trifluoroacetic acid. Any one of these acids may be used alone, or
two or more may be mixed at any desired ratio. Among these acids,
hydrochloric acid is preferred. As hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic
acid, commercially available conc. hydrochloric acid or conc.
hydrobromic acid can be used, and such an acid can also be used as
the reaction solvent. Although water or an organic solvent may be
added, the acid is preferably also used as the solvent from the
viewpoint of reactivity.
[0142] The reaction conditions are not particularly limited as long
as they are relatively mild for producing
D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin (11) with high selectivity while
suppressing hydrolysis. However, the reaction may be performed at
100.degree. C. or less for several hours, and terminated when the
major product is the desired compound.
[0143] Next, D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin (11) or its salt is
hydrolyzed to produce .alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine (9) or its
salt.
[0144] The hydrolysis may be either acid hydrolysis or alkaline
hydrolysis. In the acid hydrolysis, examples of an acid include
hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrobromic acid, nitric acid,
acetic acid, and trifluoroacetic acid. Any one of these acids may
be used alone, or two or more may be mixed at any desired ratio. In
view of reactivity and economics, hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic
acid is preferred, and hydrochloric acid is more preferred. As
hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic acid, commercially available conc.
hydrochloric acid or conc. hydrobromic acid can be used, and such
an acid can also be used as the reaction solvent. Although water or
an organic solvent may be added, the acid is preferably also used
as the solvent from the viewpoint of reactivity. The reaction
temperature is preferably 70.degree. C. to 180.degree. C., and more
preferably 90.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. The reaction time is
preferably about 2 to 4 days, for example, at 100.degree. C. to
110.degree. C. and atmospheric pressure. The reaction can be
performed using a pressure-resisting reactor at higher temperature
to reduce the reaction time.
[0145] Next, description will be made of the process for producing
D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin (11) or its salt, the process
comprising hydrolyzing D-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin derivative
(2) or its salt to produce the .alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine derivative
represented by formula (8) or its salt, converting the derivative
(8) or its salt to N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine derivative
(10) or its salt by carbamoylation, and then performing cyclization
and deprotection of the sulfur atom.
[0146] In this process, D-5-methyl-5-thiomethyhydantoin derivative
(2) or its salt can be converted to .alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine
derivative (8) or its salt by the above-described method.
[0147] The carbamoylation of .alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine derivative
(8) or its salt can be performed with an alkali metal cyanate and
an acid. Examples of the alkali metal cyanate include potassium
isocyanate, potassium cyanate, and sodium cyanate. Examples of the
acid include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrobromic acid,
nitric acid, acetic acid, and trifluoroacetic acid. By using these
agents, the carbamoylation is performed under normal reaction
conditions for carbamoylation (for example, 0.degree. C. to
100.degree. C. in an aqueous solvent).
[0148] The cyclization and sulfur atom deprotection of
N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine derivative (10) or its salt
can be performed by the same method as that described above for
converting N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine derivative (3) or
its salt to L-5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin (6).
[0149] Next, a process for crystallizing optically active
.alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt will be described in detail
below. The optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt can
be easily obtained by crystallization from an aqueous solution of
the optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt in the
presence of an organic solvent.
[0150] The optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt is
not particularly limited, but optically active
.alpha.-methylcysteine, a salt of optically active
.alpha.-methylcysteine with an acid, and a salt of optically active
.alpha.-methylcysteine with a base are given as examples. A salt
with an acid is preferred. The optically active
.alpha.-methylcysteine may be either the L-isomer or the
D-isomer.
[0151] Examples of the acid of the acid salt include hydrohalic
acids, sulfonic acids, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and carboxylic
acids. Among these acids, hydrohalic acids are preferred.
[0152] Examples of the hydrohalic acids include hydrochloric acid,
hydrobromic acid, and hydrofluoric acid, and hydrochloric acid is
preferred.
[0153] Examples of the sulfonic acids include methanesulfonic acid,
benzenesulfonic acid, and p-toluenesulfonic acid. Examples of the
carboxylic acids include formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid,
oxalic acid, and trifluoroacetic acid. Examples of the base of the
base salt include ammonia, triethylamine, aniline, and
pyridine.
[0154] The method for preparing the aqueous solution of the
optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt is not
particularly limited. For example, the aqueous solution can be
prepared by appropriately converting or deprotecting the
.alpha.-methylcysteine derivative or its salt produced by any one
of the conventional processes 1) to 6), or a protected compound
thereof. An aqueous solution of the compound produced by the method
of the present invention may be used. Preferably, an aqueous
solution of the optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt
produced by the method of the present invention is used.
[0155] In the crystallization process, the aqueous solution of the
optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt is concentrated
in the presence of the organic solvent to remove water from the
system and replace water by the organic solvent. Consequently,
aggregation of the compound can be suppressed to produce slurry
which can easily be taken out and filtered. The resulting slurry is
filtered, and the residue is washed and then dried to produce the
optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt as
crystals.
[0156] When the crystallization process is carried out, the aqueous
solution of the optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt
may be preliminarily concentrated before the organic solvent is
added. In this case, the aqueous solution is preferably
concentrated until the concentration by weight of the compound is
10% by weight or more, more preferably 30% by weight or more.
[0157] The organic solvent used for replacement is not particularly
limited, but the organic solvent is preferably azeotropic with
water so that the water content at the azeotropic point is 5.0% by
weight or more. The organic solvent more preferably has low or no
compatibility with water.
[0158] Examples of the organic solvent having low or no
compatibility with water include hydrocarbon solvents, ester
solvents, and ether solvents. The hydrocarbon organic solvents are
preferred from the viewpoint of low compatibility with water, low
solubility of the optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its
salt, and easy recovery and reuse of the solvent.
[0159] The hydrocarbon organic solvents are not particularly
limited, but for example, toluene, benzene, xylene, hexane,
cyclohexane, and heptane may be used alone or in a mixture of two
or more. From the viewpoint of economics, toluene is preferred.
[0160] Examples of the ester solvents include ethyl acetate,
isopropyl acetate, and isobutyl acetate.
[0161] Examples of the ether solvents include dipropyl ether,
dibutyl ether, 1,4-dioxane, and methyl tert-butyl ether.
[0162] These solvents may be used alone or in a mixture of the same
type or different types of solvents at any desired ratio.
[0163] The replacement by the organic solvent may be performed in
one step or in a plurality of steps. The amount of the organic
solvent used for the replacement depends on the type of the organic
solvent, the degree of vacuum for concentration, and the internal
temperature of the system, and thus cannot be determined
unconditionally. For example, when toluene is used as the solvent,
the amount of toluene charged each time is preferably 0.1 to 100
times, and more preferably 0.2 to 10 times the total weight of the
aqueous solution.
[0164] After the organic solvent is added, water is removed from
the system to crystallize the optically active
.alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt. In this operation, the
concentration of the solute, i.e., the concentration of the
optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt, is 0.1 to 70%
by weight, and preferably 1 to 70% by weight.
[0165] In the above-described operation, the amount of the water
finally remaining after water removal from the system is preferably
100% by weight or less on the basis of the optically active
.alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt. From the viewpoint of the
properties of the resulting crystals, filterability, the rate of
crystallization, and slurry fluidity, the water is preferably
removed from the system until the water content becomes 40% by
weight or less.
[0166] The evaporation rate in concentration depends on the ability
of the apparatus used, and thus cannot be determined
unconditionally. However, as the evaporation rate increases,
bubbles significantly occur to worsen the fluidity of the resultant
slurry and cause a tendency to aggregation. Therefore, the
evaporation rate per unit evaporation area and unit time is
preferably controlled to 1000 L/hm.sup.2 or less, more preferably
600 L/hm.sup.2 or less, further preferably 300 L/hm.sup.2 or less,
and most preferably 100 L/hm.sup.2 or less.
[0167] In concentration after the addition of the organic solvent,
the degree of vacuum is generally 500 mmHg or less, and preferably
200 mmHg or less. Although the lower limit is not particularly
limited, the lower limit is generally 0.1 mmHg or more.
[0168] The concentration temperature depends on the degree of
vacuum and the ability of the apparatus used, but the temperature
is 0.degree. C. to 150.degree. C., preferably 10.degree. C. to
100.degree. C., and more preferably 30.degree. C. to 70.degree. C.,
for obtaining high-quality crystals easy to handle.
[0169] Next, detailed description will be made of a process for
crystallizing the optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its
salt from an aqueous solution thereof after an inorganic salt is
removed. An organic solvent is added to the aqueous solution of the
optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt, and then
concentration is performed to remove water from the system and
replace water by the organic solvent. In this operation, most of an
insoluble inorganic salt is precipitated, and thus the inorganic
salt can be removed by a method such as filtration or the like. The
resultant filtrate is then mixed with a poor solvent, cooled or
concentrated to obtain crystals of the optically active
.alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt.
[0170] In the above-described operation, after the organic solvent
is added and water is removed from the system, the amount of the
finally remaining water is preferably 100% by weight or less on the
basis of the optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt.
From the viewpoint of the deposit of the inorganic salt to be
removed, the water is preferably removed from the system until the
water content becomes 40% by weight or less.
[0171] Although the type of the organic solvent used for
replacement is not particularly limited, an organic solvent
compatible with water is preferred from the viewpoint of the
physical properties that the inorganic salt is slightly soluble or
insoluble, and an optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine
hydrochloride is soluble. More preferably, a single alcoholic
solvent, a single ether solvent compatible with water, or a mixture
thereof at any ratio is used.
[0172] Examples of the alcoholic solvent include methyl alcohol,
ethyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl
alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, sec-butyl alcohol, and tert-butyl
alcohol. Any one of these solvents may be used alone, or a mixture
of two or more at any desired ratio may be used. However, isopropyl
alcohol is preferred in view of the efficiency of dehydration,
economics, decrease in side reactions such as esterification and
the like.
[0173] Examples of the ether solvent compatible with water include
diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane, and
methyl tert-butyl ether. Any one of these solvents may be used
alone, or a mixture of two or more at any desired ratio may be
used. However, tetrahydrofuran is preferred in view of the
efficiency of dehydration and economics.
[0174] The process for crystallizing the optically active
.alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt from the filtrate obtained after
the slightly soluble inorganic salt is removed is not particularly
limited. For example, a general crystallization operation such as
addition of a poor solvent, cooling, concentration, or the like can
be carried out. Preferably, the method of adding a poor solvent is
carried out.
[0175] The poor solvent is not particularly limited, but
hydrocarbon solvents, ester solvents, ether solvents having no or
low compatibility with water, and the like are given as examples.
From the viewpoint of the deposit of crystals and crystal purity,
hydrocarbon solvents and ester solvents are preferred, and
hydrocarbon solvents are more preferred.
[0176] Although the hydrocarbon solvents are not particularly
limited, examples of the hydrocarbon solvents include toluene,
benzene, xylene, hexane, cyclohexane, and heptane. Among these
solvents, toluene, xylene, hexane, and heptane are preferred, and
toluene is more preferred.
[0177] Although the ester solvents are not particularly limited,
examples of the ester solvents include methyl acetate, ethyl
acetate, propyl acetate, methyl propionate, and ethyl propionate.
Among these solvents, ethyl acetate is preferred.
[0178] Although the ether solvents having no or low compatibility
with water are not particularly limited, examples of the ether
solvents include dipropyl ether, dibutyl ether, 1,4-dioxane, and
methyl tert-butyl ether.
[0179] These solvents may be used alone or in a mixture of the same
type or different types of solvents at any desired ratio.
[0180] When the optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt
is crystallized, the concentration of the compound depends on the
temperature, the solvent ratio, and the like. However, the
concentration of the compound is generally 0.1% by weight to 70% by
weight, preferably 1% by weight to 70% by weight, and more
preferably 2% by weight to 70% by weight, based on the whole weight
of the solution.
[0181] The crystallization process of the present invention is
capable of satisfactorily obtaining the optically active
.alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt with high purity through
industrially practical steps. The crystals produced by the
crystallization method of the present invention contains a
corresponding disulfide of the compound at a content of 1.0 mol %
or less, preferably 0.5 mol % or less, and more preferably 0.1 mol
% or less. A preferable form for obtaining the optically active
.alpha.-methylcysteine or its salt having a low disulfide content
is a salt with an acid, more preferably a salt with a hydrohalic
acid, and most preferably a salt with hydrochloric acid.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0182] Although the present invention will be described in further
detail below with reference to examples, the present invention is
not limited to these examples.
Reference Example 1
Method for producing racemic
5-methyl-5-tert-butylthiomethylhydantoin
[0183] In a reactor provided with a nitrogen balloon, a 5 wt %
aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (9.6 g, 12 mmol) and tert-butyl
mercaptan (1.13 mL, 10 mmol) were mixed at 0.degree. C., and the
mixture was stirred for 10 minutes. Then, chloroacetone (0.79 mL,
10 mmol) was added to the mixture, and reaction was performed at
room temperature for 2 hours. The reaction solution was light
yellow and separated into two phases, A Dimroth condenser was
attached to the reactor, and NaCN (588 mg, 12 mmol),
(NH.sub.4)HCO.sub.3 (2.77 g, 35 mmol), and 28% ammonia water (3.1
mL) were added to the reactor to prepare a homogeneous solution.
Then, the temperature was increased to 55.degree. C. to 60.degree.
C. After stirring under heating for 6 hours, the solution was
cooled to 0.degree. C., and conc. hydrochloric acid was added to
the reaction solution to control the pH to 7.0 to 7.6. The
resulting white crystals were filtered off and analyzed by .sup.1H
NMR. As a result, it was found that the target compound (1.84 g,
yield 84.8%) was produced.
Reference Example 2
Method for producing
5-(2-methoxyphenylmethyl)-5-methyl-hydantoin
[0184] First, 2-methoxyphenylacetone (16.4 g, 100 mmol) was mixed
with 164 g or water, and NaCN (5.88 g, 120 mmol),
(NH.sub.4)HCO.sub.3 (27.7 g, 350 mmol), and 27.7 g of 28% ammonia
water were added to the resulting mixture. After stirring at
50.degree. C. for 4 hours and at 60.degree. C. for 12 hours, the
mixture was allowed to cool down to 23.degree. C., and then
controlled to pH 7.5 by adding conc. hydrochloric acid. The
precipitated solid was filtered off, washed with toluene, and dried
under reduced pressure to obtain 22.10 g (yield 94.5%) of the title
compound.
[0185] .sup.1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) .delta.: 7.10-6.88 (m,
4H), 5.49 (brs, 1H), 3.86 (s, 3H), 3.20 (d, 1H), 2.97 (d, 1H), 1.49
(s, 3H)
Reference Example 3
Method for producing racemic
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
[0186] Racemic 5-methyl-5-thiomethylhydantoin (4.77 g, 22.1 mmol)
was dissolved in a 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (75 g),
and the resultant solution was refluxed for 72 hours. After being
allowed to cool down to room temperature, the reaction solution was
sampled for confirming the production of racemic
S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine by HPLC (column: COSMOSIL AR-II
(produced by Nacalai Tesque Inc.), mobile phase: potassium
dihydrogen phosphate-aqueous phosphate solution (pH
2.0)/acetonitrile=97/3, flow rate: 1.0 ml/min, detection
wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature: 40.degree. C., retention
time: 21.15 min). After the reaction solution was adjusted to pH 8
with conc. hydrochloric acid, the solution was heated to 70.degree.
C., and a solution of potassium cyanate (2.07 g) in distilled water
(10 mL) was added dropwise to the solution over 20 minutes. After
the completion of the addition, the resultant mixture was stirred
for 5 hours, and the reaction solution was sampled for HPLC
analysis. As a result, an unreacted amino acid was recognized, and
thus a solution of potassium cyanate (4.14 g) in distilled water
(20 mL) was further added dropwise to the solution over 20 minutes.
After the completion of the addition, the resultant mixture was
further stirred for 1 hour, allowed to cool down to room
temperature, and then adjusted to pH 2 with conc. hydrochloric
acid. The precipitated solid was filtered off, washed with water,
and then dried. The .sup.1H NMR analysis of the solid showed the
production of the target compound (3.38 g, yield 66%).
Example 1
Method for producing
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine and
D-5-tert-butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin
[0187] According to the culture method and the method for preparing
an immobilized enzyme described in WO96/20275, the Bacillus sp.
KNK245 strain (FERN BP-4863) was cultured, and then cells were
collected and disrupted by ultrasonic waves to produce an enzyme
solution. Then, an anion exchange resin, Duolite A-568, was added
as an immobilization support to the enzyme solution to adsorb the
resulting enzyme thereon. Furthermore, cross-linking was performed
by glutaraldehyde to obtain immobilized hydantoinase.
[0188] Next, 1.5 ml of a 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0)
and 0.003 ml of a 0.5 M aqueous manganese sulfate solution were
added to 15 mg of the racemic
N-carbamoyl-S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine produced in
REFERENCE EXAMPLE 2, and the resultant solution was adjusted to pH
6.5 with a 10 N aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. Then, 200 mg
(wet weight) of the immobilized hydantoinase prepared as described
above was added to the solution, and reaction was performed by
stirring at 40.degree. C. for 48 hours. During the reaction, the pH
was kept at about 6.5 using 6 N hydrochloric acid. As a result of
the HPLC analysis (column: COSMOSIL 5C8-MS, mobile phase:
acetonitrile/10 mM aqueous potassium dihydrogen phosphate
solution=3/7, flow rate: 0.8 ml/min, detection wavelength: 210 nm,
column temperature: 40.degree. C.) of the reaction solution, the
residual ratio of the
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine was 41%. Also, as a
result of the HPLC analysis (column: CHIRALPAK AS (produced by
Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.), mobile phase:
hexane/isopropanol/trichloroacetic acid=7/3/0.01, flow rate: 0.5
ml/min, detection wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature:
30.degree. C.) of the
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine contained in the
reaction solution, the optical purity was 96.7% ee. Furthermore,
the resulting optically active
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine was converted to
methylcysteine by the method described in EXAMPLES 9 and 10, and
the optical rotation of the compound was measured. As a result, it
was confirmed that the optically active
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine was the
L-isomer.
[0189] On the other hand, the precipitated compound produced by the
enzymatic reaction was extracted with ethyl acetate, and analyzed
by chiral HPLC (column: CHIRALPAK AD (produced by Daicel Chemical
Industries, Ltd.), mobile phase: hexane/isopropanol=10/3, flow
rate: 1 ml/min, detection wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature:
30.degree. C.). As a result, the elution time coincided with that
of a standard sample, and it was thus confirmed that the compound
was optically active 5-tert-butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin (a
chemical purity of 88% and an optical purity of 100% ee, which were
determined by the area ratio). Also, as a result of HPLC analysis
(column: CHIRALPAK AD (produced by Daicel Chemical Industries,
Ltd.), mobile phase: hexane/isopropanol=10/1, flow rate: 1 ml/min,
detection wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature: 30.degree. C.,
D-isomer: 14.7 min, L-isomer: 25.3 min), it was confirmed by
comparison with the retention time of a separately synthesized
standard sample that the optically active
5-tert-butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin was the D-isomer.
[0190] N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine: .sup.1H
NMR (300 MHz, CD.sub.3OD) .delta.: 3.22 (d, 1H), 3.16 (d, 1H), 1.52
(s, 3H), 1.29 (s, 9H)
[0191] D-5-tert-butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin: .sup.1H NMR (300
MHz, CDCl.sub.3 with 3 drops of CD.sub.3OD) .delta.: 2.90 (d, 1H),
2.80 (d, 1H), 1.49 (s, 3H), 1.30 (s, 9H)
Example 2
Method for producing
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine using
transformed microorganisms of Escherichia coli HB101 pTH104
[0192] Transformed microorganisms of Escherichia coli HB101 pTH104
(FERM BP-4864) containing a hydantoinase gene derived from the
Bacillus sp. KNK245 strain (FERM BP-4863) were inoculated into 10
ml of a liquid medium (containing 10 g/l tryptone, 10 g/l yeast
extract, and 5 g/l NaCl with pH 7 and prepared by sterilizing at
120.degree. C. for 15 minutes and then adding 100 mg/l of
ampicillin through filer sterilization), followed by shaking
culture at 37.degree. C. for 18 hours. In a 500-ml of Sakaguchi
flask, 1 ml of the culture solution was then inoculated into 50 ml
of a liquid medium (10 g/l tryptone, 10 g/l yeast extract, 5 g/l
NaCl, pH 7) which was sterilized at 120.degree. C. for 15 minutes,
followed by shaking culture at 37.degree. C. for 24 hours. Then,
the cells collected from 1 ml of the culture solution by
centrifugation were suspended in 1.5 ml of a 0.1 M potassium
phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), and 150 mg of racemic
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine and 0.003 ml of a
0.5 M aqueous solution of manganese sulfate were added to the
resulting suspension. Then, the resulting mixture was adjusted to
pH 6.5 with a 10 N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, and
subjected to reaction by stirring at 40.degree. C. for 24 hours
while maintaining the pH at about 6.5 using 6 N hydrochloric acid.
As a result of the HPLC analysis (column: COSMOSIL 5C8-MS, mobile
phase: acetonitrile/10 mM aqueous potassium dihydrogen phosphate
solution=3/7, flow rate: 0.8 ml/min, detection wavelength: 210 nm,
column temperature: 40.degree. C.) of the reaction solution, the
residual ratio of N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
was 49%. Also, as a result of the HPLC analysis (column: CHIRALPAR
AS (produced by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.), mobile phase:
hexane/isopropanol/trichloroacetic acid=7/3/0.01, flow rate: 0.5
ml/min, detection wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature:
30.degree. C.) of N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
contained in the reaction solution, the optical purity was 94.6%
ee. It was also confirmed by comparison with the retention time of
the N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine produced in
EXAMPLE 1 that the resultant
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine was the
L-isomer.
Example 3
Method for producing
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine using bacteria
of the genus Bacillus
[0193] In a 500-ml Sakaguchi flask, dry preserved cells of the
Bacillus sp. KNK245 strain (FERM BP-4863) were inoculated into 100
ml of a liquid medium (10 g/l polypeptone, 10 g/1 meat extract, 5
g/l yeast extract, pH 7.5) which was sterilized at 120.degree. C.
for 15 minutes, followed by shaking culture at 45.degree. C. for 15
hours. Furthermore, 2 ml of the culture solution was inoculated
into an above described medium containing the additional
components, 1 g/l uracil, and 20 mg/l manganese chloride, followed
by shaking culture at 45.degree. C. for 24 hours. Then, the cells
collected from 15 ml of the culture solution by centrifugation were
suspended in 1.5 ml of a 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0),
and 150 mg of racemic
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine and 0.003 ml of a
0.5 M aqueous solution of manganese sulfate were added to the
resulting suspension. Then, the resulting mixture was adjusted to
pH 6.5 with a 10 N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, and
subjected to reaction by stirring at 40.degree. C. for 19 hours
while maintaining the pH at about 6.5 using 6 N hydrochloric acid.
As a result of the HPLC analysis (column: COSMOSIL 5C8-MS, mobile
phase: acetonitrile/10 mM aqueous potassium dihydrogen phosphate
solution=3/7, flow rate: 0.8 ml/min, detection wavelength: 210 nm,
column temperature: 40.degree. C.) of the reaction solution, the
residual ratio of N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
was 44%. Also, as a result of the HPLC analysis (column: CHIRALPAK
AS (produced by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.), mobile phase:
hexane/isopropanol/trichloroacetic acid=9/1/0.01, flow rate: 0.5
ml/min, detection wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature:
30.degree. C.) of N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
contained in the reaction solution, the optical purity was 99.0%
ee. It was also confirmed by comparison with the retention time of
the N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine produced in
EXAMPLE 1 that the resultant
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine was the
L-isomer.
Example 4
Method for producing
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine using bacteria
of the genus Pseudomonas
[0194] Pseudomonas putida 1E012996 was cultured in a solid medium
(containing 10 g/l polypeptone, 2 g/l yeast extract, 1 g/1
magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, and 15 g/l agar with pH 7.0) at
30.degree. C. for 24 hours. In a 500-ml Sakaguchi flask, one
platinum loop of the cultured cells was inoculated into 100 ml of a
liquid medium (20 g/1 meat extract, 6 g/l glycerol, 1 g/l uracil, 2
g/l potassium dihydrogen phosphate, 1 g/1 magnesium sulfate
heptahydrate, 40 mg/l calcium chloride dihydrate, 20 mg/l ferrous
sulfate heptahydrate, 20 mg/l manganese sulfate tetrahydrate to
hexahydrate, 20 mg/l copper sulfate pentahydrate, pH 5.5) which was
sterilized at 120.degree. C. for 15 minutes, followed by shaking
culture at 30.degree. C. for 24 hours. Then, the cells collected
from 10 ml of the culture solution by centrifugation were suspended
in 1 ml of a 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), and 10 mg
of racemic N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine and
0.002 ml of a 0.5 M aqueous solution of manganese sulfate were
added to the resulting suspension. Then, the resulting mixture was
subjected to reaction by stirring at 40.degree. C. for 50 hours
while maintaining the pH at about 6.5 using 6 N hydrochloric acid.
As a result of the HPLC analysis (column: COSMOSIL 5C8-MS, mobile
phase: acetonitrile/10 mM aqueous potassium dihydrogen phosphate
solution=3/7, flow rate: 0.8 ml/min, detection wavelength: 210 nm,
column temperature: 40.degree. C.) of the reaction solution, the
residual ratio of N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
was 52%. Also, as a result of the HPLC analysis (column: CHIRALPAK
AS (produced by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.), mobile phase:
hexane/isopropanol/trichloroacetic acid=9/1/0.01, flow rate: 0.5
ml/min, detection wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature:
30.degree. C.) of N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
contained in the reaction solution, the optical purity was 95.6%
ee. It was also confirmed by composition with the retention time of
the N-carbamoyl-S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine produced in
EXAMPLE 1 that the resultant
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine was the
L-isomer.
Example 5
Method for producing
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine using bacteria
of the genus Agrobacterium
[0195] In a large test tube, the Agrobacterium sp. KNK712 strain
(FERM BP-1900) was inoculated into 10 ml of a liquid medium
(containing 10 g/l polypeptone, 10 g/1 meat extract, 5 g/l yeast
extract, 5 g/l glycerin, 5 g/l potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and
5 g/l disodium hydrogen phosphate with pH 6.5) which was sterilized
120.degree. C. for 15 minutes, followed by shaking culture at
30.degree. C. for 24 hours. Then, 1 ml of the culture solution was
inoculated into 100 ml of a liquid medium (containing 25 g/l
glycerin, 5 g/l sucrose, 5 g/l potassium dihydrogen phosphate, 5
g/l disodium hydrogen phosphate, 1 g/1 magnesium phosphate
heptahydrate, 10 mg/l manganese chloride tetrahydrate, and 4 g/l
yeast extract with pH 6.5, and prepared by sterilization at
120.degree. C. for 15 minutes and then adding 2 g/l urea and 1 g/l
D-N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-p-hydroxyphenylglycine through filter
sterilization), followed by shaking culture at 33.degree. C. for 23
hours. Then, the cells collected from 5 ml of the culture solution
by centrifugation were suspended in 1 ml of a 0.1 M potassium
phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), and 10 mg of racemic
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine and 0.002 ml of a
0.5 M aqueous solution of manganese sulfate were added to the
resulting suspension. Then, the resulting mixture was subjected to
reaction by stirring at 40.degree. C. for 5 hours while maintaining
the pH at about 6.5 using 6 N hydrochloric acid. As a result of the
HPLC analysis (column: COSMOSIL 5C8-MS, mobile phase:
acetonitrile/10 mM aqueous potassium dihydrogen phosphate
solution=3/7, flow rate: 0.8 ml/min, detection wavelength: 210 nm,
column temperature: 40.degree. C.) of the reaction solution, the
residual ratio of N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
was 23%. Also, as a result of the HPLC analysis (column: CHIRALPAK
AS (produced by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.), mobile phase:
hexane/isopropanol/trichloroacetic acid=9/1/0.01, flow rate: 0.5
ml/min, detection wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature:
30.degree. C.) of N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
contained in the reaction solution, the optical purity was 85.8%
ee. It was also confirmed by comparison with the retention time of
the N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine produced in
EXAMPLE 1 that the resultant
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine was the
L-isomer.
Example 6
Method for producing D-5-tert-butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin
[0196] In order to remove S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine
contained as an impurity in the mixture (50 g) of the enzyme and
D-5-tert-butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin obtained by the method
in EXAMPLE 3, water (400 g) was added to the mixture, followed by
stirring. Then, the insoluble substance was filtered off and washed
with water (200 g), and a 5 wt % aqueous sodium hydroxide solution
(120 g) was added to the filtrate, followed by stirring. Then, the
enzyme was filtered off as an insoluble substance, and the filtrate
was adjusted to pH 9 with conc. hydrochloric acid. The precipitated
crystals were filtered off, washed with water, and then dried under
reduced pressure to obtain a crude product as crystals (19.7 g). As
a result of the HPLC analysis (column: COSMOSIL 5C8-MS, mobile
phase: acetonitrile/potassium dihydrogen phosphate-phosphoric acid
solution (pH 2.0)=2/8, flow rate: 1.0 ml/min, detection wavelength:
210 nm, column temperature: 40.degree. C.) of the crude product,
the purity and yield calculated by comparison with a standard
sample were 87.5 wt % and 79.6%, respectively. Also, as a result of
HPLC analysis (column: CHIRALPAK AS (produced by Daicel Chemical
Industries, Ltd.), mobile phase: hexane/isopropanol=9/1, flow rate:
1.0 ml/min, detection wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature:
30.degree. C., retention time: D-isomer=15.2 min, L-isomer=39.8
min), the optical purity was 97.6% ee.
Example 7
Method for producing S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine
[0197] The mixture (80 g) of
D-5-tert-butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin and the enzyme produced
by the method in any one of EXAMPLES 1 to 5 was dissolved in a 10
wt % aqueous lithium hydroxide solution (150 mL). The enzyme was
removed by filtration, and then
D-5-tert-butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin contained in the mother
liquid was quantitatively analyzed by HPLC (under the same
analytical conditions as in EXAMPLE 6). As a result, the amount of
the compound contained in the mother liquid was 44.2 g. Then,
lithium hydroxide (54 g) and distilled water (51 g) were added to
the solution, and the resultant mixture was refluxed under heating
for 38 hours. The mixture was allowed to cool down to room
temperature, and the produced solid was filtered off. Then, conc.
hydrochloric acid (110 g) was added to the mother liquid kept at an
internal temperature of about 20.degree. C. to control the pH to
6.7. Then, the solution was cooled to an internal temperature of
2.degree. C. and stirred for 2 hours. Next, the produced solid was
filtered off and dried in vacuum at 40.degree. C. for 24 hours to
obtain dry crystals (34.9 g). As a result of HPLC analysis (column:
COSMOSIL 5C18-AR (produced by Nacalai Tesque Inc.), mobile phase:
potassium dihydrogen phosphate-phosphoric acid solution (pH
2.0)/acetonitrile=90/10, flow rate: 1.0 ml/min, detection
wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature: 40.degree. C.), it was
confirmed that the solid was the desired compound. The purity and
yield were determined by comparison with the authentic sample
(purity 96.7 wt %, yield 85.7%).
Example 8
Method for producing .alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine hydrochloride
[0198] S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-D-cysteine (20 g) was dissolved
in conc. hydrochloric acid (180 g), and the resultant solution was
refluxed under heating for 45 hours. The reaction solution was
allowed to cool down to room temperature, and then concentrated to
35 g. Then, the solution was heated to 40.degree. C., and toluene
(110 mL) was added to the solution, followed by concentration to
about 40 g. This operation was further repeated four times, and the
produced solid was filtered off and dried under vacuum at
60.degree. C. for 48 hours to obtain the title compound as a white
solid (15.3 g). As a result of HPLC analysis (column: CAPCELL PAK
SCX (produced by Shiseido Co., Ltd.), mobile phase: potassium
dihydrogen phosphate-phosphoric acid solution (pH
2.0)/acetonitrile=95/5, flow rate: 0.3 ml/min, detection
wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature: 30.degree. C.), it was
confirmed that the solid was the desired compound (yield 84.6%).
The measurement of optical rotation showed
[.alpha.].sup.D.sub.20=-6.28 (c1. 21, H.sub.2O). Since the sign of
the optical rotation was opposite to that of the
.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine hydrochloride produced in EXAMPLE 10, it
was confirmed that the obtained compound was the intended
O-stereoisomer.
Example 9
Method for producing .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine hydrochloride
[0199] N-carbamoyl-S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine (100 mg,
0.43 mmol) was dissolved in conc. hydrochloric acid (1 mL), and the
resultant solution was refluxed in nitrogen for 60 hours to prepare
an aqueous solution of .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine hydrochloride.
Example 10
Method for producing .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine hydrochloride
[0200] Isopropyl alcohol (0.5 mL) was added to the reaction
solution of .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine hydrochloride obtained in
EXAMPLE 9, and the resultant mixture was concentrated under reduced
pressure and dried by azeotropic dehydration. This operation was
repeated three times until the volume became about 1/3 by
concentration. Then, the residue was heated to 60.degree. C., and
toluene (1 mL) was added to the residue. After the mixture was
allowed to cool down to room temperature under stirring, stirring
was continued for about 1 hour. Then, the precipitated crystals
were filtered off, washed with toluene, and dried under reduced
pressure to obtain the title compound as a white solid (44.3 mg).
As a result of HPLC analysis (under the same analytical conditions
as in EXAMPLE 8), it was confirmed that the solid was the desired
compound (yield 60.0%). The measurement of optical rotation showed
[.alpha.].sup.D.sub.20=8.77 (c1. 15, H.sub.2O). Since the sign of
the optical rotation coincided with the value in the reference
(Tetrahedron, 1993, 49, 2131-2138, WO98/38177), it was confirmed
that the obtained compound was the intended L-stereoisomer.
[0201] .sup.1H NMR (300 MHz, D.sub.2O) .delta.: 3.18 (d, 1H), 2.89
(d, 1H), 1.60 (s, 3H)
Example 11
Method for producing S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine
[0202] N-carbamoyl-S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine (82.4 g,
351.4 mmol) was dissolved in a 18% aqueous lithium hydroxide
solution (630 g), and the resultant solution was refluxed in
nitrogen for 41 hours. After the solution was allowed to cool down
to room temperature, the insoluble substance was filtered off, and
the filtrate was adjusted to pH 6 by adding conc. hydrochloric acid
(180.1 g). After stirring for about 1 hour, the mixture was cooled
to 4.degree. C. to 5.degree. C., and further stirred for 1 hour.
The produced crystals were filtered off, washed with water, and
then dried under reduced pressure to obtain the title compound as a
white solid (53.9 g). As a result of HPLC analysis (column:
COSMOSIL 5018-AR (produced by Nacalai Tesque Inc.), mobile phase:
potassium dihydrogen phosphate-phosphoric acid solution (pH
2.0)/acetonitrile=90/10, flow rate: 1.0 ml/min, detection
wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature: 40.degree. C.), it was
confirmed that the solid was the desired compound (yield 85.7%)
[0203] .sup.1H NMR (300 MHz, D.sub.2O) .delta.: 3.18 (d, 1H), 2.91
(d, 1H), 1.60 (s, 3H), 1.35 (s, 98)
Example 12
Method for producing .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine hydrochloride
[0204] Conc. hydrochloric acid (345.3 g) was added to
S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine (38.4 g, 201 mmol) produced
by the method in EXAMPLE 11, and the resultant mixture was refluxed
for 24 hours to obtain an aqueous solution of
.alpha.-methyl-L-hydrochloride.
Example 13
Method for isolating .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine hydrochloride
[0205] The reaction solution of .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine
hydrochloride obtained in EXAMPLE 12 was concentrated to 67.5 g
(degree of vacuum: 30 to 60 mmHg, temperature: 45.degree. C.), and
toluene (206 g) was added to the residue. Again a vacuum
concentration operation (degree of vacuum: 40 to 60 mmHg,
temperature: 40.degree. C., distillation rate: 107 L/hm.sup.2) was
performed until the total was 109 g, and toluene (206 g) was
further added to the residue, followed by concentration. The same
operation was repeated six times in total to obtain a toluene
slurry (104 g) of the product, .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine
hydrochloride. The water content of the slurry was 30% by weight
(based on .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine hydrochloride). The slurry was
filtered, and the obtained crystals were washed with toluene and
dried under reduced pressure (at 0 to 100 mmHg and 30.degree. C. to
80.degree. C. for 5 to 10 hours) to obtain the title compound as a
white solid (32.2 g, yield 93.4%).
Example 14
Method for producing .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine hydrochloride
[0206] First, water (47.6 g) and conc. hydrochloric acid (177.4 g)
were added to S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine (25 g, 131
mmol) produced by the method of EXAMPLE 11, and the resultant
mixture was refluxed for 41 hours. Furthermore, conc. hydrochloric
acid (47.6 g) was added to the mixture, followed by reflux for 3
hours. After the mixture was allowed to cool down to room
temperature, isopropyl alcohol (90 mL) was added to the mixture,
followed by vacuum concentration. Then, azeotropic dehydration was
performed three times using the same amount of isopropyl alcohol.
Finally, isopropyl alcohol was added to the residue, and the
resultant mixture was concentrated to a volume of about 1/3. Then,
the residue was heated to 60.degree. C., and toluene (90 mL) was
added to the residue. After the mixture was allowed to cool down to
room temperature under stirring, stirring was continued about 1
hour. Then, the precipitated crystals were filtered off, washed
with toluene, and dried under reduced pressure to obtain the title
compound as a white solid (13.5 g, yield 60.0%).
Example 15
Method for producing D-5-mercaptomethyl-5-methylhydantoin
[0207] First, D-5-tert-butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin (4.38 g)
produced in EXAMPLE 6 was dissolved in conc. hydrochloric acid (100
g), and the resultant solution was stirred at 80.degree. C. for
18.5 hours. After the solution was allowed to cool down to room
temperature, the solution was concentrated to about a half, and the
residue was adjusted to pH 0 by adding 30.5 g of a 30 wt % aqueous
sodium hydroxide solution. After extraction with ethyl acetate (100
mL.times.3), the organic Phase was concentrated to 10% of the
total, and toluene (30 mL) was added to the residue. The
precipitated crystals were filtered off to obtain the target
D-5-mercaptomethyl-5-methylhydantoin (2.65 g) in a yield of 80%. As
a result of the measure of the optical purity of this compound by
HPLC (CHIRALPAK AS (produced by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.),
mobile phase: hexane/isopropanol 9/1, flow rate: 1.0 ml/min,
detection wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature: 35.degree. C.,
retention time: D-isomer; 30.4 min, L-isomer; 33.8 min), the
L-isomer was not detected.
[0208] .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, MeOH-d4) .delta.: 1.32 (s, 3H), 2.60
(d, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 2.72 (d, 1.6 Hz, 1H)
Example 16
Method for determining optical purity of .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine
hydrochloride
[0209] First, .alpha.-methyl-L-cysteine hydrochloride (74.9 mg,
0.44 mmol) produced by the method of EXAMPLE 13 was dissolved in
water (3 mL), and sodium hydrogen carbonate (197.7 mg) and ethanol
(3 mL) were added to the resultant solution. After nitrogen purge,
benzyl chlorocarbonate (0.17 mL, 1.10 mmol) was added to the
resultant mixture, followed by stirring at room temperature for 2
days. Then, conc. hydrochloric acid was added to the reaction
solution to adjust the solution to pH 1.9, and extraction was
performed with ethyl acetate. Then, the organic phase was dried
over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and the solvent was distilled off
under reduced pressure. As a result of the PTLC (hexane/ethyl
acetate=1/1 with a small amount of acetic acid) purification and
.sup.1H NMR analysis of the residue, it was confirmed that the
desired compound (106 mg, yield 60%) was produced. The HPLC
analysis (column: CHIRALCEL OD-RH (produced by Daicel Chemical
Industries, Ltd.), mobile phase: potassium dihydrogen
phosphate-phosphoric acid solution (pH 2.0)/acetonitrile=6/4, flow
rate: 1.0 ml/min, detection wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature:
30.degree. C., retention time: 19.15 min (D), 22.92 min (L)) of the
compound showed an optical purity of 98.6% ee.
[0210] .sup.1H NMR (300 MHz, D.sub.2O) .delta.: 7.30-7.40 (m, 10H),
5.22 (s, 2H), 5.10 (s, 2H), 3.60 (s, 2H), 1.63 (s, 3H)
Examples 17 to 21
Method for producing
N-carbamoyl-S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-cysteine
[0211] First, sodium hydroxide and water were added to
5-tert-butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin, and the resultant mixture
was heated to a predetermined temperature and stirred. The reaction
solution was analyzed by HPLC (column: COSMOSIL 5C18-AR (produced
by Nacalai Tesque Inc.), mobile phase: acetonitrile/10 mM aqueous
potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution=30/70, flow rate: 1.0
ml/min, detection wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature:
40.degree. C.) to determine the yield of the title compound. The
results are shown in Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 NaOH Water Reaction Reaction (molar (times
by temperature time Yield Example equivalent) weight) (.degree. C.)
(hour) (%) 17 3.3 1.4 90 44 82 18 3.3 1.4 95 15 81 19 3.3 1.4 100 9
64 20 2.2 1.0 95 13 80 21 1.6 0.7 95 6 54
Example 22
Method for producing
N-carbamoyl-S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-cysteine
[0212] First, 5-tent-butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin (5 g, 23
mmol) was mixed with a 58% aqueous potassium hydroxide solution
(9.2 g), and the mixture was heated to 95.degree. C. and stirred
for 22 hours. The HPLC analysis of the reaction solution showed the
production of the title compound in a reaction yield of 92%.
Example 23
Method for producing
N-carbamoyl-5-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-cysteine
[0213] First, 5-tert-butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin (5 g, 23
mmol) was mixed with a 65% aqueous potassium hydroxide solution
(4.4 g) and toluene (5 ml), and the mixture was heated to
95.degree. C. and stirred for 27 hours. The HPLC analysis of the
reaction solution showed the production of the title compound in a
reaction yield of 88%.
Example 24
Method for producing
N-carbamoyl-S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-cysteine
[0214] First, 5-tert-butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin (5 g, 23
mmol) was mixed with a 73% aqueous potassium hydroxide solution
(5.7 g) and toluene (10 ml), and the mixture was heated to
95.degree. C. and stirred for 51 hours. The HPLC analysis of the
reaction solution showed the production of the title compound in a
reaction yield of 90%.
Example 25
Method for producing N-carbamoyl-2-amino-2-methyl propionic
acid
[0215] First, 4.0 g of 5,5-dimethylhydantoin was mixed with 4.0 g
of sodium hydroxide and 4.0 g of water, and the mixture was stirred
at 85.degree. C. to 90.degree. C. for 3.5 hours. The HPLC analysis
(column: COSMOSIL 5C18-ARII (produced by Nacalai Tesque Inc.),
mobile phase: acetonitrile/10 mM aqueous potassium dihydrogen
phosphate solution=20/80, flow rate: 0.5 ml/min, detection
wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature: 40.degree. C.) of the
reaction mixture showed the production of 3.38 g (yield 74.1%) of
the title compound.
[0216] .sup.1H NMR (300 MHz, D.sub.2O) .delta.: 1.39 (s, 6H)
Example 26
Method for producing
N-carbamoyl-2-amino-3-(2-methoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid
[0217] First, 4.40 g of
5-(2-methoxyphenylmethyl)-5-methyl-hydantoin was mixed with 2.64 g
of sodium hydroxide and 3.5 g of water, and the mixture was
subjected to reaction at 94.degree. C. to 96.degree. C. for 30
hours. The HPLC analysis (column: COSMOSIL 5C18-ARII (produced by
Nacalai Tesque Inc.), mobile phase: acetonitrile/10 mM aqueous
potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution=20/80, flow rate: 1.0
ml/min, detection wavelength: 210 nm, column temperature:
40.degree. C.) of the reaction mixture showed the production of the
title compound, 2-amino-3-(2-methoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic
acid, and the raw material at an area ratio of 78.8:5.5:15.5.
[0218] .sup.1H NMR (300 MHz, D.sub.2O) .delta.: 7.32-6.90 (m, 4H),
4.84 (s, 3H), 3.19 (d, 1H), 3.18 (d, 1H), 1.37 (s, 3H)
Example 27
Method for producing
N-carbamoyl-5-benzyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
[0219] First, 5.0 g of 5-benzylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin was
mixed with 3.6 g of potassium hydroxide and 3 g of water, and the
mixture was subjected to reaction at 94.degree. C. to 96.degree. C.
for 12 hours. The HPLC analysis (column: COSMOSIL 5C18-ARII
(produced by Nacalai Tesque Inc.), mobile phase: acetonitrile/10 mM
aqueous potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution=30/70, flow rate:
1.0 ml/min, detection wavelength: 254 nm, column temperature:
40.degree. C.) of the reaction mixture showed the production of
3.56 g. (yield 66.4%) of the title compound.
[0220] .sup.1H NMR (300 MHz, D.sub.2O) .delta.: 7.40-7.30 (m, 5H),
3.78 (s, 2H), 3.15 (d, 1H), 3.14 (d, 1H), 1.41 (s, 3H)
Comparative Example 1
Method for producing
N-carbamoyl-S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methylcysteine
[0221] First, 5-tert-butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin (5 g, 23
mmol) was mixed with barium hydroxide (11.7), and water (10 g), and
the mixture was heated to 95.degree. C. and stirred for 2 hours.
The HPLC analysis of the reaction solution showed the production of
the title compound in a reaction yield of 39%.
Comparative Example 2
Method for producing
N-carbamoyl-S-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-cysteine (according to the
method descried in U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,859)
[0222] First, 5-tert-butylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin (purity
content 10.82 g, 50.0 mmol) was mixed with calcium hydroxide (3.70
g, 50.0 mmol), and water (60 g), and the mixture was heated to
100.degree. C. and stirred for 3.5 hours. The HPLC analysis of the
reaction solution showed the production of the title compound in a
reaction yield of 25%.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0223] As described above, according to the present invention, both
the D- and L-isomers of an optically active .alpha.-methylcysteine
derivative or its salt, which is useful as an pharmaceutical
intermediate, can be produced from readily available, inexpensive
raw materials by a simple, industrially practical process. Also,
the compound can be obtained as crystals by an industrially
practical means.
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