Abstract: Substituted alkylketo compounds of the formula can be converted to the corresponding amino acid by a stereoselective enzymatic process. The resulting amino acid compounds can be employed as starting materials for pharmaceutically active compounds. This invention is directed to the substituted alkylketo compounds and their method of preparation.

Abstract: Processes for stereoselective enzymatic conversion of certain keto carboxylic acid derivatives to form the corresponding alkylamino acid compounds are described. The invention also concerns an engineered yeast host cell containing recombinant nucleic acid capable of expressing a phenylalanine dehydrogenase, as well as an engineered host cell containing recombinant nucleic acid capable of expressing a phenylalanine dehydrogenase enzyme and nucleic acid capable of expressing a formate dehydrogenase enzyme.

Abstract: Substituted alkylketo compounds of the formula 1

Abstract: The glycinamide of the formula is reacted with the dioxolane of the formula wherein L is a leaving group such as iodo, bromo, alkylsulfonyloxy, or arylsulfonyloxy to give the dioxolane of the formula Treating the dioxolane of formula III under aqueous refluxing conditions followed by exchanging the dioxolane acetal with a dimethoxy acetal and introduction of the methyl ester gives (S)-2-amino-6,6-dimethoxyhexanoic acid, methyl ester which is an intermediate in the preparation of the dual inhibitor [4S-[4&agr;(R*),7&agr;,10a&bgr;]]-octahydro-4-[(2-mercapto-1-oxo-3-phenylpropyl)-amino]-5-oxo-7H-pyrido[2,1-b][1,3]thiazepine-7-carboxylic acid. Also disclosed are storage stable salts of (S)-2-amino-6, 6-dimethoxyhexanoic acid, methyl ester.

Abstract: The glycinamide of the formula is reacted with the dioxolane of the formula wherein L is a leaving group such as iodo, bromo, alkylsulfonyloxy, or arylsulfonyloxy to give the dioxolane of the formula Treating the dioxolane of formula III under aqueous refluxing conditions followed by exchanging the dioxolane acetal with a dimethoxy acetal and introduction of the methyl ester gives (S)-2-amino-6,6-dimethoxyhexanoic acid, methyl ester which is an intermediate in the preparation of the dual inhibitor [4S-[4&agr;(R*),7&agr;, 10a&bgr;]]-)octahydro-4-[(2-mercapto-1-oxo-3-phenylpropy)-amino]-5-oxo-7H-pyrido[2,1-b][1,3]thiazepine-7-carboxylic acid. Also disclosed are storage stable salts of (S)-2-amino-6,6-dimethoxyhexanoic acid, methyl ester.

Abstract: N-protected-L-homocysteine disulfide of the formula ##STR1## or an activated form thereof is reacted with (S)-2-amino-6,6-dimethoxyhexanoic acid, methyl ester to give the disulfide intermediate of the formula ##STR2## Cleavage of the disulfide bond followed by acid catalyzed cyclization produces the N-protected lactam of formula III which is useful for preparing the pharmaceutically active compound omapatrilat.

Abstract: Processes for stereoselective enzymatic conversion of certain keto carboxylic acid derivatives to form the corresponding alkylamino acid compounds are described. The invention also concerns an engineered yeast host cell containing recombinant nucleic acid capable of expressing a phenylalanine dehydrogenase, as well as an engineered host cell containing recombinant nucleic acid capable of expressing a phenylalanine dehydrogenase enzyme and nucleic acid capable of expressing a formate dehydrogenase enzyme.

Abstract: A method of preparing fluoromethyl 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl ether (sevoflurane) and structurally related monofluoromethyl ethers in which the monochloromethyl ether precursor thereof is reacted with a sterically hindered tertiary amine hydrofluoride salt.

Abstract: This invention pertains to methods for preparing 5-aroyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo-[1,2-a]pyrrole-1-carboxylic acids represented by formula (I): ##STR1## In a first embodiment, the method comprises the sequential steps of cyclizing, via a free radical ring closure reaction, and hydrolyzing a compound represented by formula (IV): ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is lower alkyl.