Unnatural Phosphorus‐Containing α‐Amino Acids and Their N‐FMOC Derivatives: Synthesis and In Vitro Investigation of Anticholinesterase Activity

Abstract

Enantiomerically enriched phosphorus‐containing α‐amino acids were synthesized by the method of asymmetric synthesis, using Ni(II) square planar complex of dehydroalanine as an initial complex. After acidic hydrolysis, α‐amino acids with high enantiomeric purity were isolated. At the next stage, Fmoc derivatives of the obtained α‐amino acids were synthesized (ee >99 %). Synthesized α‐amino acids and their Fmoc derivatives exhibited anticholinesterase activity, inhibiting AChE and BuChE. At the same time, the antiacetylcholinesterase activity ranged from 14 to 77 %, and (S)‐2‐((((9H‐fluoren‐9‐yl)methoxy)carbonyl)amino)‐3‐(diisopropoxyphosphoryl) propanoic acid showed relatively high activity (77.9 %). In the case of studying the antibutyrylcholinesterase properties, the activity ranged from 4 to 71 %, and (S)‐2‐amino‐3‐(diisopropoxyphosphoryl)propanoic acid showed high activity (71 %).