Chemoenzymatic synthesis of trans-dihydrodiol derivatives of monosubstituted benzenes from the corresponding cis-dihydrodiol isomers

Enantiopure trans-dihydrodiols have been obtained by a chemoenzymatic synthesis from the corresponding cis-dihydrodiol metabolites, obtained by dioxygenase-catalysed arene cis-dihydroxylation at the 2,3-bond of monosubstituted benzene substrates. This generally applicable, seven-step synthetic route to trans-dihydrodiols involves a regioselective hydrogenation and a Mitsunobu inversion of configuration at C-2, followed by benzylic bromination and dehydrobromination steps. The method has also been extended to the synthesis of both enantiomers of the trans-dihydrodiol derivatives of toluene, through substitution of a vinyl bromine atom of the corresponding trans-dihydrodiol enantiomers derived from bromobenzene. Through incorporation of hydrogenolysis and diMTPA ester diastereoisomer resolution steps into the synthetic route, both trans-dihydrodiol enantiomers of monohalobenzenes were obtained from the cis-dihydrodiols of 4-haloiodobenzenes.

syn-Benzene dioxides: chemoenzymatic synthesis from 2,3-cis-dihydrodiol derivatives of monosubstituted benzenes and their application in the synthesis of regioisomeric 1,2- and 3,4-cis-dihydrodiols and 1,4-dioxocins

cis-2,3-Dihydrodiol metabolites of monosubstituted halobenzenes and toluene have been used as synthetic precursors of the corresponding 3,4-cis-dihydrodiols. Enantiopure syn-benzene dioxide intermediates were reduced to the 3,4-cis-dihydrodiols and thermally racemised via the corresponding 1,4-dioxocins. The syn-benzene dioxide-1,4-dioxocin valence tautomeric equilibrium ratio was found to be dependent on the substituent position. The methodology has also been applied to the synthesis of both enantiomers of the 1,2-(ipso)- and 3,4-cis-dihydrodiols of toluene. This chemoenzymatic approach thus makes available, for the first time, all three possible cis-dihydrodiol regioisomers of a monosubstituted benzene.

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of the trans-dihydrodiol isomers of monosubstituted benzenes via anti-benzene dioxides

Enantiopure cis-2,3-dihydrodiols, available from dioxygenase-catalysed cis-dihydroxylation of monosubstituted benzene substrates, have been used as synthetic precursors of the corresponding trans-3,4-dihydrodiols. The six-step chemoenzymatic route from cis-dihydrodiol precursors, involving acetonide, tetraol, dibromodiacetate and diepoxide intermediates, and substitution of vinyl bromide and iodide atoms, has been used in the synthesis of ten trans-dihydrododiol derivatives of substituted benzenes. The general applicability of the method has been demonstrated by its use in the synthesis of both enantiomers of the trans-1,2- and 3,4-dihydrodiol derivatives of toluene.

Development of a novel immunobiosensor method for the rapid detection of okadaic acid contamination in shellfish extracts

The mouse bioassay is the methodology that is most widely used to detect okadaic acid (OA) in shellfish samples. This is one of the best-known toxins, and it belongs to the family of marine biotoxins referred to as the diarrhetic shellfish poisons (DSP). Due to animal welfare concerns, alternative methods of toxin detection are being sought. A rapid and specific biosensor immunoassay method was developed and validated for the detection of OA. An optical sensor instrument based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon was utilised. A polyclonal antibody to OA was raised against OA-bovine thyroglobulin conjugate and OA-N-hydroxy succinimide ester was immobilised onto an amine sensor chip surface. The assay parameters selected for the analysis of the samples were: antibody dilution, 1/750; ratio of antibody to standard, 1:1; volume of sample injected, 25 mu l min(-1); flow rate, 25 mu l min(-1). An assay action limit of 126 ng g(-1) was established by analysing of 20 shellfish samples spiked with OA at the critical concentration of 160 ng g(-1), which is the action limit established by the European Union (EU). At this concentration of OA, the assay delivered coefficient of variations (CVs) of