NZ196037A - L-aspartyl-d-amino acyl amides,and compositions for sweetening edible materials - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number 1 96037 4 1960 3 7 . ^.TfTJofS II - to Priority * j£' , Complete Specification Filed: Putticc&on Dato:.. 0 S Avh.W** . ■ ? r- ■ ■ 3 • a"S k .fsr.-t,yji f £v- v3» 21 ^CClKS^oC y HH^ sii No.: Date: i.p>s- U vv..SC- S' ?er.- NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION L- branched amides of j^aspartyjj-d-amino acid dipeptides ■frl We, PFIZER INC, a corporation organised under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America of 235 East 42nd Street, New York, State of New York, United States of America hereby declare the invention for which $ / we pray that a patent may be granted to rjjg/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - (Followed by la) • i96 0 BRANCHED AMIDES OF L-ASPARTYL-D-AMINO ACID DIPEPTIDES The invention relates to novel amides of L-aspartyl-D-alanine, L-aspartyl-D-2-aminobutyric acid, L-aspartyl-D-valine and L-aspartyl-D-norvaline which 5 are especially useful in view of their potent sweetening properties, novel methods for their use in foods and edible composition containing them.

In U.S. 3,492,131 certain lower alkyl esters of L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine were found to be up to 200 1° times as sweet as sucrose and to be substantially free of bitter flavor notes which detracted from earlier artificial sweeteners such as saccharin. These compounds were subsequently found to have only limited stability in aqueous systems due to diketopiperazine formation especially at the neutral-acidic pH conditions prevalent in most food systems.

Mazur et al_., J. Med. Chem. , 1_6 , 1284 (1973) has disclosed that lower alkyl esters of L-aspartyl-D-alanine and certain hcmologs thereof, especially L-20 aspartyl-D-alanine isopropyl ester, have sweetness potencies of up to 125 times sucrose.

Sukehiro et al., Seikatsu Kagaku, 11, 9-16 (1977); Chem. Abstr., 87, 168407h (1977) has disclosed certain amides of L-aspartyl-D-alanine of the formula NH, 0 rv l « i960 where R^" is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, secondary butyl, cyclohexyl or the carbon residue of the methyl esters of glycine, d-alanine or 1_-alanine. The most potent compounds were those wherein R^" is one of the above butyl groups or cyclohexyl, having respectively, 100-125 and 100 times the sweetness of sucrose. Since the n-butylamide was found to have 125 times the sweetness of sucrose and the isobutyl and secondary butyl amides are 100 x sucrose, it was concluded that the potency of these amides is affected mainly by the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group, R*, and that structural •isomerism in the alkyl group has little effect on the sweetness potency.

Unexpectedly, it has now been found that it is not merely the size of the amide substituent that is critical for a high degree of sweetness in L-aspartyl-D-alanine amides, but, to the contrary, it is the precise spatial arrangement of the amide substituent, R, that is critical. It has been found that certain L-aspartyl-D-alanine amides which are branched at the alpha carbon atom (the carbon atom bearing the amide nitrogen atcm) and also branch again at one or both of beta and beta' carbon atoms have significant advantages Thus, the present invention provides certain novel branched amides of L-aspartyl-D-alanine and certain other L-aspartyl-D-alpha-alkyl alpha-amino acid dipeptides which have unexpectedly high sweetness potency and are free from undesirable flavor qualities at conventional use levels. They have also been found to have surprisingly high stability both in solid form 19603 7 and in aqueous systems over the pH range found in most food systems even at the elevated temperatures used in baking and conventional food processing.

The novel compounds of the invention are the L-aspartyl-D-amino acid dipeptide amides of the formula (I) n I COOH n and the physiologically acceptable cationic and acid addition salts thereof, wherein Ra is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl or isopropyl; and R is a branched member 10 selected from the group consisting of fenchyl, diiso-propylcarbinyl, d-methyl-t-butylcarbinyl, d-ethyl-t-butylcarbinyl, di-t-butylcarbinyl, 2-methylthio-2,4-dimethylpentan-3-yl, R3 r4 6-^N.s E5 i P /• where at least one of R , R , R , R is alkyl having from one to four carbon atoms and the remainder are hydrogen or alkyl having from one to four carbon atoms; X is 0, S, SO, SC^, 0=0 or CHOH; m is zero, 1, 2, 3 or 4; n and p are each zero, 1, 2 or 3 and the 20 sum of n + p is not greater than 3; the sum of the yi J- /• carbon atcms in R , R , R and R is not greater than six and when both of R^ and R^ or R^ and R^ are alkyl they are methyl or ethyl; 196037 z m o where m is as defined above, one of R', R , R~ is alkyl having from one to four carbon atoms and the remainder are hydrogen or alkyl having from one to four carbon atoms and the sum of the carbon atoms in 7 8 9 R , R and R is not greater than six? (CS2»m <CH2>q where m and q are the same or different and each have the values previously defined for m; R12 R13 /7~ 12 13 where each of R and R are methyl or ethyl, or 12 13 R is hydrogen and R is alkyl having from one to four carbon atoms, Z is 0 or NH and t is 1 or 2; R*4 /R15 CH2>W R16' NOH • i96 0 where w is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, R^-4 and R*^ are each alkyl having from one to four carbon atons, R*5 is hydrogen, OH or alkyl having from one to two carbon atoms, where the sum of the carbon atons in R^"4, R^ and R^^ is not 5 greater than six and when both of R*4 and R^ are alkyl they are methyl or ethyl; and 17 19 where R and R are alkyl having from one to four 18 20 carbon atons, R and R are hydrogen or alkyl having 10 from one to two carbon atons, taken separately, A is OH and B is hydrogen, OH or methyl and when taken together A and B are -CH.OC-, -CH^NHC-, -OCCH,-, ^ If & If If ^ 0 0 0 -NHCCH--, -0C-, -NHC- or -0C0-, where the sum of the if ^ n n n 0 0 0 0 17 18 19 20 carbon atcms in R , R , R and R is not greater than six and when both of R*^ and R^® or R*^ and R^ are alkyl they are methyl or ethyl.

While the preferred sweeteners of the invention are those dipeptide amides of formula (I) wherein the aspartylamino acid dipeptide moiety is derived from L-20 aspartic acid and a D-amino acid, RaCH(NH2)C00H, also included within the scope of the invention are mixtures containing the most preferred L-aspartyl-D-amino acid amides of formula (I) wherein one or both of the aspartyl or the other amino acid (i.e., alanine,, 2-25 aminobutyric acid, valine or norvaline) moieties is racemic such as e.g., * 19603 DL-aspartyl-D-alanine amides, DL-aspartyl-DL-alanine amides, L-aspartyl-DL-alanine amides, L-aspartyl-DL-valine amides, DL-aspartyl-DL-2-aminobutyryl amides, and DL-aspartyl-D-norvaline amides.

Those compounds of formula (I) wherein the aspartyl moiety is entirely of the D-configuration or the other amino acid moiety is entirely of the L-configuration have little or no sweetness.

An especially preferred group of L-aspartyl-D-amino acid amides of formula (I) are those wherein R is an acyclic member selected from the group consisting of diisopropylcarbinyl, d-methyl-_t-butylcarbinyl and di-^-butylcarbinyl.

Another especially preferred group of L-aspartyl-D-amino acid amides of formula (I) are those wherein R is a member selected from the group consisting of R 7 R 8 9 2'q # 196 0 R 14 T? R and R 17 p 18 R 3 9 wherein R -R A, B, X, Z, m, n, p, q, t and w are as defined above; and more particularly preferred 5 are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R has one of the first four values of the group immediately above.

Particularly preferred amides of formula (I) are the L-aspartyl-D-alanine amides, i.e., those wherein Ra is methyl.

Examples of the more valuable L-aspartyl-D-amino acid dipeptide amides of the invention include those of formula (I) wherein Ra is methyl and R is: (-)fenchyl, diisopropylcarbinyl, d-methyl-t-butylcarbinyl, di-t-butylcarbinyl, 26-diethylcycl ohexyl, 2-methylcyclopentyl, 2-ethyl-6-methylcyclohexyl, 2 -ethyleye1ohexyl, 2-methylcyclohexyl, 2,2-dimethylcyclohexyl, 196 0 2-ethylcyclopentyl, 2-methyl-6-isopropylcyclohexyl, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylcyc1ohexyl, 2,2,4,4-tetramethyltetrahydrofuran-3-yl, 5 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl, 2-isopropylcyclohexyl, 2.5-dimethylcyclopentyl, 2.6-dimethylcyclohexyl, 2-isopropylcyclopentyl, 2,2,5,5-1 etramethyleye1opentyl, t-butylcyclopropylcarbinyl, 2,2,4,4-tetramethylthietan-3-yl, 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-l,l-dioxothietan-3-yl, 2,2,4,4-tetramethyltetrahydrothiophene-3-yl, 15 3,5-dimethyltetrahydrothiapyran-4-yl, 2-t-butylcyclohexyl or dicyclopropylcarbinyl; those wherein Ra is ethyl, isopropyl or n-propyl and R is: diisopropylcarbinyl, d-methyl-t-butylcarbinyl, di-t-butylcarbinyl, dicyclopropylcarbinyl, 2,2,4,4-tetramethylthietan-3-yl, or 25 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-l,l-dioxothietan-3-yl.

Especially valuable sweeteners include the above compounds wherein Ra is methyl and R is: di-t-butylcarbinyl, 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl, 30 2-t-butylcyclohexyl, 2-isopropylcyclohexvl, 2,6-dimethylcyclohexyl, 2,5-dimethylcyclopentyl, 2-isopropylcyclopentyl, 35 2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl, 2,2,4,4-tetramethyltetrahydrothiophene-3-yl, 196 03 7 m t-butylcyclopropylcarbinyl, dicyclopropylcarbinyl, 2,2,4,4-tetramethylthietane-3-yl or 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-l,l-dioxothietan-3-yl, and 5 the compound of formula (I) wherein Ra is ethyl and R is 2,2/4/4-tetramethyl-l/l-dioxothietan-3-yl, each of which is at least 400 times as sweet as sucrose.

Most particularly preferred are those compounds of formula (I) wherein Ra is methyl and R is: 10 2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl, 2,2,4,4-tetramethyltetrahydrothiophene-3-yl, t-butylcyclopropylcarbinyl, dicyclopropylcarbinyl, f. & S. (^tu 2,2,4,4-tetramethylthietane-3-yl, ov 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-l,l-dioxothietan-3-yl, and the compound of formula (I) wherein Ra is ethyl and R is 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-l,l-dioxothietan-3-yl.

Each of the latter group of L-aspartyl-D-amino acid dipeptide amides have sweetness potencies of about 500-2000 times that of sucrose.

The invention further provides compositions for sweetening edible materials which comprises a sweetening amount of a compound of formula (I) and a non-toxic carrier. Most particularly preferred compositions are those containing L-aspartyl-D-alanine N-(dicyclo- _ oC propylcarbinyl)amide, L-aspartyl-D-alanine N-(2,2,4,4- J. P. « oi^d tetramethylthietane-3-yl)amide,Athe 1,1-dioxo derivative of the latter.

Additionally, sweetened edible compositions comprising an edible material and a sweetening amount of a compound of the invention, are provided.

Also provided is a method for sweetening edible compositions which comprises adding thereto a sweetening amount of a compound of the invention. 19603 The invention further provides compositions for sweetening edible materials which comprises a sweetening amount of a mixture of a compound of formula (I) and saccharin or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof.

Especially preferred such mixtures are those wherein in said compound of formula (I), Ra is methyl and R is dicyclopropylcarbinyl, 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-thietan-3-yl or 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-l,1-dioxothietan-3-yl. Most particularly preferred are mixtures of L-aspartyl-D-alanine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)amide and said saccharin, especially those wherein said compound and said saccharin are present in a weight ratio of from 1:1 to 1:9.

By physiologically acceptable salts of saccharin is meant the salts of saccharin with physiologically acceptable cations such as e.g., the sodium, potassium, calcium or ammonium salts.

By physiologically acceptable cationic salts of the compounds of the invention is meant the salts formed by neutralization of the free carboxylic acid group of the compounds of formula (I) by bases of physiologically acceptable metals, ammonia and amines. Examples of such metals are sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Examples of such amines are N-methyl-glucamine and ethanolamine.

By the term physiologically acceptable acid addition salts is meant those salts formed between the free amino group of the compound of formula (I) and a physiologically acceptable acid. Examples of such acids are acetic, benzoic, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, citric, fumaric, gluconic, lactic, maleic, malic, nitric, phosphoric, saccharic, succinic and tartaric acids. 196037 Novel intermediates claimed in NZ Patent Specification No. 203177, useful in the preparation of the invention compounds are amines of the formulae below: K H R NH2 where R is d-ethyl-t-butylcarbinyl, cyclopropyl-t-butylcarbinyl or cyclopert'tyl-t-butyl- carbinyl; where is 1 when m^ is 1: when is 2: NH 2 or 3 and ;<ch2) m. | ^6 APR 1983 '/ fiECBVED ■ - fata R_-R, are each methyl, 3 o R3 is methyl, ethyl or isopropyl and R^-Rg are each hydrogen, and when m^ is 3: R^ is _t-butyl and R^-Rg are each hydrogen; NH <CH2>n>x (CH2)pVXl '3 c 3 where when n^ is zero and p^ is 1, X^ is 0, S or S02 and when n^ and p^ are each zero, X^ is S, S02 or c=0; Further valuable novel intermediates claimed in NZ Patent Specification No. 203176, useful in preparation of the invention * compounds, are the D-amino acid amides of the formula rachconhrc nh2 cl C where r is as previously defined and r is a member selected from the group consisting of fenchyl, diiso-propylcarbinyl, d-methyl-t-butylcarbinyl, d-ethyl-t-butylcarbinyl, di-t-butylcarbinyl, cyclopropyl-t-butylcarbinyl, cyclopentyl-t-butylcarbinyl, dicyclopropylcarbinyl , # 19603 7 \^JCH2'rai r69>^S0 where is 1, 2 or 3 and when m1 is 1: R"^, R^/ R^ and R^^ are each methyl, when m. is 2: R is methyl, ethyl or isopropyl and R R~*® and R®® are each hydrogen or R^ and .. J. P. & S. R^® are each methyl and R4^ and R^ are each hydrogen, ty-i+-n /)/A/1/ and when m, is 3: MnZ-' 30 40 50 (a) R is isopropyl or t.-butyl, R , R and R^ are each hydrogen, (b) R"^ is ethyl, R^® is methyl, R4® and R^® are each hydrogen, or (c) R^ and R4^ are each methyl and R^ and R^ are each hydrogen or methyl, and ,41 [CH,) / 2 n CH"?—5^/ £.11 2 p 41 „ „61 :ch2)p3^2 2 p? CH^ \^(< IH-V1 where when n2 and p2 are each zero: R and R are each methyl and X0 is S, S0_, C=0 or CHOH, 41 61 when n2 is zero and p2 is 1: R and R are each methyl and X2 is O, S, or SO^, and when n2 is 1 and p2 is 1: R ^ and R*^ are each 20 hydrogen and X2 is S or S02. 196 0 37 The suffix "carbinyl" as used herein denotes the moiety -CH-. Thus, for example, diisopropylcarbinyl is the group (i-C^H^) 2*-CH- and dicyclopropylcarbinyl-amine is ( A ) 2CHNH2.

The instant dipeptide amides are conveniently manufactured by methods suitable for coupling of amino acids. A preferred method for preparing the dipeptide amides Of formula (I) is outlined below.

^ COOR COOH or carboxyl activated derivative NHQ Ra t D-NH2CHC00RU (2) „0 * (1) condense [2C COOR COHN NHQ Ra RNH JCOOH /r< HQ Ra ►COOR10 COHN.

CONHR (II) (III) deprotect u/heve»n "K 10 fs a <jroup.

In the above L-aspartic acid derivatives Q is one of the well known amino-protecting groups which can be selectively ranoved such as those described by Boissonnas, Advances in Organic Chem., 3^ 159-190 (1963). Particularly preferred amino-protecting groups are benzyloxy-carbonyl and tert-butyloxycarbonyl. R1^ is preferably an alkyl group having from one to four carbon atons or benzyl. The D-alanine, D-2-aminobutyric acid, D-valine or D-norvaline employed may be in the form of the free amino acid wherein R11 is hydrogen, but is 1 96 0 preferably a carboxyl-protected derivative wherein R11 may be the residue of an ester group such as methyl or ethyl, but is preferably a silyl group such as trialkylsilyl, having from three to twelve carbon 5 atoms. An especially preferred such group is trimethylsilyl for reasons of economy and efficiency.

In the first step of the above reaction sequence the diprotected L-aspartic acid is condensed with the appropriate D-amino acid or a carboxy-protected 10 derivative to provide the diprotected dipeptide of formula (II). While this step may be carried out with the diprotected aspartic acid in the presence of condensing agents such as, for example, dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide, it is preferred to employ an alpha-15 carboxyl activated derivative of the diprotected aspartic acid. Preferred such carboxyl activated derivatives are the chloride, bromide, anhydride or mixed anhydride. Especially preferred for reasons of efficiency are the mixed anhydrides of the above 20 diprotected-L-aspartic acids with esters of chlorocarbonic acid, particularly the alkyl esters wherein said alkyl has from one to four carbon atoms. Most preferred mixed anhydrides are those prepared from the methyl and ethyl esters of chlorocarbonic acid for reasons of 25 ec on cany.

In a particularly preferred method for preparing the compounds of formula (I), beta-benzyl-N-benzyloxy-carbonyl-L-aspartic acid is reacted with ethyl chloro-carbonate to form the corresponding mixed anhydride by 30 methods known in the art. In a separate vessel the D-amino acid, RaCH(NH2)COOH, which is obtained from commercial sources or by resolution of the racemic amino acid by known methods [see e.g. Yamada _et al., J. Org. Chan., 3j3, 4408 (1973)], is converted to the 35 trimethylsilyl ester by contacting the amino acid with 196037 an equimolar amount of trimethyl silyl chloride in the presence of a reaction inert organic solvent. Suitable solvents for this purpose are, for example, pyridine, dimethylformamide or dimethylacetamide; especially preferred is dimethylf ormamide.- In a typical reaction according to this method, is the D-ammo acid e.g., D-alanine//(dissolved in dimethyl-formamide and an equimolar amount of trimethylchloro-silane is added at roan temperature. In a separate flask beta-benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartic acid and a molar excess of an acid binding agent, preferably triethyl amine, are dissolved^a mixture of dimethyl-formamide and tetrahydrofuran and an equimolar amount of ethylchlorocarbonate is added at room temperature or below, preferably at about -25 to 25°C. and especially at about -10 to 0°C. to form the mixed anhydride. To this is added the solution of e.g., D-alanine trimethyl-silyl ester, preferably at a temperature within the same range. Reaction is ordinarly complete within one to two hours after which the reaction mixture is poured into water or aqueous acid, for example hydrochloric acid, and the product of formula (II) extracted with a water immiscible solvent, topically chloroform, methylene chloride or ethyl ether and isolated by standard methods. The diblocked dipeptide (II) is ordinarily of sufficient purity for use in the next step, but may be further purified if desired, for example by column chromatography.

In the second step of this method the diblocked dipeptide (II) is reacted with an equimolar amount of primary amine of formula RNH^ to provide the corresponding diblocked dipeptide amide intermediate of formula (III) wherein Ra, R, R10 and Q are as previously defined. 19603 -16- * As in the first step, the carboxylic acid form of the reactant (II) can be successfully employed by use of condensing agents, for example dicyclohexylcarbodiimide to provide the intermediates of formula (HE). However, it is preferred to convert the compound of formula (II) to a carboxyl activated derivative, for example the chloride, bromide or mixed anhydride, the latter being preferred. Thus, employing the particularly preferred compound of formula (II) wherein R10 is benzyl and Q is benzyloxycarbonyl, the mixed anhydride is prepared. As above, the preferred anhydrides are those obtained from esters of chlorocarbonic acid and the methyl or ethyl esters thereof are particularly preferred. The ■ mixed anhydrides of compound (II) are prepared employing reactants and conditions described above for the first step of this sequence. In a typical reaction the compound of formula (II) and triethylamine in approximately equimolar amounts are combined in a reaction inert organic solvent, for example tetrahydrofuran, the mixture cooled to about-10°C. and ethylchloro-carbonate added to obtain the mixed anhydride. To this is then added an equimolar amount of the amine of formula RNH^ or a solution thereof, for example in the same reaction inert solvent and at a temperature in the range of from about -50 to 25°C. and preferably at from -35 to -5°C. After the addition of the amine is complete, the reaction mixture is allowed to warm to about room temperature and maintained at this temperature until reaction is substantially complete, ordinarily from about 1 to 20 hours. The desired intermediate of formula (IE) is then isolated and purified, if desired, by the same methods described above for compound (II). 1 96 0» In the final step of this method the carboxyl protecting group, R10 and amino protecting group, Q, are removed to provide the desired sweeteners of formula (I).

The method selected for removal of protecting groups from the dipeptide amide of formula (III) will vary depending on a number of factors which will be apparent to those of skill in the art. Two important factors for such selection are the nature of the 10 protecting groups R*° and Q, and the nature of the amide substituent, R. For example, when R10 and Q are, respectively, the especially preferred groups benzyl and benzyloxycarbonyl and R does not contain sulfur, a preferred method for removing said protect-15 ing groups is, ordinarily, by hydrogenolysis. However, when R10 is benzyl or alkyl as defined above and Q is tert-butyloxycarbonyl and R has any of the values above, it is ordinarly preferred to remove the protecting groups by hydrolysis. A combination of hydrolysis 20 and hydrogenolysis is preferred in those cases wherein R10 is alkyl, Q is benzyloxycarbonyl and R does not contain sulfur.

When hydrogenolysis is selected for removal of protecting groups from the intermediate of formula (III) 25 it is preferred to carry out the reaction in the presence of a catalytic amount of a noble metal catalyst, palladium being especially preferred, and in the presence of a reaction inert solvent. Examples of such solvents include the lower alkanols, such as 30 methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and n-butanol; ethers, such as tetrahydrofuran, ethyl ether, 1,2-dimethoxy-ethane and diethyleneglycol dimethyl ether; esters such as ethyl acetate, methyl propionate and dimethyl succinate and dimethylformamide^j Particularly preferred such J. P. & S. 35 solvents are methanol and ethanol for reasons of I ('The +erw> I oweir Atk ft not " as uStA herein de^oi-a am •••••»■ L ^rov^x I to if d&f~hov\ AtotuS. 196037 economy and efficiency. While the hydrogenolysis may be carried out successfully at higher pressures and temperatures, use of pressures of from about 1-10 atmospheres and room temperature are preferred for reasons of economy and convenience. At the preferred temperature and pressure the reaction is ordinarily complete in from about 30 minutes to about six hours, after which the catalyst is removed, typically by filtration, the solvent evaporated and the resulting product purified, if desired, by standard methods, for example by recrystallization or column chromatography.

When hydrolysis is selected for removal of one or both of protecting groups R3,0 and Q any of the well known methods for alkaline hydrolysis or acid hydrolysis of esters and the like may be employed with some success. However, when blocking groups R10 are to be removed by hydrolysis alkaline hydrolysis is preferred, and especially preferred conditions are use of at least an equivalent amount of a strong base, for example, sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide in (C\ ~ Ctf) the presence of water and a lower^alkanol, particularly methanol or ethanol, at or about roan temperature.

Onder these preferred conditions hydrolytic removal of the R less. the R10 group is ordinarily complete in a few hours or When the amino protecting group Q is tert-butyloxycarbonyl it is preferred to use acid hydrolysis for its removal. Especially preferred is dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid in the presence of methanol or ethanol and heating the mixture at reflux. Onder these conditions hydrolysis is ordinarily complete in a few hours or less.

Isolation of the products of formula (I) after removal of protecting groups by any of the above hydrolysis methods employs standard procedures known i96 0 in the art. For example, after acid hydrolysis the reaction mixture is evaporated to remove solvent, the aqueous residue washed with a water immiscible non-polar solvent, for example, ethyl ether or chloroform 5 after which the aqueous layer is made alkaline and the product extracted with a water-immiscible solvent such as, for example, ethyl acetate and the product obtained by evaporation of solvent. If desired, the product can be further purified, for example, by recrystalliza-10 tion or column chromatography. When alkaline hydrolysis to remove a protecting group R1^ is followed by hydrogenolysis to remove the amino protecting group Q, the reaction mixture from the alkaline hydrolysis is preferably neutralized by addition of acid, for example, 15 hydrochloric acid, and the neutralized reaction mixture subjected to hydrogenolysis as described above.

A second preferred method for manufacture of the instant compounds of formula (I) is shown below. a a R R D-QNHCHCOOH + RNH-, QNHCHCONHR s——fc or carboxyl activated (IV) derivative NHQ deprotect f C00S" 0000 20 ► NH2CHCONHR *(III)—*{I) (V) Ra, R, R10 and Q are as defined above.

The amino protected D-amino acid or its carboxyl activated derivative is reacted with an equimolar amount of amine RNH^ employing methods and conditions 25 described above for the preparation of intermediates (II) and (III) to obtain an amino protected D-amino acid amide of formula (IV). The protecting group Q is removed by hydrogenolysis or hydrolysis as described 1 96 0 3 7 at\d \ J P & S. above and the resulting free amino^amide (V) is condensed with a diblocked L-aspartic acid derivative or a • carboxyl activated derivative thereof, as described above for the preparation of intermediates of formula (II), to provide the diblocked dipeptide amide of formula (III) frcm which the desired sweetener of formula (I) is obtained as previously described. _ In a modification of this method an intermediate 1 P. &S. formula (IV) wherein R contains a cyclic or acyolio-MlL. 10 sulfide moiety (-S-) may be oxidized to the corresponding sulfoxide or sulfone prior to its conversion to intermediate (V) and subsequent reactions as described above, to provide compounds of formula (I) wherein R is a sulfoxide or sulfone.

In a third preferred method for preparing the compounds of the invention the D-amino acid amide of formula (V), described above, is reacted with L-aspartic acid N-thiocarboxyanhydride to provide directly the compounds of formula (I). In carrying 20 out this method the intermediate (V) in a suitable solvent is contacted with an equimolar amount of L-aspartic acid N-thiocarboxyanhydride at a mildly alkaline pH at a temperature of from about -25 to 10°C. to provide the compound of formula (I). The 25 alkaline pH for this reaction is provided by means of a strong base, for example, sodium hydroxide or potassium carbonate. Suitable solvents for this reaction are those that dissolve at least a portion of the reactants under the reaction conditions employed without reacting 30 with either reactant to an appreciable extent and allow the products formed in the reaction to be isolated with relative ease. Examples of such solvents for this reaction are water, tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dimethoxy-ethane, diethyleneglycol dimethyl ether, dimethyl sulfoxide, f 96 0 dimethylformamide and combinations thereof; preferred solvents are water, and its mixtures with tetrahydrofuran, A preferred alkaline pH range for this reaction is frcm about 8 to 10 and a pH of about 9 is especially 5 preferred. An especially preferred temperature is in the range of about -10 to 0°C.

Under the preferred conditions mentioned above the reaction is ordinarily complete in one to two is hours. The product of formula (I)ftthen isolated by 10 standard methods, for example, the pH of the reaction mixture is adjusted to the isoelectric pH of the product, ordinarily about pH 5.0-5.6, to precipitate the product of formula (I), the bulk of the solvent removed by evaporation or filtration and the crude 15 material slurried with an organic solvent, for example, methanol, ethanol, ethyl ether, ethyl acetate or mixtures thereof. The product of formula (I) is then isolated, by filtration for example. It may be further purified, if desired, by, e.g., recrystallization or 20 column chromatography.

The sweetness potency of the instant compounds was determined by comparison of their gustatory sweetnesses with sucrose. Aqueous solutions of the compound of formula (I) diluted to a suitable range of 25 concentrations were compared with a sucrose standard by an expert taste panel. Comparisons were generally made with aqueous sucrose solutions of 7-9%, i.e., 7-9 g. per 100 ml. Higher sucrose concentrations have a distinctive mouthfeel which may influence results 30 and lower sucrose concentration are not indicative of normal use situations. If, for example a 0.014% solution of the compound of formula (I) is judged to be equally as sweet as a 7% sucrose solution, then the sweetness potency of that compound is 7/0.014 = 500 x 35 sucrose. All of the sweetness potency values stated i96 0 herein for the conpounds of the invention were determined by this method. At threshold concentrations (i.e., the lowest concentration at which sweetness is first noticed, which for sucrose is ordinarily at concentrations 5 in the range of 2-3%), the potency of a sweetener, such as the compounds of the invention, is generally twice that observed" by comparison of its gustatory sweetness with 7-9% solutions of sucrose.

The requisite amines of formula RNH2 wherein R is 10 as previously defined are either commercially available or can be obtained from readily available precursors. For example, the 2-alkylcyclohexylamines and 2,6-dialkylcyclohexylamines can be obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding alkyl substituted 15 anilines. Many of the amines are obtained by reductive amination of the corresponding ketone using a variety of conditions known in the art. For example, reductive amination by the well known Leuckhart reaction employing formic acid and formamide as reducing agents, see for 20 example, the review in Organic Reactions, Wiley and Sons, New York, Vol. 5, p. 301, 1949, may be employed. Alternatively, the appropriate ketone can be reductively aminated employing sodium cyanoborohydride and ammonium acetate see for example, J. Amer. Chen. Soc., 9^3, 2897 25 (1971), or by means of ethanolic ammonia in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst such as Raney nickel, platinum or palladium, see, for example, Organic Reactions, £, 174 (1948). Many of the amines of formula RNH2 are obtained from the corresponding 30 ketones by formation of an intermediate oxime formed by reacting the ketone with hydroxylamine or its salts under conditions well known in the art. The oxime intermediate is then reduced by catalytic hydrogenation or by means of sodium in the presence of a lower 35 alkanol at elevated temperature. A particularly preferred method, especially useful for reducing 196 0 oximes of sal fur-containing ketones, employs reduction of the oxime in ethanol and a molar excess of sodium at the reflux temperature of the mixture.

The requisite ketone precursors of the amines RNH^ are either commercially available, known in the art or prepared by known methods. For example, the ketones of formula (VI) and (VII) 3 4 R:LR4 R^/R / (CH0) 0z=( (CH2) 0^ * U^X 2'nV^ R^R (VI) (VII) 3 4 5 6 where R,R,R,R,X,m,n and p are as defined above, except those of formula (VII) wherein X is C=0, may be obtained by alkylation of the corresponding conpounds wherein R3, R4, R5 and R6 are each hydrogen to provide compounds of the above formula wherein from one to all of R3, R4, R^, R^ are alkyl as defined above. The alkylation is carried out, for example, employing alkylating agents such as the appropriate alkyl halide or alkyl sulfate under neutral or alkaline conditions provided by strong bases, for example, sodium hydride or sodium amide. Osing the same method conpounds of the formula (VI) and (VII) wherein only 1, 2 or 3 of the substituents alpha to the keto group are alkyl can be converted to compounds of the same *3 A c a formula wherein fron two to four of R , R , R , R are alkyl. Gem-dialkyl compounds of formula (VI) and 25 (VII) wherein either R3 and R4 or R5 and R6 are said alkyl can be obtained fron the appropriate monoalkyl conpound by blocking the unsubstituted alpha-position prior to alkylation and subsequent removal of the • 19603 blocking group. For example, 2,2-dimethyleyelohexanone may be obtained by condensation of 2-methylcyclohexanone with ethylformate in the presence of sodium methoxide and the resulting intermediate alkylated as outlined below.

)Na '3 NaNH HC0oCoH_ ► I J CH-I 2 2 5 NaOCH, ^ * 2 0 ^A^.ONa H2O, OH- Ketones of formula (VI) or (VII) wherein one or both of R3 and R^ are propyl or butyl may be obtained 10 by condensation of the corresponding alpha-unsubstituted compound with the appropriate aldehyde or ketone under p £ 5 alkaline conditions to an intermediate alpha- or alpha,alpha'^-alkylidene ketone which can then be hydrogenated to provide the desired ketone. 15 The requisite cyclobutanones are obtained by methods described by Conia et al_., Bull. Soc. chim. France, 726 (1963) and Conia, Ind. chim. Beige, 31, 981 (1966).

An alternative method for preparing the ketones 20 of formula (VI) and (VII) involves a cyclization of an acyclic precursor. For example, by means of the well known Dieckmann cyclization of dicarboxylate esters and subsequent hydrolysis and decarboxylation; see e.g., Modern Synthetic Reactions, W. A. Benjamin, 25 Menlo Park, Cal., 1972, p. 740. The alpha-keto esters produced, especially those with no other alpha-substituent, can also be alkylated prior to hydrolysis and decarboxylation, if desired. This reaction can 1 96 0 also be used^ to provide ketones (VI) and (VII) which are unsubstituted at the carbons adjacent to the carbonyi group which can be alkylated as described above.

For preparation of diketones of formula (VII) wherein X is C=0 the keto group of acyclic keto-dicarboxylate ester precursor is converted to a ketal or thioketal, e.g., dimethyl ketal, diethylthio ketal, ethylenedioxy ketal or ethylenedithio ketal, prior to 10 Dieckmann cyclization. Ester group hydrolysis and decarboxylation affords a keto-ketal which may be converted to the corresponding amino ketal, by methods described above, followed by hydrolysis of the ketal group by methods well known in the art. The resulting 15 amino ketone can be hydrogenated, if desired, to the corresponding hydroxyamine (X = CHOH) by known methods, e.g. by reduccion with sodium borohydride. 2,2,4,4-Tetraalkyl-3-hydroxycyclobutylamines are prepared from the corresponding 1,3-diones by the method of D.S. 3,125,569.

The amines of formula where X is CHOH and R3-R^, n and p are as defined above, or N-protected derivatives thereof e.g., N-25 benzyloxycarbonyl derivatives, may be oxidized, e.g. by chromium trioxide, to the corresponding compounds wherein X is C=0. Alternatively, the hydroxyamine may be reacted first with a carboxyl activated derivative of an N-protected D-amino acid, D-QNHCH(Ra)C00H, where 30 q and Ra are as previously defined, and the resulting 19603 intennediate of formula (IV) wherein R is said hydroxy-containing group, oxidized, e.g., with chromium trioxide, to provide the corresponding ketone. The resulting ketone of formula (IV) is then converted to the desired product of formula (I) where R is a keto-containing group as desired above.

Certain of the ketones of formula (VII) are also obtained from acyclic precursors derived from ketones of the formula (VIII) wherein R3, R4, R^ and R^ are (viii) r5 r4 as previously defined. For example four-membered ketones of formula (VII) where X is 0 or S are obtained by bromination of (VIII) with two moles of bromine and the resulting alpha,alpha'-dibromo compound cyclized 15 with, e.g., sodium hydroxide to provide an oxetanone or hydrogen sulfide to provide a thietanone. The corresponding five-membered ring ketones (VII) are obtained when (VIII) is first reacted with formaldehyde to provide an intermediate alpha-hydroxymethyl compound 20 which is then brominated at the alpha'-position and cyclized with sodium hydroxide or hydrogen sulfide to provide the corresponding compounds of formula (VII) wherein X is 0 or S, respectively.

Certain of the tetrahydropyran-4-ones and tetra-25 hydrothiapyran-4-ones of formula (VII) are obtained by adding the elements of water or hydrogen sulfide to the appropriately substituted divinylketone. • 196 Ketone intermediates of formula (IX) which may be converted to amines via the oxime are obtained by methods outlined 1 as defined above. 17 18 19 20 methods outlined below where R , R , R and R are pi8 CH2° cooc2h5 co2c2h5 (X) (XI) (IX) The appropriately substituted acetoacetic ester (X) is condensed with formaldehyde, e.g. under alkaline conditions, and the resulting hydroxmethylated intermediate (XI) is then cyclized, for example by heating 10 in the presence of a mild acid or base with removal of ethanol as it forms.

Bromination of acetoacetic esters of formula (X) and subsequent treatment of the product with, e.g. sodium hydroxide, provides ketones of formula (XII) 15 which are converted to the corresponding amine as described above. 0 p17 0 r2V^418 l^l Br 1 C02C2H5 (XII) Alternatively, the ketolactones (XII) can be prepared by the method described in Zeit. Chemie, 13, 20 11 (1973); Chem. Abstr., 78_,.. 135596e (1973), by reaction of the appropriate cyclobutan-1,3-dione with hydrogen peroxide. /~\ 196037 The dibromo derivative of (VIII), described above, can also be treated with alkali hydroxides, e.g. sodium hydroxide under mild conditions, to form the corresponding 1,3-dihydroxyketone which is converted* to the corresponding 1,3-rdioxane-2,5-dione of formula (XIII) by reaction with phosgene. 0 VIII R^iL^^S^R17 OH~ R2^v/>LN^R17 C0C1o R29^^\1^R;L7 **19Br JrRl8 OHr13 O^18 Y (XIII) The 5-oximino intermediate of (XIII) upon treatment with sodium in ethanol as described above, provides the corresponding 5-amino compound.

Treatment of a monobromo derivative of ketones of formula (VIII) with, e.g. ethyl malonate, and subsequent hydrolysis, decarboxylation and esterification of resulting product affords intermediates of formula (XIV) which serve as precursors of the ketones (XV) as -shown below, for example.

Rl7HaOH *2V^r17 r18 ^ >r1»4 R18 C02C2H5 Y (XIV) (XV) The ketolactones (XV) are then converted to the corresponding 4-amino compound, e.g. by reduction of the oxime, as described above.

.'J 1 96 0 3 1 Th" 1, ti br^TnolTot-.onp fjpr'i'",*+"'vac! <-\f—(_VIXI) , described above, also can be converted to thec-efres-ponding 1,3-dimercaptoketone by reactiop^-wlth at least two moles of sodium hydrosulfid^-^-^'freating the dimercaptoketone with re^elvts such as iodine, hydrogen peroxide or hypochj-eifous acid under disulfide forming conditions^jwell known in the art provides the ketones • of fojantfla XVI which are converted to amines by reduction o£^t-he oximo employing,—e.g. ,—sodium in Amines of formula (XVII) are provided directly, for example, by the method of Nagase et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull. 17, 39 8 (19 69) as shown below. 12v R12 13)>-CHO CH2° ► R13 NaCN ch2oh NH .CI 4 r12 nh, piA x:N ch20h h20, h (XVII) Use of ethylene oxide in place of formaldehyde in the first step of the above reaction sequence affords "te+vahyof/p the corresponding 3-amino-2-jpyrones, A NH. nr12 nr13 i96 0 Lactams corresponding to the above lactone intermediates or those of formula (IX), (XII), (XV) or (XVII), are obtained by reaction of the appropriate lactone with ammonia; for example, the above lactone 5 is contacted with an excess of anhydrous ammonia in ethanol and the mixture allowed to stir overnight at ambient temperature to provide compounds of the formula nh Vy"- HN^J Alternatively, certain lactam intermediates are provided by the following reaction sequence. (x) CH9° (C6H5CH2)2Nh r2°JL^R 1ST TVs R 17 co2c2H5 N(CH2C6H5)2 H, Pd/C ^ I17 ,18 k CO-C-H. ^h2 ,20 r 17 ,18 H The resulting ketones are then converted to the requisite amines by methods described above. 15 The isomeric ketolactams are obtained by the following reaction sequence: P. & S. ■ m,.. 1960 3 7 R ,20 i.Br2 R182.(C6H5CH2)2NH R1 C02C2H5 3.H2, Pd/C C02C2"5 7 he corresponding 5-membered lactams are also -follounv^ $+arf)wi H^a+evutl* prvuidtd iTKN •obtained by the method -ef.D.S. 3,125,569 : *" *2^/v*17 0 R1^ /V8 R Cyclic or open chain alpha-hydroxyketones or alpha,alpha'-dihydroxyketones of the formula A. J. P. & S. ■mi<. r14r15 °>p 16^ R OH CH_) 2'jdW or r17R18 AwfJ. W A 14 CH Hind 3 where R -R A A -and B are as previously defined, 15 H, 0 H ar «y are prepared by bronination with one or two moles of J bromine and treatment of the bromo or dibromo intermediate with an hydroxylic base, e.g., sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide as described above. The reaction sequence is exemplified as follows: 19603 1. Br, NaOH, ethanol 2 Br.

NaOH, ethanol Dicycloalkylketones (XVIII) and alkylcycloalkyl-ketones (XIX) are prepared by the reaction of the appropriate acid halide and Grignard reagent employing conditions and reagents well known in the art, e.g., as shown below.

C0C1 rY 1 (CH_ ) 2'q COC1 nf L-(CH2»m H MgCl 2 m .8 .R' •MgCl (CHJm z m ■> ° (CH2) m (XIX) Amines of formula RNH^ where R is as previously defined are also obtained by the well known Hofmann reaction by conversion of the appropriate carboxamide with alkali metal hypohalite. This procedure is especially useful for the preparation of cyclopropyl- amines. The corresponding cyclopropyl amides are 1960 3 7 obtained and converted to amines, e.g. as shown below.

+ N2chco2C2H5- 1. NH. 2. NaOBr -> R C02C2H5 The first step of the above sequence to form the eyelopropylcarboxylic acid ester is known in the art, see for example, Mescheryakov et al., Chem. Abstr., 5_4, 24436 (1960).

The conpounds of formula (I) or intermediate amides therefore, wherein R is R3 54 7^'CH2'n^Y \ < R (CH-) 2 P where X is SO or SO2 are obtained from the corresponding compounds wherein X is S by oxidation employing reagents and conditions known to form sulfoxides and sulfones from sulfides. Alternatively, the appro-15 priate ketone of formula (VII) where X is S or the amine derived from said ketone, as described above, can be oxidized to the sulfoxide or sulfone prior to coupling to form the dipeptide amide of formula (I). Preferred reagents and conditions for such oxidation 20 of sulfides include use of hydrogen peroxide in a solvent, for example, acetic acid or acetone. When equimolar amounts of reactants are employed the product is the sulfoxide, which is readily converted to the • 19603 A.JfeP. & S.

M corresponding sulfone by an additional mole of peroxide.

A ia a4 e Other preferred oxidants are potassium •pegmangantc or chromic acid, for preparation of the sulfones, and m-chloroperbenzoic acid? Tna- latter reagent being especially useful for conversion of the above thioketones (VII) to the corresponding sulfoxide employing one mole of this reagent, or the sulfone when two moles of the peracid are employed.

The conpounds of formula (I) and the .physiologically acceptable salts thereof provide advantages as sweetening agents in view of their high potency, their physical form and stability. They are, ordinarily, crystalline, non-hygroscopic, water soluble solids. They are uniquely characterized by possessing a sweet taste, 15 devoid of undesirable harsh or bitter flavor qualities at ordinary use levels. They can be usefully employed to impart sweetness to edible materials. The term "edible materials" as used herein signifies all nontoxic substances consumable by humans or other animals, 20 in solid or liquid form. Illustrative of such substances are: foods, including foodstuffs, prepared food items, chewing gum and beverages; food additives, including flavoring and coloring agents as well as flavor enhancers; and pharmaceutical preparations. 25 The conpounds of the invention can be prepared in OA a variety of forms suitable for utilization -of sweetening agents. Typical forms which can be employed are solid forms such as powders, tablets, granules and dragees; and liquid forms such as solutions, suspensions, syrups, emulsions as well as other commonly employed forms particularly suited for combination with edible materials. These forms can consist of the compounds of formula (I) or their physiologically acceptable salts either apart or in association with non-toxic 35 sweetening agent carriers, i.e. non-toxic substances i96 0 commonly employed in association with sweetening agents. Such suitable carriers include liquids such as water, ethanol, sorbitol, glycerol, citric acid, corn oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, sesame oil, propylene 5 glycol, corn syrup, maple syrup and liquid paraffin, and solids such as lactose, cellulose, starch, dextrin, modified starches, polysaccharides such as polydextrose (see, e.g. D.S. 3,766,165 and U.S. 3,876,794), calcium phosphate (mono-, di- or tri-basic) and calcium sulfate. 10 Likewise useful and compatible are compositions containing a compound of the invention combined with a known sweetening agent such as, for example, sucrose, saccharin, cyclamate, L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester and the like, useful for sweetening 15 edible materials. Especially useful are the mixtures of conpounds of formula (I) and saccharin or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, e.g., the sodium, potassium, calcium or ammonium salt of saccharin. In said mixtures with saccharin the compounds of formula (I) 20 reduce or completely mask the well known, undesirable bitter aftertaste of the saccharin.

Particularly useful such sweetener compositions are those containing saccharin in admixture with conpounds of formula (I) which are at least 400 times 25 as sweet as sucrose, especially those wherein Ra is methyl and R is dicyclopropylcarbinyl, 2,2,4,4-tetra-methylthietan-3-yl or 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-l,1-dioxo-thietan-3-yl. Most particularly preferred are such mixtures of saccharin and L-aspartyl-D-alanine N-30 (dicyclopropylcarbinyl)amide, especially such mixtures which contain the latter compound of formula (I) and saccharin in a weight ratio in the range of from 1:1 to 1:9. These mixtures are not only pleasantly sweet tasting and appreciably devoid of bitter aftertaste, 35 they are, unexpectedly, significantly sweeter than 19603 calculated by summation of sweetness of the individual components of the mixture. That is, they exhibit a synergist effect, being up to 33% sweeter than calculated, In mixtures of saccharin or its salts and L-aspartyl-D-alanine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)amide in ratios outside the above range the synergist effect is consideraly reduced.

The invention also provides sweetened edible compositions comprising an edible material and a • &s.ln or sweetening amount of a compound of formula (I)ft a physiologically acceptable salt thereof alone or in combination with a non-toxic carrier or known sweetening agent. Examples of specific edible materials which provide such sweetened edible compositions include: 15 fruits, vegetables, juices, meat products such as ham, bacon and sausage; egg products, fruit concentrates, gelatins and gelatin-like products such as jams, jellies, preserves, etc.; milk products such as ice cream, sour cream and sherbet; icings, syrups including 20 molasses; corn, wheat, rye, soybean, oat, rice and barley products such as bread, cereals, pasta, cake and cake mixes; fish, cheese and cheese products, nut meats and nut products, beverages such as coffee, tea, carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks, beers, 25 wines and other liquors; confections such as candy and fruit flavored drops, condiments such as herbs, spices and seasonings, flavor enhancers such as monosodium glutamate and chewing gum. The instant sweeteners are also of use in prepared packaged products such as 30 dietetic sweeteners, liquid sweeteners, granulated flavor mixes which upon reconstitution with water provides non-carbonated drinks, instant pudding mixes, instant coffee and tea, coffee whiteners, malted milk mixes, pet foods, livestock feed, tobacco 195 and consumable toiletries such as mouth washes and toothpaste as well as proprietary and non-proprietary pharmaceutical preparations and other products of the food, pharmaceutical and sundry industries.

Especially preferred sweetened edible compositions are carbonated beverages containing one or more of the instant sweeteners.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples. 19603 EXAMPLE 1 Beta-Benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-Aspartyl-D-alanine C^H-CH-OCCH-CHCONHCHCOOH O D Z „ Z f f D-Alanine (5.0 g., 56.1 mmole) was dissolved in 100 ml. of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and to the solution was added dropwise at room temperature 6.74 g. (62.4 mmole) of trimethylchlorosilane. In a separate flask was placed beta-benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartate (18.0 g. , 50.4 mmole), triethylamine (12.35 g., 122 mmole) and 110 ml. each of DMF and tetrahydrofuran and the resulting solution cooled to -15°C. To the solution was added ethyl chloroformate (5.95 g., 55.1 mmole) and the resulting mixture stirred for ten minutes at -10°C. To this was then added dropwise the DMF solution of silylated D-alanine prepared above while maintaining the mixture at -5 to -10°C. The mixture was stirred at -5°C. for one hour, 0.2 N hydrochloric acid added until the mixture was acidic and the resulting mixture extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extracts were combined and washed several times with dilute hydrochloric acid to remove remaining DMF. The solvent was evaporated in vacuo to provide the title compound as a colorless oil. The oil was triturated with ethyl ether (100 ml.) to obtain colorless crystals after three hours. The slurry was filtered, washed with ether, then hexane and air dried to afford 9.18 g., M.P. 158-159°C. Opon work-up of the mother liquor an additional 4.45 g. of product was obtained, M.P. 157-158°C. (Total yield, 63%). Thin-layer chromatography (silica gel plates) employing a 9:9:2 (by volume) ethyl acetate/hexane/acetic acid solvent system showed product and a trace amount of beta-benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartate. 0 NH CH 3 Cbz 19603 7 EXAMPLE 2 Beta-Methyl-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartyl-D-alanine A suspension of 69 g. (0.78 mole) D-alanine in 5 200 ml. of DMF was cooled to 10°C., 92 g. (0.85 mole) of trimethylchlorosilane was added in portions and the resulting mixture stirred at 25°C. for one hour.

In a separate flask was placed a solution of 158 g. (0.86 mole) of beta-methyl-L aspartic acid 10 hydrochloride in one liter of water. To this was added 34.5 g. (0.86 mole) of sodium hydroxide followed by 80 g. of sodium bicarbonate and the resulting mixture stirred vigorously. After cooling to 5-10°C. 161 g. (0.94 mole) of benzyloxycarbonyl chloride was 15 added in portions and stirring continued for two hours at this temperature. The reaction mixture was washed with 100 ml. of ethyl acetate, acidified by addition of 80 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid and extracted with ethyl acetate (2 x 450 ml.). The 20 extract (900 ml.) was found to contain 218 g. (0.78 mole, 90% yield) of beta-methyl-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartate. It was used in the next step without further purification.

The ethyl acetate extract was cooled to -20°C., 25 165 g. (1.63 mole) of triethylamine and 84 g. (0.78 mole) ethyl chloroformate were added. The solution was stirred at -15° to -20°C. for 30 minutes then treated quickly with the DMF solution of D-alanine trimethyl-silylester prepared above and the resulting mixture 30 was allowed to warm to ambient temperature over one hour with stirring. The reaction mixture was washed with water (3 x 500 ml.), the organic layer dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated vacuo to a 200 ml. volume. Hexane, 400 ml., was added, the mixture 35 granulated at 5°C. and filtered to afford 218 g. (80%) of the title compound as a white powder. 20 25 30 196037 Replacement of the D-alanine employed in the procedures of Examples 1 and 2 with DL-alanine, D-2-aminobutyric acid, D-valine, D-norvaline or racemates of the latter four amino acids similarly provides the corresponding diblocked L-aspartyl-D- (or DL)-amino acid dipeptides of the formula CrHcCH-0—COCH-CHCONHCHCOOH o D 2. 21 * (or CH30-) NHCbz Ra where Cbz is COOCH2C6H5 and Ra is CH3, C2H5, (CH3)2CH or CH3CH2CH2.

EXAMPLE 3 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N- (ci_s, trans-2,6-dim ethyl cycl ohexyl) amide A. To a solution of 218 g. (0.62 mole) of beta-methyl-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartyl-D-alanine in one liter of ethyl acetate was added 69 g. (0.68 mole) triethylamine, the mixture was cooled to -20°C. and 67 g. (0.62 mole) of ethyl chloroformate was added. The resulting solution was stirred for 30 minutes at -15 to -20°C., then treated with 86 g. (0.68 mole) of cis,trans-2,6-dimethylcyclohexylamine and stirring continued for 30 minutes. After allowing to warm to room temperature the mixture was washed twice with 500 ml. portions of water containing 15 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid, twice with 500 ml. of 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate, then water. The organic layer was dried (Na2SO^), concentrated in vacuo to about 200 ml. and 400 ml. of hexane was added whereupon beta-methyl-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartyl-D-alanine N-(cis,trans-2,6-dimethylcyclohexyl)amide precipitated, 229 g. (80%), M.P. 213-214°C. t96 0 B. The product obtained in Part A, above, 229 g. (0.50 mole) was dissolved in 500 ml. of methanol and a solution of 24 g. (0.60 mole) of sodium hydroxide in 500 ml. of water was added. The mixture was stirred 5 at 30°C. for one hour, neutralized to about pH 7 with dilute hydrochloric acid and charged into an autoclave. Two grams of 5% palladium/carbon catalyst was added 2 and the mixture hydrogenated at 25°C., 3.5 kg./cm. (50 psi) for one hour. The catalyst was removed by 10 filtration, the filtrate evaporated in vacuo to 200 ml., the concentrate acidified to pH 5.2 with concentrated hydrochloric acid, then granulated at 5°C. for one hour. The resulting precipitate was collected by filtration, the wet cake dissolved in a mixture of 15 200 ml. of water and 50 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid, carbon treated, filtered and the filtrate adjusted to pH 5.2 with 5C% (w/w) sodium hydroxide solution. After granulation at 5°C., filtering, washing with cold water and drying, 132 g. (85% step 20 yield) of colorless product was obtained, M.P. 216-217°C. The overall yield was 68%.

Sweetness potency: 600 x sucrose.

By employing the appropriate beta-methyl-N-Cbz-L-aspartyl-D (or DL)-amino acid dipeptide in the above 25 procedures the corresponding dipeptide amides of formula (I), wherein R is c,t-2,6-dimethylcyclohexyl and Ra is CH3, < in like manner. and Ra is CH3, C2H5' ^CH3^2CH or CH3CH2CH2/ are obtained 196037 EXAMPIjE 4 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N- (2-methylcyclohexyl)amide (mixture of cis,trans-isomers) A. Dnder anhydrous conditions, to a mixture of 1.28 g. (3 mmole) of beta-benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartyl-D-alanine, 40 ml. of tetrahydrofuran. and 0.29 ml. (3.6 mmole) pyridine cooled to -20°C. was added dropwise 0.29 ml. (3 mmole) of ethyl chloro-formate. The resulting slurry was stirred at -15°C. 10 for ten minutes then 0.79 ml. (6 mmole) of a mixture of the cis and trans-isomers of 2-methylcyclohexylamine was added dropwise over a few minutes. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature, diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The 15 organic layer was washed with dilute hydrochloric acid, water, sodium bicarbonate solution, water again and finally with saturated aqueous sodium chloride. The washed extract was dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to afford a colorless solid. 20 The solid was triturated with ethyl ether, stirred, filtered and dried to yield 1.3 g. (83%) of beta-benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartyl-D-alanine-N-(2-methylcyclohexyl)amine which showed only one spot (R^ 0.65) on TLC (ethyl acetate/hexane/acetic acid 25 10:9:1, by volume).

B. To a solution of the product obtained in Part A, above, 1.05 g. (2 mmole) in 100 ml. of methanol was added 0.5 g. of 5% palladium-on-carbon catalyst and the mixture was hydrogenated in a Parr shaker at room 2 temperature, 3.5 kg./cm. (50 psi) for 30 minutes, after which uptake of hydrogen ceased. The reaction mixture was filtered, the filtrate evaporated _in vacuo to afford 610 mg. of the desired product as an off-white solid which is a mixture of cis- and trans-35 isomers; M.P. 206-209°C.

Sweetness potency: 250 x sucrose. 196037 EXAMPLE 5 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)amide: ^ a I, R = CH^ , R = CH., A. Dicyclopropylcarbinylamine 5 In a 500 ml. round bottom flask was placed 41.7 g. (0.60 mole) hydroxylamine hydrochloride and 80 ml. water. With stirring, 44 ml. of 10M sodium hydroxide solution and 44.4 g. (0.40 mole) dicyclopropyl ketone were added. The mixture was stirred at reflux for 10 three hours. After cooling, 6 0 ml. methylene chloride was added and the mixture stirred until all oxime had dissolved. The methylene chloride layer was separated and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was removed by evaporation at reduced pressure 15 and the residue recrystallized from 55 ml. hexane, yielding 40.0 g. dicyclopropylketoxime, M.P. 69-72°C.

In a 500 ml., three-necked round bottom flask was placed 18.8 g. (0.15 mole) dicyclopropylketoxime and 150 ml. anhydrous ethanol. With efficient stirring 20 19.2 g. (0.83 mole) sodium spheres was added in portions as rapidly as possible, maintaining reflux throughout the addition. Following dissolution of the sodium, the reaction was cooled to 60°C. and 60 ml. water was added. After cooling, 78 ml. concentrated hydrochloric 25 acid was added dropwise with stirring. Ethanol was distilled at reduced pressure and 50 ml. water added to dissolve salts. The mixture was adjusted to pH 13 with 10 M sodium hydroxide solution and extracted with three 40 ml. portions of methylene chloride. The 30 extracts were combined, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated at reduced pressure. The residual amine was distilled at 88-90°C./95 mm Hg, yielding 11.0 g. of the desired product. 19603 7 b. c6h5ch2ococh2chconhchconhch NHCbz CH3 "V To a 250 ml. three-necked flask fitted with a stopper, thermometer, drying tube and magnetic stirring bar was added 4.28 g. (0.010 mole) of beta-benzyl-n-5 benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartyl-D-alanine, 75 ml. tetra-hydrofuran and 1.53 ml. (0.011 mole) triethylamine. The mixture was cooled to -10°C., 1.05 ml. (0.011 mole) ethyl chloroformate was added, stirred for 20 minutes, cooled to -35°C. and 1.11 g. (0.010 mole) of dicyclo-10 propylcarbinylamine added. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm slowly to room temperature and stirred overnight. The mixture was poured into 150 ml. water, extracted with 250 ml. of ethyl acetate and the organic phase washed with 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate 15 (2x75 ml.), 3M hydrochloric acid (2 x 75 ml.), brine (1 x 100 ml.) and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The dried extract was evaporated to dryness in vacuo to provide a colorless solid which was recrystallized from 75 ml. of boiling ethyl acetate to 20 obtain 3.78 g. (72%) of diblocked amide, M.P. 164-165°C. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on silica gel, eluting with 1:1 ethyl acetate/hexane gave a single spot, 0.40 with vanillin spray reagent. An additional 0.65 g. was recovered from the mother liquors. 25 c. To a slurry of 2.58 g. (4.9 mmole) of the product obtained in Part B in 250 ml. of methanol was added 0.60 g. of 5% palladium-on-carbon catalyst (50% wet) and the mixture hydrogenated for one hour at an 2 initial pressure of 71 psi (5.0 kg./cm. ). The 30 catalyst was removed by filtration and the methanol evaporated at reduced pressure to afford 1.47 g. (100%) of colorless product, M.P. 190-191°C. TLC in 196 0 3 4:1:1 butanol/water/acetic acid (v/v) and spraying with ninhydrin gave a single spot, 0.36.

Sweetness, 1200 times sucrose.

Starting with the appropriate beta-benzyl-N-Cbz-5 L-aspartyl-D-alanine in each case the remaining compounds of formula (I) wherein R is CH(/\)2 and Ra is C2H5, (C^^CH or n-C^H^ are obtained in like manner.

EXAMPLE 6 L-Aspartyl'-D-alanine N-(dl-t-10 butylcyclopropylcarbinyl) amide: I, R « ^HC(CH3)3, Ra = CH3 A. t-Butylcyclopropylcarbinylamine To 0.5 mole each of cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride and cuprous chloride in 500 ml. of dry ethyl ether was 15 added dropwise under a nitrogen atmosphere 238 ml. (0.5 mole) of 2.1 M t-butylmagnesium chloride in the same solvent at -10°C. The reaction mixture was poured into a mixture of 250 ml. of 3 M hydrochloric acid and 700 g. of ice, the organic layer separated,, 20 washed with water, sodium bicarbonate solution, brine and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The ether was evaporated at reduced pressure and the residue distilled at atmospheric pressure to provide 45 g. (72%) of t-butylcyclopropylketone, B.P. 145-153°C. 25 The 45 g. (0.36 mole) of ketone was "reacted with hydroxylamine hydrochloride and sodium acetate in 1:1 ethanol/water by the method of Example 5, Part A.

After heating at reflux overnight the reaction mixture was cooled and the precipitated oxime collected and 30 washed with cold ethanol to obtain 23.5 g. of t- butylcyclopropylketoxime. An additional 7.7 g. was obtained frcra the mother liquors. The combined crops were recrystallized fron 1:1 ethanol/water to provide 25.2 g. (50%) of oxime, M.P. 113.5-114°C. • 19603 To a solution of 5.0 g. (0.035 mole) of oxime in 80 ml. of ethanol was added 8.04 g. (0.35 mole) of sodium and the reaction carried out and product isolated as described in Example 5, Part A, to afford 3.31 g. of crude dl-t-butylcyclopropylcarbinylamine. This was distilled at atmospheric pressure to yield 2.01 g. (45%) of product boiling at 153-155°C.

B. CcH_CHo0C0CH_CHC0NHCHC0NHC 6 5 2 2, , .c(ch3)3 NHCbz CH3 The procedure of Example 5, Part B was repeated 10 employing 0.76 g. (6.6 mmole) of dl-t-butylcyclopropyl-carbinylamine in place of dicyclopropylcarbinylamine and proportional amounts of the other reagents. Evaporation of the ethyl acetate extracts _in vacuo gave 3.12 g. (97%) of solid diblocked dipeptide amide. 15 This was purified by column chromatography on a 2.5 x 3 0 cm. column, eluting with 1:1 ethyl acetate/hexane. After evaporation of the fractions containing the desired product (as determined by TLC), 2.33 g. (72%) of colorless solid was obtained, M.P. 118-120°C. 20 C. The purified product from Part B, 2.33 g., was hydrogenated over a palladium-on-carbon catalyst as described in Example 5, Part C, to afford 1.28 g. (95%) of the desired dipeptide amide, M.P. 180-182°C. (dec.), silica gel TLC (4:1:1 butanol/water/acetic 25 acid): one spot, 0.43.

Sweetness, 1200 x sucrose.

The remaining conpounds of formula (I) wherein R (CH3)3 is CH<^ and R is ethyl, isopropyl or n-propyl V are similarly obtained from the appropriate diblocked 30 dipeptide. 196 0 3 7 EXAMPLE 7 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopent-l-yl)amide: I, R CI CI 3 , Ra = CH3 A. 2,2,5,5-Tetramethylcyclopentylamine A mixture of 21.0 g. (0.15 mole) of 2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentanone (B.P. 63-68°C. at 40 mm.), 40.5 g. (0.8 mole) formamide and 4 ml. of formic acid was heated at 160-190°C. for 20 hours with addition of 10 ml. increments of formic acid whenever solid ammonium carbonate deposits formed in the condenser. During this time water was removed from the reaction mixture by means of a variable take-off fractionating head. The mixture was cooled, extracted with ethyl acetate and extracts evaporated to obtain a dark residual oil. This was mixed with 60 ml. of 6 N hydrochloric acid and the mixture heated at reflux for three hours. The resulting solution was adjusted to pH 13 with sodium hydroxide, extracted with ethyl ether, the extracts washed with water, brine, dried (magnesium sulfate) and evaporated to dryness to yield 4.9 g. of crude amine which was distilled to obtain 1 g. of the desired tetramethylamine, B.P. 66-69° (30 mm.). 196037 B NHCbz CH3 (CH3>2 By employing 856 mg. (6.1 mmole) of 2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentylamine and proportional amounts of the other reagents employed in Example 5, Part B, the diblocked dipeptide amide of the above formula was obtained by the procedure of that example. R^, 0.36 by silica gel TLC (2:3 ethyl acetate/hexane). It was purified by column chromatography on silica gel, eluting with ethyl acetate/hexane (2:3) to obtain 49 5 mg. after evaporation of product-containing fractions.

C. The purified diblocked dipeptide amide provided in Part B, 495 mg., was dissolved in 75 ml. of methanol and hydrogenated over 300 mg. of 5% palladium-on-carbon catalyst as described in Example 5, Part C.

After evaporation of solvent, 185 mg. of the desired dipeptide amide was obtained as an off-white solid, M.P. 136-140°C.

Sweetness, 800 x sucrose.

The compounds of formula (I) wherein R is 2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl and Ra is ethyl, isopropyl or n-propyl are obtained in like manner from the appropriate diblocked dipeptide by the above procedure. • l%o$~7 EXAMPLE 8 3-Amino-2,2,4,4-tetramethyltetrahydrofuran A. 2,2,4,4-Tetramethyltetrahydrofuran-3-one 4-Bromo-l-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethylpentan-3-one (prepared as described in Example 13, Parts A and B) 25 g. (0.1 mole) was dissolved in 160 ml. of ethanol and a solution of 8 g. (0.2 mole) sodium hydroxide in 80 ml. of water was added. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes, diluted with water, extracted with ethyl ether,.the extracts washed with water, brine and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated to afford 17.7 g. of 2,2,4-trimethylpentan-l,4-diol as a colorless liquid which was identified by *H-NMR. The diol was dissolved in 50 ml. of chloroform, 1.5 ml. of concentrated sulfuric acid added dropwise. The mixture was heated at reflux for 3 hours, while distilling water/chloroform azeotrope from the mixture. After standing overnight at roan temperature the reaction mixture was washed with water, the organic layer dried (MgS04) and solvent evaporated vacuo to provide 13.9 g. of colorless liquid. Distillation afforded 8.3 g. of the desired product, B.P. 70-72° (50 mm.), overall yield 58%.

B. The ketone obtained in Part A, 8.0 g. (0.056 mole), hydroxylamine hydrochloride, 8.0 g. (0.113 mole) and sodium acetate, 2.3 g. (0.113 mole), were combined with 85 ml. of ethanol and the mixture heated at reflux for 48 hours. The resulting mixture was diluted with water, extracted with ethyl ether, the extracts washed with water, dried and evaporated to yield 9.0 g. of a mixture of syn- and anti-oximes, identified by its ^-NMR spectrum. - 196 0 The oxime obtained above, 1.3 g. (8.28 mmole) was dissolved in 70 ml. of dry ethanol, 1.9 g. of sodium metal added and the mixture warmed to reflux and held at this temperature for 15 minutes. Heating was continued for two hours with addition of two more increments (1.9 g. each) of sodium. The reaction mixture was then diluted cautiously with water, extracted with ethyl ether. The ether layer extracted with dilute hydrochloric acid, the aqueous phase made alkaline with sodium hydroxide and re-extracted with, ether. The extracts were dried (MgSO^) and evaporated to dryness and the residue distilled to obtain the desired amine, B.P. 68-69°C. (15 mm). After further purification by precipitation of the hydrochloride salt from ethyl ether-methanol, basifying the salt and extracting again with ether 0.87 g. of amine of 93% purity by gas chromatography (OV-1 column) was obtained. # 196 0 3 7 -51 example 9 By employing the appropriate amine of formula RNH2 in the procedure of Example 4 the following amides of L-aspartyl-D-alanine were provided in like manner.

/NH2 ,ch2-ch c<5oh ^conhchconhr ch-, Diblocked Dipeptide Dipeptide Amide (I) Amide Sweetness R* Rf % Yield M.P.,°C.

% Yield x sucrose ^CH3 0.54 0.63a 99 194-197°Dec. 83 £ + t L CHT & 0.57^ 56 213-215° 220 trans . C-H- rV 0.57a 33 180-182°Dec. 77 250 trans CH3yyCH3 0.5 0a 90 224-225°Dec. 92 600 trans,trans CH3yyC2H5 0. 46c 50 185-187° 59 200 £,t + t ,_t # *96 03 7 Diblocked Dipeptide Dipeptide Amide (I) Amide Sweetness R* Rf % Yield M.P., °C.

% Yield x sucrose C2H5NjaJc2H5 0.55a 42 19 8-201°Dec. 74 200 c,t + t,t L,ch(ch3)2 0.54a 145-148° 74 500 trans /jC(CH3>3 0.40C 0.54° 100 148-150°Dec. 75 450 £ + t CH3^H(CH3>2 0.73° 100 136-138°Dec. 63 300 £,t + _t, t (Q^C^CUtO^ c,t + t,t 0.34c - 143-145° 65 150 " ~e>s 0.31C 100 199-202° 44 250 "i-ifc"; 0.36° 69 199-206° 100 400 c + t w ch3 ch3 0.33C 97 105-112° 42 300 j ! i f 96 0 3 7 R* CH^ X /CH CH. 1 CH. CH. dl CH. trans 2H5 trans H(CH3)2 trans CH3YVCH3 mixed isomers CH3>VCH3 ch, 1 o chj ^_Ao(CH3)3 dl Dibl ocked Dipeptide Amide 0.56 0.55 0.44' 0.75' 0.38 0.2 0. 4C % Yield 95 95 100 96 88 93 94 95 Dipeptide Amide (I) M.P.,°C. 185-186°Dec. 89-93° Dec, 206-208°Dec. 175-177°Dec. 95-99° 186-188°Dec.

% Yield Sweetness, x sucrose 91 91 86 82 89 59 100 73 320 200 220 250 625 520 350 140 19603 Diblocked Dipeptide Dipeptide Amide (I) Amide Sweetness, r* V % Yield 1— s • to • 0 O • i Yield x sucrose h\ (ch3)2ch 01(013)2 t).54a 100 179-181"Dec. 81 250 iH / \ (ch3)3c ch3 dl 0.66a 63 180-183°Dec. 48 180 Ah (ch3)3</ \h3 0. 6a 98 182-184°Dec. 61 0 [alpha]D+20.3 1 (c=l, ch3oh) 1 ch ichjljc' xch3 - 96 183-185°Dec. [alpha]d+29.7 52 375 d (c=l/ ch3oh) 1 /CHs 3}3C 0.54a 100 + (crude) 134-137°Dec. 72 180 dl_ :H3 0.72a 89 193-197°Dec. 87 110 V dl 1 ch (ch3)3(/ nch(ch3)2 dl 79 110-115°Dec. 54 125 196 0 3 7 Diblocked Dipeptide Dipeptide Amide (I) • Amide Sweetness, R* Rf % Yield m.p.,°c.

% Yield x sucrose I /\ i2 ch3 o • (J1 o\ 91 179-181°Dec. 69 75 (ch3)cha < CH3 0.33c 71 170-172°Dec. 100 100 dl ^ > C«3\ 0.17 52 — 99 200 ch3 CH^ /CH3 < - - 144-148°Dec. - 400 >< ch3 ^ch3 *Configuration of amine, RNH2 is given where known: 10 £ = cis; t = trans, 1^ = levorotatory, dl = racemic. a7:3 ethyl acetate/hexane. ^10:9:1 ethyl acetate/hexane/acetic acid. cl:l ethyl acetate/hexane.

Proportions for solvent systems are by volume. 15 In like manner the corresponding compounds of the formula HOOCCH-CHCONHCHCONHR are obtained from the ' 'a NH2 R appropriate diblocked dipeptide, CgH^CI^OOCCI^CHCO-NHCHCOOH NHCbz Ra where Ra is ethyl, isopropyl or n-propyl and R has the values assigned above. # 19603 7 EXAMPLE 10 L-Aspartyl-DL-alanine N-(dicyclobutylcarbinyl)amide: i, r = ch , ra = ch3 A. CH-CHCONHCH( U)o NHCbz To a mixture of 3.0 g. (0.0135 mole) of N-benzyl- oxycarbonyl-DL-alanine and 1.27 g. (0,016 mole) pyridine is added at -10°C. 1.45 g. (0.0135 mole) ethyl chloroformate. The mixture is stirred for 15 minutes, cooled to -15° and 3.75 g. (0.027 mole) of 10 dicyclobutylcarbinylamine is added. The reaction mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature, dissolved in ethyl acetate and the solution washed with dilute hydrochloride acid, sodium bicarbonate solution, brine and the washed extracts dried (Na2S04). 15 The solvent is evaporated to provide the desired N-Cbz-alanine-N-(dicyclobutylcarbinyl)amide.

B. Diblocked dipeptide amide A solution of 3.54 g. (0.01 mole) N-Cbz-alanine-N-(dicyclobutylcarbinyl)amide in 100 ml. of methanol 20 is hydrogenated over 1 g. of 5% palladium-on-carbon, the catalyst removed by filtration and the solvent evaporated to provide N-(dicyclobutylcarbinyl)-DL-alanine amide. of beta-benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartate in 100 ml. of tetrahydrofuran containing 1.2 g. (0.015 mole) pyridine is added 1.35 g. (0.0125 mole) ethyl chloroformate while maintaining the mixture at -30°C. The resulting mixture is stirred for 10 minutes at this temperature.

To this is then added the N-(dicyclobutylcarbinyl)-DL-alanine amide, obtained above, as a solution in tetrahydrofuran (100 ml.) and N,N-dimethylformamide (10 ml.). The reaction mixture is stirred at -20°C.

In a separate flask containing 4.46 g. (0.0125 mole) 19603 for 30 minutes then allowed to warm to room temperature, extracted with ethyl acetate, washed successively with water, sodium bicarbonate solution, dilute hydrochloric acid, and water again. After drying the washed extracts 5 over anhydrous sodium sulfate, the solvent is evaporated to provide beta-benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartyl-DL-alanine N-(dicyclobutylcarbinyl)amide suitable for use in the next step without further purification. C. To a solution of 1.5 g. of the diblocked dipeptide 10 amide,* obtained in Part B, in 100 ml. of methanol is added 1 g. of 5% palladium-on-carbon and the mixture hydrogenated at 3-4 atmospheres pressure. The catalyst is recovered by filtration and the filtrate evaporated at reduced pressure to provide the title compound. 15 D. When the above procedure of Part A is repeated with N-benzyloxycarbonyl-D-alanine or the N-benzyloxycarbonyl derivatives of D-valine, D-2-aminobutyric acid or D-norvaline and the appropriate amine of formula RNH^ and the product thus obtained hydrogenated 20 by the procedure of the first paragraph of Part B, above, D-amino acid amides of formula RaCH(NH2)CONHR are obtained where Ra is methyl, ethyl, isopropyl or n-propyl and R is as defined below.

By carrying each of these D-amino acid amides 25 through the procedure of the remaining portion of Part B and Part C, above, the corresponding L-aspartyl-D-amino acid dipeptide amides of formula (I) are obtained in like manner.

CH 0-CHCONHCHCONHR / 2 . .a HOOC NH2 Ra 196037 r dl-fenchyl diisopropylcarbinyl d-methyl-t-bu'tyl carbinyl 5 d-ethyl-t-butylcarbinyl di-t-butylcarbinyl cyclopropyl-t-butylcarbinyl cyclopentyl-t-butylcarbinyl dicyclopropylcarbinyl 10 L-fenchyl 2.2.4.4-tetramethylcyclobutyl 2-methylcyclopentyl 2- ethyl eye 1 opentyl 2-isopropylcyclopentyl 15 2,5-dimethylcyclopentyl 2.2.5.5-tetramethylcyclopentyl 2-ethyleye1ohexyl 2-i sopropy1eye1ohexyl 2-t-butylcyclohexyl 20 2-ethyl-6-raethylcyclohexyl 2,2-dimethy1eye1ohexyl 2,6-dimethylcyclohexyl 2,2,6-trimethyleye1ohexyl 2.2.6.6-tetramethylcyclohexyl 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-oxocyclobutyl 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-hydroxycyclobutyl 2,2,4,4-tetramethyltetrahydrofuran-3-yl J. P. & s 4-tt-r .M.. 196037 EXAMPLE 11 Employing the methods described above the following L-aspartyl-D-amino acid amides and L-aspartyl-DL-amino acid amides are prepared in like manner. ch.-chconhchconhr / 2 ' 'a cooh nh, Ra where R is CH^, C2H5/ n_C3H7 or i~C3H7- R R R ch_ ch,,ch(ch,)0 ch, -±> -S ch, ch2ch3 ch ch3 ch3 ch3 CH3 £"C4H9 -O0 CH3 CH3 CH3CH2 v1CH2CH3 C(CH3)3 -§£ -O -<r° ch3 ch 3 ch(ch3)2 c(ch3)3 ch3 ch2ch3 , 0 ch(ch3)2 ch3 ch3 ch2ch3 c(ch3)3 ch3 ch3 -<r° (ch2)3 ch3 c(ch3) 3 /c (ch3) 3 ch3v ^ch3 0 (ch_) / 23 c2h5 c2h5 19603 7 ch(ch3)2 ch(ch3)2 jLH3 ch3 ch3 ch3chch2ch3 b -p c(ch3)3 ch3 ch3 „ J. p. & V (ch2ch2ch3)2 ch.

(CH2)3 S2H5 ch2(ch2)2ch3 ch. ch. ch(ch3)2 (ch2)3 ch(ch3)2 ch(ch3)2 ch(ch3)2 CHSCH-CH2CH3 ch-, ch2ch3 ch3 ch2ch3 ch^CH3 V ch3 ch3 ch. ch. c(ch3)3 ch- ch(ch3)2 196 0 3 7 ch- r ch3 ch3 r ch. ch.

V2 -r? V-(ch2)3 ch, . ch, X<tH2>2 ch3 ch3 <L ch(ch3)2 "V<CH2}3 ch ch- ch, £> (CH2)2 < ,ch(ch3)2 ch(ch3)2 CH3 /""" ^ CH2) 2 ch. ch3 ch3 chj ch. ch-v ch. 3VA3 "5^,(ch2)3 ch3 ch3 ch(ch-), vV V-(tH2)2 ch(ch3)2 <1 c(ch3)3 ch(ch3)2 ?cH2)3 ch(ch3)2 c(ch3)3 ch(ch3)2 ch2ch3 k ro vO o ro in S3 CM U ro W U ro cm EC U ro —-PC ffl U -U cm ro K U 8 I cm U> I PSI ro W a ro ,u V ro W O all cm cn cm r—t tm ro W u u w ro ro U cm « u u cm cm ro W ro O m cm u W ~ u w cm u w w u-u r t96037 ^ch(ch3)2 ch2ch3 'h(ch2)3ch3 CH3 :h(ch2)3ch3 (CH2} ch(ch3)2 ch(ch3)2 ch(ch3)2 ch3 ch3 rr ch, ch, & ch3 ch3 c(ch,), 196 03 7 EXAMPLE 12 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine-N-(3,5-dimethyl-tetrahydrothiopyran-4-yl)amide: rw 11 R , R a CH 3 mixture of cis/trans and trans/trans isomers A. 3,5-Dimethyltetrahydrothiopyran-4-one A mixture of 2 g. of sodium acetate and 25 ml. of ethanol was saturated with hydrogen sulfide gas. To this was added 7.0 g. (0.063 mole) diisopropenylketone 10 while cooling in an ice bath until the reaction was no longer exothermic. The mixture was stirred at room temperature while passing hydrogen sulfide through the mixture for four hours then allowed to stand overnight. The ethanol and excess H^S were evaporated in vacuo 15 and the residue taken up in ethyl ether, washed in turn with water, potassium carbonate solution, dilute hydrochloric acid, and water again. The ether extracts were dried (Na2SO^) and evaporated to provide 6.8 g. of oil. This was distilled in vacuo through a 10 cm. 20 Vigreaux column to provide 1.67 g. of product, B.P. 83-86°C./9 mm. which was used in the next step without further purification.

B. 4-Oximino-3,5-dimethyltetrahydrothiopyran ketone obtained in Part A, 1.6 g. (0.023 mole) hydroxyl-amine hydrochloride and 1.9 g. (0.023 mole) sodium acetate in 30 ml. of water and 10 ml. of ethanol were heated at reflux for three hours, cooled and the precipitate recovered by filtration. After recrystalliza-30 tion from 1:1 methanol-water 1.5 g. of oxime was obtained as a white solid, M.P. 60-85°C. which is a mixture of isomers of suitable purity for use in the next step.

A mixture of 1.67 g. (0.011 mole) of the cyclic 196 0 3 C. trans/trans and cis/trans-4-Amino-3,5-dimethyl- tetrahydrothiopyran _ To a solution of 1.45 g. (0.009 mole) of the oxime obtained in Part B in 15 ml. of ethanol was 5 added in portions 5 g. of sodium shot followed by an additional 25 ml. of ethanol and the resulting mixture heated at reflux for about 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was diluted with water, extracted with ethyl ether, and the extracts washed with water. The ether 10 layer was extracted with dilute hydrochloric acid and the aqueous layer washed with fresh ether. The aqueous layer was made alkaline by addition of sodium hydroxide solution and extracted with ether again. The organic layer was dried (MgSO^) and the ether 15 evaporated to obtain 1.1 g. of residual colorless oil.

Gas-liquid chromatography (OV-1 column with temperature programming fron 80 to 100°C.) showed the product to contain two major components in a 60/40 ratio. ^H—NMR (CDCl^) indicated the product to be a mixture of 4-20 amino-3-trans-5-trans-dimethyltetrahydrothiopyran and the corresponding 3-cis-5-trans-isomer.

D. N-tertiary-Butoxycarbonyl-D-alanine To 7.0 ml. each of tetrahydrofuran and water was added 2.71 g. (11 mmole) N-(t-butoxycarbonyloxyimino)-25 2-phenylacetonitrile (BOC-ON, Aldrich Chemical Co.), 0.89 g. (10 mmole) D-alanine and 1.5 g. (15 mmole) triethylamine and the resulting two phase mixture stirred at room temperature. After about two hours the mixture became homogeneous and stirring was 30 continued overnight. The mixture was diluted with water, washed with ethyl acetate and acidifed with dilute hydrochloric acid to pH 1.5. The acidifed solution was extracted with ethyl acetate, the extracts washed with water, saturated brine and dried over 35 sodium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated at reduced pressure to afford 1.9 g. of product as a colorless oil suitable for use in the next step. • 4 96 w 3 E. N- (3,5-Dimethyltetrahydrothiopyran-4-yl)-t-butoxycarbonyl-D-alanine amide CH t-B OC-NH-CHC0NH CH 3 Onder anhydrous conditions, to a mixture of 1.7 g. (8.9 mmole) of N-t-Boc-D-alanine obtained in Part D, 1.98 g. (19 mmole) triethylamine and 40 ml. of tetrahydrofuran, cooled to -10°C. , was added dropwise 0.96 g. (8.9 mmole) ethyl chloroformate and the resulting mixture stirred at this temperature for 20 minutes. To this was added 1.1 g. (7.5 mmole) of the mixture of isomers of 4-amino-3,5-dimethyltetrahydrothiopyran obtained in Part C and the resulting mixture stirred at -10°C. for 10 minutes then allowed to warm to room temperature. The reaction mixture was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with sodium bicarbonate solution, dilute hydrochloric acid, water, brine then dried (Na2SO^) and the solvent evaporated at reduced pressure to obtain the product as a foam, 2.4 g. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC), silica gel plates, eluting with 1:1 ethyl acetate/hexane showed major spot for the product at 0.5 with trace impurities at R^ 0.6 and 0.9. 19603 F. . N-(3,5-Dimethyltetrahydrothiopyran-4-yl)-D— in 15 ml. of ethanol and a mixture of 5 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid and 10 ml. of water were added. The resulting mixture was heated at.reflux for 3 0 minutes, cooled and the ethanol removed by evaporation in vacuo. The aqueous residue was washed with 10 ethyl ether, made alkaline with sodium hydroxide solution, extracted with ether and the extracts dried (Na2SO^). Evaporation of solvent provided 1.1 g. (67%) of colorless oil which crystallized upon standing. G. Coupling of D-alanine amide with L-aspartic acid N-thiocarboxyanhydride The D-alanine amide provided in Part F, 1.1 g. (5.1 mmole) was dissolved in 5 ml. of tetrahydrofuran and 5 ml. of water was added. The clear solution was cooled in ice and 0.89 g. (5.1 mmole) of L-aspartic 20 acid N-thiocarboxyanhydride was added in one portion. To this was added as required, 0.5 M sodium hydroxide to maintain the mixture at pH 9. After stirring 3 0 minutes the reaction mixture was washed with ethyl ether then ethyl acetate and the washes discarded. 25 The aqueous phase was acidified with dilute hydrochloric acid to pH 5.6 and evaporated to dryness at reduced pressure. The residue was taken up in hot methanol (100 ml.), filtered and the methanol evaporated. The residue was taken up again in hot methanol, filtered 30 and the filtrate decolorized with activated carbon, 196 03 7 filtered through diatonaceous earth and the filtrate evaporated to obtain 1.67 g. of crude product as a powder. The crude product was dissolved in hot water (11 ml.) and filtered, evaporated under a stream of nitrogen to 5 ml. and cooled in ice to precipitate the product as a gelatinous solid. The product was collected by filtration, sucked dry, washed with 2 ml. of cold water, 2 ml. of cold methanol and finally with a mixture of 1 ml. methanol and 4ml. of ethyl ether to afford a granular product which was dried in a vacuum oven at 50°C. to give 0.3 g. of the desired product. Sweetness, 200 x sucrose.

Use of D-2-aminobutyric acid, D-valine or D-norvaline in place of D-alanine in the procedure of Part D above and reacting the N-t-butoxycarbonyl-D-amino acids thus obtained in the procedures of Parts E, F and G, similarly provides the corresponding conpounds of formula (I) wherein R is 3,5-dimethyltetrahydro-thiopyran-4-yl and Ra is (CH^^CH, or CH^CHjCHj# respectively. » • i960 EXAMPLE 13 3-Amino-2,2,4,4-tetramethvltetrahydrothiophene A. l-Hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethylpentan-3-one To sodium methoxide prepared from 7.5 g. of 5 sodium metal and 250 ml. of methanol was added 72.5 g. (2.4 moles) paraformaldehyde followed by 250 g. (2.2 moles) diisopropylketone and the resulting mixture heated at reflux for three hours. The reaction was quenched with water, neutralized with hydrochloric 10 acid, extracted with ethyl ether, washed with water, brine and the solvent evaporated. The residual oil (90 g.) was distilled in vacuo to obtain 28 g. of the desired product boiling at 9 2-98°C. at 16-20 mm. GLC on OV-1 column at 107°C., retention time 314 sec., 96% 15 pure.

When the above procedure was repeated on the same scale but the reaction mixture refluxed for 16 hours, 31 g. of product was obtained of 96% purity by GLC.

B. 4-Bromo-l-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethylpentan-3-one 20 To a stirred, refluxing solution of 69 g. (0.48 mole) of l-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethylpentan-3-one in 500 ml. of chloroform was added dropwise a solution of 77 g. (0.48 mole) bromine in 100 ml. of chloroform.

When the addition was completed the mixture was stirred 25 at reflux for one hour, allowed to cool and stand overnight at room temperature. Evaporation of solvent at reduced pressure afforded 127 g. of product which was used in the next step without purification. 196037 C. 2,2,4/4-Tetramethyltetrahydrothiophen-3-one The product obtained in Part B, 79 g. (0.3 mole) was dissolved in 300 ml. of dry pyridine, cooled to 0°C. and 114 g. (0.6 mole) of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride was added in portions at 0°C. The resulting mixture was stirred at this temperature for 3 hours, 15 minutes, poured into ice/water and extracted with ethyl ether.

The extracts were washed with dilute hydrochloric acid, water and brine then dried over anhydrous magnesium sul'fate. The solvent was evaporated to provide 111 g. (9 8%) of crystalline tosylate.

The tosylate, 9 4 g. (0.25 mole) was dissolved in one liter of pyridine, 180 g. (0.75 mole) of sodium sulfide monohydrate added and the mixture heated to 75°C. and held at this temperature for one hour and allowed to stand at room temperature overnight. Water was added and the mixture was extracted with ether.

The extracts washed with hydrochloric acid, brine, dried (MgSO^) and the solvent evaporated to obtain g. of the title compound, 89% yield. The product showed only one spot upon silica gel TLC, eluting with ethyl acetate/hexane (1:4 by volume, 0.5. The i r H-NMR spectrum was in agreement with the structure for the title compound. • i96 0 D. Leuckart reduction of ketone To a 100 ml. round-bottomed three-necked flask fitted with stirrer, thermometer and condenser with fractionating head was added 10.0 g. (0.063 mole) of 5 2,2/4/4-tetramethyltetrahydrothiophen-3-one/ 15.2 ml. (0.38 mole) formamide and 3.5 ml. (0.092 mole) formic acid and the mixture heated at reflux (163°C.) while removing water. The reaction mixture was maintained at 160-180°C. for 20 hours with addition of formic 10 acid (10 ml.) at intervals. The pot temperature increased to 200°C. over this period. The reaction mixture was cooled, water added and the mixture extracted with ethyl acetate. The extracts were evaporated _in vacuo. The residue was refluxed with 15 20 ml. of 6N hydrochloric acid for two hours, cooled, the resulting mixture washed with ethyl ether, the aqueous phase adjusted to pH 11 with sodium hydroxide solution and extracted with ethyl ether. The extracts were dried and evaporated to obtain 2 g. of 3-amino-20 2,2,4,4-tetramethyltetrahydrothiophene which was identified by ^"H-NMR and appeared homogeneous upon silica gel TLC.

E. By employing the appropriate ketone as starting material in place of diisopropylketone in the procedures of Examples 8 and 13, the following amines are similarly obtained. 496 0 R, nh, X s s s s s CH3 h ch3ch2 (ch3)2ch ch- R h h h h ch. ch3 ch3 ch3ch2 (ch3)2ch h R h h h h h 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ch3ch2 ch3 h ch3 h ch3ch2 ch_ h h h h h h ch3CH2 ch3ch2 ch3 ch3 h (ch3)3c B"C4H9 ch-. h h h h h h ch3ch2 When the tetrahydrothiophenes of the above formula are contacted with an equimolar amount of hydrogen peroxide or m-chloroperbenzoic acid the corresponding sulfoxide (X = SO) is formed in each case. Treatment of the same starting material or the sulfoxide with a molar excess of the same reagents or potassium permanganate affords the corresponding sulfone (X = S02). 19603 EXAMPLE 14 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyltetrahydrothiophene-3-yl) amide: CH ™ 3 A. t—Boc-NHCH—CONH' CH3 CH^ CH3 To a solution of 2.09 g. (11 mmole) of N-_t-butoxycarbonyl-D-alanine in 75 ml. of tetrahydrofuran was added 1.47 ml. (10 mmole) of triethylamine and the mixture cooled to -10°C. At this temperature was 10 added 0.9 6 ml. (10 mmole) of ethyl chloroformate and stirring continued for 15 minutes. After cooling to -20°C., 1.6 g. (10 mmole) of dl-3-amino-2,2,4,4-tetramethyltetrahydrothiophene was added and the resulting mixture was allowed to warm to roan temperature. 15 Ethyl acetate was added and the mixture washed twice with 50 ml. portions of 5% (by weight) aqueous citric acid, aqueous sodium bicarbonate (1 x 50 ml.) and saturated brine (1 x 50 ml.). The organic layer was dried (Na^SO^) and evaporated to dryness at reduced 20 pressure to afford 3 g. of n-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyltetra-hydrothiophene-3-yl)-t-butoxycarbonyl-D-alanine amide as an oil. The structure of the product was verified by its ^"H-NMR spectrum. It was essentially homogeneous upon silica gel TLC. This product was used without 25 further purification in the next step. 196037 CH3 CH3 b. ch3ch(nh2conh £ hi ch ch-3 ch3 To the product from Part A was added 5 ml. of methanol and 30 ml. of 1M hydrochloric acid and the mixture was heated on the steam-bath for 30 minutes.

The methanol was removed by evaporation and the residue extracted with ether. The ether was discarded and the aqueous phase was adjusted to pH 11.0 with sodium hydroxide solution, extracted with ethyl acetate, the extracts dried (Na2S04) and evaporated to dryness to 10 obtain 1.0 g. of N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyltetrahydro- thiophene-3-yl)-D-alanine amide which was identified by its nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum. It was homogeneous upon silica gel TLC.

C. Coupling to form dipeptide amide 15 The D-alanine amide obtained in Part B, 0.9 7 g. (4.25 mmole) was mixed with 10 ml. of water, cooled in ice and the pH of the mixture adjusted to 9.2 with 0.5 N sodium hydroxide solution. To this was added portionwise with stirring 0.8 g. (4.25 mmole) of L-aspartic acid 20 N-thiocarboxyanhydride while maintaining the mixture at pH 9 with sodium hydroxide solution (0.5 N). When the addition was completed the resulting mixture was stirred at 0°C. for 45 minutes, adjusted to pH 5.2 with hydrochloric acid and evaporated to dryness _in 25 vacuo. The residue was slurried with methanol, filtered to remove precipitated solids and methanol removed from the filtrate by evaporation at reduced pressure. Ethyl ether was added to the residue to form a solid. This was collected by filtration, 30 reslurried with ethyl ether, filtered again and the 1 96 03 Z solid recrystallized from 8 ml. of water. After drying in the vacuum oven about 1 g. of product was obtained, M.P. 124-126°C. A second crop was obtained by reworking the mother liquors. Sweetness, 5 00 x 5 sucrose.

When levorotatory 3-amino-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-tetrahydrothiophene, resolved by standard methods, was employed in the above procedure in place of the racemic amine the resulting L-aspartyl-D-alanine amide was 10 found to be 800 times as sweet as sucrose.

Similarly, the analogous compounds of formula (I) wherein Ra is ethyl, isopropyl or n-propyl are prepared from the appropriate N-t-boc-D-amino acid by the above procedures. 196©$f EXAMPLE 15 3-Amino-2,2,4,4-tetramethylthietane A. 2,4-Dibromo-2,4-dimethylpentan-3-one To 136 g. (1.2 mole) of diisopropylketone was 5 added 2 ml. of phosphorus tribromide and the mixture cooled to 10°C. To this was added dropwise 384 g. (2.4 mole) of bromine, the mixture allowed to warm to roan temperature. After two hours at this temperature the mixture was warmed at 55-60°C. for one hour then 10 cooled and partioned between chloroform and water.

The water was discarded and the organic layer washed with sodium carbonate solution until neutral. The organic layer was dried (MgS04) and solvent evaporated to obtain 316 g. (97%) of the desired product. 15 b. 2,2,4,4-Tetramethyl-3-oxothietane Sodium metal, 23 g. (1.0 mole), was dissolved in 500 ml. of dry methanol and the resulting mixture cooled to 10°C. Hydrogen sulfide gas was passed through the mixture until it was saturated. Then 20 136 g. (0.5 mole) of the dibromoketone obtained in Part A was added dropwise while continuing to allow hydrogen sulfide to pass through the reaction mixture. After the addition was completed the mixture was stirred for two hours at 10°C., allowed to warm to 25 roan temperature and stirred overnight. After pouring the reaction mixture into water, it was extracted with ethyl ether and the extracts washed with dilute hydrochloric acid and brine. After drying over magnesium sulfate the ether was evaporated, the 30 residue slurried with methanol, cooled and filtered to obtain 46 g. (64%) of solid product which was used without purification in the next step. 1 96 0 C. Reductive amination of ketone To 75 ml. of dry methanol was added 4.5 g. (0.031 mole) of 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-oxothietane, 23.9 g. (0.31 mole) ammonium acetate and 1.36 g. (0.0217 mole) sodium cyanoborohydride and the resulting mixture heated at reflux for four hours. Additional sodium cyanoborohydride (1.36 g.) was added and refluxing continued for three days with a third increment of the same reagent added at the start of the third day. The resulting mixture was acidified to pH 2 with hydrochloric acid and evaporated to dryness on the rotary evaporator at reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in water, washed with ethyl ether, the aqueous phase adjusted to pH 11 with sodium hydroxide solution and extracted with ethyl ether. The extracts were washed with brine, dried (MgSO^) and evaporated to dryness to obtain 1.9 g. (42%) of the desired amine as a crystalline solid. The structure of the product was verified by its ^"H-NMR spectrum. # 19603 D. 3-Amino-2,2,4,4-tetramethylthietane-l,l-dioxide The amine obtained in Part C, above, 29 g. (0.2 mole) was dissolved in 50 ml. acetonitrile and 250 ml. water added. While maintaining the mixture at 5 pH 10 with sodium hydroxide, 35.8 g. (0.21 mole) carbobenzoxy chloride was added over 30 minutes, the mixture stirred for one hour, filtered, the precipitate washed with water and dried in vacuo at 50°C. to provide the NCbz-amine, 0.7 (hexane/ethyl acetate 10 4:1 v/v, phosphcmolybdic acid spray), 52.1 g. (9 3.4%). This was dissolved in 700 ml. methylene chloride, 77 g. (0.372 mole) m-chloroperbenzoic acid was added slowly while maintaining the temperature below 45°C. (20-42°C.). The precipitated solid was collected by 15 filtration, the filtrate was washed with IN hydrochloric acid, aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution, dried (MgSO^) and the solvent evaporated. The residue was crystallized from acetone-water to obtain 42 g. (73%) of the Cbz-protected amine 1,l-dioxide, R^ 0.7 20 (hexane/ethyl acetate 1:1 v/v, phosphomolybdic acid spray).

The protecting group was removed by hydrogenolysis of 5 g. of Cbz-amine in 250 ml. methanol, 5 ml. concentrated hydrochloric acid and 2 g. of 5% Pd/C 25 (50% wet). The product was isolated in the usual manner. Yield: 2.4 g. (85%), R^ 0.6. The retention time upon gas-liquid chromatography on a 1 meter, OV-1 column at 180°C. was 1.3 minutes. The overall yield for the three steps starting from 3-amino-30 2,2,4,4-tetramethylthietane was 65%.

By employing equivalent amounts of amine and m-chloroperbenzoic acid in the above procedure the corresponding sulfoxide is obtained in like manner. 1 96 v/ E. Employing the appropriate ketone of formula R^R^CHCOCHR^R^ in place of diisopropylketone in the procedures of Parts A-C affords the corresponding amines of the formula shown below. xh2 R CH3 ch C2 5 —~C3H7 i-C3H7 t-C4H9 t"C4H9 —~C4H9 c2h5 R h h h h h h h h h R ch3 h h h i-C3H7 h t-C^Hg £-C4H9 c2h5 R h h h h h h h h h The corresponding sulfoxides and sulfones are prepared by the procedure of Part D above. 49603 7 EXAMPLE 16 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethylthietan-3-yl) amide: ch, ch i, r = -<^s , ra = ch3 ch3 ch3 cw ch 3 A. t-Boc-NHCH(CH3)CONH ch3 ch3 To a solution of 2.09 g. (11 mmole) N-t-butoxy-carbonyl-D-alanine in 75 ml. of tetrahydrofuran was added 1.47 ml. (10 mmole) triethylamine and the mixture cooled to -10°C. Ethyl chloroformate, 0.96 ml. (10 mmole) was added, the mixture stirred for ten minutes then cooled to -20°C. and 1.70 g. (11 mmole) of 3-amino-2,2,4,4-tetramethylthietane dissolved in 5 ml. of tetrahydrofuran added. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to roan temperature, ethyl acetate added and the mixture washed with 5% (by weight) citric acid solution (2 x 50 ml.), sodium bicarbonate solution until neutral, then with brine. The organic layer was dried (Na2SO^) and solvent removed by evaporation to provide 2.7 g. (78%) of the desired solid product. The *H-NMR spectrum of the product was in agreement with that expected. Dpon silica gel TLC, eluting with 1:1 ethyl acetate/hexane the product appeared homogeneous, R^ 0.77. 796 0 3 7 CH3^CH3 B. D-CH3CH(NH2)CONH' V gh3 Employing the procedure described in Example 12, Part F, the t-Boc-D-alanine amide provided in Part A of this example was hydrolyzed to obtain the free 5 alpha-aminoamide in 43% yield. The product was homogeneous upon silica gel TLC and gave a ^"H-NMR spectrum in agreement with its structure.

C. Coupling to form dipeptide amide A solution of 0.7 g. (3.2 mmole) of the alpha-10 aminoamide prepared in Part B, above, was mixed with 10 ml. of water, adjusted to pH 10.1, cooled in an ice-bath and 0.567 g. (3.2 mmole) of L-aspartic acid N-thiocarboxyanhydride added portionwise while maintaining the mixture at pH 9 by addition of 0.5 N 15 sodium hydroxide solution. The mixture was then stirred at 0°C. for 45 minutes, adjusted to pH 5.2 and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue was slurried in methanol, solids removed by filtration and the filtrate evaporated. To the residue was added 20 150 ml. of ethyl ether, the precipitated product collected by filtration and dried in the vacuum oven overnight to obtain 1.5 g. of crude material. After reslurrying two more times with ethyl ether, 0.9 g. of product (85%) was obtained. Sweetness, 2000 x sucrose. 25 The corresponding conpounds of formula (I) wherein Ra is C2Hg, i-C3H7 or n-C^Hy are similarly obtained by the above procedures employing the appropriate N-t-boc-amino acid in place of N-t-boc-D-alanine. 196 03 example 17 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(2,2,4,4- tetramethyl-1,l-dioxothietan-3-yl)amide C" r-H.

I, Ra = CH3, R = -<^S02 CH3 CH3 'so CH3 CH3 A. t-Boc—NHCH(CH3 ) CONH' 0 2 CH3 CH3 A solution of 31.6 g. (0.10 mole) of N-t-butoxy-carbonyl-D-alanine N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethylthietan-3-yl)amide, provided in Example 16, Part A, in 500 ml. chloroform was cooled to 10-20°C. and 41.3 g. (0.24 mole) m-chloroperbenzoic acid was added slowly while maintaining the reaction temperature below 45°C. The resulting mixture was stirred for one hour, diluted with chloroform and washed in turn with 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate, 0.1N hydrochloric acid, 5% sodium thiosulfate and saturated brine. The washed organic layer was dried (MgSO^) and evaporated to dryness to provide 33.7 g. of residual oil (9 7%) of suitable purity for use in the next step.

The t-Boc-amide obtained in Part A, above, 34.8 g. (0.10 mole) dissolved in a mixture of 50 ml. concentrated hydrochloric acid and 100 ml. each of water and ethanol was heated at reflux for one hour. The mixture was cooled, washed with ethyl ether, the aqueous phase adjusted to pH 12 with 50% aqueous sodium hydroxide and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extracts were B. ch3 ch3 f 96 0 3 7 dried (MgSO.) and evaporated in vacuo to obtain 18.7 g. (75%) of crystalline solid. This was recrystal- lized fron carbon tetrachloride with 80% recovery of product.

C. Diblocked dipeptide amide To a solution of 14.28 g. (0.04 mole) beta-benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartate in 700 ml. tetrahydrofuran was added 4.4 ml. (0.04 mole) N-methylmorpholine and the mixture cooled to -10°C. Ethyl chloroformate, 10 3.9 ml. (0.04 mole) was added, the mixture stirred at -10°C. for 15 minutes and cooled to -20°C. A solution of 9.92 g. (0.04 mole) D-alanine N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,l-dioxothietan-3-yl)amide from Part B, above, in 50 ml. tetrahydrofuran was added and the 15 resulting mixture stirred at ambient temperature for one hour. The reaction mixture was poured into 700 ml. ethyl acetate, washed in turn with N hydrochloric acid, sodium bicarbonate solution, 0.1N sodium hydroxide and brine. The washed extracts were dried (MgSO^) and 20 evaporated in vacuo. The residue was slurried in ethyl ether and the solid collected by filtration to afford 19.8 g. (84%) of diblocked dipeptide amide which was recrystallized fron ethyleneglycol dimethyl ether/isopropyl ether with 77% recovery. d. To a solution of 10 g. of the product obtained in Part C, above, in 250 ml. methanol was added 3 g. of 5% Pd/C (50% wet) and 1 ml. concentrated hydrochloric acid and the mixture hydrogenated for one hour at 2 50 psi (3.52 kg./cm. ). The catalyst was removed by 30 filtration, the filtrate adjusted to pH 5.2 with sodium hydroxide solution and evaporated in vacuo to near dryness. The residue was mixed with ethyl ether and the solid collected by filtration and dried in the vacuum oven at 45°C. to obtain 5.5 g., 89% of the 35 desired dipeptide amide.

Sweetness, 1000 x sucrose. 196 E. By use of one equivalent of m-chloroperbenzoic acid in the method of Part A, above, the corresponding t-Boc-D-alanine amide sulfoxide is obtained which, when carried through the procedures of Parts B, C and D, above, provides L-aspartyl-D-alanine N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-l-oxothietan-3-yl)amide. 196037 EXAMPLE 17A Employing the procedures of Examples 12-17, corresponding L-aspartyl-D-amino acid amides (I) wherein Ra is methyl, ethyl, isopropyl or n-propyl and R is as defined below are prepared from the appropriate starting materials via D-RaCH(NH2)C0NHR intermediates. The corresponding L-aspartyl-DL-amino acid amides are similarly provided when a t-Boc-DL-amino acid is employed in place of the D-enantiomer. Likewise, use of DL-aspartic N-thiocarboxyanhydride in the coupling step affords the DL-D or DL-DL ccmpounds of formula (I).

HOOCCHCHCONHCHCONHR ' 'a NH2 R — (I) r r r ch 3 ch2ch3 c(ch3)3 C2H5 CH3 <ch2)3ch3 CH(CH3)2 CH(CH3)2 19603 7 CH, CH. so. ch3 ch3 c(ch-). ^>2 ch, -8»2 /-(CH, ) 2 2 ch. ch.

P < CH2 > 2 ch3 ch3 fra„) ch3 ch3 2 2 ch. ch2ch3 ch2ch3 s l(CH2)2 ch. ch, ^,S02 HCH2»2 ch3 ch2ch3 ch, ,ch3 S I s ch3 ch3 ch_ .ch ch(ch3)2 ch(ch3)2 v<ch2)3 ch ch3 V ch3 ch3 ch- , ch. ch. ch3i /ch3 ch3 ch3 ch3 ch3 ch3 ch3 ch~ch, jv "V«CH2>3 ch2ch3 ch3 ch3 ch3 ch3 ch, ch. ch_ ch 3 3 1 96037 ch, . ch "K 3/ ""3 /xso„ >\ ch3 ch3 ch(ch3)2 (ch2)3 ch(ch3)2 ch2ch2ch3 ch(ch3)2 ch, ch. ch3 ch3 CH3 /"H3 ch3 ch3 /ch(ch3)2 \CH(CH3)2 ,ch2ch3 ch2ch3 ch, ch.

JC ch3 ch3 ch3n/ch3 CE£ x:H3 ch, ch, 3 V/ 3 c(ch3)3 c(ch,), -b ch(ch3)2 ^0 c(ch3)3 ch(ch3)2 0 ch(ch3)2 /ch(ch3)2 ch3ch2 ch2ch3 ■<$ ch, ch, 19603 EXAMPLE 18 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(2-methylthio-2,4-dimethylpentan-3-yl)amide A. 2-Methylthio-2,4-dimethylpentan-3-one A solution of 200 ml. of methanol containing 9.2 g. (0.40 mole) sodium metal was cooled in an ice-bath and saturated with gaseous methyl mercaptan. To this was added 77.2 g. (0.40 mole) of 2-bromo-2,4-dimethyl-pentan-3-one at room temperature and the resulting 10 mixture stirred for two hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with water, extracted with ethyl ether, the extracts washed with water, brine and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The ether was evaporated and the residue distilled in vacuo to afford 50.4 g. 15 of product, B.P. 76® (20 mm.).

B. 2-Methylthio-2,4-dimethyl-3-aminopentane A solution of 6.0 g. (0.038 mole) 2-methylthio-2,4-dimethylpentan-3-one, 9.9 g. formamide and 2.1 g. of 100% formic acid was heated at reflux while removing 20 water formed in the reaction by means of a fractionating head. After 12 hours an additional 2.5 g. of formic acid was added and reflux continued for another 24 hours in the same manner, by which time the reaction mixture reached a temperature of 19 0°C. The mixture 25 was cooled, diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extracts were washed with water and evaporated to dryness at reduced pressure to provide 5.3 g. of residual oil. The oil was refluxed with 40 ml. of 6N hydrochloric acid for six hours, diluted 30 with water, washed with ether and the aqueous phase made strongly alkaline with sodium hydroxide. After extracting with ethyl ether and evaporation of the extract, 3.3 g. (56%) of colorless amine was obtained which gave a single peak by gas-liquid chromatography 35 on a six foot OV-1 column at 110°C.; retention time 412 seconds. 19603 7 C. D-Alanine N-(2-methylthio-2,4-dimethylpentan-3-yl) amide To a solution of 3.2 g. (0.017 mole) N-t-butoxy-carbonyl-D-alanine and 2.5 g. (0.017 mole) triethylamine 5 in 100 ml. of tetrahydrofuran at -15°C. was added 1.63 ml. of ethyl chloroformate. After stirring for 15 minutes, 2.49 g. (0.017 mole) 2-methylthio-2,4-dimethyl-3-aminopentane was added and the mixture stirred for one hour. The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl 10 acetate, washed with water, 5% aqueous citric acid (w/v), sodium bicarbonate solution and brine. The organic phase was evaporated to provide 6.0 g. of residue. This was taken up in 100 ml. methanol, 60 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid added and the mixture 15 refluxed for one hour. After evaporation of methanol, the residue was taken up in water, washed with ether, the aqueous phase adjusted to pH 12 with sodium hydroxide and extracted with ethyl ether. Evaporation of the extracts gave 3.2 g. (87%) of product as a colorless 20 oil R^ 0.56 (butanol/water/acetic acid-4:l:l by volume) .

D. A solution of 3.1 g. (0.013 mole) of the D-alanine amide, obtained in Part C, in 30 ml. acetone and 17 ml. water was adjusted to pH 9.9 with sodium hydroxide solution and cooled to -2°C. To this was added 2.78 g. (0.013 mole) L-aspartic N-thiocarboxyanhydride in small portions over 20 minutes while maintaining the pH at 9.9 with IN sodium hydroxide.

When the addition was completed, the resulting mixture 30 was stirred for 30 minutes at -2°C., washed with ethyl acetate acidified to pH 2 with hydrochloric acid and washed again with ethyl acetate. The aqueous phase was then adjusted to pH 5.2 and evaporated to dryness. • t 96 0 3 The crude dipeptide amide was obtained by slurrying the residue in methanol, filtering, treatment of the filtrate with ether and filtering to obtain a second crop. Total crude yield 4.7 g.

The crude product was purified by preparative layer chromatography on silica gel plates (20 x 20 x 2 mm.) eluting with butanol/water/acetic acid, 4:1:1 by volume. The band at 0.42 was cut out and eluted with methanol to give the pure L-aspartyl-D-alanine 10 amide.

Sweetness: 150 x sucrose. 19603 EXAMPLE 19 N-Benzy1oxycarbonyl-D-2-aminobutyric acid In a 500 ml. reaction vessel fitted with mechanical stirrer, thermometer and two addition funnels was 5 added 20.0 g. (0.194 mole) of commercial D-(-)-2- aminobutyric acid and a solution of 7.76 g. (0.194 mole) sodium hydroxide in 97 ml. water. The mixture was stirred until solution was complete and cooled to 5°C. Simultaneously from the addition funnels were added 10 40.66 g. (0.205 mole) of 86% benzyl chloroformate and a solution of 7.76 g. sodium hydroxide in 58 ml. water. The temperature was maintained at 4-6°C. during the addition. The reaction temperature then increased slowly to 14°C. Stirring was continued for 15 15 minutes after the temperature subsided, then allowed to warm to room temperature. The reaction mixture was washed with 3 x 75 ml. ethyl ether, the aqueous phase adjusted to pH 2 with concentrated hydrochloric acid (16 ml.) causing the product to separate as an oil. 20 The oil was extracted with 3 x 100 ml. ether, dried (MgSO^) and the solvent evaporated to provide a clear, colorless liquid residue which was dried overnight at 0.3 mm. Hg. during which the product crystallized to afford 41.24 g. (89.6%) of the title compound. A 25 1.0 g. portion was recrystallized from 5 ml. xylene, washing the precipitate with xylene and pentane.

After drying overnight 0.77 g. of colorless crystals were obtained, 0.57 upon TLC on silica gel (solvent: ethyl acetate/hexane/acetic acid 4:14:2 by volume; 30 plate sprayed with 3% vanillin), M.P. 76-78°C., [alpha]D + 10 (c = 2.8, ethanol).

Analysis Calculated for C^2H^5N04: C, 60.75; H, 6.37; N, 5.90 Found: C, 60.61; H, 6.41; N, 5.97. 196037 The remainder of the crude crystals (40 g.) was recrystallized from xylene (150 ml.), washing with xylene (3 x 25 ml.) and pentane (2 x 25 ml.) and dried in vacuo at 45°C. to afford 28.69 g. (71.7%) colorless crystals, M.P. 78-79°C.

EXAMPLE 20 L-Aspartyl-D-2-aminobutyric acid N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)amide, I, Ra = C2H5, R = CH a. d-ch3ch2chconhch f A)2 NHCbz N-Benzyloxycarbonyl-D-2-aminobutyric acid, 4.75 g. (0.020 mole) was dissolved in 200 ml. tetrahydrofuran and cooled under a nitrogen atmosphere to -15°C. N-Methylmorpholine, 2.02 g. (0.020 mole) and ethyl chlorof ormate, 2.17 g. (0.020 mole), were added and the resulting mixture stirred at -15 to -10°C. for 30 minutes. The resulting solution of mixed anhydride was cooled to -20°C. and 2.22 g. (0.020 mole) dicyclopropylcarbinyl amine dissolved in 10 ml. tetrahydrofuran was added. Stirring was continued for 15 minutes at -20 to -15°C., after which the mixture was allowed to warm to roan temperature, 150 ml. ethyl acetate was added and the mixture extracted with 2 x 100 ml. N hydrochloric acid, 2 x 100 ml. 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and 100 ml. saturated brine. The organic layer was dried (MgSO^) and the solvent evaporated at reduced pressure to afford 6.62 g. (100%) of colorless solid, R^ 0.68 upon TLC on silica gel (solvent: ethyl acetate/hexane, 1:1 by volume; plate sprayed with 3% vanillin). f 960 B. d-(ch3ch2chconhch( A), «H2 The Cbz-amino-protected amide obtained in Part A, above, 6.62 g. (0.020 mole) was dissolved in 250 ml. reagent grade methanol. 5% Palladium-on-carbon catalyst, 5 1.5 g., was added and the mixture hydrogenated at 2 50 psi (3.52 kg./cm. ) for 45 minutes. The catalyst was removed by filtration and the filtrate evaporated in vacuo to provide a liquid residue. N Hydrochloric acid, 25 ml., was added, the mixture stirred then 10 extracted with 25 ml. ethyl ether. The aqueous phase was made strongly alkaline (pH 14) with 10 M sodium hydroxide and the mixture extracted with 3 x 25 ml. ether. The extracts were combined, dried (MgSO^) and the ether evaporated to afford 3.29 g. (83.9%) of 15 colorless solid, M.P. 63-64°C. 0.60 (butanol/acetic acid/water, v/v; ninhydrin spray); [alpha]D -46.7° (c = 2, IN HC1) . The ^"H-NMR spectrum was in agreement with the structure of D-2-aminobutyric acid N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl )amide. c. Diblocked dipeptide amide To beta-Benzyl N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartate, 5.61 g. (0.0157 mole) dissolved in 50 ml. tetrahydrofuran and cooled to -15°C., was added 1.59 g. (0.0157 mole) N-methylmorpholine. To this was added dropwise 25 1.70 g. (0.0157 mole) ethyl chloroformate, the resulting mixture stirred for 30 minutes at -15°C. and a solution of D-2-aminobutyric acid N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)amide in 15 ml. tetrahydrofuran was added dropwise. Stirring was continued for 15 minutes at -15°C., then the 30 reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature. The solvent was evaporated in vacuo to afford a solid residue. This was mixed with 150 ml. ethyl acetate and the resulting suspension washed with 2 x 75 ml. N hydrochloric acid. The clear organic layer was washed 35 with 2 x 75 ml. 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate, 75 ml. • # 196 0 3 7 brine, dried (MgSO^) and the solvent evaporated in vacuo to afford 8.36 g. (99.5%) of colorless solid, 0.36 on TLC (ethyl acetate/hexane, 1:1, vanillin spray). Recrystallization from ethyl acetate gave 6.12 g. (73%) crystals, M.P. 167-168°C.

D. To a solution of the diblocked dipeptide amide, obtained in Part C, in 250 ml. of methanol was added 1.5 g. 5% (w/w) Pd/C (50% wet) catalyst and the mixture 2 hydrogenated at 50 psi (3.52 kg./cm. ) for 45 minutes during which the theoretical amount of hydrogen was consumed. The ctaalyst was removed by filtration, the filtrate evaporated _in vacuo to a volume of about 75 ml. The concentrate was filtered to remove the precipitated product which was washed with methanol and dried ui vacuo to provide 2.85 g. colorless powder, M.P. 225-227°C. (decomp.). An additional 0.76 g. was obtained from the mother liquor. Total yield: 100%. R^ 0.56 (butanol/acetic acid/water, 4:1:1; ninhydrin spray).

Sweetness, 500 x sucrose. • f 96 0 3 EXAMPLE 21 L-Aspartyl-D-2-aminobutyric acid N-(2,2,4,4-tetraraethyl-l,l-dioxothietan-3-yl)amide: Employing 3-amino-2,2,4,4-tetramethylthietan 1,1-dioxide in place of dicyclopropylcarbinylamine in the procedure of Example 20, Part A, afforded N-benzyloxy-carbonyl-D-2-aminobutyric acid N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,l-dioxothietan-3-yl)amide in 99% yield, Rf 0.50.

B. Hydrogenolysis of the above product by the procedure of Example 20, Part B, afforded D-2-aminobutyric acid N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-l,l-dioxothietan-3-yl)amide in 18% step yield, 0.41.

C. The corresponding diblocked dipeptide amide, c6h5ch2ococh2chconhch(c2h5)conhs02, rf 0.68, nhcooch2c6h5 was obtained in 99% step yield by the procedure of Example 20, Part C.

D. Hydrogenolysis of the product obtained in Part C, above, (1.16 g.) by the procedure of Example 20, Part D, employing 0.4 g. of 5% Pd/C (50% wet) afforded the title compound in 92% step yield, M.P. 165-167°C. (decomp.), R^ 0.4.

Sweetness, 200 x sucrose.

NHCbz 196 0 3 EXAMPLE 22 L-Aspartyl-D-2-aminobutyric acid N-(2,4-dimethyl-3-pentyl)amide I, R3 = C2H5/ R = / A. D-CH3CH2CHCONH "H2 Employing the appropriate amine in the procedure of Example 20, Part A, and hydrogenolysis of the crude product by the procedure of Example 20, Part B gave the diisopropylcarbinyl amide of D-2-aminobutyric acid 10 in 85% yield as an oil, R^ 0.56.

B. The corresponding diblocked amide, C,HcCH,OCOCH_ O D Z Z CHCONHCH(C2H5)CONH-CH[CH(CH3)2]2, was obtained in 76% NHCOOCH « C r H _ 2 6 5 step yield by the procedure of Example 20, Part C, and this was hydrogenated by the procedure of Example 20, 15 Part D to obtain the title compound in 89% step yield (68% overall yield), M.P. 213-215°C. (decomp.), R^ 0.54. Sweetness, 100 x sucrose.

T9603 -9 7- EXAMPLE 23 L-Aspartyl-D-valine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)amide, A I, R = CH(CH,)9, R = CH( V A. (CH3)2CHCHCONHCH(A )2 NHCbz _ Employing commercially available D-valine in place of D-2-aminobutyric acid in the procedure of Example 19 afforded N-benzyloxycarbonyl-D-valine in 82% yield as a white powder, M.P. 55-57°C., R^ 0.45.

This was reacted with dicyclopropylcarbinylamine in 10 the procedure of Example 20, Part A to afford the desired blocked amide in 100% yield, 0.35.

B. Hydrogenolysis of the above product by the method of Example 20, Part B, afforded D-valine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl ) amide in 83.7% yield, 0.53 as a. colorless solid.

C. The corresponding diblocked dipeptide amide, C6H5CH2OCOCH2CHCONHCH[CH(CH3)2]CONHCH(A )2> was obtained NHCOOCH2C6H5 in 92.4% yield by the procedure of Example 20, Part C, Rj 0.55 as an off-white solid.

D. Hydrogenolysis of the product of Part C, above by the procedure of Example 20, Part D, provided the title compound in 85% yield as a colorless solid, R^ 0.54.

Sweetness, 110 x sucrose. f96 03 7 EXAMPLE 24 L-Aspartyl-D-valine N-isopropylamide I, Ra •= CH(CH3)2, R = CH(CH3)2 Reaction of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-D-valine with 5 isopropylamine by the method of Example 20, Part A afforded a quantitative yield of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-D-valine isopropylamide of R^ 0.61 (TLC, ethyl acetate/ hexane, 1:1, vanillin spray).

Hydrogenolysis over Pd/C by the method of Example 20, 10 Part B gave D-valine isopropylamide in 71% yield, R^ 0.50. Coupling with beta-benzyl N-Cbz-L-asparate provided the diblocked dipeptide amide (procedure of Example 20, Part C), R^ 0.40 (TLC, ethyl acetate/hexane, 1:1, vanillin spray), in 62% yield as an off-white 15 solid. This was converted to the desired title compound by the procedure of Example 20, Part D, in 9 0.6% yield, M.P. 226-227°C. (decomp.), R^ 0.44.

Sweetness, 1-2 x sucrose. 19603 7 EXAMPLE 25 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(2,2,4,4-tetraraethyl-3-pentyl) amide, C(CH3)3 I, Ra = CH3, ■< C (ch3)3 A. 2,2,4,4-Tetramethyl-3-aminopentane This was prepared by the method of J. Chem. Soc., Perkin I, 2087 (1976); ibid, 1797 (1974). Pivalonitrile (33.2 g.) and ^-butyl chloride (44.4 g.) were added under nitrogen to a well stirred suspension of sodium 10 sand (18.4 g.) in a mixture of hexane (80 ml.), tetrahydrofuran (20 ml.) and methanol (1 ml.) over one hour at 15-20°C. The mixture was stirred three hours, a solution of chlorobenzene (2 g.) in tetrahydrofuran (5 ml.) added dropwise over 10 minutes and stirring 15 continued for one hour. Methanol (20 ml.) was added with caution over 0.5 hr. followed by water until phases separated. The aqueous phase was extracted with ether and the conbined organic phases dried and evaporated _in vacuo. The residue was distilled to 20 afford di-t-butylketone imine, b.p. 62-63°C./19 mm.

The imine (14 g.) in dry ether (50 ml.) was added to a suspension of lithium aluminum hydride (1.7 g.) in dry ether (50 ml.). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours, refluxed two hours and 25 cooled. Water (1.7 ml.), 15% sodium hydroxide solution (5 ml.) and water (5 ml.) were added cautiously in succession, the mixture filtered, concentrated and the residue distilled to afford the desired amine, b.p. 79-81°C./40 mm. 19603 -10 0- B. N-Benzyloxycarbonyl-D-alanine, 7.59 g. (0.034 mole) was added to 170 ml. methylene chloride containing 4.88 ml. (0.035 mole) triethylamine and the resulting solution cooled to -10°C. Ethyl chloroformate, 3.35 ml. 5 (0.035 mole) was added, the mixture stirred at -10 to -5°C. for 25 minutes then 5.0 g. (0.034 mole) 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-aminopentane was added and stirring continued overnight after allowing the mixture to warm to room temperature. The reaction mixture was washed 10 with 2 x 100 ml. 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate, 2 x 100 ml. 3 M hydrochloric acid, dried (MgSO^) and the solvent evaporated ^in vacuo to leave 9.99 g. (82%) N-Cbz-D-alanine N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-pentyl)amide, identified by its ^"H-NMR spectrum, 0.72 (TLC, ethyl 15 acetate/hexane, 1:1, phosphomolybdate spray).

C. The above Cbz-D-alanine amide, 9.99 g. was dissolved in 250 ml. methanol, 1.6 g. 5% Pd/C catalyst (50% wet) added and the mixture hydrogenated at 45-75 psi 2 (12.8-21.3 kg./cm. ) for 30 minutes. The catalyst was 20 filtered off, the filtrate evaporated Iji vacuo to leave a white solid. To this was added 100 ml. 1 N hydrochloric acid, the mixture stirred for two hours, washed with ethyl ether, then made alkaline with 40% (w/w) sodium hydroxide solution. The basic solution 25 was extracted with ethyl ether, the ether dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated to afford 1.1 g. of colorless product identified as D-alanine N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-pentyl)amide, R^ 0.59 (butanol/water/acetic acid, 4:1:1, ninhydrin then phosphcmolybdate sprays). f 9603 D. The diblocked dipeptide amide was prepared on a 0.005 molar scale from the above amide and beta benzyl N-Cbz-L-aspartate, employing triethylamine and ethyl chloroformate in acetone (50 ml.) by the procedure of Example 20, Part C, in 80% yield, R^ 0.4 (TLC, ethyl acetate/hexane, 1:1, phosphomolybdate spray). It was purified by chromatography on 25 g. of silica gel, eluting with ethyl acetate/hexane, 2:3 by volume, to obtain 1.65 g. of purified liquid product.

E. The diblocked dipeptide amide, 1.15 g. (0.021 mole) was hydrogenolyzed in 150 ml. methanol with 0.2 g. 5% Pd/C by the method of Example 20, Part D, to afford 0.64 g. (93%) of the title ccmpound, M.P. 145-149°C. (decomp.), Rf 0.50.

Sweetness, 450 x sucrose.

Employing the appropriate starting N-Cbz-D-amino acid (-Cbz-NH-CH(Ra)COOH) in the procedure of Parts B-E provides the corresponding compounds of the formula H,OOCCH_CHCONHCHCONHCH [C (CH, ), ] , where Ra is ethyl, z | , J o £ nh2 R isopropyl or n-propyl. • 196 03 7 EXAMPLE 26 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(2-hydroxy-2,4-dimethyl-3-pentyl) amide, ch(ch3)2 i, ra = ch3, r = ?(CH3>2 oh A. 2-Hydroxy-2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanone To a stirred solution of 28.3 ml. (0.2 mole) 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanone in 100 ml. chloroform was added dropwise 10.3 ml. (0.2 mole) bromine in 30 ml. of the same solvent. The resulting mixture was stirred for a few minutes, the solvent evaporated _in vacuo, the residue taken up in 100 ml. ethanol. Water, 50 ml., and 10 M sodium hydroxide, 50 ml., added. The resulting mixture was stirred at reflux for one hour, diluted with 200 ml. water and extracted with 3 x 5 0 ml. ethyl ether. The extracts were dried (MgSO^) evaporated to dryness and the residue distilled to obtain 15.9 5 g. (61%) of the hydroxy-ketone, b.p. 60-62°C./18 mm.

B. 3-Amino-2-hydroxy-2,4-dimethylpentane The hydroxy ketone fron Part A, 15 g. (0.115 mole) was reduced in refluxing mixture of formamide and formic acid by the method of Example 13, Part D, to obtain 4.5 g. (30%) of the hydroxy amine, b.p. 80-81°C./ 17 mm.

C. Diblocked dipeptide amide To a solution of 2.14 g. (5.0 mmole) beta-benzyl-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartyl-D-alanine in 35 ml. tetrahydrofuran cooled to -15°C. was added 0.55 ml. (5.0 mmole) N-methylmorpholine and 0.48 ml. (5.0 mmole) ethyl chloroformate. The mixture was stirred at -15 to -10°C. for two minutes and 0.66 g. (5.0 mmole) 3-amino-2-hydroxy-2,4-dimethylpentane was added. The mixture was allowed to warm to room 19603 temperature, stirred overnight and worked-up as described in Example 5, Part B, to obtain the diprotected dipeptide amide, 0.27 (TLC, ethyl acetate/hexane, 1:1, phosphcmolybdic acid spray, heat) which was used 5 directly in the next step.

D. The product from Part C, above, in 250 ml. methanol was hydrogenated over 1.0 g. 5% Pd/C at 2 60 psi (17 kg./cm. ) for two hours. The catalyst was removed by filtration and the solvent evaporated _in 10 vacuo. The residue was dissolved in 10 ml. methanol and 300 ml. ethyl ether was slowly added with stirring to precipitate the title compound which was collected by filtration, and dried in vacuo to a glass, 1.02 g., M.P. sinters at _ca. 110°C., 123-128 (decomp.), R^ 15 0.31.

Sweetness, 125 x sucrose.

The corresponding conpounds of formula (I) wherein R is as above and Ra is ethyl, isopropyl or n-propyl are prepared in like manner from the appropriate 20 starting material of formula C-HcCH^OCOCH-CHCONHCHCOOH D D Z Z t f NHCbz R by the procedures of Parts B-D, above. • 196 0 EXAMPLE 27 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(DL-2-amino-3,3-dimethyl-4-hydroxybutanoic acid lactone)amide, 0 I, Ra = CH3, R = CH3 CH3 A. DL-2-Amino-3,3-dimethyl-4-hydroxybutyric acid lactone hydrochloride Prepared by the method of Wieland, Chem. Ber., 81, 323 (1948): 2-Keto-3,3-dimethyl-4-hydroxybutyric acid lactone 3.5 g. was neutralized with dilute sodium hydroxide and the aqueous solution evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue was taken up in 100 ml. warm ethanol, filtered hot and a solution of 700 mg. sodium metal in 10 ml. ethanol containing 2 g. hydroxylamine hydrochloride was added. The sodium salt of 3,3-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-2-oximinobutyric acid lactone, 5 g. precipitated and was recrystallized from methanol. The oxime was formed by decomposition of the sodium salt in 2 N hydrochloric acid, from, which it slowly crystallized. After recrystallization fron benzene-hexane, M.P. 160°C.

A solution of 25 g. of the oxime in 100 ml. ethanol was added in portions to 5 g. platinum oxide suspended in 150 ml. 2 N hydrochloric acid and the mixture hydrogenated at atmospheric pressure for 2 days. The catalyst was filtered off, the filtrate evaporated and the residue taken up in 150 ml. ethanol Treatment with 500 ml. ethyl ether precipitated DL-2-amino-3,3-dimethyl-4-hydroxybutyric acid lactone • hydrochloride, 22 g., which was recrystallized from ethanol/ether, M.P. 208-212°C. * • • *1960 3 7 B. Diblocked dipeptide amide The aminolactone hydrochloride from Part A, 1.65 g. (0.010 mole) in 10 ml. methylene chloride and an equimolar amount of triethylamine was employed in 5 the procedure of Example 5, Part B, to provide *2.38 g.

C6H5CH2OCOCH2?H-CONHCH(CH3)CONH-0 as a tacky NHC02CH2C6H5 ch^ ch^ solid, -0.26 (TLC, ethyl acetate/hexane, 7:3 by volume, phosphomolybdic acid spray).

C. The product from Part B, above, 2.38 g. was 10 dissolved in 200 ml. methanol, 0.2 g. of 5% Pd/C catalyst added, the mixture hydrogenated and the product isolated as described in Example 5, Part C, to afford 1.3 g. of colorless solid which was washed with ethyl ether and dried, M.P. 120-130°C. (decomp.), R -15 0.18. The mass spectrum and H-NMR data were in agreement with the structure of the title compound.

Sweetness, 110 x sucrose. # 196 03 EXAMPLE 28 L-Aspartyl-D-norvaline N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-hydroxycyclobutyl)amide, (CH3)2 I, Ra = n-C3H7, R = -<^>-OH <CH3>2 (CH3}2 A. D-n-C3H7CHCONH^r>-OH NHCbz (CH3)2 N-Benzyloxycarbonyl-D-norvaline (0.1 mole), prepared from commercial D-norvaline by the procedure of Example 19, is reacted with cis/trans 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-hydroxycyclobutylamine by the method of 10 Example 20, Part A, to provide the N-Cbz-norvaline amide.

B. Hydrogenation of N-Cbz-*norvaline amide by the method of Example 20, Part B provides the corresponding 2-amino compound, D-norvaline-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-15 hydroxycyclobutylamide. The latter compound is converted to the title conpound by the procedures of Example 20, Parts C and D.

The corresponding compounds of formula (I) wherein R is as defined above and Ra is methyl, ethyl 20 or isopropyl are prepared in like manner from the appropriate starting N-Cbz-D-amino acid. 196 0 3 EXAMPLE 29 L-Aspartyl-D-norvaline N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-oxocyclobutyl)amide (ch,)2 A. D-n-C3H7CHCONH NHCbz (ch3)2 D-N-Benzyloxycarbonylnorvaline N-(2,2,4,4-tetra-methyl-3-hydroxycyclobutyl)amide prepared in Example 28, Part A, 37.6 g., (0.10 mole) dissolved in 1500 ml. acetone is cooled to -10°C. under a dry nitrogen anhydride in diluted sulfuric acid is added. After stirring for 15 minutes at -10°C., the solvent is evaporated in vacuo, the residue poured into an ice-water mixture, neutralized with sodium hydroxide 15 solution and extracted with ethyl ether. The ether extracts are dried (MgSO^) and evaporated to dryness to obtain the crude product which may be purified, if desired, by column chromatography on silica gel. B. Hydrogenation of the product of Part A, above, by 20 the method of Example 20, Part B provides D-norvaline 2,2/4,4-tetramethyl-3-oxocyclobutylamide. This is, in turn, converted to the title compound by the methods described in Example 20, Parts C and D. atmosphere and 42 ml. (0.11 mole) 2.67 M chromic The corresponding conpounds of formula 25 HOOCCH,CHCONHCHCONHR where R is as defined above ' 'a nh2 r and Ra is CH3,"Et, or (CHj^CH are obtained in like manner. 1 96 0 3 -108-EXAMPLE 30 Employing the appropriate amine of formula RNH^ in the above procedures the compounds of formula (I shown below are similarly prepared nh2 /CH2CHn hooc conhchconhr (i) a Ra R Ra 1^3 } 2 _ ch3 -<f> oh i"c3h7 -<>"oh (ch3)2 (ch3)2 (CH3)2 HCyCH3 CH3 -S>° i"C3H7 VCH2)4 (ch3)2 ho/^ch3 ch. ch, ch, 5^ oh X0H ch3 ch3 ch3 , c2h5 , ch3s.0h i-C3H?/ n-C3H7 .il ch3 oh CH3C2H5' A~C3H7' —"C3H7 HOv/C2H5 HO C2H5 n-C3H7 lLE2H5 } 2 HOr^C2H5 —~c3hi7 (ch3)2 ,il HO^C2H5 CH. p-c3H? £ ho n-c3h7 1960 3 7 c2h5 ho n-c.h-v 4 9 ~sF ch3 ch3 CH.

(C,HK) r)-2)4 HO.A^Hg c2h5 ho ch. n-CsB? ch.

CH, ch. ch, -<5>°h CH. ch. ch. ch.

CH, & h ch. c2h5 ch.

-OH c2h5 CH. if c2h5 ch.

"P" 2 5 ch. (ch, ) -3 > 2 o2h5 (ch3)2 oh (ch3>2 c2h5 n-C,H_ n-C3H7 R 196037 n-C^H^ n-C,H_ c3h7 n-C3H? ch3 r>0 >3 S?2'2 i"C3H7 CH.

LJoe -V& (CH-)-CH3 i-C3H7 n-^4Hg -h? h2>2 ch3 CH. rC 4H9 ■ryoE V(CH-), 3 CH- n-C4H9 ch. n-C4H9 ■(CH2)2 OH CH.

HO CH. n-C4Hg CH. (?h3}2 CH.

HO CH.

^C2H5 * 2 CH. (ce3)2 NH CH.

HO C2H5 C2H5 CH. (c2h5)2 1 CH.

HO CH- 19603 7 -lil- Ra R R3 CH3 HOW^2H5 <1 7-° or O n-C.H 4 9 n-C3H7 H9^-CH3 C2H5 -Ohh CH3 -^(CH2'4 o CH 3 t-C4H9 n-C3H7 c2h5 -<l ~~c3h7 -<y°h T OH n-C3H7 CH, J-\ C,H5 y-°H V-OH (ch3)2 3 -\ j 2 5 ,^5'2 «3'C2»5' /^3 ^H rC/7'"- ^OH r"H C3H7 ^CH3 =g«5 'Vs'2 -Q ^ i°0HH o' (^>2 "A"9 CH "OH ^ VOH o" ' c2H5 'hd H°D-l h0-/~ Z(£HD) "hd z'hcd-t oh lkzd-t t)h ^D-T Z'H£D-U chd—i ho—{ LH£D-U ^HeD-T '^HCD-u shzd /£hd lhd oh f(ZED^S~ zk^y dh •hd 'hd EH>< eH^ hd hd 'hd SH3D^OH fchd ' oh S„Z^ ls--b-^7i 'S S *d *f 'V sh3D ho—i 6H^d-U— "hd hd oh hd oh 'hd ^HD^HD—\ ho ~~1 6H^D-U Z-HED-U z'hed-u oh ^h^d-u' oh Z-HeD-u Vd-U - H shzd shzd 'hd oh 6h^d-t oh 'hd 'hd ho P- hd 'hd "hd oh 'hd oh 'hd -Zll- Z CO96 I T 96 03 7 R CH.

HQ CH HO n-C.H 4 9 CH.

CH, C_H ^h I CH3 3 CH. i-C4H9 H OH (ch3)2 CH. n-C3H? OH ■t (CH3)3 CH.

C-H pol ~\-OH (C2H5)2 CH. c2h5 OH (CH3)3 CH.

,C2H5 J—OH C2H5 c2h5 —~C3H7 (,CH3) 2 3 2 CH.

CH, p h (CH3)3 CH- & (CH3)2 C2H5 n-C4H9 j— oh n—(ch,) 3 2 CH. (£h3)2 -5, (C2H5)2 A • * ^ 96 0 3 7 Ra R Ra R C2H5 W2 C2H5 ~0H CH3 -\~Jc=0 CH3 C2H5 (CH3)2 CH3 i-c3h7 j-oh ch3 -oh *C2H5*2 ch3 c2h5 V ch3 c?3 c2h5 ch3 ch3 J^oh ch3 j-0 Xoh ch ch3 c2h5 ch3 CH3 _>^OH CH3 j—O r» tj 3—^0 3' 2 ch3 c2h5 (ch,) c2h5 n-C,H., & n-C3H? ch.

(CH3)2 A o c L3 ^S11? ■"if5' n"C3H7 -Ho CH3 j-, i-c~H7 V-t=o 3 7 i-Ca0? 19603 7 r ch. ch, c_h_ i^o2 5 "0=° ch3 c2h5 ch- c2h5 ch. ch. 2 2 (ch.), I ch —~c3h7 c2h5 Zo*"9 (ch,) -(c2h5>2 ch. f2H5 )~nh <w2 ch.

{W2 <L (ch3)2 ch. rc4h9 /~nh -v> ch, ch. ch, c-hj.

"Ct° ch3 2h5 c2h5 ch ch. n-C3H7 n-C3H? t f 9603 7 ch3, c2h5, i-C3H7, n-c3h7 (CH,), (ch3>2 ch. (ch3)2 CH.

CH3' C2H5' i-C3Hy, n- c3h7 (ch3 >2 <ch3 > 2 ch3 ' (ch3)2 (c2h5)2 c2h5 CH3/C2H5 Xnh CH3 C2H5 ch. & (ch3,2 j. p. & s. c it+'ifsl 5 /7M. i-C3H7 CH NH CH. ch. & -Or ch3° CH- <t2h5 /-NH yu c2h5 ch. ^?4H9 _( NH CH. (,ch3 > 2 IH 2h5 n-C3H7 n-C4H9 (ch3>2 t 96 0 3 7 R CH. (ch3)2 (CH3)2 CH.

CH0 C_Hc 3/25 & ch3 c2h5 c2h5 CH CH. £~c3h7 \4 9 & 2 5 196 0 * EXAMPLE 31 Mass spectrum data was obtained on the following compounds of formula (I) by solid probe introduction into a DS-50 Mass Spectrometer and exact mass of the molecular ion measured in each case to determine the elemental composition of the compounds. The molecular ion in each case was a (M + H)+ rather than M+ ion for all compounds. Fragmentation patterns were similar in each case. There were no unidentified peaks at ^100 amu from the molecular ion which is an indication of chemical purity. 196037 c(ch3)3 ch(ch3)2 CH, '*3 CH^CH3 CH3 CH3 ch^X:H3 ch.chconhchconhr / 2, , hooc nh2 ch3 (L-Asp D-ala) (i, ra = ch3) (m + h)+ Elemental Calculated Found Composition 298.177 298.176 c...h-.n-0. 14 24 3 4 314.208 314.211 c,,h1on,0, 28 3 4 /ch(ch3)2 -\ 302.208 302.209 C,,h,qn,0. \nn/ph * 14 28 3 4 314.208 314.208 c, ^h-on^o,. 28 3 4 330.203 330.202 c15h2gn305 g 332.164 332.165 c14h26n3°4s I 96037 EXAMPLE 32 Carbonated Cola Beverage A carbonated cola beverage was prepared according to the composition given below. The resulting beverage 5 was judged to have sweetness intensity comparable to a control beverage containing 11% sucrose.

Ingredient %, weight Caffeine (1% aqueous solution) 0.700 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N(cis,trans-2,6- dimethylcyclohexyl)amide (10% aqueous) 0.180 Cola flavor concentrate 0.080 Phosphoric acid (5 0% aqueous) 0.040 Citric acid (50% aqueous) 0.066 Sodium citrate (25% aqueous) 0.210 Caramel color (25% aqueous) 0.370 Lemon oil extract 0.012 Lime oil extract 0.021 Carbonated water (3.5 volumes carbon dioxide) q.s. 100.000 Replacement of the L-aspartyl-D-alanine N- (cis,trans-2,6-dimethylcyclohexyl)amide in the above formulation with 0.22% of 10% aqueous L-aspartyl-D-2-aminobutyric acid N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)amide or 1.10% of 10% aqueous L-aspartyl-D-valine N-(dicyclo-25 propylcarbinyl)amide affords carbonated cola beverages of like quality.

I i 96 0 EXAMPLE 33 Dietetic Hard Candy A hard candy is prepared according to the following formulation and procedure: Ingredients Grams L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)- amide 0.35 Water 4.00 FD and C Red #40 (10% aqueous) 0.30 Cherry flavor 0.60 Citric acid 6.00 Polydextrose* 420.00 Water . 180.00 In a small beaker dissolve the sweetener in 15 water, add color, flavor and citric acid and mix well to dissolve. In a separate beaker combine polydextrose and water. Stir while heating to 140°C. then allow to cool to 120-125°C. Add other ingredients fron small beaker and mix or knead thoroughly. Transfer 20 mass to an oil coated marble slab and allow to cool to 75-80°C. Extract the mass through an oil coated impression roller.

Ose of 0.42 g. of L-aspartyl-D-alanine N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,l-dioxothietan-3-yl)amide or 0.9 3 g. of 25 L-aspartyl-D-alanine N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-pentyl)amide as sweetening agent in place of L-aspartyl-D-alanine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)amide affords similar results.

*U.S. 3,766,165 196 03 7 EXAMPLE 34 A gelatin dessert is prepared according to the following composition and procedure.

Ingredients Grams Gelatin 225 Bloom 7.522 Citric acid 1.848 Sodium citrate 1.29 6 Strawberry flavor 0.29 8 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)- amide 0.036 Boiling water 240.000 Cold water 240.000 491.000 Premix the first five ingredients, add to boiling 15 water and stir to dissolve completely. Add cold water and stir briskly. Transfer to serving dishes and refrigerate until set. 'a 0 EXAMPIiE 35 Low calorie table sweeteners are prepared according to the following formulations: A. A powder form of sweetener is prepared by blending 5 the following ingredients.

Ingredients %, weight L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N- (2,2,4,4-tetramethyl- thietan-3-yl)amide 0.18 Crystalline sorbitol 49.76 Dextrin (dextrose equivalent 10) 50.00 Monosodium glutamate 0.02 Glueono-delta-lactone 0.02 Sodium citrate 0.02 100.00 One gram of the resulting blend is equivalent in sweetness to about three grams of sucrose.

B. . A table sweetener in liquid form is prepared as follows.

Ingredients %, weight L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)- amide 0.10 Water 99.80 Sodium benzoate 0.10 100.00 One gram of the resulting solution is equivalent in sweetness to about 1.2 grams of crystalline sucrose.

When the sweetener of formula (I) employed in Part A, above, is 0.59 g. of a 1:4 mixture of L-aspartyl-D-alanine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)amide and 30 sodium saccharin comparable results are obtained.

Similarly when the L-aspartyl-D-alanine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl ) amide employed in Part B, above, is replaced by 0.20 g. of a 1:6 by weight mixture of the same conpound and sodium saccharin .a comparable liquid 35 table sweetener is obtained. 196 03 7 EXAMPLE 36 Frozen Dessert A vanilla sugarless frozen dessert is prepared according to the following formulation by conventional practice.

Ingredients %, weight Heavy cream (35% butterfat) 23.00 Nonfat milk solids 10.50 Mono- and diglyceride emulsifier 0.25 Polydextrose* 11.20 Water 54.51 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(2,2,6,6-tetrarnethyl- cyclohexyl)amide 0.04 Gelatin (225 Bloom) 0.50 100.00 *U.S. 3,766,165 IM037 EXAMPLE 37 Canned Pears Fresh pears are washed, peeled, cored, sliced into pieces and immersed in an aqueous solution 5 containing 0.05% by weight of ascorbic acid. The sliced fruit is packed into screw-cap jars and the jars filled with a syrup containing the following ingredients: %, weight Sorbitol 25.000 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-dicyclopropylcarbinyl)- amide 0.025 Citric acid 0.125 Water q.s. 100.000 The jars are capped loosely and placed in an autoclave containing hot water and processed at 100°C. for 45 minutes. The jars are removed, immediately sealed by tightening the caps and allowed to cool. 196037 EXAMPLE 38 Powder Beverage Concentrate Ingredients %y Weight Citric acid 31.78 Sodium citrate 5.08 Strawberry flavor 57.72 Strawberry FD and C color 0.54 L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-[(-)fenchyl]amide 2.44 Carboxymethyl cellulose 2.44 100.00 Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until homogeneous. For use, 1.73 g. of powder beverage concentrate is dissolved in 4 fluid ounces (118 ml.) of water. 196032 EXAMPLE 39 Baked Cake A highly acceptable vanilla cake was prepared employing the following recipe: Ingredients Emulsified shortening Water Eggs Sodium bicarbonate Vanilla extract, single fold Glueono-delta-lactone Polydextrose*, 70% aqueous solution Nonfat dry milk Cake flour Whole milk powder Wheat starch L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)-amide Grams 16.09 20.83 23.00 1.10 0.28 1.75 80.00 2.50 56.20 0.80 1.40 0.05 204.00 Combine nonfat dry milk, whole milk powder, polydextrose solution and emulsified shortening. Mix at low speed until creamy and smooth (about 3 minutes), add eggs and beat until a honogeneous creamy mix is obtained. Dissolve sweetener in water, add to creamy honogenate and mix 2-3 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and mix until creamy and smooth (3-5 minutes). Place 120 g. of batter in small pregreased pan and bake at 350°F. (176°C.) for 30 minutes.

*O.S. 3,766,165 19603 35 EXAMPLE 40 Synergistic Mixtures of L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)amide, [I, Ra = CH^, R = CH(/\ )and Saccharin Blends of [I, Ra = CH^, R = CH( /\ )^3 and sodium saccharin were prepared and evaluated for taste acceptability and sweetness intensity by comparison with aqueous sucrose standards. Sweetness potency factors of sodium saccharin and [I, Ra = CH^, R = CH( A) 2] of 300 and 1200 x sucrose, respectively, were used to calculate the theoretical sweetness of the blends. A series of taste panel evaluations were carried out comparing aqueous solutions of the experimental blends with sucrose solutions ranging 6 to 12% (w/v) and 0.033% sodium saccharin solution. Results are tabulated below.

Blend,Parts by Weight Sweetness '3 Sodium Potency x Sucrose % Taste R=CH(A)-j] Saccharin (T)Theory (A)Actual Synergy Quality [I, R =CH- '2- 1 1 750 1000 33 clean, sweet, not bitter 1 2 600 800 33 same 1 4 480 600 33 same 1 6 430 575 33 sweet, perceptible bitterness 1 8 400 530 33 sweet, si ight bitterness 1 9 390 500 33 same 1 381 475 sweet, slight to moderate bitter, metallic taste 19603 The % synergy was calculated according to the following formula % Synergy = x 100 where A is the actual sweetness determined by averaging 5 the taste panel results and T is the theoretical sweetness determined from the composition of the mixtures by weight e.g., for the 1:4 blend the theoretical sweetness is (1/5 x 1200) + (4/5 x 300) = 480.

Fran the results it is seen that with mixtures 10 of from 1:1 to 1:9 there is an unexpected increase in sweetness potency of 33% and a somewhat lesser synergistic effect with the 1:10 blend. Furthermore there is complete masking of the well known bitter aftertaste of saccharin with blends of fron 1:1 to 15 1:4 and effective masking of bitterness in blends containing up to one part L-aspartyl-D-alanine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)amide and 9 parts sodium saccharin.

When the above procedure is repeated but the 20 invention compound is employed is of the formula (I) wherein Ra is methyl and R is (CH3)2 (CH3)2 or ^CpS02 (CH3)2 <CH3>2 similar results are obtained. 196 03 7 EXAMPLE 41 Three batches of carbonated cola beverages were prepared according to the method of Example 32 except that the sweetener employed in batch A was 0.020 g. of the 1:6 blend of [I, Ra = CH^, R = CH( A )^/sodium saccharin, batch B employed 12 g. sucrose and batch C, 0.3412 g. of a 1:10 blend of saccharin/cyclamate. The sweetness factor employed for the [I, Ra = CH^, R = CH( A)2J/sodium saccharin blend was that determined in Example 40, i.e. 575 x sucrose. The three beverages were rated for hedonic scores on a nine point rating scale* by a taste panel with the following results.

Beverage Average of Hedonic Scores *1 = Dislike extremely, 5 = neither like nor dislike, 9 = like extremely.

Similarly, when the same three sweeteners are employed in like manner in carbonated lemon-lime beverage, instant chocolate pudding, marshmallow, grape jelly, orange flavored gelatin, gum drops, chewing gum or vanilla cake formulations, comparable results are obtained.

C A B 7.1 8.0 6.7 19603 EXAMPLE 42 Sodium Salt of L-Aspartyl-D-alanine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)amide To a solution of 3 g. (0.01 mole) L-aspartyl-D-alanine N-(dicyclopropylcarbinyl)amide in 100 ml. of ethanol is added 2 ml. of 5 N sodium hydroxide. The resulting mixture is stirred for ten minutes at room temperature then evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue is triturated with anhydrous ethanol/ filtered and air dried.

When the sodium hydroxide employed above is replaced with an equivalent amount of potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide the corresponding potassium, calcium, magnesium and ammonium salts are formed in like manner.

The remaining L-aspartyl-amino acid dipeptide amides of formula (I) are also converted to carboxylate salts as described above. i96 0 EXAMPLE 43 Acid Addition Salts The L-aspartyl-D-amino acid dipeptide amide of formula (I) is slurried in a small amount of water 5 and an equivalent amount of acids such as hydrochloric, phosphoric, sulfuric, acetic, maleic, fumaric, lactic, tartaric, citric, gluconic or saccharic acid is added. The resulting mixture is stirred for 15-30 minutes then evaporated to dryness or precipitated 10 by addition of a cosolvent such as methanol or ethanol. t 96 0 example 44 Comparative stability of representative L-aspartyl-D-alanine amides of the invention was determined at pH 7 and pH 3 in 0.01 M phosphate 5 buffer at 9 0°C. The concentration of unchanged sweetener was determined at 24 hour intervals by high pressure liquid chromatography on a 10 cm. Lichrosorb* C^g column at 1 ml. per minute of 0.01 M ammonium acetate containing 15% methanol by volume. The half-10 life at 9 0°C. calculated for each of the compounds of formula (I) at pH 7 and pH 3 is shown in the table below.

Conpound of Formula (I, Ra = CH3) Half-life at 90°C., Hours R 2HJI £H_3 (CH3)2CH CH(CH3)2 54.6 21.2 51.5 .2 49.3 19.6 57.8 18.8 Fron data obtained in a similar manner, but at various other temperatures, the half-life of the invention compounds at roan temperature is estimated to be ten years or more at these pH's.

♦Registered Trademark 19603 EXAMPLE 45 2-Alkyl- and 2,6-Dialkylcyclohexylamines To a solution of 25 g. of 2,6-diisopropylaniline in 250 ml. each of ethanol and water was added 10 g. of dry 5% ruthenium-on-carbon catalyst. The mixture was hydrogenated in an autoclave at 100°C., 1000 psi 2 (70.4 kg./cm. ) until hydrogen uptake ceased. The catalyst was removed by filtration and the filtrate evaporated to remove solvent. The residue was distilled in vacuo to obtain 11.2 g. of 2, 6-diisopropylcyclohexyl-amine as a mixture of cis,trans and trans,trans-isomers, B.P. 122-124°C. at 22 mm.

By employing the appropriate 2-alkylaniline or 2,6-dialkylaniline as starting material and hydrogenat-ing by the above method the following cyclohexylamines are also obtained. 2-methyl-6-ethylcyclohexylamine, B.P. 82-87°C. at 19 mm. (50% yield); 2-methyl-6-isopropylcyclohexylamine, B.P. 86° at 14 mm. (45% yield); 2-n-butylcyclohexylamine; 2-ethyl-6-n-butylcyclohexylamine; 2-methyl-6-t-butylcyclohexylamine; 2-t-butylcyclohexylamine; 2,6-dimethylcyclohexylamine; trans-2-ethylcyclohexylamine, B.P. 77-78° (23 mm.); 2,6-diethylcyclohexylamine, B.P. 96°C., (17 mm.); tran s-2,-i sopropy1eye1ohexylam ine; 2-isobutylcyclohexylamine; 2-methyl-6-n-butyleye1ohexylamine. i96 0 EXAMPLE 46 2-t-Butyleye1ohexylamine i. 2-t-Butylcyclohexanone A solution of 31.25 g. (0.20 mole) t-butylcyclo-5 hexanol in 80 ml. of ethyl ether was cooled to 10°C.

To this was added dropwise, with stirring, a solution of 21.0 g. (0.07 mole) sodium dichromate dihydrate and 15.75 ml. (0.30 mole) concentrated sulfuric acid in 100 ml. water while maintaining the reaction mixture 10 below 25°C. The mixture was then warmed to room temperature, stirred for two hours, poured onto ice-water, ether layer separated, the aqueous phase extracted again with ether and the ccrabined extracts washed with water, sodium bicarbonate and dried (MgSO^) 15 Evaporation of the ether afforded 30.6 g. (99%) of the desired ketone. ii. Leuckart Reduction of Ketone A mixture of 2-t-butyleyelohexanone 30.6 g. (0.20 mole), formamide 50 ml. (1.2 mole) and formic acid 20 (10 ml.) was heated at reflux while removing water as it formed in the reaction while returning the ketone to the reaction vessel. Formic acid (10 ml.) was added as needed to control deposition of ammonium carbonate in the condenser. After four hours the 25 reaction temperature reached 19 7°C. and distillation ceased. The mixture was cooled, diluted with water (50 ml.) and extracted with ethyl acetate (75 ml.). The organic layer was evaporated, concentrated hydrochloric acid added (50 ml. per 100 ml. of residue), 30 the mixture boiled overnight, cooled and washed with 0 ml. of ethyl ether. The aqueous phase was adjusted *96037 to pH 11 with sodium hydroxide, cooled, extracted with ether (2 x 40 ml.) and the extracts dried over sodium hydroxide pellets. The solvent was evaporated and the residue distilled through a 10 cm. column to obtain 5 21.93 g. of the title amine (71%), B.P. 86-88°C. (21 mm.) as a mixture of cis and trans-isomers. iii. dl-Fenchone and 1^-fenchone are reduced to the corresponding fenchylamines by the Leuckart reduction method of Part ii, above. (-)Fencylamine is 10 obtained as a water white liquid, B.P. 55-60°C. (6 mm.), [alpha]D -21.9° in 30% yield.

EXAMPLE 47 *Alkylcycloalkylcarbinylamines and dicycloalkylcarbinylamines i. To a mixture of 118.5 g. (1.0 mole) of cyclobutylcarbonyl chloride and 99 g. (1.0 mole) cuprous chloride in 1000 ml. of dry ether under a nitrogen atmosphere is added dropwise 478 ml. (1.0 mole) of 2 M t-butylmagnesium chloride in the same solvent. The addition is carried out at -5 to -15°C. The resulting mixture is poured into 500 ml. of 3 M hydrochloric acid and 700 g. ice, the organic layer is separated and washed successively with water, sodium bicarbonate solution, brine and dried (MgS04). The dried ether extract is evaporated at reduced pressure and the residue distilled to provide t-butyl cyclobutyl-ketone. ii. The ketone, 105 g. (0.75 mole), is mixed with hydroxylamine hydrochloride 38.3 g. (1.16 mole) and sodium acetate, 123 g. (1.50 mole), in sufficient water to effect solution, heated on the steam-bath for one hour, cooled and the mixture adjusted to pH 7.5 with sodium hydroxide solution. After extracting the mixture with ether, the extracts are dried (MgSO^) and evaporated to dryness to afford the oxime. The oxime 25 is dissolved in anhydrous ethanol (about two liters per mole of oxime) and the solution heated at reflux. Sodium metal (about 10 moles per mole of oxime) is added in portions at a rate sufficient to maintain reflux temperature. When all the sodium is added the 30 resulting mixture is cooled and 200 ml. of ethanol V96 037 followed by 300 ml. of water is added. The mixture is acidified with hydrochloric acid, evaporated to remove ethanol and the residue made alkaline (pH 12-13) with 10 M sodium hydroxide. The alkaline mixture is extracted several times with ether and the combined extracts dried (MgSO^). Dry hydrogen chlorine is passed through the dried extracts until precipitation is complete. The precipitated hydrochloride salt is collected by filtration, washed with ether and air dried. The salt is converted to the free base by means of aqueous sodium hydroxide, extraction with ethyl ether and evaporation of the extracts. The product, t-butylcyclobutylcarbinylamine is of suitable purity for use in preparing the amides of the invention but may be further purified, if desired, e.g. by distillation or column chromatography. iii. By employing the appropriate acid halide and Grignard reagent in the above procedure in place of cyclobutylcarbonyl chloride and t-butylmagnesium chloride the following amines are obtained in like manner. 196 03 7 nh m 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 *B.P. 80-90°C. (21 mm.) r^ r! r9 h h h ch3 h h ch3 ch3 h ch3ch2 ch3ch2 ch3ch2 ch3 £-c4h7 h (ch3)2ch (ch3)2ch h ch3 ch3 c(ch3) ch3ch2 ch3.ch2 h n-c3h7 h h ch3 ch3 h ch3 n-c4h7 h n-c3h7 n-c3h7 h ch3ch2 (ch3)3c h ch3 ch3 ch3* ch3ch2 h h ch3ch2 ch3ch2 ch3ch2 ch3 h h ch3 ch3 h —~c3h7 (ch3)2ch h ch3ch2 £-c4h7 h ch3 ch3 ch3 n-c3h7 h h ch3 ch3 h ch3 h h ch3 ch3 ch3 ch3ch2 ch3ch2 h iv. The amines of the following formula are also provided in like manner. m ^ 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 1 1 10 12 1 3 1 4 2 2 2 3 15 2 4 3 3 3 4 4 4 The following amines are also prepared by this 20 method: 2,2-dimethyl-3-aminopentane, B.P. 123-126°C./ atmospheric pressure; 2,2,4-trimethyl-3-aminopentane, B.P. 149-150°C., atmospheric pressure. *9603 -141-EXAMPLE 48 trans-2-Ethylcyclopentylamine i. 2-Ethylcyclopentanone In a three-necked flask 5.0 g. of sodium metal 5 was dissolved in 250 ml. of dry ethanol and 31.24 g. (0.20 mole) 2-carboethoxycyclopentanone added. To the resulting yellow solution 18.4 ml. (0.23 mole) ethyl iodide was added dropwise and the mixture heated at reflux for two hours. After cooling, 25 0 ml. of brine 10 and 50 ml. of water were added and the mixture extracted with ethyl ether (2 x 100 ml.). After drying (MgSO^) and evaporation of solvent 36.5 g. (99%) of 2-ethyl-2-carboethoxycyclopentanone was obtained.

This was decarboxylated by heating at reflux with 15 a mixture of 200 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid and 100 ml. of water. After four hours at reflux carbon dioxide evolution was complete. The mixture was cooled, saturated with sodium chloride, extracted with ethyl ether, the extracts dried (MgSO^) and ether 20 evaporated. The residue was distilled to obtain 12.62 g. (56%) of 2-ethylcyclopentanone, B.P. 97-98°C. (100 mm.). ii. The product obtained above was converted to trans-2-ethylcyclopentylamine by the procedure of Example 47, Part ii, B.P. 150-151°C. in 35% yield.

The identity of the product was verified by its ^H-NMR spectrum.

By employing the appropriate 2-carbethoxycyclo-alkanone or a corresponding hetercyclic ketone (pre-30 pared by the well known Dieckmann cyclization of the appropriate dicarboxylate ester, see e.g., H. 0.

House, "Modern Synthetic Reactions", W. A. Benjamin, Menlo Park, Cal., 1972, p. 740.) and the appropriate alkyl halide in place of ethyl iodide in the above 35 procedure the following amines of formula R NH2 are prepared in like manner. 196037 Where R is /"-(CH-) a. j. p. & s. -o, 2 m E 1 CH, 1 C2H5 2 —~C4H9 2 CH3 2 1S£-C4H9 4 CH3 4 3 t"C4H9 j.'p. & s. 10 where R is "t(«22)^ X lU-Ur-n * mi/t X n £ 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 1 2 0 1 2 0 1 2 0 1 2 s 0 1 s 0 1 s 1 1 CM 0 to 1 1 s 0 2 s 0 3 s 0 3 h. 2-CH-4-ch3 2-t-C4H9 2-CH3 4-CH3 4-sec-C^Hg 2-i-C3H7 2-CH- 4-CH, 3-CH3 -CH3 5-t-C4H9 3~t-C4H9 2-CH3 4-CH3 1-C3H7 t-c4H9 2-CH. 3 2-CH. 4-CH3 EXAMPLE 49 1 96 0 trans-2-1sopropyleye1opentylamine 2-1s opr opyIcyclopentanone To a solution of 10 g. of sodium metal in 670 ml. of ethanol was added dropwise a mixture of 100 g. (1.19 mole) eyelopentanone and 60 g. (1.03 mole) acetone and the resulting mixture refluxed for 1.5 hours. The solvent was evaporated in vacuo, the residue taken up in ether, the solution washed with 3 M hydrochloric acid (5 x 200 ml.), 5% sodium bicarbonate (3 x 200 ml.), brine (1 x 200- ml.) and dried (MgSO^). The ether was evaporated with mild heating to afford 9 7 g. of dark liquid which was distilled in vacuo to obtain 55 g. of 2-isopropylidenecyclopentanone, B.P.

I5 96-100° (2.7 mm.).

To 12.75 g. of the above product in 250 ml. of methanol was added 2.0 g. 5% palladium-on-carbon catalyst and the mixture hydrogenated at 50 psi 2 (3.5 kg./cm .). After one hour the hydrogen uptake was complete. The catalyst was removed and solvent evaporated in vacuo to afford 12.75 g. of colorless liquid. This was distilled to obtain 9.64 g. of 2-isopropylcyclopentanone, B.P. 74-76°C. (20 mm.).

Reduction of 2-isopropylcyclopentanone by the 25 method of Example 47, Part ii afforded the corresponding amine, B.P. 167° (atm.) in 31% yield. 196 0 37 EXAMPLE 50 2,2-Dimethyl-3-aminobutane In a 500 ml. flask was placed 10.0 g. (0.10 mole) 2,2-diraethyl-3-butanone, 250 ml. methanol, 76.94 g. 5 (1.0 mole) ammonium acetate and 4.37 g. (0.07 mole) sodium cyanoborohydride, and the mixture was allowed to stir at room temperature for 24 hours. The pH was adjusted to 2.0 with concentrated hydrochloric acid and the methanol removed at reduced pressure. The 10 residual solid was dissolved in 500 ml. water and washed with three 100 ml. portions of ether. The pH of the aqueous solution was adjusted to 13 with 10 M sodium hydroxide and the mixture extracted with three 100 ml. portions of ether. The extracts were combined, 15 . dried over anhydrous MgSC>4, filtered and distilled.

The amine (2.4 g.) distilled at 102-103°C at atmospheric pressure.

The racemic amine was resolved by the Polari-metric Control method described by Bruck et al^., ON 20 Chem. Soc., 9 21 (19 56) employing the amine hydrogen tartarates and crystallizing from 70:30 methanol/water (by volume) to obtain dextrorotatory amine of 93 +_ 4% purity and levorotatory amine of 80 _+ 4% purity.

When an equivalent amount of 2,2-dimethyl-3-25 pentanone is employed in place of 2,2-dimethyl-3- butanone in the above procedure 2,2-dimethyl-3-amino-pentane is obtained and resolved into its enantiomers. 1 96 0 3 7 PREPARATION A L-Aspartic acid N-thiocarboxyanhydride A. L-Aspartic acid (582 g., 4.29 mole) was added gradually with stirring to 350.9 g. (8.58 mole) of 50% 5 sodium hydroxide solution at 0°C. Methyl methyl xanthate (550 g. , 4.51 mole) in 405 ml. of methanol was then added as rapidly as possible. The mixture was heated at 45°C. for 1.5 hours, cooled to room temperature, and washed with two portions of methylene 10 chloride. The methylene chloride washes were discarded and the aqueous phase acidified with concentrated hydrochloric acid at 0°C. The solution was extracted with three portions of ethyl acetate, and the combined extracts washed with brine and dried over anhydrous 15 magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated in vacuo to give a yellow oil which crystallized upon addition of ethylene dichloride and n-hexane. The N-methoxy-thiocarbonyl-L-aspartic acid was collected by filtration, washed with fresh n-hexane, and dried (420 20 g., 47%).

M.P. 128-130°C; 1H-NMR (DMSO-dg), (delta) 2.73 (d, 2H, J = 6 Hz), 3.63 (s, 3H), 4.43 (dt, IH, J = 6 Hz, 8 Hz), 6.63 (d, IH, J = 8 Hz); infrared spectrum (KBr) 1715, 1515 cm"1. # 196 B. N-methoxythiocarbonyl-L-aspartic acid (207.0 g. 1.00 mole) was dissolved in 1200 ml. ethyl acetate at 0°C. and phosphorous tribromide (47 ml., 0.50 mole) was added in one portion. The cooling bath was removed and the temperature allowed to rise spontaneously to 35°C. The solution was stirred for 10 minutes after which tdLme a granular white precipitate had formed. The reaction mixture was cooled to 0-5°C., the product collected by filtration, washed with a small volume of . ether, and dried. The yield of analytically pure L-aspartic acid N-thiocarboxyanhydride was 157.4 g. (90%) .

M.P. 200-205 °C. (dec.); [alpha] j^5 = -109.5° (C = 1, THF); infrared spectrum (KBr) 3225, 1739, 1724, 1653, 1399 cm"1; 1H-NMR (DMSO-dg) ppm (delta) 2.83 (d, 2H, J = 5.0 Hz), 4.70 (t, IH, J = 5.0 Hz), 9.23 (bs, 2H, ex); mass spectrum (m/e) 175 (M+), 87, 60. 196037 PREPARATION B 2,2-Dimethyicyclohexylamine i. 2,2-Dimethylcyclohexanone To a suspension of 13.5 g. (0.25 mole) sodium 5 methoxide in 500 ml. of ethyl ether was added 30.8 g. (0.28 mole) 2-methylcyclohexanone and 20.3 g. (0.28 mole) ethyl formate. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 12 hours, filtered under a nitrogen atmosphere, the solids washed with ethyl ether and 10 dried in the vacuum oven at 75°C. The dried cake was ground in a mortar and pestle to a fine powder to obtain 17.5 g. (43%) of sodium 2-formyl-6-methyleyelohexanone which was used in the next step.

The above product, 17.5 g. (0.11 mole) was added 15 to a mixture of 2.88 g. (0.13 mole) sodium shot, 5 00 ml. anhydrous ammonia and about 0.1 g. ferric chloride. The resulting gray suspension was cooled to -45°C. and stirred for one hour at the reflux temperature of the system. To this was added 20.86 g. (0.15 mole) methyl 20 iodide, the mixture stirred three hours at reflux and allowed to evaporate while warming to room temperature overnight. The residue was suspended in 300 ml. ethyl ether, refluxed to expel1 traces of ammonia and water added to dissolve the solids. The ether was extracted 25 with water (3 x 100 ml.), the conbined aqueous layers treated with 6 g. of solid sodium hydroxide and heated to steam distill the ketone. The steam distillate was extracted with ethyl ether, the extracts washed with brine, dried and ether evaporated to provide 2,2-30 dimethyleyelohexanone as a colorless liquid, 2.0 g. 1 9603 7 ii. The ketone provided above is converted to the oxime and the latter reduced with sodium in ethanol as described in Example 47, Part ii, to provide 3.1 g. of 2,2-dimethylcyclohexylamine.

The following 2,2-disubstituted ketones are pre pared and converted to amines by the above method in like manner. 2,2-dimethylcyclopentanone 2,2-diethylcyclopentanone 10 2,2-di-n-propylcyclopentanone 2.2-diethylcyclohexylamine 3.3-dimethylthiepane-4-one 3.3-dimethyloxepane-4-one 4.4-dimethyloxepane-5-one f 96 PREPARATION C * ~ 2 ,2,6,6-Tetramethylcyclohexylamine i. 2,2,6,6-Tetramethyleyelohexanone A 50% suspension of sodium hydride in mineral 5 oil, 14.3 g. (0.30 mole), was suspended in tetrahydrofuran, the liquid decanted and the solid resuspended and decanted again to remove the oil. Then 15 g. (0.12 mole) of 2,6-dimethyleyelohexanone was added followed by dropwise addition of a mixture of 11 g. t-10 butanol and 20 ml. of tetrahydrofuran (vigorous hydrogen evolution) and the resulting mixture refluxed until hydrogen evolution was complete. To this was added dropwise 37.8 g. (0.30 mole) methylsulfate and the mixture heated at reflux for 2 4 hours. After dilution 15 with water, extraction with ethyl ether, washing the extracts with water, drying and evaporation of solvent below 40°C., 17 g. of tetramethylketone was obtained. This was distilled to obtain 14.6 g. of product, B.P. 62-64°C. (15 mm.). ii. The 2,2,6,6-tetramethylcyclohexanone (8 g.) obtained above was converted to the oxime and the latter conpound reduced by the procedure of Example 47, Part ii, to provide 1.4 g. of the desired amine as a colorless liquid which was of suitable purity for use 25 as intermediate. • '960 iii. 2,2,5,5-Tetramethy1eye1opentanone To a slurry of 2.0 moles of sodium hydride (washed to remove oil) in tetrahydrofuran was added 190 ml. (2.0 mole) methyl sulfate at a fast rate. Simultaneously, 5 35.7 g. (0.425 mole) cyclopentanone in 50 ml. of the same solvent was added at a slow rate. The reaction mixture warmed spontaneously to a gentle reflux and hydrogen evolution was vigorous. When the addition was completed, the mixture was allowed to stir overnight 10 at ambient temperature. After heating to reflux for two more hours a mixture of t-butanol in tetrahydrofuran was added and reflux continued for three hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with water, extracted with ethyl ether, the extracts washed with water, 15 brine, dried over anhydrous MgSO^ and the solvent evaporated to yield 48.2 g. of crude product. This was distilled to afford 24.2 g. of tetramethylketone, B.P. 63-68°C., 40 mm.

By employing a lower mole ratio of methyl sulfate 20 to cyclopentanone, the same method affords 2-methyl-cyclopentanone, 2,5-dimethylcyclopentanone and 2,2,5-trimethylcyclopentanone.

The following ketones are prepared in like manner when the appropriate starting materials are employed 25 in the procedures of Part i and Part iii, above. The alpha-propyl and alpha-butylketones are prepared using e.g., the appropriate alkylbromide as alkylating agent.

I" '. 96 0 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanone 2-ethylcyclopentanone .2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutanone 2-methylcyclobutanone 5 2,2-diraethylcyclobutanone 2.4-diisopropylcyclobutanone 2-t-butyleye1opentanone 2,2-dimethyl-5-t-butylcyclopentanone 2.5-diisopropylcyclopentanone 10 2-sec-butyleye1opentanone 2-isobutylcyclohexanone 2-methylcycloheptanone 2-_t-butyl cycl oheptanone 2,7-dimethy1eye1oheptanone 15 2,7-diisopropylcycloheptanone 3,5-dimethyltetrahydro-4H-pyran-4-one 3,5-diisopropyltetrahydro-4H-pyran-4-one 3,3,5,5-tetramethyltetrahydro-4H-pyran-4-one 3-methyl-5-t-butyltetrahydro-4H-pyran-4-one 3,3,5,5-tetramethyltetrahydro-4H-thiapyran-4-one 3-isopropyltetrahydro-4H-thiapyran-4-one 3,5-diisopropyltetrahydro-4H-thiapyran-4-one 3,-t-butyltetrahydro-4H-thiapyran-4-one 2-methyltetrahydro-4H-thiapyran-3-one 25 2,4-dimethyltetrahydro-4H-thiapyran-3-one 2-raethylthiepane-3-one 4-methylthiepane-3-one 2,4-diethylthiepane-3-one 2,4-diisopropylthiepane-3-one 30 3,5-dimethylthiepane-4-one 3,3,5,5-tetramethylthiepane-4-one 4-methyltetrahydro-4H-pyran-3-one 4- sec-bu ty 11 et rahydr o-4 H-pyran-3- one 1 037 2-isopropyltetrahydro-4H-pyran-3-one 2,4-diisopropyltetrahydro-4H-pyran-3-one 2,4-dimethyltetrahydro-4H-pyran-3-one 2-methyloxepane-3-one 4-methyloxepane-3-one 2.4-dimethyloxepane-3-one 2.2.4.4-tetramethyloxepane-3-one 3-methyloxepane-4-one -methyloxepane-4-one 3.5-dimethyloxepane-4-one 3.3.5.5-tetramethyloxepane-4-one 3,5-diisopropyloxepane-4-one 3-t-butyloxepane-4-one -t-butyloxepane-4-one 15 The ketones provided above are converted to the corresponding amines by conversion to the oxime and reduction with sodium in ethanol as described in Example 47, Part ii, or Leuckart reduction of the ketone as described in Example 46, Part ii. 19603 PREPARATION D 2,4-Dimethyi-3-ajninopentane In a shaker bottle was placed 0.2 g. platinum dioxide and 10 ml. water. The slurry was hydrogenated 2 at 50 psi (3.5 kg./cm .) for 15 minutes. To the resulting slurry of platinum black was added 34.26 g. • (0.30 mole) 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanone, 20.0 g. (0.37 mole) ammonium chloride, 225 ml. ammonia saturated methanol and 25 ml. concentrated ammonium hydroxide. 10 The resulting slurry was hydrogenated at 60 psi 2 (4.2 kg./cm. ) and room temperature for 20 hours, filtered, refluxed for for 1 hour and cooled. The mixture was adjusted to pH 2.0 with concentrated hydrochloric acid and the volume was reduced by 15 evaporation at reduced pressure. After washing with 75 ml. ethyl ether, the aqueous solution was brought to pH 13 with 10 M sodium hydroxide solution and extracted with three 100 ml. portions of ether. The extracts were combined, dried over anhydrous MgSO^ and 20 saturated with gaseous hydrogen chloride. The precipitated amine hydrochloride was collected by filtration, air dried and decomposed with 75 ml. 10 M sodium hydroxide solution. The oily amine layer was separated and distilled at atmospheric pressure, B.P. 129-132°C, 25 yielding 17.6 g. .196037 PREPARATION E * 2 ,2 ,3 ,'3-Tetramethyl eye lopropyl amine i. Ethyl 2,2,3,3-Tetramethylcyclopropanecarboxylate The method of Mesheheryakov, Chem. Abstr., 54, 24436d (1960) was employed. To a mixture of 19 g. (0.226 mole) of 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene and 2 g. of cupric sulfate is added at reflux a mixture of 51 g. (0.447 mole) ethyl diazoacetate and 19 g. of 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene. The resulting mixture is heated at 10 reflux for 3 hours, cooled, filtered and distilled to afford 19.8 g. (26%) of the desired cyclic ester, B.P. 76-77° (15 mm.) ii. To 300 ml. of ethanol containing 40 g. of ammonia is added 17 g. (0.10 mole) of the ester obtained above and the resulting mixture allowed to stand overnight. After heating at reflux for one hour the ethanol was evaporated in vacuo to obtain 2,2,3,3-t etramethy1eye1opropanec arboxam id e.

A solution of 2.82 g. (0.02 mole) of the amide in 20 8 ml. tetrahydrofuran and 4 ml. of water is cooled to 5°C. and 10 ml. of 2 M sodium hypochlorite added drop-wise followed by 8 ml. of 20% (w/v) sodium hydroxide.

The two phase mixture is stirred at 5°C. for 30 minutes then at 20°C for one hour. The organic layer is 25 extracted with ether, the ether layer extracted with 2 M hydrochloric acid (3 x 20 ml.), the aqueous acidic layer is made strongly alkaline with sodium hydroxide and extracted with ether. The extracts are dried (NajSO^) and the ether evaporated at 25° (50 mm.) to 30 give 0.67 g. (25%) 2,3,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropylamine. 1H-NMR (CDC13) ppm (delta): 0.9 5 (6H, singlet); 1.00 (6H, singlet); 1.83 (IH, multiplet); 1.7 (2H, multiplet). 196 0 3 7 iii. The following substituted eyelopropylamines are prepared in an analogous fashion from the appropriate olefin. r3 r4 r5 si ch3 h ch3 h ch3 h h h i-ch3h7 h h h 1-c3h7 h —~c3h7 h ch3 ch3 h h t"c4h9 h h h ch3 ch3 t-c4h9 h 196 03 7 PREPARATION F 2,2,5,5-Tetramethylcyclopentylamine A flask was charged with 35 g. (0.61 mole) of 40% sodium dispersion in mineral oil. The oil was removed 5 by washing with ethyl ether and decantation. The sodium was then mixed with 400 ml. of ether and a mixture of 32.8 g. (0.20 mole) 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-adiponitrile, prepared by the method of Coffman et al., J_;_ Am. Chem. Soc., 80, 2868 (1957), and 400 ml. 10 of tetrahydrofuran was added slowly. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 4 hours, the excess sodium decomposed by dropwise addition of saturated aqueous ammonium chloride, the organic layer washed with water, dried (Na2S04) and evaporated to 15 afford 25.1 g. of crude 2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl-imine. The imine was dissolved in 75 ml. of ethanol and added dropwise to a flask containing 23.3 g. (1 mole) sodium shot. An additional 75 ml. ethanol was added and the mixture heated at reflux until the 20 remaining sodium metal was consumed. The reaction mixture was diluted with water, acidified to pH 1 with concentrated hydrochloric acid, the aqueous phase washed with ether then made strongly basic by addition of sodium hydroxide. The organic layer was extracted 25 with ether, washed with brine, dried (Na2S04) and evaporated to dryness. The residue was distilled in vacuo to afford 6.6 g. (23%) of the desired amine, B.P. 60-61°C. (20 mm.). 196037 PREPARATION G 3-Amino-2,2,4,4-tetramethyloxetane To 13.6 g. (0.12 mole) of diisopropylketone is added 0.2 ml. of phosphorus tribromide. To this is added dropwise at 10°C., 38.4 g. (0.24 mole) bromine and the mixture warmed to 55-60°C. and held at this temperature for 1.5 hours. After cooling and partion-ing between chloroform and water, the organic layer is washed with sodium carbonate solution until neutral, dried and the solvent evaporated to obtain 2,4-dibromo-2,4-dimethylpentan-3-one.

To 0.1 mole of the dibromoketone in 160 ml. of ethanol is added a solution of 8 g. of sodium hydroxide in 80 ml. water and the resulting mixture is stirred at roan temperature for 30 minutes. After diluting with water the reaction mixture is extracted with ethyl ether, the extracts washed with water, brine and dried (MgSO^). The ether is evaporated to provide 2,4-dihydroxy-2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanone. This is dissolved in 50 ml. chloroform and 1.5 ml. concentrated sulfuric acid added dropwise. The resulting mixture is heated at reflux for five hours while removing water as its azeotropic mixture with chloroform. When no more water is evolved the reaction mixture is washed with water, the organic layer dried (MgSO^) and solvent evaporated to provide 2,2,4,4-tetramethyloxetane-3-one which is purified by distillation.

The ketone is converted to the oxime and reduced with sodium/ethanol by the procedure of Example 47, Part ii. 196037 PREPARATION H 3-Amino-2,2-dimethyloxetane 3-Hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone, 0.20 mole, is treated dropwise with a equimolar amount of bromine at roan temperature and the resulting mixture stirred for three hours. The mixture is taken up in chloroform, washed with sodium carbonate solution until neutral, dried and solvent evaporated to obtain l-bromo-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone.

To 0.1 mole of the bromoketone in 160 ml. of ethanol is added a solution of 4 g. of sodium hydroxide in 80 ml. water and the mixture stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes. The mixture is diluted with water, extracted with ether, the extracts washed with water, brine and dried (MgSO^). The solvent is evaporated and the residue taken up in 50 ml. of chloroform. To this is added dropwise 1.5 ml. of concentrated sulfuric acid and the resulting mixture heated at reflux while removing water as its azeotrope with chloroform. When water evolution is complete the resulting ketone is isolated and converted to the desired amine as described in Preparation G. 196037 PREPARATION I Employing the procedures of Preparation G and H but starting with the appropriate ketone or alpha-hydroxyketone in each case the following amines are prepared in like manner. r3 sl £ r! ch3 h h h ch3 h —"c4h9 h ch3 c2h5 ch3 C2H ch3 h ch3 h ch3 ch3 c2h5 c2h —~c3h7 h h h i"c3h7 h —~c3h7 h c2h5 c2h5 h h 1960 -160- ^ PREPARATION J 2-Amino-3,3-dimethyl g amma-butvrolacton e Hyd roc hi or id e The method is that of Nagase et al., Chem.

Pharm. Bull., 17, 398 (1969).

To a stirred solution of 2,2-dimethylhydroacryl-aldehyde [prepared fron sec-butyraldehyde and formaldehyd by the method of Stiller, et al_. , J. Am. Chem. Soc., 62, 1785 (1940)] 5.11 g. in methanol (25 ml.), a solution of ammonium chloride, 2.94 g., and sodium cyanide, 2.9 g., in water (40 ml.) is added dropwise. After stirring for three hours the mixture is saturated with ammonia gas and allowed to stand at room temperature overnight. The resulting mixture is concentrated in vacuo to a small volume and 40 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid is added. After refluxing for three hours the mixture is evaporated in vacuo and the residue crystallized from ethanol-ethyl ether and then fron ethanol to give 2.2 g. of the title compound, M.P. 214-215°C. (dec.).

Use of homologs of 2,2-dimethylhydracrylaldehyde in the above procedure affords the corresponding conpounds of the formula NH 12 13 where one of R and R is alkyl having from one to four carbon atcxns and the. other is hydrogen or alkyl having from one to four carbon atons. * 196037 PREPARATION K 4-Amino-3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-tetrahydr6-4H-pyran-2-one i. Methyl 5-Hydroxy-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-keto-valerate A mixture of 172 g. (1.0 mole) methyl 2,2,4-trimethyl-3-ketovalerate, 5.4 g. (0.10 mole) sodium methoxide and 33 g. (0.36 mole) paraformalde in 250 ml. methanol is heated at reflux for eight hours. The mixture is quenched by addition of water, neutralized with hydrochloric acid, extracted with ethyl ether, washed with water, brine and solvent evaporated. The residue is purified by vacuum distillation or chromatography on silica gel to provide the purified product. ii. 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-2,4-dioxotetrahydro-4H-pyran A solution of 101 g. (0.50 mole) of the above product in 200 ml. methanol and 20 ml. concentrated hydrochloric acid is heated at reflux for two hours, cooled, poured into ice-water, extracted with ethyl ether, the extracts washed with sodium bicarbonate solution, water, dried and evaporated to dryness. The residue was heated in vacuo at 80-100°C. for two hours to obtain product of suitable purity for use in the next step. iii. The ketolactone obtained above is converted to the corresponding 4-oximino derivative and this reduced to the title compound by the procedure of Example 5, Part A. 196 0 3 PREPARATION L 4-Amino-3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-2-piperidone i. Methyl 5-Dibenzylamino-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-ketovalerate hydrochloride To a mixture of 86 g. (0.50 mole) methyl 2,2,4- trimethyl-3-ketovalerate, 117 g. (0.64 mole) dibenzyl-amine hydrochloride and 19.8 g. (0.22 mole) paraformaldehyde is added a solution of 1 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid in 150 ml. 95% ethanol and the 10 mixture is heated at reflux for four hours. The mixture is filtered, 500 ml. of hot acetone added to the filtrate and the resulting mixture cooled then refrigerated overnight. The precipitated product is collected by filtration, washed with acetone and 15 dried. ii. 3,3,5,5-tetramethylpiperidin-2,4-dione The above hydrochloride salt is partitioned between 0.1 N sodium hydroxide solution and ethyl ether. The ether extracts are dried (MgSO^) evaporated 20 to dryness and the residue taken up in methanol. To the methanol solution is added 1 g. of 10% Pd/C and the mixture hydrogenated at 3-4 amtospheres pressure until hydrogen uptake is complete. The catalyst is removed by filtration, the filtrate heated at reflux 25 for two hours, solvent evaporated and the residue heated at 70-80°C. in vacuo for two hours. The residual product is purified by chromatography on silica gel. iii. The piperidinedione obtained above is converted to the 4-oximino derivative and this reduced to the title 4-amino analog by the procedure of Example 5, Part A.

Claims (28)

196 0 -163- PREPARATION M 3,3/5,5-Tetramethylpyrrolidin-2,4-dione A mixture of 80 g. of 2,2,4/4-tetramethyl-l,3-cyclobutanedione monoxime, prepared by the method of O.S. 3,125,569, and 250 ml. 98% (w/w) sulfuric acid was warmed at 50-60°C. for one hour and allowed to stand overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was poured onto 800 g. ice, extracted with methylene chloride, the extracts washed with sodium bicarbonate solution, water, dried (MgSO^) and evaporated to remove solvent. The resulting mixture of products was purified by column chromatography on silica gel and the fractions containing the title compound combined and evaporated to dryness. The ketolactam thus obtained is converted to 3-amino-3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-2-pyrrolidone by methods described above. ,-v . 9603 7 V:: f r~ t « -QJA4£46-

1. An L-aspartyl-D-amino acid dipeptide amide of the formula nh2 l^c^V0^1111 —(I) COOH J Ra and the physiologically acceptable cationic and acid addition salts thereof, wherein Ra is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl or isopropyl; and R is a branched member selected from the group consisting of fenchyl, diisopropylcarbinyl, d-methyl-t-butylcarbinyl, d-ethyl-t-butylcarbinyl, di-t-butylcarbinyl , 2-methylthio-2,4-dimethylpentan-3-yl, r3?4 " ( CHt ) / 2. n^ CHo)™ ^ r!-v 2 m uir \ JCH0) .3 4 „5 „6 where at least one of R , R , R , R is alkyl having from one to four carbon atoms and the remainder are hydrogen or alkyl having from one to four carbon atoms, X is 0, S, SO, S02, C=0 or CHOH; m is zero, 1, 2, 3 or 4, n and p are each zero, 1, 2 or 3 where the sum of n + p is not greater than 3 and the sum of the carbon atoms in R3, R4, R5 and R^ is not greater than six, and when both of R3 and R4 or R^ and R^ are alkyl they are methyl or ethyl, 196 J. P. & s. mi m 14 deemed ) whereAbne of, ft f ft f ft ijs alkyl haying from one to four- carbon. atonic and the. rexna^indej' are-, hydrogen, op alkyl having from one to foui? carbon atoms- and the. sura 7 of the. carbon atom? in ft f than six. 8 9 ft and ft is not greater -< -(CHT JL JQ <clh\ where m and q are the same or different and each have the values previously defined for m. V J- P. & S. 12 13 12 where each of R and R are methyl or ethyl, or R 13 is hydrogen and R is alkyl having from one to four carbon atomsf Z is O or NH and t is 1 or 2, .15 on ft"^ and are each alkyl .15 where w isAl, 2, 3 or 4, having from one to four carbon atoms, R1"' is hydrogen, OH, or alkyl having from one to two carbon atoms. • 196 0 1 C=G- where the sum of the carbon atoms in R*4, R^** and is not greater than six and when both of R*^ and 15 JR are alkyl they are methyl or ethyl, and .18 -A .. j. p. & s. f4.tf.8-* .mf: 17 19 where R and R are alkyl having from one to four 18 20 carbon atoms, R and R are hydrogen or alkyl having from one to two carbon atoms, taken separately, A is OH and B is hydrogen, OH or methyl and when taken together A and B are-CH 0C-,-CH_NHC-, -0-C-CH~~, ^ it £ n n ** o 00 —NHCCH9- , -OC-, -NHC— or -0C0-, where the sum of the ti * 11 n n r o 0 0 o 17. R18 19 20 R and R is not greater carbon atoms in R than six and when both of R*^ and R*® or R*^ and R^° are alkyl they are methyl or ethyl. 2. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R is a member selected from the group consisting of (CH2>m <ch2> /3CH2>m L—(CH?) a m • 196037 ig-7- ,14 R 15 OH and 3 4 5 where R , R , R R 15 R 16 R 17 ,18 R6, R7, R8, R9, R12, R13, 19 _20 .14 R r R t R f A, Bf X, Zf m, n, pf q, t and w are as pr-ovioucl-y defined^ fUtivi I • 3, A compound according to claim.2 wherein R is, (CH2'm A~ <CH2'p' Wh c R7 xR □ <CVm or

2. IQ

(CH2>q ^ p* *« *<;t», **, x, ^ y ... „ .

4. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R is diisopropylcarbinyl, d-methyl-t-butylcarbinyl or di-jt-butylcarbinyl. ten*? X m 19603 7

5. A compound according to claijn 2 wherein -ft is. ,18 A B ,17 R R'tyQ1*, G"l)R*01 ■ A Z«»(b avees e^/^.Z and R is methyl. 17 '

6. A compound according to claijn 5 wherein R f 18 19 7n R , R and R are each, methyl„ A is HO and B is hydrogen, OH or methyl or A and B taken together form *-GC~ or -NHCr-» » O

7. A compound according tQ claiia 2 wherein R is .15 n O ,14 R v/k«eW £<*

8. A compound according to claim 7 wherein Ra is methyl, R1^ is OH, R14 and R3"^ are each methyl and w is 2 or 3. 9o A compound according to claim 2 wherein R is

CH- and R is methyl.

10.. A compound according to claim 4 wherein. R^ methylt 1 9 60S 7 -169-

11, A compound according to claim 3 wherein R is 7 8 9 wherein R , R and R are as defined in claim 1.

12, The compound according to claim 11 wherein, 7 O Of a R t R r R a,re each methyl and R is methyl,

13. A compound according to claim 3 wherein R is and R is methyl or ethyl.

14. A compound according to claim 3 wherein R is (cVm R is methyl and when m is 2; 3 6 R -R are each methyl, 3 4 5 6 R , R , R are each hydrogen and R is methyl, ethyl, isopropyl or t-butyl, or 3 5 R and R are each hydrogen and 4 6 R and R are each methyl, and when st is 3; R is hydrogen or methyl and 4 5 6 R , R f R are each, methyl, 3 4 5 R f R r R are each hydrogen a,nd R& is isopropyl pr trbutyl, 3 5' 4 and R are each, hydrogen, R i§ methyl and is methyl,. ethyl or isopropyl, or 3 4 R and R are each, hydrogen. an.d 5 6 R and R are. each methyl or ethyl. 196037 - no—

15. A compound according to claim 3 wherein R is •v*4 Re\~<cH2)r R is methyl or ethyl, and 3 g* when n is 1 and p is- zero; RtR" are each methyl and X is 0/ S or SQ~f 3 6" when n and p are each, zero* R -R are each methyl and X is S, S09 or C=^0, 3 5 when n and p are each. 1: R a,nd R are each hydrogen 4 6 and R and R are each, methyl and X is S or SC^. a

16. The compound according to claim 15 wherein R is methyl, n and p are each zero and X is S.

17. The compound according to claim 15 wherein -. is methyl, n and p are each zero and X ±s

18. A composition for sweetening edible materials which comprises a sweetening amount of a compound ac^> cording to claim 1 and a non-toxic carrier,

19. A composition according to claim 18 wherein said compound is L-aspartyl-D-alanine Nr- (dicyclopropylcarbinyl) amide, L^aspartyl-D^alanine Nr-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-thietan-3-yl)amide or L-aspartyl-D-alanine N- (2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,l-dioxothietan-3-yl) amide.

20. A composition for sweetening edible materials which comprises a sweetening amount of a mixture of a compound according to claim 1 and saccharin pr a physiologically acceptable salt therep^a 211 A composition according to claijn 2Q wherein said compound is L-aspartylT-Dralanine. N^sCdicyclopropylo carbinyl) amide., Lraspartyl-D^alanine (2, 2,4 f 4^ tetramethylthietan-3-ylTamide, or Lt^s,party1-D-alanine.

N- (]2, 2, 4, 4-tetrame.thyl-l,.l-dioxQthietan-Sryir.amide. 19603

22. A composition according to claim 21 wherein said compound ±s L-aspartyl'KD^alanxne N~(dicyclopropylo carbinyl).amide,

23. A composition according to claim 22 wherein sa,id compound and s.a,id saccharin are in a weight ratio of from 1:1 to 1;2.

24* A sweetened edible, composition which comprises an edible material and a sweetening amount of a. compound according to claim 1,

25. A, sweetened edible composition according to claim 24 wherein said edible material is a, carbonated beverage.

26. A sweetened edible composition according to claim 25 wherein said compound is Lraspartyl-D-alanine N- (dicyclopropylcarbinyl£amide/ L^aspartyl-D^alanine N- (2, 2 ,A , 4-tetrainethylthietan-^3-ylIamide or L-aspaxtyl^-D—alanine. (2,2, A, 4-tetramethyl'-I, l-dioxothietanT-3-yl). amide.

27. A method for sweetening edible materials which comprises adding thereto a sweetening amount of a compound according to claim 1.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein said compound is L^-aspartyl-D-ralanine Nr- Cdicyclopropyl^ carbinyl)amide, L-aspartyl-D^alanine N-. (2,2,4 f 4tetrad-methyl thietan~3-yl)_ amide or L-aspartyl-Dr-alanine N- (2,2,4, 4-tetramethyl-l, l-dioxothietan^-3*-yl).amide, i s d^ethyl^^butylcarbinyl^cyclQprppy^t^butylcarbi.ny 1 or cyclopentyli-tpburtylcarbinyl. 3$^--^Tfie compound according to cla,im 29 wherein m # 196 0 3 7 ni— ■t* '■"*? K 1. P If!(-■?? ..#0L. fk\ K ,. J. P. & S. ML. = J. P. & s. m-nn /TVAt// nsprH^ "ST" 3^' Ar-«Qraponn(V according to claim 34' whergjk ylcarbi.nyl, qr 2, 2,.4, 4r-tetrairiethyl^ cl C R is methyl or ethyl and R is. -tetramethylthietan-i -dioxo thieta compound according to claim 35 wherein -As. me Lliy 1- A compound as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17 and -29 to 3(r substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any example thereof. ^>8\ A composition as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 26 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any example thereof. o v A method as claimed in claim 27^«tft3-28 when performed .<?*• substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to akij jay example thereof. _PF/ZE7? INC. By Sjs/thefr authorised Agents A. J. PARK a SON,