Differentiation of stereoisomeric steroids by reactions with phosphenium ions

A chemical ionization method is reported for distinction of diastereomeric hydroxysteroids by using Fourier-transform ion cyclotron mass spectrometry (FT-ICR). Certain phosphenium ions are demonstrated to react with stereoisomeric steroids to yield qualitatively different product ions. For example, 1,3,5(10)-estratriene-3,16beta,17beta-triol (cis-estriol) reacts with the dimethoxy phosphenium ion to form a diagnostic product ion (not formed for the trans-estriol) through addition followed by the loss of two molecules of methanol. In an analogous manner, the 1,3-dioxolan-2-phosphenium ion produces a diagnostic product ion through the loss of ethylene glycol from the adduct of cis-estriol only. The 1,3,5(10)-estratriene-3,16alpha,17beta-triol (trans-estriol), on the other hand, reacts with each phosphenium ion only via hydroxide abstraction-initiated pathways that indicate the presence of at least two hydroxyl groups in the molecule. These specific reactions take place for all hydroxysteroids examined, independent of their stereochemistry. Another isomer pair, cholestan-3alpha,5alpha-diol (cis-cholestandiol) and cholestan-3beta,5alpha-diol (trans-cholestandiol), is differentiated based on selective elimination of water only from the adduct of the cis-isomer. However, the method does not allow distinction between the stereoisomeric 5beta-pregnane-3alpha,17alpha,20alpha-triol and 5beta-pregnane-3alpha,17alpha,20beta-triol. The different reactivities of the three pairs of steroid isomers and of each diastereomeric compound pair are rationalized by reaction enthalpies and steric effects based on straightforward and predictable reaction mechanisms.     

Gas-phase electrophilic attack of a double bond exhibits stereoselectivity

Protonated acetaldehyde (ion 1) reacts with allyltrimethylsilane (allyl-TMS) in the gas phase to yield cis-piperylene (cis-1,3-pentadiene) as the major product. The cis isomer predominates over trans by a factor >/=15:1, a degree of stereoselectivity that is unprecedented in a reaction where the double bond geometry has not been specified in the reactant. The neutral products were assessed by creating tritiated 1 via decay of a tritium nucleus in gaseous ethanol molecules labeled with >1 tritium atom. The radioactive C5H8 products must result from addition of the electrophilic ion to the allyl group followed by an elimination. Deprotonation of C5H9+ cannot account for the product stereochemistry. One possible explanation is that addition of the electrophile to the double bond is followed by elimination of Me3SiOH2+ on a time scale faster than that by which the initially formed adduct ion can change its conformation.     

Differentiation of the isomeric 1,2-cyclopentanediols by ion-molecule reactions in a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer

Collisionally activated decompositions and ion-molecule reactions in a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer are used to distinguish between cis- and trans-1,2-cyclopentanediol isomers. For ion kinetic energies varying from 5 eV to 15 eV (laboratory frame of reference), qualitative differences in the daughter ion spectra of [MH]⁺ are seen when N₂ is employed as an inert collision gas. The cis ?1,2-cyclopentanediol isomer favors H₂O elimination to give predominantly [MH- H₂O]⁺. In the trans isomer, where H₂O elimination is less likely to occur, the rearrangement ion [HOCH₂CHOH]⁺ exists in significantly greater abundance. Ion-molecule reactions with NH₃ under single-collision conditions and low ion kinetic energies can provide thermochemical as well as stereochemical information. For trans ?1,2-cyclopentanediol, the formation of [NH₄]⁺ by proton transfer is an exothermic reaction with the maximum product ion intensity at ion kinetic energies approaching 0 eV. The ammonium adduct ion [M + NH₄]⁺ is of greater intensity for the trans isomer. In the proton transfer reaction with the cis isomer, the formation of [NH₄]⁺ is an endothermic process with a definite translational energy onset. From this measured threshold ion kinetic energy, the proton affinity of cis ?1,2-cyclopentanedioi was estimated to be 886 ± 10 kJ mol^?1.     

Total synthesis of amiclenomycin, an inhibitor of biotin biosynthesis

We describe the first synthesis of amiclenomycin, a natural product that has been found to inhibit biotin biosynthesis and, as a consequence, to exhibit antibiotic properties. Structure 1, with a trans relationship between the ring substituents. had previously been proposed for amiclenomycin on the basis of its 1H NMR spectrum. We have prepared the trans and cis isomers 1 and 2 by unequivocal routes and we conclude that the natural product is in fact the cis isomer 2. The properly substituted cyclohexadienyl rings were constructed first. A cycloaddition reaction between 1,2-di(phenylsulfonyl)ethylene and the N-allyloxycarbonyl diene 13, followed by reductive elimination of the phenylsulfinyl groups, gave the cis isomer 15. To obtain the trans isomer, the O-trimethylsilyl diene was used to give the cis hydroxylated Diels-Alder adduct 33, which was transformed into the corresponding trans amino derivative by means of a Mitsunobu reaction. The L-alpha-amino acid functionality was introduced by means of a Strecker reaction on the aldehydes 16 and 42, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis with immobilised pronase.     

Isotope labeling and theoretical study of the formation of a3* ions from protonated tetraglycine

Extensive 13C, 15N, and 2H labeling of tetraglycine was used to investigate the b3+ --> a3* reaction during low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) in a quadrupole ion-trap mass spectrometer. The patterns observed with respect to the retention or elimination of the isotope labels demonstrate that the reaction pathway involves elimination of CO and NH3. The ammonia molecule includes 2 H atoms from amide or amino positions, and one from an alpha-carbon position. The loss of NH3 does not involve elimination of the N-terminal amino group but, instead, the N atom of the presumed oxazolone ring in the b3+ ion. The CO molecule eliminated is the carbonyl group of the same oxazolone ring, and the alpha-carbon H atom is transferred from the amino acid adjacent to the oxazolone ring. Quantum chemical calculations indicate a multistep reaction cascade involving CO loss on the b3 --> a3 pathway and loss of NH=CH2 from the a3 ion to form b2. In the postreaction complex of b2 and NH=CH2, the latter can be attacked by the N-terminal amino group of the former. The product of this attack, an isomerized a3 ion, can eliminate NH3 from its N-terminus to form a3*. Calculations suggest that the ammonia and a3* species can form various ion-molecule complexes, and NH3 can initiate relay-type mobilization of the oxazolone H atoms from alpha-carbon positions to form a new oxazolone isomer. This multiple-step reaction scheme clearly explains the isotope labeling results, including unexpected scrambling of H atoms from alpha-carbon positions.     

Gas-phase protonation of unsaturated ethers: Experimental and theoretical study of 2,3-and 2,5-dihydrofuran and related compounds

The protonation of 2,3- and 2,5-dihydrofuran is examined in gas-phase equilibrium proton transfer reactions conducted in an ion cyclotron resonance spectrometer. The thermodynamically favoured site of protonation in the two compounds is seen to be different: whereas the first isomer forms a carbocation upon protonation, the second isomer protonates on the oxygen atom to form an oxonium ion. The results obtained with substituted derivatives and with linear analogues confirm these conclusions. Molecular orbital calculations on the various structures for protonated bases are performed at the 4–31G level with correction for configuration interaction effects and at the 4–31G* level. The latter basis set provides the best results owing to the introduction of d-type orbitals on the oxygen atom. The calculation results substantiate the experimental observations and provide details on the molecular structure of the protonated species.     

How Does Acetylcholine Lose Trimethylamine? A Density Functional Theory Study of Four Competing Mechanisms

Low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) of acetylcholine (ACh) yields only two fragment ions: the dominant C(4)H(7)O(2)(+) ion at m/z 87, arising from trimethylamine loss; and protonated trimethylamine at m/z 60. Since the literature is replete with conflicting mechanisms for the loss of trimethylamine from ACh, in this article density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to assess four competing mechanisms: (1) Path A involves a neighboring group attack to form a five-membered ring product, 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-ylium cation; (2) Path B is a neighboring group attack to form a three-membered ring product, 1-methyl-oxiranium ion; (3) Path C involves an intramolecular elimination reaction to form CO protonated vinylacetate; and (4) Path D is a 1,2-hydride migration reaction forming CH(2)-protonated vinylacetate. At the MP2/6-311++G(2d,p)//B3-LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory path A is the kinetically favored pathway, with a transition-state energy barrier of 37.7 kcal mol(-1) relative to the most stable conformer of ACh. The lowest energy pathway for the formation of protonated trimethylamine was also calculated to proceed via path A, involving proton transfer within the ion-molecule complex intermediate, with the exocylic methyl group being the proton donor. To confirm the site of proton transfer, low-energy CID of acetyl-d(3)-choline (d(3)-ACh) was carried out, which revealed loss of trimethylamine and the formation of Me(3)ND(+).     

Understanding the mechanism of base-assisted decomposition of (N-halo),N-alkylalcoholamines

The base-assisted decomposition of (N-X),N-methylethanolamine (X = Cl, Br) takes place mainly through two concurrent processes: a fragmentation and an intramolecular elimination. The global process follows second order kinetics, first order relative to both (N-X),N-methylethanolamine and base. Interaction of the base with the ionizable hydroxylic hydrogen triggers the reaction. The intramolecular elimination pathway leads to formaldehyde and 2-aminoethanol as reaction products via base-assisted proton transfer from the methyl to the partially unprotonated hydroxylic oxygen, with loss of halide. Meanwhile, the fragmentation pathway leads to methylamine and two equivalents of formaldehyde via bimolecular base-promoted concerted breakage of the molecule into formaldehyde, halide ion and N-methylmethanimine. Kinetic evidences allow a crude estimation of the concertedness and characterization of the transition structure for both processes, which are slightly asynchronous, the proton transfer to the base taking place ahead of the rest of the molecular events. The degree of asynchroneity increases as the bases become weaker. Electronic structure calculations, at the B3LYP/6-31++G** level, on the fragmentation pathway support the proposed mechanism.     

Improvement in the detection of impurities affecting ethylene glycol UV transmittance by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method was developed for the detection of trace impurities affecting ethylene glycol UV transmittance, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the selective ion monitoring mode. Four 1,2-cyclopentanediones were identified in commercial ethylene glycol as well as in several ethylene glycol plant streams, including 3-methyl-1,2-cyclopentanedione, 3,5-dimethyl-1,2-cyclopentanedione, 3,4-dimethyl-1,2-cyclopentanedione and 3-ethyl-1,2-cyclopentanedione. Quantification of the first three compounds was achieved by monitoring the molecular ion. This method requires no sample preparation and can detect the compounds of interest as low as 0.1 microg ml(-1). As a simple and rapid method, it can be used in tracing these 1,2-cyclopentanediones in glycol plants.     

Free-radical copolymerizations of 1,2-dichloroethylenes. Evidence for chain transfer by chlorine atom elimination

Trialkylboron–oxygen, an active, low-temperature free-radical initiator, has been employed to investigate the effects of very low temperatures on the copolymerizations of vinyl acetate with cis and trans-1,2-dichloroethylenes. The low temperatures favor the propagation rate relative to the transfer rate, such that high molecular weight copolymers containing substantial quantities of 1,2-dichloroethylene can be prepared. The molecular weights of the copolymers depend only on the amounts of 1,2-dichloroethylene in the copolymers, regardless of the isomer which takes part in the copolymerization. Since the double bond of the trans isomer is about six times as reactive as that of the cis isomer, this indicates that the dominating chain transfer reaction occurs by chlorine atom elimination subsequent to the addition of the dichloroethylene unit to the growing free radical chain. It is suggested that a similar chain-transfer mechanism occurs in the polymerization of vinyl chloride, wherein an infrequent head-to-head placement of monomer unit is followed by ejection of a chlorine atom to form an olefinic bond and termination of that growing chain. The presence of the 1,2-dichloroethylene unit in the copolymer increases the glass transition temperature approximately 1°C per weight per cent copolymerized with the vinyl acetate.     

氧气和CS自由基反应势能面的密度泛函理论研究

应用量子化学从头计算和密度泛函理论(DFT)对O_2和CS自由基的反应进行了研 究。在B3LYP/6-311G~(**)水平上计算出了各物种的优化构型、振动频率和零点振 动能(ZPVE)。各物种的总能量由CCSD（T）/6-311G~(**)//B3LYP/6-311G~(**)给出 ，并对总能量进行了零点能校正。计算结果表明：CS自由基中的C端沿着O_2的双键 中线方向进攻，进行加成反应，反应的第一步放出大量的热量(450 kJ/mol)，推动 反应继续进行，从稳定的中间体4(Cs)出发，反应主要通过O的相邻位置的迁移生成 P_1(CO+SO)和P_3(COS+O)；通过S的相邻位置的迁移生成了重要的反应复合物 (complex 1)，进一步离解为产物P_2(CO_2+S)。计算结果可以很好地解释反应机理 。     

Stereochemical effect revealed in self-assemblies based on archaeal lipid analogues bearing a central five-membered carbocycle: a SAXS study

The relative stereochemistry (cis or trans) of a 1,3-disubstituted cyclopentane unit in the middle of tetraether archaeal bipolar lipid analogues was found to have a dramatic influence on their supramolecular self-assembly properties. SAXS studies of two synthetic diastereomeric archaeal lipids bearing two lactosyl polar head groups at opposite ends revealed different lyotropic behaviors. The cis isomer led to L(c)-L(α)-Q(II) transitions whereas the trans isomer retained an L(α) phase from 20 to 100 °C. These main differences originate from the conformational equilibrium (pseudorotation) of 1,3-disubstituted cyclopentanes. Indeed, this pseudorotation exhibits quite similar orientations of the two substituents in a trans isomer whereas several orientations of the two alkyl chains are expected in a cis-1,3-dialkyl cyclopentane, thus authorizing more conformational flexibility in the lipid packing.     

The reaction mechanism of the hydroamination of alkenes catalyzed by gold(I)-phosphine: the role of the counterion and the N-nucleophile substituents in the proton-transfer step

The reaction mechanism of the gold(I)-phosphine-catalyzed hydroamination of 1,3-dienes was analyzed by means of density functional methods combined with polarizable continuum models. Several mechanistic pathways for the reaction were considered and evaluated. It was found that the most favorable series of reaction steps include the ligand substitution reaction in the catalytically active Ph3PAuOTf species between the triflate and the substrate, subsequent nucleophile attack of the N-nucleophile (benzyl carbamate) on the activated double bond, which is followed by proton transfer from the NH2 group to the unsaturated carbon atom. The latter step, the most striking one, was analyzed in detail, and a novel pathway involving tautomerization of benzyl carbamate nucleophile assisted by triflate anion acting as a proton shuttle was characterized by the lowest barrier, which is consistent with experimental findings.     

Detection of Polyols by HPLC Coupled with an On‐Line Photochemical Oxidation Reactor and Chemiluminescence Detection

In this paper we propose a new post‐column detection method for polyols containing 1,2‐diol, 1,3‐diol, and saccharides. The polyols are oxidized in a photochemical reactor to yield oxalate with subsequent chemiluminescence detection using [Ru(III)(bpy)₃]³⁺. A mixing solution of eluate and oxidizing reagent is delivered to a reaction coil, which is then irradiated with ultraviolet light to promote the oxidation reaction. The detection limits for 1,2‐ethanediol (ethylene glycol) and 1,3‐propanediol were 38 pmol and 23 pmol, respectively.     

Stability of boronic esters - Structural effects on the relative rates of transesterification of 2-(phenyl)-1,3,2-dioxaborolane

Relative rates of reaction of the achiral cyclic phenylboronic ester 2-(phenyl)-1,3,2-dioxaborolane with a wide variety of structurally modified diols, have been studied to understand the factors influencing the relative stabilities of boronic esters. It is found that the alkyl substituents on the α-carbons of diols slow down the transesterification, but produce thermodynamically more stable boronic ester. Six-membered boronic esters are thermodynamically more stable than their corresponding five-membered analogs. Amongst cyclic 1,2-diols, cis-1,2-cyclopentanediol displaces ethylene glycol instantaneously whereas trans-1,2-cyclopentanediol is totally unreactive, which suggests that the cis-stereochemistry of the 1,2-diol is a prerequisite for transesterification. Among the 1,5-diols, diethanolamine displaces ethylene glycol quite rapidly forming a more stable bicyclic chelate in which nitrogen is attached to boron by a coordinating bond (as evident by ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy). The oxygen atom of di(ethylene glycol) and the sulfur atom of 2,2′-thiodiethanol do not assist in displacing the ethylene glycol from their boronic esters.     

Chain termination in polymerization of substituted oxetanes in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate

It has been shown that the polymerization of oxetanes with azidomethyl substituents initiated by boron trifluoride etherate in the absence and the presence of ethylene glycol proceeds via chain termination with fluorine atom transfer. This reaction results in the formation of a polymer that is monofunctional with respect to hydroxyl groups and contains a fluorine atom at one of the chain ends. With the use of ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy, the number-average functionality of polymer with respect to fluorine atoms was studied. The methods of suppressing the aforementioned reaction, whose intensity decreases during a decrease in the polymerization temperature and an increase in the ethylene glycol concentration, were considered. In the absence of ethylene glycol, the chain termination with fluorine atom transfer is the main reaction of chain-propagation restriction.     

Novel 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of dinitraminic acid: implications for the chemical stability of ammonium dinitramide

Density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level and ab initio calculations at the CBS-QB3 level have been used to analyze 1,3 dipolar cycloaddition reactions of dinitraminic acid (HDN) and its proton transfer isomer (HO(O)NNNO2). It is shown that the nitro group of HDN and the -N-N=O functionality of the isomer react readily with carbon-carbon double bonds. Cycloadditions of HDN are compared with the corresponding reactions with azides and nitrile oxides as 1,3 dipoles. It is shown that the reactivities of HDN and its proton transfer isomer decrease with increasing electron withdrawing power of the substituents adjacent to the carbon-carbon double bond. In contrast, for azides and nitrile oxides, the highest reactivity is obtained with dipolarophiles with strongly electron withdrawing substituents. The observed reactivity trends allow for the design of unsaturated compounds that are highly reactive toward azides and chemically inert toward dinitramides. This may be of relevance for the development of binder materials for ammonium dinitramide based propellants.     

Protection of the carbonyl groups in 1,2-indanedione: propellane versus acetal formation

The product resulting from the reaction between 1,2-indanedione and ethylene glycol under acidic catalysis is 2,5,7,10-tetraoxapropellane and not 1,2-dispirane as previously reported. Similar reactions also occur with 2-mercaptoethanol and 1,2-ethanedithiol, which form analogous propellanes and not corresponding thioacetals. This explains the difficulty of removing the protective groups under acidic conditions. These findings were corroborated by quantum chemical calculations. Under similar conditions, the longer-chain diol, 1,3-propyleneglycol and its thiol-analogue, 1,3-propanedithiol, form only mono-acetals, even when a 3-fold excess of the diol is applied. The nucleophilic attack, however, takes place at different positions: while propanedithiol forms the acetal at c-1, propylene glycol forms the acetal at c-2.     

催化选择转化多羟基化合物制备高附加值化学品研究进展

对近年来催化转化多羟基化合物制备5-羟甲基糠醛、乙二醇、1,2-丙二醇、1,3-丙二醇等高附加值化学品进行了综述. 分析了果糖、葡萄糖、纤维素等不同结构的碳水化合物制5-羟甲基糠醛存在的挑战, 并对相应的解决方法进行了总结. 对于5-羟甲基糠醛的转化, 我们重点讨论了5-羟甲基糠醛选择性氧化制备2,5-二甲酰基呋喃和2,5-呋喃二甲酸以及它们作为聚合单体的潜在应用. 概述了催化氢解纤维素、糖醇、甘油等多羟基化合物制备乙二醇、1,2-丙二醇、1,3-丙二醇等二元醇的方法, 并对可能的机理进行了讨论. 依据近年来多羟基化合物催化选择性转化制备高附加值化学品的研究现状, 对今后的研究热点进行了展望.