γ- And δ-lycorane

Hydrogenation of -anhydrodihydrocaranine (V) or anhydrocaranine (VII) with Adams catalyst in acetic acid or the Hauptmann reduction of -dihydrocaranone (XX) yielded (—)γ-lycorane (XVII). Catalytic reduction of β-anhydrodihydrocaranine (IX) with palladium-carbon in ethanol gave (+)γ-lycorane (XVIII), while with Adams catalyst in acetic acid it afforded (+)δ-lycorane (XIX) along with (—)β-lycorane (III). Reduction of anhydrocaranine in ethanol gave (±)γ-lycorane which was also obtained by hydrogenation of anhydrolycorine (X). Based on these findings, the configurational structures of -, β-, γ- and δ-lycorane were established and the configuration of dihydrolycorine was confirmed.     

(—)β-Lycorane

Hydrogenation of diacetyllycorine (Ib) was found to be the most effective route for conversion of lycorine (Ia) into β-dihydrocaranine (II). The Hauptmann reduction of 1-deoxy-β-dihydrolycorin-2-one (XII) or the Clemmensen reduction of 1-0-acetyl-β-dihydrolycorinone (XI) followed by hydrogenation afforded (—)β-lycorane (X), which, in view of the sequence of reactions used in these transformations, is considered to have the same configurational structure as the skeleton of β-dihydrocaranine. This lycorane was also obtained by the Hauptmann reduction of β-dihydrocaranone (VIII). A procedure for preparing (—)-lycorane (V) from 1-0-acetyllycorin-2-one (XIV) was also worked up.     

A new approach to the synthesis of 2β- and 3β-hydroxygibberellins

The first examples of the use of hydroxyl inversion reactions to prepare the gibberellin plant hormones are described. Treatment of 2- and 3-mesylates with caesium acetate gave, after hydrolysis, good yields of the required 2β- and 3β-hydroxygibberellins. Alternatively inversion of the 2-mesylate and hydrolysis of the 7-methyl ester may be achieved in one-pot by treatment of (2) with potassium superoxide.     

Vibrational spectroscopic detection of H-bonded β- and γ-turns in cyclic peptides and glycopeptides

The conformation of N-glycoproteins and N-glycopeptides has been the subject of many spectroscopic studies over the past decades. However, except for some preliminary data, no detailed study on the vibrational spectroscopy of glycosylated peptides has been published until recently.

This paper reports FTIR spectroscopic properties in DMSO and TFE of the N-glycosylated cyclic peptides cyclo[Gly-Pro-Xxx(GlcNAc)-Gly-δ-Ava] 3a and 3b in comparison with data on the non-glycosylated parent peptides cyclo(Gly-Pro-Xxx-Gly-δ-Ava) 2a and 2b [a, Xxx = Asn; b, Xxx = Gln; δ-Ava = NH-(CH₂)₄-CO] and N-acetyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β- -gluco pyranosylamine (GlcNAc-NHAc, 4). The assignment of amide I band frequencies to conformation is based on ROESY experiments and determination of the temperature coefficients in DMSO-d₆ solution. (For the synthesis and NMR characterization of 2a and 3a see Ref. [19].)

Cyclic peptides are expected to adopt folded (β- and/or γ-turn) conformations which may be fixed by intramolecular H-bonding(s). A comparison of the temperature coefficients of the NH protons and amide I band frequencies and intensities suggests that in DMSO there is no significant difference in the backbone conformation and H-bond system of the N-glycosylated models and their parent cyclic peptides. The common feature of the backbone conformation of models 2 and 3 is the predominance of a 1 ← 4 (C₁₀) H-bonded type II β-turn encompassing Pro-Xxx or Pro-Xxx(GlcNAc), respectively. The ROESY connectivities in the Asn(GlcNAc) model (3a) have not been found to reflect intramolecular H-bondings between the peptide and the sugar.

The unique feature of the FTIR spectra in DMSO of the cyclic models is the lack or weakness of low-frequency (< 1640 cm⁻¹) amide I component bands. In TFE the amide I region of the FTIR spectra shows an increased number of components below 1650 cm⁻¹ reflecting a mixture of open and H-bonded β- and γ-turn conformers.

Because of its destabilizing effect upon γ-turns and other weakly H-bonded structures, DMSO decreases the number of backbone conformers. DMSO also destroys side-chain-backbone H-bondings of type C₇, C₆ or C₈. Possible ‘glyco’ C₇ H-bondings in GlcNAc-NHAc (4) or in glycopeptides 3a and 3b cannot resist the effect of DMSO either.

The FTIR data in TFE of models 2–4 suggest that the acceptor amide group of strong C₇ H-bondings in peptides and glycopeptides absorbs at 1630 ± 5 cm⁻¹ and that of bifurcated H-bondings between 1600–1620 cm⁻¹.     

Excimer fluorescence in β-9,10-dichloroanthracene crystals

The fluorescence of single crystals of β-9,10-dichloroanthracene at 4.2 K consists solely of excimer emission (τ = 95 ± 5 ns). The absence of monomenc emission shows that excimer formation in this crystal is not a thermally activated process. This result is confirmed by excimer-excimer annihilation studies (γ(4.2 K) = 6 × 10⁻¹³, γ(298K) = 3 × 10⁻¹² cm³ s⁻¹).     

Photoluminescence of 2-(2′-hydroxy-5′-methylbenzoyl)-1,5-diphenylpyrrole in aqueous and β-cyclodextrin environments: manifestation of open and closed conformers

Steady-state fluorometric studies have been performed on 2-(2′-hydroxy-5′-methylbenzoyl)-1,5-diphenylpyrrole (HMBDPP) in aqueous and aqueous β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) environments at ambient temperature. The fluorophore mostly shows a single emission in aqueous solution. Addition of β-CD to the aqueous solution of the fluorophore results in the development of another emission band at higher energy. The difference in the fluorometric behaviour is assigned to a remarkable change in the polarity of the microenvironment within the supramolecular structural environment compared to that of the bulk aqueous phase. Semi-empirical calculation (AM1-SCI) rules out the possibility of intramolecular proton transfer reaction in any of the S₀, S₁ and T₁ states of the fluorophore. It is proposed that HMBDPP exists mostly in the intermolecularly hydrogen-bonded form (open conformer) in aqueous solution while within β-CD environment, it is the intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded form (closed conformer) that predominates.     

Double cyclization of aminophosphonoacetate derived β- hydroxyacids to bicyclic β-lactams

The carbon framework for carbapenems was constructed by an asymmetric aldol condensation and subsequent direct coupling of the resulting β-hydroxy acid equivalent with an aminophosphonoacetate. Cyclization to the monocyclic β-lactam 20 was followed by oxidative elaboration to the penultimate aldehyde 22 which was converted to carbapenem 23 by an intramolecular version of a Horner-Emmons cyclization.     

A highly stereoselective synthesis of a key intermediate of 1β-methylcarbapenems employing the reformatsky reaction of 3-(2-bromopropionyl)-2-oxazolidone derivatives

Reaction of sterically crowded achiral 3-(2-bromopropionyl)-2-oxazolidone derivatives with (3 ,4 )-4-acetoxy-3-[( )-1-( -butyldimethylsilyloxy)ethyl]-2-azetidinone in the presence of zinc dust in refluxing tetrahydrofuran was found to give the 1β-methyl substituted β-lactams as major products (at most, β:=95:5). The major products were readily converted into the key intermediate of 1β-methylcarbapenems.     

Synthese von diastereo- und enantio-selektiv deuterierten β,ε-, β,β-, β,γ- und γ,γ-Carotinen

Synthesis of Diastereo- and Enantioselectively Deuterated β,ε-, β,β-, β,γ- and γ,γ-Carotenes We describe the synthesis of (1′R, 6′S)-[16′, 16′, 16′-²H₃]-β, εcarotene, (1R, 1′R)-[16, 16, 16, 16′, 16′, 16′-²H₆]-β, β-carotene, (1′R, 6′S)-[16′, 16′, 16′-²H₃]-γ, γ-carotene and (1R, 1′R, 6S, 6′S)-[16, 16, 16, 16′, 16′, 16′-²H₆]-γ, γ-carotene by a multistep degradation of (4R, 5S, 10S)-[18, 18, 18-²H₃]-didehydroabietane to optically active deuterated β-, ε- and γ-C₁₁-endgroups and subsequent building up according to schemes \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm C}_{11} \to {\rm C}_{14}^{C_{\mathop {26}\limits_ \to }} \to {\rm C}_{40} $\end{document} and C₁₁ → C₁₄; C₁₄+C₁₂+C₁₄→C₄₀. NMR.- and chiroptical data allow the identification of the geminal methyl groups in all these compounds. The optical activity of all-(E)-[²H₆]-β,β-carotene, which is solely due to the isotopically different substituent not directly attached to the chiral centres, is demonstrated by a significant CD.-effect at low temperature. Therefore, if an enzymatic cyclization of [17, 17, 17, 17′, 17′, 17′-²H₆]lycopine can be achieved, the steric course of the cyclization step would be derivable from NMR.- and CD.-spectra with very small samples of the isolated cyclic carotenes. A general scheme for the possible course of the cyclization steps is presented.     

Small angle X-ray scattering from lamellar phase for β-3,7-dimethyloctylglucoside/water system: comparison with β-n-alkylglucosides

Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is measured for the lamellar phase in aqueous systems of 1-o-β-3,7-dimethyoctyl-D-glucopyranoside (β-Glc(Ger)), which has recently been prepared by us, 1-o-β-decyl-D-glucopyranoside (β-GlcC₁₀), and 1-o-β-octyl-D-glucopyranoside (β-GlcC₈). The repeat distance d obtained from the position of the diffraction peak does not follow the swelling law d = 2δ_hc/_hc, where δ_hc and _hc are the thickness and the volume fraction of the hydrophobic layer, respectively. This may result from the fact that δ_hc increases and, equivalently, the surface area per surfactant molecule (a_s) decreases with increasing concentration. So we calculate δ_hc and a_s from the observed d value at each concentration using the above swelling law. The half-thickness δ_hc increases in the order β-GlcC₈ < β-Glc(Ger) < β-GlcC₁₀ at a fixed concentration. On the other hand, the data on a_s for β-GlcC₁₀ and β-GlcC₈ lie on the same line and the data for β-Glc(Ger) lies above this line. These results suggest that the cross-sectional area of the geranyl chain is larger than that of the glucose headgroup. Existence of water filled defects in bilayer sheets is also discussed based on the SAXS pattern and the concentration dependence of d.     

Synthesis of γγγ-trifluorocarbonyl compounds

γγγ-Trifluorocarbonyl compounds are easily obtained in a good yield by introduction of the 1,1,1-trifluoroethyl moiety (CF₃-CH₂-) on the -methylene group of a ketone.     

A study of η-allyl(η-cyclopentadienyl)- dicarbonylmanganese salts

New substituted η³-allyl(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)dicarbonylmanganese cations have been prepared as their tetrafluoroborates. They readily add a wide range of nucleophiles yielding η²-alkene(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)dicarbonylmanganese complexes. Of the latter, in general only those involving terminal alkenes are sufficiently stable to permit ready isolation; otherwise metal-free alkenes are obtained. Regioselectivity in these additions depends on the nucleophile.     

Zur struktur des dimeren β-mercaptozimtaldehyds

Attempts to prepare β-thioketoaldehydes from β-chlorovinylaldehydes and sodium sulphide lead in the case of β-chlorocinnamic aldehyde and sodium sulphide to a dimer of β-mercaptocinnamic aldehyde. ¹ The structure of the dimer was proved by means of IR-, ¹H-NMR- and ¹³C-NMR-spectroscopy and established as bicyclo-[3.3.1]-5,7-diphenyl-3-hydroxy-2-oxa-6, 9-dithia-nonene-(7).     

Übergangsmetallketen-verbindungen : XXIX. Cyclopropylsubstituierte η- und η-Ketenylverbindungen des Wolframs; Elektronenstruktur und Bindungsverhältnisse in Carbonyl(η-cyclopentadienyl)(η-cyclopropylketenyl) (trimethylphosphin)wolfram

Synthesis and spectroscopic data of carbonyl(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)(η²-cyclopropylketenyl) (trimethylphosphine)tungsten and dicarbonyl(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)(η¹-cyclopropylketenyl) (trimethylphosphine)tungsten are reported. The electronic structure of, and types of bonding in carbonyl(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)(η²-cyclopropylketenyl) (trimethylphosphine)tungsten are described.     

Enzymatic kinetic resolution of 1-(3′-furyl)-3-buten-1-ol and 2-(2′-furyl)-propan-1-ol

The enzymatic kinetic resolution of the racemic alcohols 1-(3′-furyl)-3-buten-1-ol (±)-1 and 2-(2′-furyl)propan-1-ol (±)-2 was investigated by screening a range of lipases and esterases for enantioselective transacylation, as well as for enantioselective hydrolysis. For both alcohols, lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of the derived racemic acetate gave the best results for accessing the desired (S)-enantiomers. In the case of the secondary alcohol (±)-1, ASL turned out to be the optimum enzyme, whereas PPL was found to be superior in the case of the primary alcohol (±)-2. Additionally, an alternative access to (S)-2 via Oppolzer's camphor sultam methodology is described.     

Synthesis and transformation of novel cyclic β-amino acid derivatives from (+)-3-carene

The regio- and stereoselective addition of chlorosulfonyl isocyanate to (+)-3-carene 1 resulted in β-lactam 2, which was converted to N-Boc-β-amino acid 4, β-amino ester 7, and carboxamide derivatives 18 and 20 via N-Boc activation and mild ring opening. The corresponding β-amino ester 7 was transformed to 2-thioxopyrimidin-4-one 11 and 2,4-pyrimidinedione 13. LAH reduction of 5 and 7 resulted in amino alcohols 6 and 8. The reaction of 8 with phenyl isothiocyanate, followed by cyclisation, furnished 1,3-oxazine 15.     

Solid-phase synthesis of a naturally occurring β-(1→5)-linked d-galactofuranosyl heptamer containing the artificial linkage arm L-homoserine

The glycosyl donor 2,3-di-O-benzoyl-5-O-levulinoyl-6-O-pivaloyl-β-D-Galactofuranosyl chloride and properly-protected L-homoserine covalently bound to polystyrene were employed for the stereoregular formation of a D-galactofuranosyl heptamer containing β-(1→)-interglycosidic bonds and a β-linked L-homoserine a solid-phase approach     

Bis(η-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)-and(ηcyclopentadienyl) (η-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)-platinium dications: Pt(IV) metallocenes

Reaction of [Pt₂(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂(η-Br)₃]³⁺(Br⁻)₃ with C₅R₅H (R = H,Me) in the presence of AgBF₄ gives the first platinocenium dications, [Pt(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(η⁵-C₅R₅)]²⁺(BF₄⁻ )₂. On electrochemical reduction, [pt(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂]²⁺ yields [Pt(η⁴-C₅Me₅H)(η²-C₅Me₅)]+ BF₄⁻. kw]Cyclopentadienyl; Metallocenes; Platinum; Electrochemistry     

C---H bond activation by rhodium(I) and the mechanism of the olefin isomerization: new synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated ketones via η- or η-alkylallylrhodium(III) complexes by reductive elimination

Acylrhodium(III)-η³-1-ethylallyl complex (7) was prepared by the reaction of 8-quinolinecarboxaldehyde (3) and 1,4-pentadienerhodium(I) chloride (2) by C---H bond activation, followed by hydrometallation, and double bond migration. Higher concentrations of pyridine as coordinating ligand transforms η³-1-ethylallylrhodium(III) complexes (8a,8b) into η¹-pent-2-enylrhodium(III) complex (11a). Acylrhodium(III)-η³-syn,anti-1,3-dimethylallyl complex (14) was also prepared from 1,3-pentadienerhodium(I) chloride (16) and 3. The reductive elimination of acylrhodium(III)-η¹- and -η³-1-alkylallyl complexes by trimethylphosphite gives various β,γ-unsaturated ketones.     

Synthesis of the β-lactam antibiotic (+)- thienamycin via an intermediate π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complex

The π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complex (7), formed by reaction of E-1,2-epoxy-2-methyl-6,6-dimethoxyhex-3-ene(5) with co-ordinatively unsaturated iron carbonyl species, was reacted with benzylamine to give a lactam complex (8) by an S_N'-like mechanism. This complex upon oxidation with Ce(IV) afforded cis-3-isopropenyl-4-[(2',2'-dim (9) which was chemically modified into trans-3-(1'-hydroxyethyl)-4-[(2',2-dimethoxy)ethyl] azetidin-2-one (13), a key intermediate previously used in the synthesis of the antibiotic thienamycin. Similar reaction with (S)-(-)--methylbenzylamine afforded a separable mixture of diastereoisomeric iron lactam complexes (16 and 17). These complexes could be individually converted to the corresponding optically active β-lactam derivatives (27 and 28) and, hence, are precursors for the synthesis of either natural (+)-thienamycin or unnatural (-)-thienamycin.