Anaerobic environment as an efficient approach to improve the photostability of fatty acid photodecarboxylase

Fatty acid photodecarboxylase of Chlorella variabilis NC64A (CvFAP) is a novel photoenzyme with great potential in the treatment of waste lipids and production of sustainable aviation fuel. However, the fragile nature of CvFAP to blue light is an urgent challenge. Herein, we demonstrated anaerobic environment could significantly improve the photostability of CvFAP for the first time. The decarboxylation of palmitic acid by CvFAP for 3 h under anaerobic environment increased pentadecane yield by 44.7% as compared to that under aerobic environment. The residual activity of CvFAP after blue-light preillumination in the absence of palmitic acid for 0.5 h under anaerobic environment was 80.4%, which was 258.7 times higher than that under aerobic environment. Remarkable accumulation of superoxide radical and singlet oxygen in CvFAP under aerobic environment led to the poor photostability of CvFAP. Anaerobic environment helped to mitigate the production of superoxide radical and singlet oxygen in CvFAP, improving the photostability of CvFAP.     

Light‐Driven Kinetic Resolution of α‐Functionalized Carboxylic Acids Enabled by an Engineered Fatty Acid Photodecarboxylase

Chiral α‐functionalized carboxylic acids are valuable precursors for a variety of medicines and natural products. Herein, we described an engineered fatty acid photodecarboxylase (CvFAP)‐catalyzed kinetic resolution of α‐amino acids and α‐hydroxy acids, which provides the unreacted R‐configured substrates with high yields and excellent stereoselectivity (ee up to 99 %). This efficient light‐driven process requires neither NADPH recycling nor prior preparation of esters, which were required in previous biocatalytic approaches. The structure‐guided engineering strategy is based on the scanning of large amino acids at hotspots to narrow the substrate binding tunnel. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of asymmetric catalysis by an engineered CvFAP.     

Chemoenzymatic Cascade Synthesis of Optically Pure Alkanoic Acids by Using Engineered Arylmalonate Decarboxylase Variants

Arylmalonate decarboxylase (AMDase) catalyzes the cofactor-free asymmetric decarboxylation of prochiral arylmalonic acids and produces the corresponding monoacids with rigorous R selectivity. Alteration of catalytic cysteine residues and of the hydrophobic environment in the active site by protein engineering has previously resulted in the generation of variants with opposite enantioselectivity and improved catalytic performance. The substrate spectrum of AMDase allows it to catalyze the asymmetric decarboxylation of small methylvinylmalonic acid derivatives, implying the possibility to produce short-chain 2-methylalkanoic acids with high optical purity after reduction of the nonactivated C=C double bond. Use of diimide as the reductant proved to be a simple strategy to avoid racemization of the stereocenter during reduction. The developed chemoenzymatic sequential cascade with use of R- and S-selective AMDase variants produced optically pure short-chain 2-methylalkanoic acids in moderate to full conversion and gave both enantiomers in excellent enantiopurity (up to 83 % isolated yield and 98 % ee).     

Complex Formation Reactions of (2,2′-dipyridylamine)copper(II) with Various Biologically Relevant Ligands. The Kinetics of Hydrolysis of Amino Acid Esters

Binary and ternary copper(II) complexes involving 2,2′-dipyridylamine (DPA) and various biologically relevant ligands containing different functional groups are investigated. The ligands used are dicarboxylic acids, amino acids, peptides and DNA unit constituents. The ternary complexes of amino acids, dicarboxylic acids or peptides are formed by simultaneous reactions. The results showed the formation of 1:1 complexes with amino acids and dicarboxylic acids. The effect of chelate ring size of the dicarboxylic acid complexes on their stability constants was examined. Peptides form both 1:1 complexes and the corresponding deprotonated amide species. The ternary complexes of copper(II) with DPA and DNA are formed in a stepwise process, whereby binding of copper(II) to DPA is followed by ligation of the DNA components. DNA constituents form both 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with Cu(DPA)²⁺. The concentration distribution of the complexes in solution was evaluated. [Cu(DPA)(CBDCA)], [Cu(DPA)(malonate)] and [Cu(DPA)(oxalate)] were isolated and characterized by elemental analysis, i.r. and magnetic measurements. Spectroscopic studies of [Cu(DPA)(malonate)] revealed that the complex exhibits square planner coordination with copper(II). The hydrolysis of glycine methyl ester (MeGly) is catalyzed by the Cu(DPA)²⁺ complex. The reaction has been studied by a pH-state technique over the pH range 5.8–6.8 at 25 °C and I=0.1 mol dm⁻¹. The kinetic data fits assuming that the hydrolysis proceeds in two steps. The first step, involving coordination of the amino acid ester by the amino and carboxylic group, is followed by the rate-determining attack by the OH⁻ ion. The second step involves equilibrium formation of the hydroxo-complex, Cu(DPA)(MeGly)(OH), followed by intramolecular attack.     

Die analytische anwendung der kohlendioxyddestillationUntersuchung von dekarboxylierungsreaktionen in wässriger lösung

Carboxylic acids which decompose spontaneously on boiling or by oxidation in aqueous solutions can be determined by titration of the carbon dioxide formed after distillation as described previously. Acetonedicarboxylic acid and p-aminosalicylic acid are determined by spontaneous decarboxylation. Hydrolysis must precede the determination for acetoacetic ester, phenylethylcyanoacetic ethyl ester and for carbonic acid esters. Oxidative decarboxylation allows determinations of glyoxylic acid, aldonic acids, sugar dicarboxylic acids, formic acid, oxalic acid and α-amino acids. The titration of the carbon dioxide formed can be done with 0.1 or 0.01 N solutions. The interference of atmospheric carbon dioxide is avoided by the use of pentane as a sealing liquid.     

A Convenient Synthesis of N‐Aryl Benzamides by Rhodium‐Catalyzed ortho‐Amidation and Decarboxylation of Benzoic Acids

The rhodium‐catalyzed amidation of substituted benzoic acids with isocyanates by directed C?H functionalization followed by decarboxylation to afford the corresponding N‐aryl benzamides is demonstrated, in which the carboxylate serves as a unique, removable directing group. Notably, less common meta‐substituted N‐aryl benzamides are generated readily from more accessible para‐ or ortho‐substituted groups by employing this strategy.     

Complex Formation Reactions of Promethazine Copper(II) and Various Biologically Relevant Ligands. Synthesis,Equilibrium Constants,Spectroscopic Characterization and Biological Activity

Binary and ternary complexes of copper(II) involving promethazine, N,N-dimethyl-3-(phenothiazin-10-yl)propylamine (Prom) and various biologically relevant ligands containing different functional groups, were investigated. The ligands (L) are dicarboxylic acids, amino acids, amides and DNA constituents. The ternary complexes of amino acids, dicarboxylic acids or amides are formed by simultaneous reactions. The results showed the formation of Cu(Prom)(L) complexes with amino acids and dicarboxylic acids. The effect of chelate ring size of the dicarboxylic acid complexes on their stability constants was examined. Amides form both Cu(Prom)(L) complexes and the corresponding deprotonated species Cu(Prom)(LH₋₁). The ternary complexes of copper(II) with (Prom) and DNA are formed in a stepwise process, whereby binding of copper(II) to (Prom) is followed by ligation of the DNA components. DNA constituents form both 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with Cu(Prom)²⁺. The stability of these ternary complexes was quantitatively compared with their corresponding binary complexes in terms of the parameters Δlog₁₀ K. The values of Δlog₁₀ K indicate that the ternary complexes containing aromatic amino acids were significantly more stable than the complexes containing alkyl- and hydroxyalkyl-substituted amino acids. The concentration distribution of various complex species formed in solution was also evaluated as a function of pH. The solid complexes [Cu(Prom)L)] where L=1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylic acid (CBDCA), oxalic and malonic acid were isolated and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, TGA, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Spectroscopic studies of the complexes revealed that the complexes exhibits square planar coordination with copper(II). The isolated solid complexes have been screened for their antimicrobial activities using the disc diffusion method against some selected bacteria and fungi. The activity data show that the metal complexes are found to have antibacterial and antifungal activity.     

Can gas chromatography combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry be used to quantify organic compound abundance?

Quantifying the concentrations of organics such as phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and n‐alkanes and measuring their corresponding ¹³ C/¹² C isotope ratios often involves two separate analyses; (1) quantification by gas chromatography flame ionisation detection (GC‐FID) or gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and (2) ¹³ C‐isotope abundance analysis by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC‐C‐IRMS). This requirement for two separate analyses has obvious disadvantages in terms of cost and time. However, there is a history of using the data output of isotope ratio mass spectrometers to quantify various components; including the N and C concentrations of solid materials and CO₂ concentrations in gaseous samples. Here we explore the possibility of quantifying n‐alkanes extracted from sheeps' faeces and fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) derivatised from PLFAs extracted from grassland soil, using GC‐C‐IRMS. The results were compared with those from GC‐FID analysis of the same extracts. For GC‐C‐IRMS the combined area of the masses for all the ions (m/z 44, 45 and 46) was collected, referred to as 'area all', while for the GC‐FID analysis the peak area data were collected. Following normalisation to a common value for added internal standards, the GC‐C‐IRMS 'area all' values and the GC‐FID peak area data were directly compared. Strong linear relationships were found for both n‐alkanes and FAMEs. For the n‐alkanes the relationships were 1:1 while, for the FAMEs, GC‐C‐IRMS overestimated the areas relative to the GC‐FID results. However, with suitable reference material 1:1 relationships were established. The output of a GC‐C‐IRMS system can form the basis for the quantification of certain organics including FAMEs and n‐alkanes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and properties of noncoplanar rigid‐rod aromatic polyhydrazides and poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazole)s containing phenyl or naphthyl substituents

Two new phenyl‐ and naphthyl‐substituted rigid‐rod aromatic dicarboxylic acid monomers, 2,2′‐diphenylbiphenyl‐4,4′‐dicarboxylic acid ( 4 ) and 2,2′‐di(1‐naphthyl)biphenyl‐4,4′‐dicarboxylic acid ( 5 ), were synthesized by the Suzuki coupling reaction of 2,2′‐diiodobiphenyl‐4,4′‐dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester with benzeneboronic acid and naphthaleneboronic acid, respectively, followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the ester groups. Four new polyhydrazides were prepared from the dicarboxylic acids 4 and 5 with terephthalic dihydrazide (TPH) and isophthalic dihydrazide (IPH), respectively, via the Yamazaki phosphorylation reaction. These polyhydrazides were amorphous and readily soluble in many organic solvents. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated that these hydrazide polymers had glass transition temperatures in the range of 187–234 °C and could be thermally cyclodehydrated into the corresponding oxadiazole polymers in the range of 300–400 °C. The resulting poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazole)s exhibited T_g's in the range of 252–283 °C, 10% weight‐loss temperature in excess of 470 °C, and char yield at 800 °C in nitrogen higher than 54%. These organo‐soluble polyhydrazides and poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazole)s exhibited UV–Vis absorption maximum at 262–296 and 264–342 nm in NMP solution, and their photoluminescence spectra showed maximum bands around 414–445 and 404–453 nm, respectively, with quantum yield up to 38%. The electron‐transporting properties were examined by electrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammograms of the poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazole) films cast onto an indium‐tin oxide (ITO)‐coated glass substrate exhibited reversible reduction redox with E_onset at ?1.37 to ?1.57 V versus Ag/AgCl in dry N,N‐dimethylformamide solution. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6466–6483, 2006     

Synthesis and properties of novel aromatic polyamides derived from 1,5-bis(4-aminophenoxy)naphthalene and aromatic dicarboxylic acids

A new bis(phenoxy)naphthalene-containing diamine, 1,5-bis(4-aminophenoxy)naphthalene, was synthesized in two steps from the condensation of 1,5-dihydroxy-naphthalene with p-chloronitrobenzene in the presence of potassium carbonate, giving 1,5-bis(4-nitrophenoxy)naphthalene, followed by hydrazine hydrate/Pd? C reduction. A series of polyamides and copolyamides were synthesized by the direct polycondensation of the diamine with various aromatic dicarboxylic acids or with mixed dicarboxylic acids in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. The polymers having inherent viscosity of 0.81–1.25 dL/g were obtained in quantitative yield. Most of the polymers were generally soluble in aprotic solvent such as N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, etc. The polymers derived from rigid dicarboxylic acids such as terephthalic acid, naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, and 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid exhibited crystalline patterns. Glass transition temperatures of polymers were in the range of 230–360°C, and 10% weight loss temperatures in nitrogen and air were above 492 and 470°C, respectively. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Complex Formation Reactions of Divinyltin(IV) Complexes with Amino Acids,Peptides, Dicarboxylic acids and Related Compounds

Complex formation equilibria of divinyltin(IV) with amino acids, peptides, and dicarboxylic acids have been investigated. Stoichiometry and stability constants for the complexes formed were determined at 25°C and ionic strength 0.1 M NaNO₃. The results showed the formation of ML, MLH, and ML₂ (organotin : ligand : hydrogen) complexes with amino acids. Peptides form ML complexes and the corresponding deprotonated amide species MLH_?1. In the latter species the binding with divinyltin(IV) occurs through the terminal amino group, carboxylate oxygen, and the amide nitrogen atoms (CO^? ₂, N^? _amide, NH₂). The results showed the formation of ML and ML₂ complexes with dicarboxylic acids. The concentration distribution of the complexes in solution was evaluated. The bonding sites of the divinyltin(IV) complex in solid state with oxalic acid was investigated by means of elemental analyses, FTIR, and mass spectra. Non-isothermal decomposition of the above complex has been studied and the result was statistically analyzed. The main steps were identified for the thermal decomposition reaction and each step proved to be a first order reaction. The kinetic parameters E _a and A were calculated for each step in the reaction. The thermodynamic functions H, G, and S* were calculated for each step of the reaction.     

Gold(III)‐Induced Oxidation of Amino Acids and Malonic Acid: Reaction Pathways Studied by NMR Spectroscopy with Isotope Labelling

Reactions of Au(III) with biomolecules are of interest in relation to understanding the mechanism of action of therapeutic gold compounds. NMR investigations of ¹³C and ¹⁵N isotopically‐labelled glycine and alanine show that Au(III) induces deamination and subsequent decarboxylation of both amino acids with the same mechanism. For comparison, reactions of Au(III) with sarcosine and the dicarboxylic acid malonic acid were also investigated. The major intermediates and products have been identified.     

Functional Methacryloyloxy Acetals: V. Electrophilic Addition of Carboxylic Acids to 2-Vinyloxyethyl Methacrylate

Mono- and dicarboxylic acids (acetic, methacrylic, E-crotonic, and malonic) quantitatively add to 2-vinyloxyethyl methacrylate under mild conditions (1 wt % CF₃COOH, 20–60°C, 1–4 h) according to the Markownikoff rule to give the corresponding mono- and bis-adducts with high regio- and chemoselectivity. The products may be regarded as a new family of functionalized methacrylates.     

Carboxylate phosphabetaines based on tertiary phosphines and unsaturated dicarboxylic acids

By reaction of triorganylphosphines with unsaturated dicarboxylic acids adducts of betaine structure were synthesized whose stability depended on the character of substituents at phosphorus and on the structure of acid. The betaine obtained from phosphines and maleic and fumaric acids redily underwent decarboxylation into the corresponding monoacyl phosphonium derivatives. The structure of the latter was established by means of X-ray crystallography. The adduct prepared from phosphines and itaconic acid was stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bond between the acylate anionic center and the “second” carboxy group.     

Direct polyesterification with thionyl chloride in pyridine improved by a modification of monomer sequences in copolymers

The direct polyesterification with thionyl chloride (SOCl₂) in pyridine was further investigated. Copolycondensations of dicarboxylic acids, bisphenols, and hydroxybenzoic acids were significantly affected by the reaction temperatures and combinations of monomers which could change relative rates of alcoholyses of the activated dicarboxylic acids and the hydroxyacids consequently to vary monomer sequences in the copolymers resulted. The sequences were tried to be varied more directly by stepwise reactions of monomers in copolycondensations of dicarboxylic acids, bisphenols, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHB), as well as PHB and m-hydroxybenzoic acid (MHB). The reactions proceeded smoothly and satisfactorily when carried out by initial reaction of dicarboxylic acids and PHB followed by bisphenols likely to favor sequential to random distributions of monomers. Reverse addition of PHB and bisphenols, and then dicarboxylic acids resulted in rapid precipitation due to some oligomerization of PHB at an earlier stage of reaction, and largely retarded the reaction. This was also the case for the copolycondensation of PHB and MHB. Copolymers of high inherent viscosities with up to 65 mol % PHB could be obtained by initial reaction of MHB followed by PHB.     

N-Alkyl-substituted polyamides and copolyamides having long methylene chain units

N-Alkyl-substituted polyamides and copolyamides have been prepared from N,N′-dialkyl p-xylenediamine and N,N′-dialkyl hexamethylenediamine with long-chain aliphatic dicarboxylic acids. Crystalline N-alkyl polyamides were obtained by the use of dicarboxylic acids higher than C₁₆. The melting point versus composition curves for the crystalline N-alkyl copolyamides which were prepared from a mixture of diamine and the corresponding N-alkyl diamine with α,ω-octadecanedioic acid showed convex type plots. X-ray examination of N-alkyl copolyamides revealed that all the systems behaved in the same basic manner, the second component was always present without dissolving in the lattice of the first. Dilatometric curves showed two inflection points, corresponding to the melting points of the N-alkyl and unsubstituted polyamides respectively. From these results, a block copolymer structure was suggested for the N-alkyl copolyamides. The mechanisms for the formation of the block structure were also discussed.     

Fully aromatic thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesters of 3,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone

A series of fully aromatic, thermotropic polyesters, derived from 3,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone and various aromatic dicarboxylic acids, was prepared by the high-temperature solution polycondensation method and examined for thermotropic behavior by a variety of experimental techniques. The aromatic dicarboxylic acids used in this study were 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, 4,4′-bibenzoic acid, and terephthalic acid. The two homopolymers of 3,4′-DHB with either 2,6-NDA or 4,4′-BBA formed nematic LC phases at 285°C and 255°C and also exhibited isotropization transitions (T_i) at 317°C and 339°C, respectively. The copolymer of 3,4′-DHB with 50% TA and 50% 2,6-NDA also formed a nematic LC phase and had a broader range of LC phase than that of its respective homopolymers. Two other copolymers of 3,4′-DHB, both containing 50% 4,4′-BBA, also formed nematic LC phases at low T_f values. All of the thermotropic polyesters had high thermal stabilities. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed [3+3] Annulation between Diarylamines and α,β‐Unsaturated Acids through CH Activation: Direct Access to 4‐Substituted 2‐Quinolinones

A C?H activation strategy has been successfully employed for the high‐yielding synthesis of a diverse array of 4‐substituted 2‐quinolinone species by a palladium‐catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling involving diarylamines. This intermolecular annulation approach incorporates readily available α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids as the coupling partner by suppressing the facile decarboxylation. Based on preliminary mechanistic studies, a reaction sequence is proposed, involving ortho palladation, π‐coordination, β‐migratory insertion, and β‐hydride elimination.     

From Alkanes to Carboxylic Acids: Terminal Oxygenation by a Fungal Peroxygenase

A new heme–thiolate peroxidase catalyzes the hydroxylation of n‐alkanes at the terminal position—a challenging reaction in organic chemistry—with H₂O₂ as the only cosubstrate. Besides the primary product, 1‐dodecanol, the conversion of dodecane yielded dodecanoic, 12‐hydroxydodecanoic, and 1,12‐dodecanedioic acids, as identified by GC–MS. Dodecanal could be detected only in trace amounts, and 1,12‐dodecanediol was not observed, thus suggesting that dodecanoic acid is the branch point between mono‐ and diterminal hydroxylation. Simultaneously, oxygenation was observed at other hydrocarbon chain positions (preferentially C2 and C11). Similar results were observed in reactions of tetradecane. The pattern of products formed, together with data on the incorporation of ¹⁸O from the cosubstrate H₂¹⁸O₂, demonstrate that the enzyme acts as a peroxygenase that is able to catalyze a cascade of mono‐ and diterminal oxidation reactions of long‐chain n‐alkanes to give carboxylic acids.