Study of the enantioselectivity of the CAL-B-catalysed transesterification of α-substituted α-propylmethanols and α-substituted benzyl alcohols

A study of the enantioselectivity exhibited by the lipase B from Candida antarctica in the transesterification of different α-substituted α-propylmethanols with vinyl acetate is shown. The best results are obtained when the large-sized (L) substituent of the alcohol is either a phenyl group or more especially a cyclohexyl group, although the reaction rates are lower than when linear or slightly branched groups are present. It is also found that ramification at the β-position of the L substituent has a deleterious effect on both lipase activity and enantioselectivity. Moreover, some α-substituted benzyl alcohols bearing medium-sized (M) substituents larger than an ethyl and smaller than a propyl group are resolved by means of this methodology with moderate-good enantioselectivities (E=46–57) and similar reaction rates.     

Study on the α-Thiocarbonylthioformamide Ⅰ-Comparison with α-carbonylthioformamide

α-Carbonylthioformamide 1 and α-thiocarbonylthioformamide 1 were synthesized by Adiwidjaja in 1980¹. However, there is no report of these compounds related their properties and reaction activities². Compound 1 has two possible sites for nucleophilic attack. In our previous works., it was used to synthesize a lot of heterocyclic compounds (Scheme l)^3-6.     

The Application of the Trichloroacetimidate Method to the Synthesis of α-D-Gluco- and α-D-Galactopyranosides

Abstract

The trichloroacetimidate method has been applied to the construction of α-d-galacto- and α-d-glucopyranosides. The readily available β-trichloroacetimidates of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-d-galacto- and glucopyranose (1-β and 3-β, respectively) have been employed in glycosidations with several monosaccharides (either A, B, C or D) under varying experimental conditions. With the galactose derivative 1-β as a donor and each of the monosaccharides A-D as acceptors, the corresponding disaccharides 1A-1D, were obtained in high yield and with good α-stereoselectivity when employing diethyl ether as solvent and either trimethylsilyl- or tert-butyldimethylsilyl trifluoro-methane sulphonate as catalyst. Glycosidations with the glucose derivative 3-β, as donor, and with the monosaccharide acceptors A, B or D, gave the corresponding disaccharides 3A, 3B and 3D, in high yield but with somewhat lower α-diastereoselectivity than observed with the galactose derivative 1-β. The stereochemical outcome of the reactions is rationalised in terms of possible reaction mechanisms.     

Membrane Transport of the Zwitterionic Aromatic α-Amino Acids by α-Aminophosphonates

Abstract

Bghly selective biological transport of amino acids is usually mediated by carrier proteins. The application of such membrane systems for the analysis and separation of amino acids has long studied. This work is devoted to the transport of zwitterionic form of aromatic a-amino acids such as d,l-Phe, d,l-DOPA, d,l-His, d,l-Tyr, d,l-Trp, via supported liquid membrane (SLM). The lipophilic α-aminophosphonates (I).

R₁ amyl or 2-ethylhexyl; R₂, R₂-(CH₂)4-(CH₂)5-CH₃ & (CH₃), C₄ H(CH₉) & H; H & H; have been used as carrier in the membrane systems composed of a porous polymeric support (Millipore Type FA) impregnated with 10^?1 M carrier in o-nitrophenyl n-octyl ether (amino acid concentration in source phase is 10^?3 M). The cell for membrane extractions is presented on Fig I.     

Study on the Reaction of α-Thiobenzoylthioformylmorpholine

a-ThiocaIbonylthiOformnddesareOfalmostunexploredclassOfcomPOundsll],althoughtheyhavebeenpreParedsincel98Ol2-3].ThisattractSustoexploretheirchendStryandutilityinSynthesisOfheteropcles.Accordingtoourpreviousmethodl`1,a-benzOylthiOfOrmyl-morpholine1wasprePaIedfirst,fOllowedbysumirizationOfcarbonylwithLawessenreagnttoaffordtheexpeCtedcr-thjobenzoylthiOformylmorpholine2,whchhastWothiotnylgrous.onthebasisOfstructUreof2,itcanbereactedwithcomPOundsbearingdrinctionalgrouP,suchasdidrineandsen…     

Explaining the structural plasticity of α-synuclein

Given that α-synuclein has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders, deciphering the structure of this protein is of particular importance. While monomeric α-synuclein is disordered in solution, it can form aggregates rich in cross-β structure, relatively long helical segments when bound to micelles or lipid vesicles, and a relatively ordered helical tetramer within the native cell environment. To understand the physical basis underlying this structural plasticity, we generated an ensemble for monomeric α-synuclein using a Bayesian formalism that combines data from NMR chemical shifts, RDCs, and SAXS with molecular simulations. An analysis of the resulting ensemble suggests that a non-negligible fraction of the ensemble (0.08, 95% confidence interval 0.03-0.12) places the minimal toxic aggregation-prone segment in α-synuclein, NAC(8-18), in a solvent exposed and extended conformation that can form cross-β structure. Our data also suggest that a sizable fraction of structures in the ensemble (0.14, 95% confidence interval 0.04-0.23) contains long-range contacts between the N- and C-termini. Moreover, a significant fraction of structures that contain these long-range contacts also place the NAC(8-18) segment in a solvent exposed orientation, a finding in contrast to the theory that such long-range contacts help to prevent aggregation. Lastly, our data suggest that α-synuclein samples structures with amphipathic helices that can self-associate via hydrophobic contacts to form tetrameric structures. Overall, these observations represent a comprehensive view of the unfolded ensemble of monomeric α-synuclein and explain how different conformations can arise from the monomeric protein.     

Study on the Reaction of α-Ketohemithioacetal

Aromatic α-sulfinyl carboxylic acids can be rearranged to hemithioacetals or other derivatives of glyoxylic acid under the action of acid reagents was first reported by Pummerer¹. Later, Russell and coworkers applied this rearrangement to β-ketosulfoxides, synthesized α-ketohemithioacetal², which can be transformed to α-keto alcohol, α-keto aldehyde and α-hydroxy alcohol, α-hydroxy acid³. Furthermore, Hall and Poet reported that α-ketohemithio-acetal can be rearranged to the corresponding α-hydroxythioester in the presence of magnesium nitrate and sodium acetate or tertiary amine⁴. However, few reports of reaction of α-ketohemithioacetal can be seen in literature.     

Ethyl α-cyanoacrylate in the Michael reaction

Ethyl -cyanocarylate undergoes the Michael reaction with strong CH-acids (pK _a < 13) in the presence of strong basic amines such as butylamine, piperidine, and triethylamine. Only polymerization of ethyl -cyanoacrylate occurs under the same conditions with weaker CH-acids in the presence of less basic amines such as aniline, N-methylaniline, and pyridine.A. N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organometallic Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117813 Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2449–2452, October, 1992.     

Experimental validation of the α-effect in the gas phase

The α-effect-enhanced nucleophilicity of an anion with a lone pair of electrons adjacent to the attacking atom-has been well documented in solution; however, there is continuing disagreement about whether this effect is a purely solvent-induced phenomenon or an intrinsic property of the α-nucleophiles. To resolve these discrepancies, we explore the α-effect in the bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction in the gas phase. Our results show enhanced nucleophilicity for HOO(-) relative to "normal" alkoxides in three separate reaction series (methyl fluoride, anisole, and 4-fluoroanisole), validating an intrinsic origin of the α-effect. Caution must be employed when making comparisons of the α-effect between the condensed and gas phases due to significant shifts in anion basicity between these media. Variations in electron affinities and homolytic bond strengths between the normal and α-anions indicate that HOO(-) has distinctive thermochemical properties.     

Investigation of the reaction of α-thioamides, α-esters and α-nitriles with N-halosuccinimides

Investigation of the reaction of α-thioamides, α-esters and α-nitriles with NBS and NCS is described. The scope of this stereoselective oxidative transformation to the β-haloacrylamides, β-acrylates and β-acrylonitriles has been determined. A mechanistic rationale to explain the observed differences in reactivity between the amide, ester and nitrile series is proposed.     

Highly active new α-diimine nickel catalyst for the polymerization of α-olefins

A new silylated α-diimine ligand, bis[N,N′-(4-tert-butyl-diphenylsilyl-2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene 3, and its corresponding Ni(II) complex, {bis[N,N′-(4-tert-butyl-diphenylsilyl-2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene}dibromonickel 4, have been synthesized and characterized. The crystal structures of 3 and 4 were determined by X-ray crystallography. In the solid state, complex 4 is a dimer with two bridging Br ligands linking the two nickel centers, which have square pyramidal geometries. Complex 4, activated either by diethylaluminum chloride (DEAC) or methylaluminoxane (MAO) produces very active catalyst systems for the polymerization of ethylene and moderately active for the polymerization of propylene. The activity values are in the order of magnitude of 10⁷ g PE (mol Ni [E] h)⁻¹ for the polymerization of ethylene and of 10⁵ g PP (mol Ni [P] h)⁻¹ for the polymerization of propylene. NMR analysis shows that branched polyethylenes (PE) are obtained at room or higher temperatures and almost linear PE is obtained at 0 °C with 4/DEAC.     

On the properties of the anions derived from α-deprotonation of α-(o-carboran-1-yl)- and α-ferrocenyl-1-alkylbenzotriazoles

The synthesis of 1-[(2-R-o-carboran-1-yl)methyl]benzotriazoles (R = Me, Ph) is described. α-Deprotonation of these compounds followed by reactions of the generated carbanions with MeI give the corresponding α-methylated products. Even at room temperature, they exist in solution as an equilibrium mixture of two conformers due to steric crowding around the C^α atom. In contrast, the anions generated by deprotonation of α-ferrocenyl derivatives of 1-methyl- and 1-ethylbenzotriazoles are ambident and are attacked by electrophiles at both the C^α and N(3) atoms.     

Facile synthesis of α-hydroxy carboxylic acids from the corresponding α-amino acids

An effective and improved procedure is developed for the synthesis of α-hydroxy carboxylic acids by treatment of the corresponding protonated α-amino acid with tert-butyl nitrite in 1,4-dioxane–water. The amino moiety must be protonated and located α to a carboxylic acid function in order to undergo initial diazotization and successive hydroxylation, since neither β-amino acids nor acid derivatives such as esters and amides undergo hydroxylations. The method is successfully applied for the synthesis of 18 proteinogenic amino acids.     

Scope and Limitations in the Use of α-Silyl and α-Stannyl Sulfones as Latent α-Sulfonyl Anions

Three methods for the regeneration of α-sulfonyl anions from α-silyl sulfones and α-stannyl sulfones are investigated. These methods include: (1) treatment of α-silyl sulfones with electrophiles (aldehydes and acid halides) in the presence of fluoride ion; (2) reaction of α-silyl sulfones with n-butyllithium which produces an α-silyl anion via a migration of the -SiMe₃ group from the α-position to the ortho-position of the phenyl sulfones; and (3) direct transmetalation of α-stannyl sulfone by treatment with n-butyllithium. The addition of cerium [III] chloride is shown to substantially decrease enolization problems associated with addition of α-sulfonyl anions to carbonyl compounds bearing enolizable protons.     

New method for the synthesis of α-chlorocinnamonitriles

A novel method for the preparation of nitriles of -chlorocinnamic acid from aldehydes and ketones was proposed. Transformation of carbonyl compounds into hydrazones followed by treatment of the reaction mixture with CCl₃CN in the presence of copper chloride(i) yields -chlorocinnamonitriles.     

The mechanism of the α-ketoacid-hydroxylamine amide-forming ligation

Three-ring circus! Surprisingly complex molecular acrobatics are observed in the mechanism of the α-ketoacid-hydroxylamine amide-forming ligation reaction. Although this remarkable reaction can already be used for the chemoselective union of large, unprotected peptide fragments the elucidated mechanism provides important clues to extending its application to larger and more complex biological targets.     

On the band gap in peptide α-helices

The variation in the band gap of a (Gly)₃₀ α-helix with position in the peptide sequence has been investigated using AM1 semiempirical molecular orbital (MO) theory within an extensive singles configuration interaction (CI) treatment. The dipole-charge interaction along the length of the helix results in the highest local electron affinity near the N-terminus and the lowest local ionization potential near the C-terminus. The calculations suggest that the band gap, measured as the difference between the local ionization potential and electron affinity, decreases from the C-terminus to the N-terminus for the model (Gly)₃₀ α-helix in vacuo. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 79: 120–124, 2000     

An efficient synthesis of α-hydroxyphosphonates and α-aminophosphonates in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane

Abstract

Solvent free, and quantitative yielding synthesis of α-hydroxyphosphonates (2a–h) from 2-chloroquinolin-3-carbaldehyde (1a–h) and α-aminophosphonates (4a–p) from imines (3a–p), obtained from 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbaldehyde by using triethylphosphite in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane at room temperature in short time.     

Octahedral Complexes in the Polymerization of α-Olefins

Summary : A series of dimethyl titanium benzamidinate complexes has been prepared containing various functional groups at the aromatic ring. These functional groups were selected to study their electronic or steric effects at the cationic metal center in the polymerization of propylene. Quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) studies showed that a linear relationship is observed only for the Taft Parameter (Es). Mono- and bis-benzamidinate complexes were found to produce similar polymers indicating that alike active species are obtained regardless of the starting complex. Deuterium labeled 2-D-propene showed that a new epimerization mechanism for this type of complexes is operative.