Allylic lithiation of methylenecyclobutanes

Methylenecyclobutanes undergo a lithiation reaction in the presence of n-BuLi or n-BuLi/KO^tBu from −78 °C to room temperature or to 40 °C in THF within 3 h and then quenching with a variety of electrophiles to give the corresponding addition products (alcohols) in moderate to good yields within 2 h. The alcohols can be easily oxidized to the ketones, which can be transformed to the substituted cyclopentenes in the presence of AlCl₃ within short reaction time.     

Solvent-free synthesis and antibacterial studies of some quinolinones

Abstract  

Solvent-free, microwave-induced condensation of 2-aminoaryl alkyl ketones and ethyl 3-oxobutanoate in the presence of amberlite Na sr1L gave quinolinones in high yield when compared to other catalysts. Further, N-alkylation of the quinolinones was carried out effectively with various halides using amberlite Na sr1L. An N-alkylated quinolinone exhibited enhanced activities against B. subtilis, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa, similar to standard drug ampicillin. Two compounds showed effective activity against S. aureus, and one resulted in moderate activity against E. coli.     

Synthesis of 6-chloroquinolines using benzyltrimethylammonium tetrachloroiodate as a selective chlorinating agent and an efficient generator of HCl

Abstract  

A simple and efficient one-pot synthesis of 6-chloroquinolines was achieved in good yields via the three-component reaction of 2-aminoaryl ketones, α-methylene carbonyl compounds, and BTMA ICl₄ in AcOH.     

Hydrogen-transfer reduction of aromatic ketones in basic ionic liquids

Abstract  

Several achiral and chiral basic ionic liquids (ILs) were prepared and tested as the medium for Ru-catalyzed hydrogen-transfer reduction of different aromatic ketones. Hydrogen-transfer reduction of ketones proceeded well in achiral basic ILs using chiral catalysts. The interesting observation was made that raising the reaction temperature did not have a negative effect on enantioselectivity of the reaction. On the other hand no reaction was observed in chiral ILs.     

An efficient synthesis of β-aminoketone compounds through three-component Mannich reaction catalyzed by calcium chloride

Abstract  

Various β-aminoketones were synthesized in a three-component reaction of ketones, aldehydes, and amines in the presence of calcium chloride as catalyst in ethanol in high yields as compared to other synthetic methods. The advantages of this new method are a short reaction time (2 h), high yields, easy workup, convenience, low cost, and eco-friendly protocol.     

Efficient synthesis of tetrahydroquinolinones by acetic acid-mediated formal [3+3] cycloaddition

Abstract  

A simple and efficient method to synthesize a variety of tetrahydroquinolinones was successfully achieved by reacting various β-enaminones with several α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. This strategy can be viewed as a Br?nsted acid-mediated formal [3+3] cycloaddition.     

Br?nsted-acidic ionic liquid [HO3S(CH2)4MIM][HSO4] as efficient and reusable catalyst for one-pot synthesis of β-acetamido ketones

Abstract  

Efficient and convenient synthesis of β-acetamido ketones has been achieved by one-pot reaction of acetophenone, aryl aldehydes, acetyl chloride, and acetonitrile in the presence of 3-methyl-1-(4-sulfonylbutyl)imidazolium hydrogensulfate [HO₃S(CH₂)₄MIM][HSO₄], a Br?nsted-acidic ionic liquid, as a green and reusable catalyst in solvent-free media at room temperature. The catalyst could be recycled and reused without noticeable decrease in catalytic activity.     

Tartrate- and imidazole-derived diketones and diols: preparation and stability constants of their Cu2+ complexes

Abstract  

Overall, six tartrate- and imidazole-derived ketones and diols were synthesized in a stepwise manner as model compounds for the coordination of Cu²⁺ ions. The stability constants of copper(II) complexes were studied spectrophotometrically. It was found that the two model structures coordinate Cu²⁺ ions differentially.     

Synthesis of arylaminotetrazoles by ZnCl2/AlCl3/silica as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst

Abstract  

Arylaminotetrazoles were efficiently synthesized from secondary arylcyanamides by application of ZnCl₂/AlCl₃/silica as a reusable heterogeneous Lewis acid catalyst. 5-Arylamino-1H-tetrazoles can be obtained from arylcyanamides carrying electron-withdrawing substituents on the aryl ring, while with electron-releasing groups 1-aryl-5-amino-1H-tetrazoles will be produced. The former isomer is also produced within longer reaction times (~20 h) even with electron-releasing groups.     

Synthesis, cyclic voltammetry, and UV–Vis studies of ferrocene-dithiafulvalenes as anticipated electron-donor materials

Abstract  

New ferrocenyl ketones were obtained as precursors of novel π-conjugated ferrocene-dithiafulvalene (Fc-DTF) and π-extended-ferrocenedithia-fulvalenes (π-exFc-DTF) as electron-donor conducting materials from ferrocene by a direct aroylation process using the Friedel–Crafts reaction. Novel Fc-DTF conjugates were synthesized using the Wittig–Horner reaction and their structures were determined. The redox behavior of the ferrocenyl carbonyl compounds Fc-DTF and Fc-π-exDTF was investigated in comparison to the parent ferrocene by means of cyclic voltammetry. A one-electron redox behavior was observed for carbonylferrocenes as one wave potential, while a two-electron process was observed as two oxidation waves for the conjugates. Introduction of electron-withdrawing groups led to increasing E _pa values and decreasing ΔE _p values. The UV–Vis spectra of some compounds were studied in comparison with ferrocene. The absorption spectra showed a red-shift with a slight increase in the absorption intensities.     

Synthesis of chiral α-ethylphenylamine salts of tartaric acid and novel application to cyanosilylation of prochiral ketones

Abstract  

Chiral α-ethylphenylamine tartaric acid salts were synthesized from α-ethylphenylamine by direct reaction with chiral tartaric acid. The crystal structure of S-(−)-α-ethylphenylamine-(2R,3R)-(−)-dihydroxybutanedioic acid was determined. The crystal is monoclinic, of space group P2_1/n , with a = 6.331(5) ?, b = 14.209(11) ?, c = 7.495(6) ?, α = 90.00o, β = 107.000(13)o, γ = 90.00o, λ = 0.7103 Ǻ, V = 644.7(9), Z = 2, D _c = 1.397 g/cm³, M _r  = 271.27 and F(000) = 288, R = 0.0477, and ωR = 0.0838 for 1388 observed reflections with I > 2σ(I). We then used the chiral α-ethylphenylamine tartaric acid salts as catalysts in the cyanosilylation of prochiral ketones, and moderate conversions were obtained.     

Catalytic hypervalent iodine oxidation of alcohols to corresponding aldehydes or ketones using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy and potassium peroxodisulfate

Abstract  

An efficient, facile, and mild oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes or ketones with potassium peroxodisulfate and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy in the presence of a catalytic amount of iodobenzene is reported. The oxidation proceeded in a mixed solvent to afford carbonyl compounds in moderate to excellent yields. A possible mechanism for the oxidation is proposed.     

BF3·SiO2 is a simple and efficient Lewis acid catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of polyfunctionalized piperidin-4-ones

Abstract  

A range of Lewis acid catalysts were used for a series of one-pot multi-component reactions. Of them, silica-supported boron trifluoride (BF₃·SiO₂) was found to be an effective catalyst for the promotion of the modified Mannich condensation of ketones, aldehydes, and ammonium acetate in 1:2:1 molar ratio to afford 3,5-dialkyl-2,6-diarylpiperidin-4-ones in high yields of 80–92%. Also this simple, easily prepared, and reusable catalyst executed the condensation very effectively in a significantly shorter reaction duration (about 1–4 h) than the conventional method, which requires 1 day or more and involves a tedious work-up procedure. Further, this protocol ensures the stereospecificity; accordingly, all the synthesized piperidones adopted a chair conformation with an equatorial orientation of all substituents at C-2, C-3, C-5, and C-6.     

Ethylenebis(N-methylimidazolium) ditribromide (EBMIDTB): an efficient reagent for the monobromination of 1,3-diketones and β-ketoesters

Abstract  

Ethylenebis(N-methylimidazolium) ditribromide, a stable crystalline solid, is easily prepared by reaction of the corresponding dibromide salt with bromine in n-hexane. 1,3-Diketones and β-ketoesters can be brominated chemoselectively to the corresponding α-monobrominated products by using this reagent at 0–5 °C. Under the same reaction conditions, diethyl malonate, ethyl cyanoacetate, and malonitrile were monobrominated at moderate yield.     

Color transitions in coral's fluorescent proteins by site-directed mutagenesis

Background  

Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) cloned from jellyfish Aequorea victoria and its homologs from corals Anthozoa have a great practical significance as in vivo markers of gene expression. Also, they are an interesting puzzle of protein science due to an unusual mechanism of chromophore formation and diversity of fluorescent colors. Fluorescent proteins can be subdivided into cyan (~ 485 nm), green (~ 505 nm), yellow (~ 540 nm), and red (>580 nm) emitters.     

Aglycone specificity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thermotoga neapolitana</Emphasis> β-glucosidase 1A modified by mutagenesis,leading to increased catalytic efficiency in quercetin-3-glucoside hydrolysis

Background  

The thermostable β-glucosidase (TnBgl1A) from Thermotoga neapolitana is a promising biocatalyst for hydrolysis of glucosylated flavonoids and can be coupled to extraction methods using pressurized hot water. Hydrolysis has however been shown to be dependent on the position of the glucosylation on the flavonoid, and e.g. quercetin-3-glucoside (Q3) was hydrolysed slowly. A set of mutants of TnBgl1A were thus created to analyse the influence on the kinetic parameters using the model substrate para-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (pNPGlc), and screened for hydrolysis of Q3.     

Application of chloroaluminate ionic liquid as catalyst and medium for the dealkylation of esters

Abstract  

Dealkylation of esters to carboxylic acids was performed using chloroaluminate ionic liquids (PyHBr/AlCl₃, PyHCl/AlCl₃, Me₃NHCl/AlCl₃, Et₃NHCl/AlCl₃) as catalyst and medium. The catalytic activity of PyHBr/AlCl₃ (X(AlCl₃) = 0.67) proved to be superior to the other three ionic liquids for the dealkylation of methyl benzoate with a conversion of 97% after 3 h at 140 °C. After easy separation from the products the ionic liquid PyHBr/AlCl₃ could be reused six times without loss of its activity.     

Development of ERK Activity Sensor,an <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>, FRET-based sensor of Extracellular Regulated Kinase activity

Background  

Study of ERK activation has thus far relied on biochemical assays that are limited to the use of phospho-specific antibodies and radioactivity in vitro, and analysis of whole cell populations in vivo. As with many systems, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) can be utilized to make highly sensitive detectors of molecular activity. Here we introduce FRET-based ERK Activity Sensors, which utilize variants of Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein fused by an ERK-specific peptide linker to detect ERK2 activity.