Deuterium-induced 13C NMR isotope shifts for signal assignments and determination of deuteriation site in cyclododecanone

Deuterium-induced ¹³C isotope shifts were measured in the ¹³C {¹H} NMR spectra of monodeuteriated cyclododecanones formed upon oxidation of [1-²H₁] cyclododecanol with lead tetraacetate. These shifts, when used in conjunction with ¹³C NMR data of specifically labelled analogues, [2, 2, 12, 12-²H₄]- and [2-²H₁] cyclododecanone, enabled the ketone formed with lead tetraacetate to be identified as a mixture of [5-²H₁]- and [6-²H₁] isotopomers.     

Biosynthesis of the Cytochalasans. Biosynthetic studies on chaetoglobosin A and 19-O-acetylchaetoglobosin A

Incorporation of [1-¹³C]-, [2-¹³C]- and [1,2-¹³C₂]-acetate, [1-¹³C]-propionate, [¹³C-CH₃]-L -methionine and [3-¹⁴C]-DL -tryptophan into chaetoglobosin A ( 1 ) and 19-O-acetylchaetoglobosin A ( 2 ) by Chaetomium globosum demonstrated that the building blocks of 1 and 2 are 9 and 10 units of acetate/malonate respectively, 3 units of methionine and 1 unit of tryptophan. Propionate is incorporated indirectly after several biological transformations. Using [2-¹³C, 2-²H₃]-acetate as precursor, the starter unit of the polyketide-chain was identified. Experiments which [¹³C, ²H₃-CH₃-L -methionine demonstrated that the three C-methylations occur with retention of all three H-atoms of the methyl group. Incorporation experiments with various ¹⁴C- and ³H-labelled tryphtophan samples and with [2-²H]- and [2-¹⁵N]-L -tryptophan showed that the amino acid is incorporated intact with retention of both the α-H- and the α-N-atom. On the basis of these results a more detailed general scheme of the cytochalasan biogenesis is proposed.     

Conformational Transformation Exhibited by the Peptide Extracted from Crystalline Region of Bombyx mori Silk Fibroin in Solid and Solution States

The conformational transformation of a 30-residue peptide H（Ala-Gly-Ser-Gly-AIa-Gly）5OH, i.e., （AGSGAG）5, extracted from highly crystalline region of Bombyx mori （B. mori） silk fibroin was described by using the high resolution solid state 13^C NMR, and CD spectroscopies. Based on the conformation-dependent 13^C NMR chemical shifts of the Ala, Gly and Ser residues and the line-shape analysis of the conformation sensitive Ala Cβ resonance, the peptide revealed a strong preference for silk Ⅱ structural form, i,e,, an antiparallel fl-sheet structure （φ= - 140±20°and ψ= 135±20°） in solid state. On the contrary, the CD spectra of this peptide in the two non-native hexafluorinated fibre spinning solvents, hexafluoroisopropanol （HFIP） and hexafluoroacetone （HFA）, exhibited the existence of an unusual tightly-folded conformation resembling 310-helix （φ=- 60±20° and ψ=-30±20°）, as judged from the R ratio of [θ]222/[θ]203 in HFIP solution, whereas a dynamically averaged unordered structure in HFA, Taken together, the information inclined to hypothesis that the primary structure of the highly crystalline regions of B. mori silk fibroin may be easily accessible to the large conformational changes, which in turn may be critical for facilitating the structural transformation from unprocessed silk fibroin （silk I form） to processed silk fiber （silk Ⅱform）.     

Novel ionic liquid N,N-diethyl-N-sulfoethanaminium hydrogen sulfate: Design,characterization, and application as a highly efficient catalyst for the production of triazolo[1,2-a]indazole-triones and 2H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-triones

A novel Brønsted acidic ionic liquid namely N,N-diethyl-N-sulfoethanamminium hydrogen sulfate ([Et₃N-SO₃H]HSO₄) was synthesized, and characterized using FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass data. Then, its catalytic activity was examined for the preparation of triazolo[1,2-a]-indazole-triones and 2H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-triones by the one-pot multi-component condensation of arylaldehydes with dimedone and 4-phenylurazole/2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione under solvent-free conditions. [Et₃N-SO₃H]HSO₄ efficiently promoted the reaction to afford the products in high yields and in short reaction times.     

Lamellar structure in poly(ala-gly) determined by solid-state NMR and statistical mechanical calculations

Lamellar structure of poly(Ala-Gly) or (AG)n in the solid was examined using 13C solid-state NMR and statistical mechanical approaches. Two doubly labeled versions, [1-13C]Gly14[1-13C]Ala15- and [1-13C]Gly18[1-13C]Ala19 of (AG)15 were examined by two-dimensional (2D) 13C spin diffusion NMR in the solid state. In addition five doubly labeled [15N,13C]-versions of the same peptide, (AG) 15 and 15 versions labeled [3-13C] in each of the successive Ala residues were utilized for REDOR and 13C CP/MAS NMR measurements, respectively. The observed spin diffusion NMR spectra were consistent with a structure containing a combination of distorted beta-turns with a large distribution of the torsion angles and antiparallel beta-sheets. The relative proportion of the distorted beta-turn form was evaluated by examination of 13C CP/MAS NMR spectra of [3-13C]Ala-(AG)15. In addition, REDOR determinations showed five kinds of atomic distances between doubly labeled 13C and 15N nuclei which were also interpreted in terms of a combination of beta-sheets and beta-turns. Our statistical mechanical analysis is in excellent agreement with our Ala Cbeta 13C CP/MAS NMR data strongly suggesting that (AG)15 has a lamellar structure.     

Studies on the Biosynthesis of Spirostaphylotrichin A

Incorporation of ¹⁴C-labelled acetate and amino acids as well as of [1-¹³C]-, [2-¹³C]-, and [1,2-¹³C₂] acetate, L -[methyl¹³C] methionine, [2,3-¹³C₂] succinate, and L -[2,3-¹³C₂] aspartate into spirostaphylotrichin A ( 1 ) by Staphylotrichum coccosporum demonstrates that the building blocks of 1 are 5 units of acetate/malonate, 1 unit of methionine, and a C₄-dicarboxylic acid. The latter is most likely aspartate and derived from the citric-acid cycle. Using [2-¹³C, 2-²H₃] acetate as a precursor, the starter unit of the polyketide chain was identified.     

Biosynthetic pathway of 24-membered macrolactam glycoside incednine

Incednine was isolated from Streptomyces sp. ML694-90F3 as an inhibitor of anti-apoptotic function of Bcl-2/Bcl-xL oncoproteins. The structure of incednine is quite unique with a characteristic 24-membered macrocyclic lactam aglycone and two unusual aminosugars. To understand its biosynthetic pathway, the incorporation studies were carried out with [1-¹³C]acetate, [1,2-¹³C₂]acetate, [1-¹³C]propionate, l-[¹³C₅,¹⁵N]glutamate, [1,2,3-¹³C₃]glycerol, d-[6,6-²H₂]glucose, and l-[CH₃-¹³C]methionine. As a result, acetate, propionate, and glycerol were well incorporated into the elongation units of the macrolactam moiety, which indicates that its basic skeleton could be constructed by standard polyketide synthase, whereas all atoms of the starter unit were labeled by [¹³C₅,¹⁵N]glutamate suggesting that glutamate is somehow decarboxylated and rearranged into 3-aminobutyrate as the unique starter unit. The origins of the sugar moieties and methyl groups were also clarified. Based on the incorporation pattern, a plausible biosynthetic pathway for incednine is proposed.     

Nitropyrazoles

A method of synthesizing nitro derivatives of lH,4H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyrazole is developed, and some of its transformations are studied. 3-Methyl-6-nitro-, 3-carboxy(methoxy-carbonyl, carbamoyl)-6-nitro-, 3-amino-6-nitro-, 3-nitro-, 3,6-dinitro-, 1,4-diacetonyl-3,6-dinitro-, and lH,4H-3-aminopyrazolo[4,3-c]pyrazoles were obtained from 1H,4H-3 -methylpyrazolo[4,3-c]pyrazole. Unsubstituted 1H,4H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyrazole, the first member of this series, was obtained for the first time. The compounds prepared were characterized by¹H,¹³C,¹⁴N, and¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy. NH-Acidity and basicity of the series of pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyrazoles synthesized is studied and the effect of the fused pyrazole ring on these properties is examined.Deceased March 18, 1989.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1108–1113, June, 1993.     

Gallium “Shears” for C=N and C=O Bonds of Isocyanates

Digallane [L¹Ga−GaL¹] ( 1 , L¹=dpp-bian=1,2-[(2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃)NC]₂C₁₂H₆) reacts with RN=C=O (R=Ph or Tos) by [2+4] cycloaddition of the isocyanate C=N bonds across both of its C=C−N−Ga fragments to afford [L¹(O=C−NR)Ga−Ga(RN−C=O)L¹] (R=Ph, 3 ; R=Tos, 4 ). The reactions with both isocyanates result in new C−C and N−Ga single bonds. In the case of allyl isocyanate, the [2+4] cycloaddition across one C=C−N−Ga fragment of 1 is accompanied by insertion of a second allyl isocyanate molecule into the Ga−N bond of the same fragment to afford compound [L¹Ga−Ga(AllN− C=O)₂L¹] ( 5 ) (All=allyl). In the presence of Na metal, the related digallane [L²Ga−GaL²] ( 2 ; L²=dpp-dad=[(2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃)NC(CH₃)]₂) is converted into the gallium(I) carbene analogue [L²Ga:]⁻ ( 2 A ), which undergoes a variety of reactions with isocyanate substrates. These include the cycloaddition of ethyl isocyanate to 2 A affording [Na₂(THF)₅]{L²Ga[EtN−C(O)]₂GaL²} ( 6 ), cleavage of the N=C bond with release of 1 equiv. of CO to give [Na(THF)₂]₂[L²Ga(p-MeC₆H₄)(N−C(O))₂−N(p-MeC₆H₄)]₂ ( 7 ), cleavage of the C=O bond to yield the di-O-bridged digallium compound [Na(THF)₃]₂[L²Ga-(μ-O)₂-GaL²] ( 8 ), and generation of the further addition product [Na₂(THF)₅][L²Ga(CyNCO₂)]₂ ( 9 ). Complexes 3 – 9 have been characterized by NMR (¹H, ¹³C), IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Their electronic structures have been examined by DFT calculations.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of palladium(II) complexes with 6,8-dimethylimidazo[1,5- a ]-1,3,5-triazin-4( 3H )-one and 6,8-dimethyl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydroimidazo-[1,5- a ]-1,3,5-triazin-4( 1H )-one

The preparation and spectroscopic study (¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵NNMR, ¹³CP MAS NMR, IR) of new Pd^II complexes with 6,8-dimethylimidazo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazin-4(3H)-one (6,8-DiMe-4-O-IMT) (1) and 6,8-dimethyl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydroimidazo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazin-4(1H)-one (6,8-DiMe-4-O-2-S-IMT) (2) is reported. The spectroscopic data indicate a square planar geometry with two N(7) bonded heterocycles and two cis-chloride anions. The final product of the thermal decomposition of cis-PdCl₂(6,8-DiMe-4-O-IMT)₂ (3) is metallic Pd, whereas for cis-PdCl₂(6,8-DiMe-4-O-2-S-IMT)₂ (4) it is metallic Pd plus C.     

Mercury(II) cyanide complexes with alkyldiamines: solid-state/solution NMR,computational, and antimicrobial studies

Mercury cyanide complexes of alkyldiamines (1–6), [Hg(L)(CN)₂] (where L?=?en (1,2-diaminoethane), pn (1,3-diaminopropane), N-Me-en, N, N′-Me₂-en, N, N′-Et₂-en, and N, N′-ipr₂-en), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N solution NMR in DMSO-d₆, as well as ¹³C, ¹⁵N, and ¹⁹⁹Hg solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Complexes 1 and 2 have been studied computationally, built and optimized by GAUSSIAN03 using DFT at B3LYP level with LanL2DZ basis set. Binding modes of en and bn (where bn?=?1,4-diaminobutane) toward Hg(CN)₂ are completely different. Complexes with en and pn show chelating binding to Hg(II), while bn behaves as a bridging ligand to form a polymeric structure, [Hg(CN)₂-bn]_∞ [B.A. Al-Maythalony, M. Fettouhi, M.I.M. Wazeer, A.A. Isab. Inorg. Chem. Commun., 12, 540 (2009).]. The solution ¹³C NMR of the complexes demonstrates a slight shift of the ?C≡N (0.9 to 2?ppm) and ?C–NH₂ (0.25 to 6?ppm) carbon resonances, while the other resonances are relatively unaffected. ¹⁵N labeling studies have shown involvement of alkyldiamine ligands in coordination to the metal. The principal components of the ¹³C, ¹⁵N, and ¹⁹⁹Hg shielding tensors have been determined from solid-state NMR data. Antimicrobial activity studies show that the complexes exhibit higher antibacterial activities toward various microorganisms than Hg(CN)₂.     

1H, 13C, 15N NMR and 13C, 15N CPMAS studies of cobalt(III)-chloride-pyridine complexes, spontaneous py → Cl substitution in trans-[Co(py)4Cl2]Cl, and a new synthesis of mer-[Co(py)3Cl3]

trans-[Co(py)₄Cl₂]Cl·6H₂O, mer-[Co(py)₃Cl₃] and mer-[Co(py)₃(CO₃)Cl] were studied by UV-Vis, far-IR and ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N NMR. The formation of Co-N bonds lead to variable in sign and magnitude changes of ¹H NMR chemical shifts, heavily dependent on proton position, coordination sphere geometry and character of auxiliary ligands. ¹³C nuclei were deshielded upon Co(III) coordination, while ¹⁵N NMR studies exhibited ca. 85–110 ppm shielding effects (ca. 15–25 ppm more expressed for nitrogens trans to N than trans to Cl or O). ¹³C and ¹⁵N CPMAS spectra revealed a slight inequivalency of formally identical Co-py bonds in trans-[Co(py)₄Cl₂]Cl·6H₂O and mer-[Co(py)₃Cl₃], suggesting for the latter complex an existence of distortion isomers. In chloroform, a spontaneous trans-[Co(py)₄Cl₂]Cl → mer-[Co(py)₃Cl₃] + py reaction was monitored by ¹H NMR and UV-Vis. This process of py → Cl substitution allowed the design of a more convenient and efficient method of mer-[Co(py)₃Cl₃] preparation.      

Novel fluoro-substituted benzo- and benzothieno fused pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazol-4(1H)-ones

A straightforward, two-step synthesis of fluoro substituted chromeno[2,3-c]pyrazol- and [1]benzothieno[2′,3′:5,6]pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazol-4(1H)-ones, respectively, is presented. Hence, treatment of 1-substituted or 1,3-disubstituted 2-pyrazolin-5-ones with fluoro substituted 2-fluorobenzoyl chlorides or 3-chloro-6-fluoro-1-benzothiophene-2-carbonyl chloride using calcium hydroxide in refluxing 1,4-dioxane gave the corresponding 4-aroylpyrazol-5-ols, which were cyclized into the fused ring systems. 5-Fluorochromeno[2,3-c]pyrazol-4(1H)-one was obtained upon treatment of the 1-(4-methoxybenzyl) protected congener with trifluoroacetic acid. Treatment of 5-fluorochromeno[2,3-c]pyrazol-4(1H)-ones with methylhydrazine afforded novel tetracyclic ring systems such as 2-methyl-7-phenyl-2,7-dihydropyrazolo[4′,3′:5,6]pyrano[4,3,2-cd]indazole. Detailed NMR spectroscopic investigations (¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁹F) with the obtained compounds were undertaken.     

Generation of oxodiazonium ions 1. Synthesis of [1,2,5]oxadiazolo[3,4-c]cinnoline 5-oxides

Methods for the synthesis of [1,2,5]oxadiazolo[3,4-c]cinnoline 5-oxides, which include the reaction of 3-nitramino-4-(R-phenyl)furazans or their O-methyl derivatives with electrophilic agents, have been developed. Unsubstituted [1,2,5]oxadiazolo[3,4-c]cinnoline 5-oxide was synthesized from 3-nitramino-4-phenylfurazan upon the action of phosphorus anhydride or oleum, as well as from O-methyl derivative of 3-nitramino-4-phenylfurazan upon the action of H₂SO₄, MeSO₃H, CF₃CO₂H and BF₃·Et₂O, while 6-, 7-, 8-, and 9-nitro-substituted [1,2,5]oxadiazolo[3,4-c]cinnoline 5-oxides — from the corresponding 3-nitramino-4-(nitrophenyl)furazans upon the action of the H₂SO₄-HNO₃ nitrating mixture. A suggestion has been made that an oxodiazonium ion is formed in these reactions from nitramines or their O-methyl derivatives upon the action of electrophilic agents, which is further involved into the intra-molecular reaction of electrophilic aromatic substitution (S _EAr) with the aryl group. The structure of [1,2,5]oxadiazolo[3,4-c]cinnoline 5-N-oxides was confirmed by ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁴N NMR spectra. Theoretical studies by the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) method of combined molecular system (O-methylated 3-nitramino-4-phenylfurazan + [H₃SO₄]⁺) resulted in calculation of thermodynamic parameters of the sequence of cascade elementary reactions leading to the formation of [1,2,5]oxadiazolo[3,4-c]cinnoline 5-oxide.     

Biosynthetic pathway of macrolactam polyketide antibiotic cremimycin

Biosynthetic origin of macrolactam polyketide antibiotic cremimycin was investigated by feeding experiments with [1-¹³C]acetate, [1,2-¹³C₂]acetate, [1-¹³C]propionate, succinate-d₄, and d-[6,6-²H₂]glucose. NMR analysis of the resultant isotope-enriched cremimycins showed distinctive incorporation patterns, which suggested that the aglycon of cremimycin was constructed from two propionates and eleven acetates. Thus, 3-oxononanoate was proposed as a potential polyketide intermediate, that is, aminated to be the unique nitrogen-containing moiety of cremymicin. Further, characteristic propionate biosynthetic pathway in the cremimycin-producing strain was also described.     

2-aryl(hetaryl)-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]benzimidazoles

2-(4-Methylphenyl)-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]benzimidazole and its previously unknown 2-(2-furyl)- and 2-(2-thienyl)-substituted analogs were synthesized by cyclization of benzimidazole-1,2-diamine with the corresponding carboxylic acid chlorides. The IR, ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N NMR, and mass spectra of the cyclization products in combination with the results of quantum-chemical calculations of NMR chemical shifts showed radical differences of [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]benzimidazoles having no substituent on N⁴ from the recently reported low-melting products of oxidation of 2-amino-1-arylmethylideneaminobenzimidazoles with (diacetoxy-λ³-iodanyl)benzene, which, as we believe, were erroneously assigned analogous structure.     

Probing site-specific 13C/15N-isotope enrichment of spider silk with liquid-state NMR spectroscopy

Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been extensively used to elucidate spider silk protein structure and dynamics. In many of these studies, site-specific isotope enrichment is critical for designing particular NMR methods for silk structure determination. The commonly used isotope analysis techniques, isotope-ratio mass spectroscopy and liquid/gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, are typically not capable of providing the site-specific isotope information for many systems because an appropriate sample derivatization method is not available. In contrast, NMR does not require any sample derivatization or separation prior to analysis. In this article, conventional liquid-state ¹H NMR was implemented to evaluate incorporation of ¹³C/¹⁵N-labeled amino acids in hydrolyzed spider dragline silk. To determine site-specific ¹³C and ¹⁵N isotope enrichments, an analysis method was developed to fit the ¹H–¹³C and ¹H–¹⁵N J-splitting (J _CH and J _NH) ¹H NMR peak patterns of hydrolyzed silk fiber. This is demonstrated for Nephila clavipes spiders, where [U–¹³C₃,¹⁵N]-Ala and [1-¹³C,¹⁵N]-Gly were dissolved in their water supplies. Overall, contents for Ala and Gly isotopomers are extracted for these silk samples. The current methodology can be applied to many fields where site-specific tracking of isotopes is of interest.      

Anionic Gold(I) Complexes—Twelve‐ and Ten‐Vertex Monocarba‐closo‐borate Anions with Carbon–Gold σ Bonds

The anionic gold(I) complexes [1‐(Ph₃PAu)‐closo‐1‐CB₁₁H₁₁]^? ( 1 ), [1‐(Ph₃PAu)‐closo‐1‐CB₉H₉]^? ( 2 ), and [2‐(Ph₃PAu)‐closo‐2‐CB₉H₉]^? ( 3 ) with gold–carbon 2c–2e σ bonds have been prepared from [AuCl(PPh₃)] and the respective carba‐closo‐borate dianion. The anions have been isolated as their Cs⁺ salts and the corresponding [Et₄N]⁺ salts were obtained by salt metathesis reactions. The salt Cs‐ 3 isomerizes in the solid state and in solution at elevated temperatures to Cs‐ 2 with ΔH_iso=(?75±5) kJ mol^?1 (solid state) and ΔH^≠=(118±10) kJ mol^?1 (solution). The compounds were characterized by vibrational and multi‐NMR spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The crystal structures of [Et₄N]‐ 1 , [Et₄N]‐ 2 , and [Et₄N]‐ 3 were determined. The bonding parameters, NMR chemical shifts, and the isomerization enthalpy of Cs‐ 3 to Cs‐ 2 are compared to theoretical data.     

Synthesis of Novel N-Acylhydrazones and Their C-N/N-N Bond Conformational Characterization by NMR Spectroscopy

In this article, a synthesis of N’-(benzylidene)-2-(6-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolin-1-yl)acetohydrazides and their structural interpretation by NMR experiments is described in an attempt to explain the duplication of some peaks in their ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra. Twenty new 6-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline substituted N-acylhydrazones 6(a–t) were synthesized from 2-chloro-6-methylquinoline-3-carbaldehyde (1) in four steps. 2-Chloro-6-methylquinoline-3-carbaldehyde (1) afforded 6-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline (2), which upon N-alkylation yielded 2-(6-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolin-1-yl)acetate (3). The hydrazinolysis of 3 followed by the condensation of resulting 2-(6-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolin-1-yl)acetohydrazide (4) with aromatic aldehydes gave N-acylhydrazones 6(a–t). Structures of the synthesized compounds were established by readily available techniques such as FT-IR, NMR and mass spectral studies. The stereochemical behavior of 6(a–t) was studied in dimethyl sulfoxide-d₆ solvent by means of ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR techniques at room temperature. NMR spectra revealed the presence of N’-(benzylidene)-2-(6-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolin-1-yl)acetohydrazides as a mixture of two conformers, i.e., E_(C=N)(N-N) synperiplanar and E_(C=N)(N-N) antiperiplanar at room temperature in DMSO-d₆. The ratio of both conformers was also calculated and E_{(C=N) (N-N)} syn-periplanar conformer was established to be in higher percentage in equilibrium with the E_{(C=N) (N-N)} anti-periplanar form.     

Methylerythritol Phosphate Pathway: Enzymatic Evidence for a Rotation in the LytB/IspH-Catalyzed Reaction

IspH/LytB, an oxygen-sensitive [4Fe-4S] enzyme, catalyzes the last step of the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway, a target for the development of new antimicrobial agents. This metalloenzyme converts (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl diphosphate (HMBPP) into the two isoprenoid precursors: isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP). Here, the synthesis of (S)-[4-²H₁]HMBPP and (R)-[4-²H₁]HMBPP is reported together with a detailed NMR analysis of the products formed after their respective incubation with E. coli IspH/LytB in the presence of the biological reduction system used by E. coli to reduce the [4Fe-4S] center. (S)-[4-²H₁]HMBPP was converted into [4-²H₁]DMAPP and (E)-[4-²H₁]IPP, whereas (R)-[4-²H₁]HMBPP yielded [4-²H₁]DMAPP and (Z)-[4-²H₁]IPP, hence providing the direct enzymatic evidence that the mechanism catalyzed by IspH/LytB involves a rotation of the CH₂OH group of the substrate to display it away from the [4Fe-4S].