Fukuyama reduction,Fukuyama coupling and Fukuyama–Mitsunobu alkylation: recent developments and synthetic applications

Fukuyama reaction for the synthesis of multifunctional aldehydes, secondary amines and ketones has gained considerable importance in synthetic organic chemistry because of mild reaction conditions. The use of thioesters in both Fukuyama aldehydes and ketones synthesis is highly attractive for organic chemists as they are easily accessible from corresponding carboxylic acids. Fukuyama–Mitsunobu reaction utilizes 2-nitrobenzenesulfonyl (Ns) for the protection/activation/deprotection of primary amines to afford secondary amines in good yields and high enantioselectivities. This review presents recent synthetic developments and applications of Fukuyama reaction for the synthesis of aldehydes, secondary amines and ketones.

Graphic abstract

     

Magneto-Priming Improved Nutraceutical Potential and Antimicrobial Activity of Momordica charantia L. Without Affecting Nutritive Value

The need for some economic strategies for increased growth and nutraceuticals of medicinal plants is well acknowledged now. It was hypothesized that external magnetic field treatment (MFT) of seeds affecting internal magnet of cells may affect growth and metabolism. In this study, seeds were subjected to pre-sowing magnetic field (50 mT at 5 mm for 5 s). At vegetative stage, the leaf growth, chlorophyll content, catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), amino acids, proteins, flavonoids, soluble sugars, total soluble phenolics, carotenoids, anthocyanins, phenolic profile (HPLC based), and antimicrobial activity of leaves (in terms of the minimum inhibitory concentration against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were studied. Yield was evaluated for nutritive components in fruit (peel+pulp) and peel. MFT improved germination percentage, growth, leaf chlorophyll, antimicrobial activity, peel amino acids, phenolics, and POD with negligible effect on fruit nutritive value. Moreover, photosynthetic pigments and cinnamic acid exhibited direct correlation with antimicrobial potential against both pathogens. However, sinapic acid showed positive correlation against Staphylococcus aureus only. Cinnamic acid, coumaric acid, syringic acid, and quercetin were in direct correlation against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; it was directly correlated with total flavonoids too. In conclusion, magnetic field can be used to manipulate plant cell metabolism promising improvement of growth, antimicrobial activity, and phenolics of interest.

     

An inimitable and ecological pleasant technique for the assessment of trace amount of copper (II) in tangible samples with new complexing reagent

A simple and rapid spectrophotometric technique has been designed for the trace copper analysis employing 1-(2-Thiazolylazo)-2-naphthol (TAN) reagent in aqueous micellar solution of cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a surfactant. Copper complexed with 1-(2-Thiazolylazo)-2-naphthol to form bis[1-(2-Thiazolylazo)-2-naphthol]copper. The present spectrophotometric technique was very important since the micellar system was used in place of the toxic, high cost and time-consuming solvent extraction steps. The technique showed an enhanced detection efficiency, specificity, and molar absorptivity. It was found that the molar absorption coefficient and sensitivity of Sandel were ε 2.45 × 10⁴ L mol^?1cm^?1 and 2.6 ngcm^?2 at λ_max 578.4 nm. A linear calibration plot in the range 0.12–5.0 μg mL^?1 was obtained; a stoichiometric metal ligand ratio [M:L] of 1:2 was found for the formation of Cu-[TAN]₂. The complex was formed at pH 9.5 and was stable up to 24 h. The proposed technique has been employed to study copper from different alloys, biological, environmental and pharmaceutical samples.     

Regio- and stereoselective functionalization of alkenes with emphasis on mechanistic insight and sustainability concerns

Alkene is an attractive substrate for chemists due to its easy availability and reactivity towards large number of reactants affording diverse range of organic compounds. It reacts under ionic and free radical mechanisms including single electron transfer (SET). In this review, strategies used for C–C and C-heteroatom functionalization of alkene has been discussed with emphasis on the regio, stereoselectivity, mechanistic detail and sustainability aspects. These strategies mainly follow the free radical mechanism, and the highly reactive carbon radicals show uncontrollable regio- and stereoselectivities. Thus these strategies still need to be focused; especially in the asymmetric versions. The regio- and stereoselectivities of functionalization of alkenes have been highlighted and debated. In addition, the hazardous reagents such as Cl₂, Br₂ I₂, CO, peroxides, and benzene have also been discussed with the emphasis on their impact on the environment. Their plausible green alternatives have also been suggested, such as MX as halogen replacement; CO surrogates (formaldehyde etc.); sustainable aromatic solvents as benzene replacement. The non-green strategies relying on pre-formed silyl hydride and their green alternative strategies such as transfer hydrogenations have also been indicated. The applications of the functionalization of alkenes for the total synthesis of bioactive compounds have also been discussed in detail. In addition, future perspectives are also highlighted for further developments in the functionalization of alkenes.     

Online Capillary Electrophoresis Reaction for Interaction Study of Amino Acid Modified Peptide Nucleic Acid and Proteins

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a nucleic acid analog which consists of purines, pyrimidines bases, and a neutrally charged peptide backbone. The PNA has the potential as a very useful biological probe for protein analysis since it has more in vivo biological stability as compared to DNA- or RNA-based aptamers. Usually, the addition of amino acids or peptide to the PNA backbone is used to improve its water-solubility and cell-permeability, but these modifications may affect the interaction between PNA and proteins. To date, the investigation of the interaction between PNA and proteins is rare, and there is no reported study about the effects of modifications. In this work, we designed two types of amino acid modified PNAs, (Lys)₂-PNA and (Glu)₂-PNA, which kept the same base sequence with 15-mer thrombin aptamer and had two basic lysine and two acidic glutamic acid residues on N-terminal of the peptide backbone, respectively. To rapidly assess the binding affinity and specificity of modified PNA and proteins, the online CE reaction method was developed to analyze the interactions of (Lys)₂-PNA/(Glu)₂-PNA and three proteins: thrombin (THB), single-strand DNA-binding protein (SSB) and human serum albumin (HSA). Meanwhile, the interactions of (Lys)₂-PNA/(Glu)₂-PNA and thrombin were compared with that of the corresponding complementary base sequence (Lys)₂-cPNA/(Glu)₂-cPNA and thrombin. The online CE reaction results showed that the interaction of (Lys)₂-PNA and (Glu)₂-PNA with three proteins was in the order of THB > SSB > HSA. However, (Lys)₂-PNA and (Lys)₂-cPNA showed similar binding affinity with thrombin; while the binding affinity of (Glu)₂-PNA with thrombin was stronger than that of (Glu)₂-cPNA with thrombin. Moreover, the binding constant K_b of (Glu)₂-PNA and three proteins was determined by affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE). The online CE reaction eliminates the requirement of incubation, and thus it is fast in detection, and easy to operate with minimum cost. The method is particularly suitable for the interaction studies of expensive modified PNAs and proteins, and can assist the design of PNA probe that binds to proteins.     

Structure and absolute configuration of 9-desoxy-9-chloroquinine,C20H23N2OCl

The title compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space groupp2₁2₁2₁a=8.674(1),b=8.944(1),c=23.255(4) Å,Z=4. The structure was solved by direct methods, and refined by full-matrix least squares toR=0.047 for 1472 observed reflections. Determination of the absolute configuration [S at C(9)] enabled a discrepancy in the literature concerning the stereochemical outcome of the reaction between SOCl₂ and quinine to be resolved.     

Separation, identification, and quantification of selected withanolides in plant extracts of Withania somnifera by HPLC-UV(DAD)--positive ion electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry

This paper describes a method for separation, identification, and quantification of selected withanolides in Withania somnifera plant extracts by HPLC-UV(DAD)-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Withaferin-A (WS-3), 12-deoxywithastramonolide (WS-12DS), Withanolide A (WS-1), and Withanone (WS-2) were used as external standards. The compounds were isolated from Withania somnifera by repeated column chromatography of the root extract and their identity was established by 1H- and 13C-NMR and mass spectral data. The compounds were chromatographed on a Merck (250 x 4.6 mm ID, 5 microm) column and analyzed by Electrospray Ionization on a mass spectrometer in Selected Ion Mode (SIM). For quantification, [M + Na]+ ions were monitored. Linear calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range of 1.50 microg/mL to 6.5 microg/mL. The method was applied successfully to the detection and quantification of the said withanolides in a number of samples.     

Some highly fluorinated acyclic,cyclic, and polycyclic derivatives of Cl2NCF2CF2NCl2 and Cl2CNCCl2CCl2NCCl2

When Cl₂NCF₂CF₂NCl₂ is heated with CF₂CFX (X = Cl, F) ClXCFCF₂N(Cl)CF₂CF₂N(Cl)CF₂CXClF (X = Cl, 2 ; F, 3 ) is formed. Mercury extracts chlorine fluoride from 2 and 3 to form new polyfluorobisazomethines, ClXCFCF₂NCFCFNCF₂CXClF (X = Cl, 4 ; F, 5 ). Photolysis of the product obtained from CCl₂NCCl₂CCl₂NCCl₂ with ClF, CF₂ClN(Cl)CF ClCFClN(Cl)CF₂Cl ( 6 ) gives another bisazomethine, CF₂ClNCFCFNCF₂Cl ( 7 ) with concomitant loss of Cl₂. At 25°C, in the presence of CsF, 4 and 5 are cyclized to give (X = Cl, 8 ; F, 9 ), and 7 forms a bicyclic derivative at 100°C, ( 1 ). Addition of chlorine fluoride to 8 and to 1 produces ( 10 ) and ( 14 ), respectively. Photolysis of 10 results in the loss of CFCl₃ to form ( 11 ), and 14 loses Cl₂ and dimerizes to the hydrazine ( 15 ). The further addition of ClF to 11 gives rise to ( 12 ) which when photolyzed at 3000 Å forms a second cyclic hydrazine, ( 13 ).