Expanding sapphyrin: towards selective phosphate binding

The anion-templated syntheses and binding properties of novel macrocyclic oligopyrrole receptors in which pyrrole rings are linked through amide or imine bonds are described. The efficient synthesis was accomplished by anion-templated [1+1] Schiff-base condensation and acylation macrocyclization reactions. Free receptors and their host-guest complexes with hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, tetrabutylammonium chloride, and hydrogen sulfate were analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Stability constants with different tetrabutylammonium salts of inorganic acids were determined by standard 1H NMR and UV/Vis titration techniques in [D6]DMSO/0.5% water solution. According to the titration data, receptors containing three pyrrole rings (10 and 12) exhibit high affinity (log Ka=5-7) for bifluoride, acetate, and dihydrogen phosphate, and interact weakly with chloride and hydrogen sulfate. The amido-bipyrrole receptors 11 and 13 with four pyrrole rings exhibit 10(4)- and 10(2)-fold selectivity for dihydrogen phosphate, respectively, as inferred from competitive titrations in the presence of tetrabutylammonium acetate.     

Dioxygen activation by diiminodipyrromethane complexes of Ni, Pd, and Pt

Diiminodipyrromethane complexes of Ni, Pd, and Pt are able to activate O2, resulting in a metal-dependent autoxidation of the ligand.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Perfluoroalkylated α-Amino Acids through Generated Radicals Using a Chiral Ni(II) Complex

Perfluoroalkylated α-amino acids (PFAAs) are a unique class of compounds for biochemistry and pharmaceutical science. In this context, we report the successful intermolecular coupling of the Belokon’s chiral dehydroalanine Ni(II) complex with a variety of perfluoroalkyl iodides. A 4-cyanopyridine/B₂Pin₂ catalytic system generates perfluoroalkyl radicals, which after trapping by the ligand sphere of a chiral Ni(II) complex provide the diastereomeric complexes with up to >20 : 1 dr (seven examples). The obtained major (S,S)-diastereomers were easily isolated by simple silica column chromatography in 33–54 % yields. The perfluoroalkylated α-AA was subsequently released from the obtained Ni(II) complex through aqueous HCl treatment. The chiral auxiliary ligand ((S)-BPB=(S)-2-(N-benzylprolyl)aminobenzophenone) can be easily recycled after the acidic complex decomposition and reused for the synthesis of the starting dehydroalanine Ni(II) complex.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of a 3‐Aryl‐3‐benzyloxindole (=3‐Aryl‐3‐benzyl‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐indol‐2‐one) Exhibiting Antitumor Activity

A palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular α‐arylation of an amide in the presence of a bulky chiral N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand is the key step in the first catalytic synthesis of (3R)‐6‐chloro‐3‐(3‐chlorobenzyl)‐1,3‐dihydro‐3‐(3‐methoxyphenyl)‐2H‐indol‐2‐one ((R)‐ 5 ). This oxindole, in racemic form, had been shown previously to be an anticancer agent. (R)‐ 5 was obtained with an overall yield of 45% and with 96% enantioselectivity.     

Taming Radical Intermediates for the Construction of Enantioenriched Trifluoromethylated Quaternary Carbon Centers

Demonstrated herein is the construction of trifluoromethylated quaternary carbon centers by an asymmetric radical transformation. Enantioenriched trifluoromethylated oxindoles were accessed using a hypervalent iodine‐based trifluoromethyl transfer reagent in combination with a magnesium Lewis acid catalyst and PyBOX‐type ligands to achieve up to 99 % ee and excellent chemical yields. Mechanistic studies were performed by experimental and computational methods and suggest a single‐electron transfer induced S_N2‐type mechanism. This example is thereby the first report on the construction of enantioenriched trifluoromethylated carbon centers using hypervalent iodine‐based reagents proceeding through such a reaction pathway.     

Receptors for tetrahedral oxyanions

This review covers the field of anion recognition from the perspective of tetrahedral oxyanion recognition. The bulk of the attention is devoted to metal-free systems that are able to effect the recognition, binding or transport of phosphate and sulfate. Particular emphasis is devoted to design criteria that allow for discrimination and selectivity. In this context, a variety of recognition motifs are discussed and, within each receptor class, general paradigms that allow for the construction of receptor systems with high affinity and specificity are noted.