Damped and thermal motion of laser-aligned hydrated macromolecule beams for diffraction

We consider a monodispersed Rayleigh droplet beam of water droplets doped with proteins. An intense infrared laser is used to align these droplets. The arrangement has been proposed for electron- and x-ray-diffraction studies of proteins which are difficult to crystallize. This paper considers the effect of thermal fluctuations on the angular spread of alignment in thermal equilibrium, and relaxation phenomena, particularly the damping of oscillations excited as the molecules enter the field. The possibility of adiabatic alignment is also considered. We find that damping times in a high-pressure gas cell as used in x-ray-diffraction experiments are short compared with the time taken for molecules to traverse the beam and that a suitably shaped field might be used for electron-diffraction experiments in vacuum to provide adiabatic alignment, thus obviating the need for a damping gas cell.     

Poly(styrene)-supported co-salen complexes as efficient recyclable catalysts for the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of epichlorohydrin

Here we describe an unprecedented synthetic approach to poly(styrene)-supported chiral salen ligands by the free radical polymerization of an unsymmetrical styryl-substituted salen monomer (H2salen = bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine). The new method allows for the attachment of salen moieties to the polymer main chain in a flexible, pendant fashion, avoiding grafting reactions that often introduce ill-defined species on the polymers. Moreover, the loading of the salen is controlled by the copolymerization of the styryl-substituted salen monomer with styrene in different ratios. The polymeric salen ligands are metallated with cobalt(II) acetate to afford the corresponding supported Co-salen complexes, which are used in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of racemic epichlorohydrin, exhibiting high reactivity and enantioselectivity. Remarkably, the copolymer-supported Co-salen complexes showed a better catalytic performance (>99 % ee, 54 % conversion, one hour) in comparison to the homopolymeric analogues and the small molecule Co-salen complex. The soluble poly(styrene)-supported catalysts were recovered by precipitation after the catalytic reactions and were recycled three times to afford almost identical enantiomeric excesses as the first run, with slightly reduced reaction rates.     

Controlled decomposition of an indium trihydride adduct: synthesis and characterization of the first mixed-oxidation-state indium sub-halide complex anion, [In5Br8(quinuclidine)4]-

The first example of a compound containing a mixed-oxidation-state indium sub-halide complex anion, [In5Br8(quinuclidine)4]-, has been accessed by the controlled decomposition of an indium trihydride adduct, [InH3(quinuclidine)], in the presence of LiBr. An intermediate in this reaction, [InH2Br(quinuclidine)2], has been isolated and suggests that its mechanism involves hydride-bromide exchange, reductive dehydrogenation, and disproportionation processes.     

IR study of cross-strand coupling in a beta-hairpin peptide using isotopic labels

Model beta-hairpin peptides can be used to develop understanding of fundamental elements of beta-sheet secondary structure formation and stability. We have studied two 13C-labeled variants of a beta-hairpin peptide modified from a design originally proposed by Gellman: Arg-Tyr-Val-Glu-Val-Aib-Gly-Lys-Lys-Ile-Leu-Gln. (In this peptide, the two italicized residues form a beta-turn, while 13C-labels are on the amide C=O of Val3, Lys8 in HBG-L and Val3, Ile10 in HBG-S.) Both these peptides are labeled on opposite strands of the hairpin, but differ in the labeling pattern. One (HBG-L) forms a large (14-atom) H-bonded ring of labeled C=Os, while the other (HBG-S) forms a small (10-atom) H-bonded ring. These impact the amide I infrared spectra, with HBG-L having a 13C frequency and intensity higher than that of HBG-S, in good agreement with our spectral simulations based on quantum mechanically derived force fields. The thermal behavior of both peptides yields a broad thermal transition and lacks an isosbestic point. The 13C band for HBG-L has the largest intensity change with temperature, distinct from the 12C change and the HBG-S 13C change.     

A modular approach toward block copolymers

A novel methodology for the formation of block copolymers has been developed that combines ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) with functional chain-transfer agents (CTAs) and self-assembly. Telechelic homopolymers of cyclooctene derivatives end-functionalized with hydrogen-bonding or metal-coordination sites are formed through the combination of ROMP with a corresponding functional CTA. These telechelic homopolymers are fashioned with a high control over molecular weight and without the need for post-polymerization procedures. The homopolymers undergo fast and efficient self-assembly with their complement homopolymer or small molecule analogue to form block-copolymer architectures. The block copolymers show equivalent association constants as their small molecule analogues described in the literature, regardless of size or nature of the complementary unit or the polymer side chain.     

Absolute asymmetric synthesis of "chiral-at-metal" Grignard reagents and transfer of the chirality to carbon

Two new six-coordinate Grignard reagents, cis-[(p-CH(3)C(6)H(4))MgBr(dme)(2)] (1) and cis-[MgCH(3)(thf)(dme)(2)]I (2), have been synthesized and their crystal structures have been determined. Both reagents are cis-octahedral and therefore chiral. They crystallize as conglomerates and racemize rapidly in solution. By utilizing these properties, the absolute asymmetric synthesis of specifically the Delta or the Lambda enantiomer was achieved for both Grignard reagents. Enantiopure 1 and 2 were then reacted with butyraldehyde or benzaldehyde to give the corresponding alcohol in up to 22 % enantiomeric excess. At -60 degrees C, the Grignard reagents crystallize as racemic phases instead of conglomerates. Consequently, the crystal structures of rac-cis-[(p-CH(3)C(6)H(4))MgBr(dme)(2)].DME (3) and rac-cis-[MgCH(3)(thf)(dme)(2)]I (4) could be determined.     

Azamacrocyclic stabilization of SbCl2: synthesis and crystal structure of [SbCl2(Me3[9]aneN3)][SbCl6] showing explicit Sb lone-pair stereochemical activity. Me3[9]aneN3 = 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane

The reaction of antimony(III)chloride and antimony(V)chloride in acetonitrile in the presence of the azamacrocyclic ligand Me₃[9]aneN₃ provides the golden-yellow ionic compound [SbCl₂(Me₃[9]aneN₃][SbCl₆]. X-ray structural characterization reveals the cation as five-coordinate with Ψ-octahedral metal geometry featuring a cis-SbCl₂⁺ unit coordinated to the three donor nitrogen atoms of the ligand (fac) and a stereochemically active lone pair occupying the sixth site in a trans-position to a ring nitrogen atom.     

Aromatic annelation. I. Synthesis of pyridines.

The preparation of substituted pyridines from cycloalkanones by elaboration of an aromatic ring is described.     

Snapshots of a Migrating H‐Atom: Characterization of a Reactive Iron(III) Indenide Hydride and its Nearly Isoenergetic Ring‐Protonated Iron(I) Isomer

We report the characterization of an S= iron π‐complex, [Fe(η⁶‐IndH)(depe)]⁺ (Ind=Indenide (C₉H₇^?), depe=1,2‐bis(diethylphosphino)ethane), which results via C?H elimination from a transient Fe^III hydride, [Fe(η³:η²‐Ind)(depe)H]⁺. Owing to weak M?H/C?H bonds, these species appear to undergo proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) to release H₂ through bimolecular recombination. Mechanistic information, gained from stoichiometric as well as computational studies, reveal the open‐shell π‐arene complex to have a BDFE_C‐H value of ≈50 kcal mol^?1, roughly equal to the BDFE_Fe‐H of its Fe^III?H precursor (ΔG°≈0 between them). Markedly, this reactivity differs from related Fe(η⁵‐Cp/Cp*) compounds, for which terminal Fe^III?H cations are isolable and have been structurally characterized, highlighting the effect of a benzannulated ring (indene). Overall, this study provides a structural, thermochemical, and mechanistic foundation for the characterization of indenide/indene PCET precursors and outlines a valuable approach for the differentiation of a ring‐ versus a metal‐bound H‐atom by way of continuous‐wave (CW) and pulse EPR (HYSCORE) spectroscopic measurements.     

Terpestacin core structure. control of stereochemistry

[reaction: see text] The alpha-hydroxycyclopentenone core structure of terpestacin has been prepared in a model system through an allene ether Nazarov cyclization of an alkylidene-gamma-butyrolactone followed by regio- and stereoselective alkylation reactions. The stereochemistry at C15 (terpestacin numbering) has been used to control stereochemistry at C1 and at C23. The use of E-alkylidene-gamma-butyrolactones extends the scope of the cationic cyclopentannelation reaction.