Bismuth trichloride–mediated cleavage of phenolic methoxymethyl ethers

A simple and efficient method for removal of phenolic methoxymethyl ethers in the presence of 30 mol% of bismuth trichloride in acetonitrile/water is described. Notable features of the cleavage protocol entail use of an ecofriendly bismuth reagent, ease of handling, low cost, operational simplicity, and good functional group compatibility. A number of structurally varied phenolic methoxymethyl ethers were cleaved in good to excellent yields.     

Transition‐Metal‐Mediated Cleavage of Fluoro‐Silanes under Mild Conditions

Si?F bond cleavage of fluoro‐silanes was achieved by transition‐metal complexes under mild and neutral conditions. The Iridium‐hydride complex [Ir(H)(CO)(PPh₃)₃] was found to readily break the Si?F bond of the diphosphine‐ difluorosilane {(o‐Ph₂P)C₆H₄}₂Si(F)₂ to afford a silyl complex [{[o‐(iPh₂P)C₆H₄]₂(F)Si}Ir(CO)(PPh₃)] and HF. Density functional theory calculations disclose a reaction mechanism in which a hypervalent silicon species with a dative Ir→Si interaction plays a crucial role. The Ir→Si interaction changes the character of the H on the Ir from hydridic to protic, and makes the F on Si more anionic, leading to the formation of H^δ+???F^δ? interaction. Then the Si?F and Ir?H bonds are readily broken to afford the silyl complex and HF through σ‐bond metathesis. Furthermore, the analogous rhodium complex [Rh(H)(CO)(PPh₃)₃] was found to promote the cleavage of the Si?F bond of the triphosphine‐monofluorosilane {(o‐Ph₂P)C₆H₄}₃Si(F) even at ambient temperature.     

Unprecedented Reaction Pathway of Sterically Crowded Calcium Complexes: Sequential C−N Bond Cleavage Reactions Induced by C−H Bond Activations

Five bis(quinolylmethyl)‐(1H ‐indolylmethyl)amine (BQIA) compounds, that is, {(quinol‐8‐yl‐CH₂)₂NCH₂(3‐Br‐1H ‐indol‐2‐yl)} ( L¹H ) and {[(8‐R³‐quinol‐2‐yl)CH₂]₂NCH(R²)[3‐R¹‐1H ‐indol‐2‐yl]} ( L^2–5H ) ( L²H : R¹=Br, R²=H, R³=H; L³H : R¹=Br, R²=H, R³=i Pr; L⁴H : R¹=H, R²=CH₃, R³=i Pr; L⁵H : R¹=H, R²=n Bu, R³=i Pr) were synthesized and used to prepare calcium complexes. The reactions of L^1–5H with silylamido calcium precursors (Ca[N(SiMe₂R)₂]₂(THF)₂, R=Me or H) at room temperature gave heteroleptic products ( L^{1, 2} )CaN(SiMe₃)₂ ( 1 , 2 ), ( L^{3, 4} )CaN(SiHMe₂)₂ ( 3 a , 4 a ) and homoleptic complexes ( L^{3, 5} )₂Ca ( D3 , D5 ). NMR and X‐ray analyses proved that these calcium complexes were stabilized through Ca⋅⋅⋅C−Si, Ca⋅⋅⋅H−Si or Ca⋅⋅⋅H−C agostic interactions. Unexpectedly, calcium complexes (( L^3–5 )CaN(SiMe₃)₂) bearing more sterically encumbered ligands of the same type were extremely unstable and underwent C−N bond cleavage processes as a consequence of intramolecular C−H bond activation, leading to the exclusive formation of (E )‐1,2‐bis(8‐isopropylquinol‐2‐yl)ethane.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed Cross‐Dehydrogenative C(sp2)−C(sp3) Coupling of Oxazole/Thiazole with Ether or Cycloalkane

Direct C5‐alkylation of oxazole/thiazole with ether or cycloalkane has been achieved through a cobalt‐catalyzed cross‐dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) process in moderate to good yields. This transformation represents the first C(sp²)−C(sp³) cross‐coupling at the C5‐position of the oxazole/thiazole via double C−H bond cleavages. Various functional groups on oxazole/thiazole substrates, as well as water and air, are well‐tolerated with this concise and practical protocol, constituting straightforward access to heterocycles with great medicinal significance. A preliminary mechanism involving a radical process has also been proposed.     

Cross- and Multi-Coupling Reactions Using Monofluoroalkanes

Carbon-fluorine bonds are stable and have demonstrated sluggishness against various chemical manipulations. However, selective transformations of C−F bonds can be achieved by developing appropriate conditions as useful synthetic methods in organic chemistry. This review focuses on C−C bond formation at monofluorinated sp³-hybridized carbons via C−F bond cleavage, including cross-coupling and multi-component coupling reactions. The C−F bond cleavage mechanisms on the sp³-hybridized carbon centers can be primarily categorized into three types: Lewis acids promoted F atom elimination to generate carbocation intermediates; nucleophilic substitution with metal or carbon nucleophiles supported by the activation of C−F bonds by coordination of Lewis acids; and the cleavage of C−F bonds via a single electron transfer. The characteristic features of alkyl fluorides, in comparison with other (pseudo)halides as promising electrophilic coupling counterparts, are also discussed.     

生物正交反应在我国的研究进展

生物正交反应是指能够在生物体系中进行、且不会与天然生物化学过程相互干扰的一类化学反应. 这类反应的出现为科学家对生命进程的原位研究带来了革命性的技术, 已经成为化学生物学这一新兴交叉领域的核心方向之一. 自这一概念提出的近二十年里, 生物正交化学经历了反应类型由单一的“偶联反应”向成键偶联、断键剪切反应并重, 应用场景由简单的活细胞体系向更为复杂的生物活体升级的一系列发展历程. 同时, 在生命科学研究、医药研发、临床诊疗等多个领域展示出了广阔的应用前景. 我国化学生物学领域的学者们积极参与并推动了生物正交反应的快速发展, 在反应开发、体系优化和实际应用等方面开展了一系列原创工作, 取得了瞩目的成绩; 尤其是在“生物正交剪切反应”概念的提出与开发应用等方面产生了重要的国际影响. 本综述中, 分别按照金属介导、光介导和化学小分子介导的生物正交偶联反应以及生物正交剪切反应, 对近五年来我国学者在该领域的代表性成果进行系统介绍. 最后对生物正交反应的进一步发展与应用加以展望. 我们期待更多高效、兼容的生物正交反应得以发展, 并提出“遥控生物正交化学”的未来发展目标, 期待更多的化学家能够加入生物正交反应的开发拓展与应用探索当中.     

Incorporation of β-Alanine in Cu(II) ATCUN Peptide Complexes Increases ROS Levels,DNA Cleavage and Antiproliferative Activity**

Redox-active Cu(II) complexes are able to form reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the presence of oxygen and reducing agents. Recently, Faller et al. reported that ROS generation by Cu(II) ATCUN complexes is not as high as assumed for decades. High complex stability results in silencing of the Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox cycle and therefore leads to low ROS generation. In this work, we demonstrate that an exchange of the α-amino acid Gly with the β-amino acid β-Ala at position 2 (Gly2→β-Ala2) of the ATCUN motif reinstates ROS production (^•OH and H₂O₂). Potentiometry, cyclic voltammetry, EPR spectroscopy and DFT simulations were utilized to explain the increased ROS generation of these β-Ala2-containing ATCUN complexes. We also observed enhanced oxidative cleavage activity towards plasmid DNA for β-Ala2 compared to the Gly2 complexes. Modifications with positively charged Lys residues increased the DNA affinity through electrostatic interactions as determined by UV/VIS, fluorescence, and CD spectroscopy, and consequently led to a further increase in nuclease activity. A similar trend was observed regarding the cytotoxic activity of the complexes against several human cancer cell lines where β-Ala2 peptide complexes had lower IC₅₀ values compared to Gly2. The higher cytotoxicity could be attributed to an increased cellular uptake as determined by ICP-MS measurements.     

Production of Alkyl Aryl Sulfides from Aromatic Disulfides and Alkyl Carboxylates via a Disilathiane–Disulfide Interchange Reaction

The results of this study show that disilathiane is an effective mediator in the synthesis of alkyl aryl sulfides with disulfides and alkyl carboxylates. Mechanistic studies suggest that disilathiane promotes cleavage of the sulfur–sulfur bond of disulfides to generate thiosilane as a key intermediate. Diselenides were also applicable to this transformation to produce the corresponding selenides.     

Interaction of RuIII(EDTA) with cellular thiols and O2: biological implications thereof

Reaction of [Ru^III(EDTA)(CyS)]^2? (edta^4? = ethylenediaminetetraacetate; CySH = cysteine) with molecular oxygen (O₂) has been studied as a function of pH (4.0–8.0) and cysteine concentration (0.2–2.0 mM) at room temperature (25 °C). Biological activities of the [Ru(EDTA)]/CySH/O₂ system pertaining to cleavage of supercoiled plasmid DNA to its nicked open circular form has been explored in this work. Results are discussed in regard to the reaction of the ruthenium(III)-complex with molecular oxygen) and a working mechanism is proposed for the biological activities of the ruthenium(III)-complex in the presence of O₂.     

Phosphodiester Cleavage Promoted by an Asymmetric Di­nuclear Zinc Complex: Synthesis,Structure, and Catalytic ­Activity

The dinuclear Zn^II complex [Zn₂L(DNBA)₂]BPh₄ · EtOH ( 1 ) (DNBA = 3,5‐dinitrobenzonic acid) with an asymmetric dinuclear ligand, N‐4‐methyl‐homopiperazine‐N′‐[N‐(2‐pyridylmethyl)‐N‐2‐(2‐pyridylethyl)amine]‐1,3‐diamino‐propan‐2‐ol (HL), was synthesized and characterized. Single crystal X‐ray crystallographic analysis shows that the coordination around the two Zn^II ions in 1 is significantly asymmetric, and the distance between both atoms is 3.426 Å, which is close to the Zn···Zn distance in related natural dinuclear metalloenzymes. Phosphodiesterase activity of Zn₂L in situ formed from a 2:1 mixture of Zn²⁺ ion and HL was investigated using bis(4‐nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP) as substrate. The pH dependence of the BNPP cleavage in aqueous buffer media reveals a bell‐shaped pH‐k_obs profile with an optimum at about pH 7.9, which is parallel to the formation of the dinuclear species Zn₂L‐OH obtained from the potentiometric titration. The catalytic rate constant (k_cat) is 6.30 × 10^–4 s^–1 at pH 7.9 and 25 °C, which is approx. 10⁸‐fold higher than that of the uncatalyzed reaction. The homopiperazine bound deprotonated Zn‐OH group is responsible for the hydrolysis reaction. The possible mechanism for the BNPP cleavage promoted by Zn₂L is proposed on the basis of kinetic and spectral analysis.