Methoxy-Substituted Tyramine Derivatives Synthesis,Computational Studies and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Kinetics

Targeting tyrosinase for melanogenesis disorders is an established strategy. Hydroxyl-substituted benzoic and cinnamic acid scaffolds were incorporated into new chemotypes that displayed in vitro inhibitory effects against mushroom and human tyrosinase for the purpose of identifying anti-melanogenic ingredients. The most active compound 2-((4-methoxyphenethyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl (E)-3-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl) acrylate (Ph9), inhibited mushroom tyrosinase with an IC₅₀ of 0.059 nM, while 2-((4-methoxyphenethyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl cinnamate (Ph6) had an IC₅₀ of 2.1 nM compared to the positive control, kojic acid IC₅₀ 16700 nM. Results of human tyrosinase inhibitory activity in A375 human melanoma cells showed that compound (Ph9) and Ph6 exhibited 94.6% and 92.2% inhibitory activity respectively while the positive control kojic acid showed 72.9% inhibition. Enzyme kinetics reflected a mixed type of inhibition for inhibitor Ph9 (K_i 0.093 nM) and non-competitive inhibition for Ph6 (K_i 2.3 nM) revealed from Lineweaver–Burk plots. In silico docking studies with mushroom tyrosinase (PDB ID:2Y9X) predicted possible binding modes in the catalytic site for these active compounds. Ph9 displayed no PAINS (pan-assay interference compounds) alerts. Our results showed that compound Ph9 is a potential candidate for further development of tyrosinase inhibitors.     

Phosphorene Supported Single-Atom Catalysts for CO Oxidation: A Computational Study

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted extensive attention owing to their high catalytic activity. The development of efficient SACs is crucial for applications in heterogeneous catalysis. In this article, the geometric configuration, electronic structure, stabilitiy and catalytic performance of phosphorene (Pn) supported single metal atoms (M=Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, and Au) have been systematically investigated using density functional theory calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. The single atoms are found to occupy the hollow site of phosphorene. Among the catalysts studied, Ru-decorated phosphorene is determined to be a potential catalyst by evaluating adsorption energies of gaseous molecules. Various mechanisms including the Eley-Rideal (ER), Langmuir-Hinshelwood (LH) and trimolecular Eley-Rideal (TER) mechanisms are considered to validate the most favourable reaction pathway. Our results reveal that Ru−Pn exhibits outstanding catalytic activity toward CO oxidation reaction via TER mechanism with the corresponding rate-determining energy barrier of 0.44 eV, making it a very promising SAC for CO oxidation under mild conditions. Overall, this work may provide a new avenue for the design and fabrication of two-dimensional materials supported SACs for low-temperature CO oxidation.     

Nucleophilic Substitution at Tetracoordinate Phosphorus. Stereochemical Course and Mechanisms of Nucleophilic Displacement Reactions at Phosphorus in Diastereomeric cis- and trans-2-Halogeno-4-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2-thiones: Experimental and DFT Studies

Geometrical cis- and trans- isomers of 2-chloro-, 2-bromo- and 2-fluoro-4-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2-thiones were obtained in a diastereoselective way by (a) sulfurization of corresponding cyclic P^III-halogenides, (b) reaction of cyclic phosphorothioic acids with phosphorus pentachloride and (c) halogen–halogen exchange at P^IV-halogenide. Their conformation and configuration at the C₄-ring carbon and phosphorus stereocentres were studied by NMR (¹H, ³¹P) methods, X-ray analysis and density functional (DFT) calculations. The stereochemistry of displacement reactions (alkaline hydrolysis, methanolysis, aminolysis) at phosphorus and its mechanism were shown to depend on the nature of halogen. Cyclic cis- and trans-isomers of chlorides and bromides react with nucleophiles (HO⁻, CH₃O⁻, Me₂NH) with inversion of configuration at phosphorus. DFT calculations provided evidence that alkaline hydrolysis of cyclic thiophosphoryl chlorides proceeds according to the S_N2-P mechanism with a single transition state according to the potential energy surface (PES) observed. The alkaline hydrolysis reaction of cis- and trans-fluorides afforded the same mixture of the corresponding cyclic thiophosphoric acids with the thermodynamically more stable major product. Similar DFT calculations revealed that substitution at phosphorus in fluorides proceeds stepwise according to the A–E mechanism with formation of a pentacoordinate intermediate since a PES with two transition states was observed.     

H/D Exchange Processes in Flavonoids: Kinetics and Mechanistic Investigations

Several classes of flavonoids, such as anthocyanins, flavonols, flavanols, and flavones, undergo a slow H/D exchange on aromatic ring A, leading to full deuteration at positions C(6) and C(8). Within the flavanol class, H-C(6) and H-C(8) of catechin and epicatechin are slowly exchanged in D₂O to the corresponding deuterated analogues. Even quercetin, a relevant flavonol representative, shows the same behaviour in a D₂O/DMSOd₆ 1:1 solution. Detailed kinetic measurements of these H/D exchange processes are here reported by exploiting the time-dependent changes of their peak areas in the ¹H-NMR spectra taken at different temperatures. A unifying reaction mechanism is also proposed based on our detailed kinetic observations, even taking into account pH and solvent effects. Molecular modelling and QM calculations were also carried out to shed more light on several molecular details of the proposed mechanism.     

Effects of Mn2+ on the chrome‐free colored Ti/Zr‐based conversion coating on 6063 aluminum alloy

The conversion coating with golden color and improved corrosion resistance had been prepared by adding Mn²⁺ in the Ti/Zr conversion coating solution. Comparing with that of conversion coating without Mn²⁺, the optimal treatment time of this conversion coating was much shorter and the corrosion resistance was obviously improved. The effect of Mn²⁺ on the formation of golden Ti/Zr conversion coating was thoroughly investigated by means of energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, SEM, XPS, and Raman and electrochemical workstation. The results showed that the conversion coating had a double‐layer structure: the outer layer consisted of the metal‐organic complex and the inner layer was mainly made up of Na₃AlF₆. Mn²⁺ was oxidized into MnOOH in solution and precipitated on the substrate surface which provided the nucleus to Na₃AlF₆ crystal and accelerated Na₃AlF₆ crystal formation and also made the microstructure of conversion coating change to the cubic. The mechanism of the formation of the conversion coating can be deemed as nucleation, growth of Na₃AlF₆ crystal, and formation of metal‐organic complex. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

[DBU‐H]+ and H2o as effective catalyst form for 2,3‐dihydropyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4(1H)‐ones: A DFT Study

DFT investigations are carried out to explore the effective catalyst forms of DBU and H₂O and the mechanism for the formation of 2,3‐dihydropyrido[2,3‐d]‐pyrimidin‐4(1H)‐ones. Three main pathways are disclosed under unassisted, water‐catalyzed, DBU and water cocatalyzed conditions, which involves concerted nucleophilic addition and H‐transfer, concerted intramolecular cyclization and H‐transfer, and Dimroth rearrangement to form the product. The results indicated that the DBU and water cocatalyzed pathway is the most favored one as compared to the rest two pathways. The water donates one H to DBU and accepts H from 2‐amino‐nicotinonitrile ( 1 ), forming [DBU‐H]⁺‐H₂O as effective catalyst form in the proton migration transition state rather than [DBU‐H]⁺‐OH^?. The hydrogen bond between [DBU‐H]⁺···H₂O··· 1 ^? decreases the activation barrier of the rate‐determining step. Our calculated results open a new insight for the green catalyst model of DBU‐H₂O. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

催化裂化条件下噻吩与改性Y分子筛的作用机制

以HY、NiY和稀土离子改性的Y分子筛(REY)为研究对象,采用固定床装置评价噻吩模拟油催化裂化性能;运用气相色谱-氢火焰离子发光检测器(GC-FID)、气相色谱-硫化学发光检测器(GC-SCD)和原位红外光谱技术分析产物,关联分子筛的酸性,研究催化裂化条件下噻吩与改性Y分子筛的作用机制。实验结果表明,催化裂化条件下,噻吩与分子筛的作用机制差异主要取决于与B酸或L酸相关的非骨架铝物种或金属离子物种的存在形式。其中,NiY分子筛中,噻吩主要是吸附在与NiOH⁺物种相关的L酸中心,而Ni₄AlO₄³⁺等物种减弱B酸性中心从而降低其裂化性能。对HY来说,噻吩易在与AlO⁺等物种相邻的B酸中心上聚合形成三联噻吩,并发生一定的氢转移和裂化反应;而对REY而言,分子筛中与RE物种相关的L酸位会促进噻吩在与非骨架铝羟基等物种(如Al(OH)₂⁺、Al(OH)²⁺等)相邻的B酸中心形成的二联噻吩发生氢转移和裂化反应。     

Rh（III）催化的N-甲氧基苯甲酰胺系列物选择性C-H氰基化反应

采用了最近热门的Rh(III)催化C?H键活化方法,以N-甲氧基苯甲酰胺系列物为反应底物, N-氰基-N-苯基对甲苯磺酰胺(NCTS)为氰基化试剂,高效合成了含氰基官能团产物。结果表明,该反应在碳酸银存在下,使用二氧六环作为反应溶剂,于80°C反应8h生成的邻位氰基取代的N-甲氧基苯甲酰胺的产率较高。进一步研究表明,该反应具有好的区域选择性和底物/官能团适应性。一系列机理实验研究表明,该反应可能采用了一个内部的亲电取代机制及使用了C?H键切割步骤作为关键限速步骤。考虑到该反应产物包含有价值的结构单元-N-甲氧基甲酰胺和氰基取代基,因而有望用于现代有机合成中。     

H-SAPO-18催化甲醇制烯烃反应的芳烃烃池机理：基于范德华校正的密度泛函理论研究

由于可以从非石油资源如煤、天然气、生物质等出发制备低碳烯烃,分子筛催化甲醇制烯烃(MTO)反应在学术界和工业界引起了广泛的研究兴趣. H-SAPO-34是目前表现优异性能的分子筛催化剂之一,其双烯(乙烯+丙烯)的选择性在80%以上,已经实现了工业化应用.为了提升MTO反应的选择性,以及调控乙烯丙烯的选择性之比,非常有必要从反应机理出发来优化设计新的催化剂.然而,由于MTO催化反应产物复杂多样,对MTO反应机理的认识还存在很大的争议.目前基本能够接受的是MTO催化反应沿着烃池机理进行.在此反应机理中,无机分子筛和有机烃池活性中心形成共催化剂,甲醇进攻有机活性中心生成烷基链,此烷基链断裂得到烯烃产物.目前提出的烃池活性中心主要包括多甲基苯和烯烃自身,它们分别沿着各自的循环反应网络(芳烃循环和烯烃循环)生成烯烃产物.有文献指出在H-ZSM-5分子筛中芳烃循环主要生成乙烯,而烯烃循环主要生成丙烯等产物.因此,系统研究分子筛结构对两条循环网络相对贡献程度的影响规律,从而阐述分子筛结构和MTO催化性能之间的关系具有重要的意义. H-SAPO-18是一类结构上与H-SAPO-34相类似的分子筛,其笼由八元环孔道互联.实验研究指出,其也具有优异的MTO催化性能.在本工作中,我们利用包含范德华相互作用校正的交换相关泛函(BEEF-vdW),系统研究了H-SAPO-18分子筛中的芳烃循环反应机理.所有计算用VASP程序包完成, H-SAPO-18用48T周期性结构模型表示.利用静态吸附和相互转化的自由能变化情况,我们首先确认了反应条件下H-SAPO-18中最稳定的多甲基苯的结构.计算结果指出,1,2,4,5-四甲基苯的吸附能最强,而六甲基苯是主要存在的多甲基苯组分.多甲基苯在分子筛孔道内的稳定性主要由两个相反的作用共同影响：范德华相互作用引起的吸引,以及分子筛孔道结构引起的排斥.在芳烃循环路线中,乙基侧链的增长是反应的关键基元步.吉布斯自由能分析指出芳烃循环路线中,在反应温度673 K下H-SAPO-18中的六甲基苯并不比五甲基苯,四甲基苯的活性高,这与H-SAPO-34分子筛中的结果相一致. H-SAPO-18中的四甲基苯、五甲基苯和六甲基苯的总吉布斯自由能垒分别是208,215,239 kJ/mol.六甲基苯循环路线所表现出的高反应能垒的一个原因,是由于分子筛几何限域效应引起的熵增加所致.通过与烯烃循环路线的动力学进行比较,本文芳烃循环路线动力学的工作可以为MTO催化反应机理的研究提供一些启示.     

预处理温度对甘油氢解双金属Ir-Re催化剂性能的影响

在生物柴油生产过程中大量副产的甘油是重要的生物质转化平台化合物.通过甘油氢解制备高附加值的1,3-丙二醇是甘油的资源化利用的重要途径,能够显著提高生物柴油产业的经济效益,同时也是探究更复杂的糖醇类化合物氢解的模型反应.因此,甘油氢解制备1,3-丙二醇成为当前学术界的研究热点.通常,以Re或W为助剂修饰的贵金属催化剂是有效的甘油选择性氢解制1,3-丙二醇的催化剂,其中,双金属Ir-Re催化剂是目前最高效的催化剂之一.甘油氢解反应是典型的结构敏感性反应,它的催化性能依赖于双金属催化剂的结构,而后者受制备工艺条件如热处理方式及条件的影响.最近,我们报道了以直接还原法(即浸渍-还原法)制备的Ir-Re催化剂为合金结构,在甘油氢解中表现出更为优越的反应活性及目前报道中最高的1,3-丙二醇生成速率,并提出了可能的双功能反应机理,即催化剂表面的Re-OH酸性位和Ir均为甘油氢解的活性位.本文采用直接还原法制备KIT-6(具有三维有序介孔孔道结构的SiO2)负载的双金属Ir-Re催化剂,进一步研究还原温度对Ir-Re/KIT-6的结构及其催化性能的影响,揭示催化剂表面酸性在甘油氢解反应中的重要作用并阐明其构-效关系.结果显示不同还原温度(400–700 oC)制备的催化剂的比表面积、孔体积及孔径数据基本一致,表明还原温度对Ir-Re/KIT-6的织构性质的影响很小.根据程序升温还原和透射电镜-能量散射点扫描结果可知,不同温度还原后的催化剂表面Ir和Re均以金属态形式存在,同时两者存在直接的相互作用,形成了Ir-Re合金;而漫反射红外图谱上CO吸附峰的红移以及峰形的显著变化也印证了Ir-Re合金结构的形成. TEM结果显示,在400–700oC还原后得到的Ir-Re合金纳米粒子均匀分布于KIT-6上,尺寸基本一致(2.5–2.8 nm),与CO化学吸附结果一致.此外, NH3-程序升温脱附结果表明催化剂的酸量随着还原温度的升高而逐渐增大,但酸强度没有明显变化,这可能是由于高温还原进一步促进了Ir和Re的相互作用,在原子尺度上混合更为均匀所致. Ir-Re催化剂上甘油氢解反应结果显示,随着还原温度由400提高到600 oC,所制催化剂的活性先增加而后趋于稳定.由此可以认为Ir-Re催化性能的差异与Ir分散度和酸强度的关联较小,主要是由于催化剂表面酸量所致.直接关联酸量与反应活性(以反应时间内的平均1,3-丙二醇生成速率表示)可以看到,反应活性随着酸量的增加而线性增大,表明Ir-Re/KIT-6的表面酸量直接影响了甘油氢解反应速率的快慢,即酸位Re-OH直接参与了催化反应.众所周知, Re金属活化H2的能力很弱,而金属Ir在反应中起到催化加氢的作用.实验结果很好地印证了Ir-Re合金催化甘油氢解反应的双功能反应机理,即酸位Re-OH与金属Ir协同参与氢解反应,分别作为甘油吸附位和H2活化中心,因此提高催化剂的表面Re-OH的数量将是进一步提高催化活性的途径之一.总的来说,在400–700 oC还原得到的Ir-Re/KIT-6催化剂具有Ir-Re合金结构.还原温度对催化剂的织构性质、金属纳米粒子的尺寸、Ir的分散度及表面酸强度的影响不大,但还原温度的升高有利于Ir和Re的相互作用,显著提高了催化剂的表面酸量,因而提高催化活性.此外,表面酸量和反应活性的线性关系表明酸位Re-OH参与Ir-Re合金催化甘油氢解反应,印证了双功能反应机理.