Reaction-based machine learning representations for predicting the enantioselectivity of organocatalysts

Hundreds of catalytic methods are developed each year to meet the demand for high-purity chiral compounds. The computational design of enantioselective organocatalysts remains a significant challenge, as catalysts are typically discovered through experimental screening. Recent advances in combining quantum chemical computations and machine learning (ML) hold great potential to propel the next leap forward in asymmetric catalysis. Within the context of quantum chemical machine learning (QML, or atomistic ML), the ML representations used to encode the three-dimensional structure of molecules and evaluate their similarity cannot easily capture the subtle energy differences that govern enantioselectivity. Here, we present a general strategy for improving molecular representations within an atomistic machine learning model to predict the DFT-computed enantiomeric excess of asymmetric propargylation organocatalysts solely from the structure of catalytic cycle intermediates. Mean absolute errors as low as 0.25 kcal mol⁻¹ were achieved in predictions of the activation energy with respect to DFT computations. By virtue of its design, this strategy is generalisable to other ML models, to experimental data and to any catalytic asymmetric reaction, enabling the rapid screening of structurally diverse organocatalysts from available structural information.

A machine learning model for enantioselectivity prediction using reaction-based molecular representations.     

A stereoselective synthesis of the C(1)-C(16) fragment of the bryostatins

A synthesis of the C(1)-C(16) fragment of the brysostatins has been developed. Key steps are the stereoselective copper(I) catalysed addition of allylmagnesium bromide to an alkynyl ester, a condensation of a βγ-unsaturated aldehyde with a ketophosphonate, and the formation of the B-ring under mild conditions by stereoselective intramolecular conjugate addition.     

Rearrangement of 5-trimethylsilylthebaine on treatment with L-selectride: an efficient synthesis of (+)-bractazonine

Treatment of 5-trimethylsilylthebaine with L-Selectride gave rise to a rearrangement to 10-trimethylsilylbractazonine through migration of the phenyl group, whereas treatment of thebaine with strong Lewis acids is known to lead to a similar rearrangement through migration of the alkyl bridge to give, after reduction, (+)-neodihydrothebaine. It is suggested that the rearrangement of the alkyl group of thebaine is favored due to the formation of a tertiary benzylic cation. However, for 5-trimethylsilylthebaine, the lithium ion of L-Selectride acts as the Lewis acid and the beta-silyl effect dominates in the stabilization of any positive charge. This rearrangement provides a clear example of the greater relative migratory aptitude of phenyl groups over alkyl groups, and provides an efficient synthesis of (+)-bractazonine from thebaine.     

Microwave-assisted "libraries from libraries" approach toward the synthesis of allyl- and C-cyclopropylalkylamides

Cascade reactions of internal and terminal alkynes, zirconocene hydrochloride, dimethylzinc, and phosphinoyl imines (prepared in one step from aldehydes and diphenylphosphinoyl amide) lead to allylic phosphinoyl amides after aqueous workup. Microwave acceleration allows the completion of this one-pot reaction sequence in 10 min. These allylic amides can be converted into a variety of derivatives, including carbamates and sulfonamides, or reacted prior to workup with diiodomethane to give novel C-cyclopropylalkylamides. A solution-phase "libraries from libraries" approach was used to generate an intermediate 20-member library which was subsequently expanded to a 100-member library by a series of N-functionalizations. The biological activity was evaluated in an assay for competitive binding to the estrogen receptor (ERalpha), revealing three potent lead compounds of a new structural type.     

Stereoselective association of binuclear metallacycles in coordination polymers

A series of structurally related binuclear metallacycles [Cd(NO(3))(2)L](2), where L is an angular exo-bidentate ligand, have been synthesized. Each metallacycle contains two coordinatively unsaturated, chiral metal centers within a single molecule, and the assembly of these metallacycles into polymeric framework structures has been studied systematically for the first time. Stereoselective homochiral association of [Cd(NO(3))(2)L](2) leads to the formation of helical coordination polymers, whereas meso type association results in nonhelical chain structures. The type of stereoselective aggregation depends on the conditions of self-assembly as well as on ligand functionality. Both helical and nonhelical polymeric complexes have been isolated for the metallacycle [Cd(NO(3))(2)(2,4'-pyacph)](2) (2,4'-pyacph = 2,4'-(4-ethynylphenyl)bipyridyl). Homochiral association results in the formation of helical [Cd(NO(3))]( infinity ) chains which link the binuclear [Cd(NO(3))(2)(2,4'-pyacph)](2) metallacycles into racemic two-dimensional sheets which contain both P and M [Cd(NO(3))]( infinity ) helices. In contrast, meso-association leads to the formation of nonhelical one-dimensional chains. It is shown that the product of homochiral association is predominately formed at room temperature and that of meso-association is generated at elevated temperatures. Thus, it may be concluded that the homochiral association appears to be energetically less favorable than the meso-association, a conclusion that has been confirmed by theoretical calculations of the crystal lattice energy. Several high-yield syntheses of bipyridyl-type ligands used for metallacyclic assembly are also reported.     

Adamantane-like cluster complexes of mixed-valent copper-copper and nickel-copper thiolates

Square-planar copper(II) and nickel(II) derivatives of the cis-dithiolate N(2)S(2) ligand bis(N,N'-2-mercapto-2-methylpropyl)-1,5-diazocyclooctane, (bme*daco)M, nucleate four Cu(I)Cl moieties, forming M(II)(2)Cu(I)(4)S(4) clusters with unusual triply bridging thiolates, mu(3)-SR, in the topological form of adamantane. As determined by X-ray crystallography, the (bme*daco)M (M = Cu or Ni) metallothiolate serves as a bidentate ligand that bridges four Cu(I) ions, utilizing all lone pairs on sulfurs. Further characterization by electrochemical and electronic spectral measurements suggests greater electron delocalization in the all-copper complex as compared to the NiCu heterometallic complex. Mass spectral data imply that the mixed-metal Ni(II)(2)Cu(I)(4)S(4) is more stable toward CuCl loss than Cu(II)(2)Cu(I)(4)S(4), a result that is corroborated by extraction of Cu(I) by 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane in the latter but not the former.     

Direct detection of oxygen intermediates in the non-heme Fe enzyme taurine/alpha-ketoglutarate dioxygenase

The reaction of substrate-bound taurine/alpha-ketoglutarate dioxygenase with O2 has been studied using cryogenic continuous-flow spectroscopy. Transient absorption spectra acquired at -38 degrees C show an exponential decay of a 318-nm chromophore with an apparent rate of 1.3 s-1. The observed optical changes and their kinetics are consistent with the profile of an Fe(IV) species detected recently by M?ssbauer spectroscopy (Price et al., Biochemistry 2003, 42, 7497-7508). Resonance Raman measurement upon excitation at 363.7 nm reveal at least two oxygen isotope-sensitive vibrations at 821/787 cm-1 and 583/555 cm-1 for 16O and 18O derivatives, respectively. An additional mode is likely to be obscured by an ethylene glycol vibration at 865 cm-1 and/or 1089 cm-1. The 821 cm-1 vibration is assigned to the stretching mode of Fe(IV)=O species on the basis of its frequency and isotopic shift amplitude. The 583 cm-1 band is likely to originate from an Fe-O2 precursor of the Fe(IV)=O species, although its structural details are unclear at present.     

Effects of electric fields and electric field-gradients on X-ray scattering factors and the compton profile of hydrogenic atoms

Analytic expressions for the modification of the hydrogenic atom X-ray atomic scattering factor and Compton profile due to a proton at distance R are derived. It is shown that electric field-gradient effects (order R^?3) are comparable in importance to electric field effects (order R^?2).     

CROSS-LINKING OF AROMATIC POLY（THIOETHER）S

A novel cross-linking process using two high molecular weight aromatic poly(thioether)s,which were synthesized by the reactions of 4,4′-thiobisbenzenethiol with 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone and 4,4′-difluorodiphenylsulfone,respectively, and commercially available lower molecular weight poly(p-phenylene sulfide)was investigated.These reactions were carried out in bulk by the addition of silver tetrafluroborate andα,α′-dibromo-p-xylene at 190℃over a period of 45 min. Furthermore,the same procedure could be modified to cross-link compression-molded films of these three polymers.The thermal and solubility behaviors of these polymers before and after cross-linking reactions,are presented.