Semi-synthesis of paclitaxel from naturally occurring glycosidic precursors

Paclitaxel, an antitumor drug effective on ovarian and breast carcinomas, is currently being produced both by direct isolation from the bark of Taxus brevifolia and by semi-synthesis from a natural precursor, 10-deacetyl baccatin III. Although other potential precursors such as 10-deacetyl paclitaxel-7-xyloside were known since 1984, their conversion to paclitaxel could not be achieved because of the lack of suitable methodology for hydrolyzing the xylose residue, compatible with the stability of the compound. A method is described here using periodate, followed by phenylhydrazine, to effect deglycosidation of 10-deacetyl paclitaxel-7-xyloside to form 10-deacetyl paclitaxel. In addition, by including an intermediate acetylation step before the reaction with phenylhydrazine, “direct” conversion of this xyloside to paclitaxel itself, is described. Because 10-deacetyl paclitaxel-7-xyloside occurs at >0.1% in the bark of Taxus brevifolia, its successful hydrolytic conversion to paclitaxel represents an extremely important reaction for the enhanced availability of this drug.     

Mild oxidation of alcohols with o-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) in water/acetone mixture in the presence of beta-cyclodextrin

A mild and efficient oxidation of alcohols with o-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) catalyzed by beta-cyclodextrin in a water/acetone mixture (86:14) has been developed. A series of alcohols were oxidized at room temperature in excellent yields.     

Selective imidoylnitrenes

Two new imidoylnitrenes and alkoxycarbonylnitrene form a sequence of reactivities : Only ROCON attacks CH bonds, it and ROC(NCN)N convert benzene to azepines. Benzene is not attacked by ROC(NSO₂CH₃)N, but all three nitrenes react with olefins, alcohols, etc.     

Some studies on thallium oxalates. VI

The effect of the thallium(I) concentration on the potentiometric titration of thallium(III) with oxalic acid in 0.1M HNO₃ or 0.05M H₂SO₄ is studied, and conditions are established for the preparation of the thallium(I) bis-oxalato diaquo thallate(III) complex. Chemical analysis of the salt corresponds to the formula T1^I(T1^III(C₂O₄)₂) · 5 H₂O. Thermal decomposition studies on the complex using TG, DTG and DTA techniques indicate the formation of thallium(I) oxalate (stable from 130° to 320°) as the intermediate, the final product being a mixture of thallium(I) oxide and thallium(III) oxide (stable from 520° to 600°). Infrared absorption spectra, X-ray diffraction patterns and microscopic observations are used to characterise the complex and the intermediate.     

Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed alkylation of indoles with propargyl alcohols: an expeditious synthesis of 3-substituted indoles

Indoles undergo smooth alkylation with propargylic alcohols in the presence of 10 mol % of scandium triflate under mild conditions to produce 3-propargylated indoles in excellent yields with high selectivity.     

Halogen-substituted thiophenol molecules on Cu(111)

Para-halosubstituted thiophenols (X-TPs, where X is Br, Cl, or F) form ordered islands and monolayers on Cu(111) at temperatures as low as 81 K. At incomplete coverages, all X-TPs adsorb with the dehydrogenated thiol group attached to the substrate and the substituted ring inclined toward the surface, as verified experimentally and theoretically. The structure of ordered islands has a pronounced dependence on the nature of the halogen substituent: while unsubstituted TP and pentafluoro-TP molecules do not self-assemble into extended ordered patterns at 81 K, X-TP molecules form a range of different structures which depend both on the size and electronegativity of the substituent, as well as on the coverage.     

EXAFS studies of cobalt oxides and oxide glasses

The exafs of Co²⁺ has been studied in rare earth cobaltites and in sulphate and borate glasses. It has been found that the environment of Co²⁺ ions is very similar in these cases. It appears feasible to study local structures in glasses using probe ion exafs. Communication No. 151 from the Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit.     

Electronic phase separation in transition metal oxide systems

Electronic phase separation is increasingly getting recognized as a phenomenon of importance in understanding the magnetic and electron transport properties of transition metal oxides. The phenomenon dominates the rare-earth manganates of the formula Ln(1-x)A(x)MnO(3)(Ln = rare earth and A = alkaline earth) which exhibit ferromagnetism and metallicity as well as charge-ordering, depending on the composition, size of A-site cations and external factors such as magnetic and electric fields. We discuss typical phase separation scenarios in the manganates, with particular reference to Pr(1-x)Ca(x)MnO(3)(x= 0.3-0.4), (La(1-x)Ln(x))(0.7)Ca(0.3)MnO(3)(Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd and Y) and Nd(0.5)Sr(0.5)MnO(3). Besides discussing the magnetic and electron transport properties, we discuss electric field effects. Rare-earth cobaltates of the type Pr(0.7)Ca(0.3)CoO(3) and Gd(0.5)Ba(0.5)CoO(3) also exhibit interesting magnetic and electron transport properties which can be understood in terms of phase separation.     

Potentiometric estimation of sulfide ion using the Fe(III)-EDTA complex

The Fe(III)-EDTA complex reacts with sulfide ion in a fast electron transfer reaction, oxidising the latter to elemental sulfur and getting itself reduced to Fe(II). The reaction has been developed for the quantitative estimation of sulfide ion by titration against the Fe(III)-EDTA complex, measuring the redox potential of the system. Repeated use of a given quantity of the complex solution by the process of regeneration has been demonstrated. The possibility of its practical application in liquid phase oxidation processes of recovering sulfur from H₂S is emphasized.     

Graft polymers from poly(vinyl chloride) and chlorinated rubber

Graft polymers from poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and chlorinated rubber (CIR) with side chains of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA), or poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) were synthesized. For this purpose, a vinyl monomer was polymerized in the presence of small quantities of PVC or CIR with benzoyl peroxide as catalyst. The graft polymers were separated from both homopolymers by precipitation with methanol from methyl ethyl ketone solutions of the reaction products and the grafting efficiency was calculated. The graft polymers were characterized by infrared spectra, elemental analysis, NMR, and osmometric or light-scattering determinations. From the results it is concluded that the PVC or CIR molecules contain side chains of PMMA, PMA, or PEMA. The graft polymers showed higher molecular weights, and the values of second virial coefficient for these polymers were much different from those of the starting polymers.