A Convenient Procedure for N-Amination of 4-OXO-1,4-Dihydroquinolines

A high yielding N-amination of quinolones at low temperature via the use of O-mesitylenesulfonylhydroxylamine is reported.     

Tuning the Reactivity of a Heterogeneous Catalyst using N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands for C−H Activation Reactions

We report the dramatic impact of the addition of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) on the reactivity and selectivity of heterogeneous Ru catalysts in the context of C−H activation reactions. Using a simple and robust method, we prepared a series of new air-stable catalysts starting from commercially available Ru on carbon (Ru/C) and differently substituted NHCs. Associated with C−H deuteration processes, depending on Ru/C-NHC ratios, the chemical outcome can be controlled to a large extent. Indeed, tuning the reactivity of the Ru catalyst with NHC enabled: 1) increased chemoselectivity and the regioselectivity for the deuteration of alcohols in organic media; 2) the synthesis of fragile pharmaceutically relevant deuterated heterocycles (azine, purine) that are otherwise completely reduced using unmodified commercial catalysts; 3) the discovery of a novel reactivity for such heterogeneous Ru catalysts, namely the selective C-1 deuteration of aldehydes.     

Hydrogen Isotope Exchange Catalyzed by Ru Nanocatalysts: Labelling of Complex Molecules Containing N-Heterocycles and Reaction Mechanism Insights

Ruthenium nanocatalysis can provide effective deuteration and tritiation of oxazole, imidazole, triazole and carbazole substructures in complex molecules using D₂ or T₂ gas as isotopic sources. Depending on the substructure considered, this approach does not only represent a significant step forward in practice, with notably higher isotope uptakes, a broader substrate scope and a higher solvent applicability compared to existing procedures, but also the unique way to label important heterocycles using hydrogen isotope exchange. In terms of applications, the high incorporation of deuterium atoms, allows the synthesis of internal standards for LC-MS quantification. Moreover, the efficacy of the catalyst permits, even under subatmospheric pressure of T₂ gas, the preparation of complex radiolabeled drugs owning high molar activities. From a fundamental point of view, a detailed DFT-based mechanistic study identifying undisclosed key intermediates, allowed a deeper understanding of C−H (and N−H) activation processes occurring at the surface of metallic nanoclusters.     

On the elucidation of the mechanism of Vinca alkaloid fluorination in superacidic medium

Detailed investigations on one of the key steps of the superacidic fluorination of Vinca alkaloids that is the origin of C20' activation are reported. While two different pathways can be envisioned for the emergence of the transient secondary carbocationic intermediate, isotopic labeling experiments unambiguously revealed the involvement of a 1,2-hydride shift mechanism.     

Acoustic paramagnetic resonance of Ti2+ in CaO

Experimental results of acoustic paramagnetic resonance of Ti²⁺ in CaO are reported. The spectra are interpreted as due to Ti²⁺ ions in cubic sites distorted by random strains. The anisotropy comes from the fact that the effect of these strains is of the same order of magnitude as the Zeeman effect. The results are compared to those obtained with V³⁺ in MgO.     

Shaping and Mechanical Reinforcement of Silica Aerogel Biocatalysts with Ceramic Fiber Felts

The synthesis of silica aerogels reinforced with either carbon or silica fibre felts and which encapsulate the lipase PS of Amano (LPS AB025407) obtained from Burkholderia cepacia is described. The materials were further shaped by moulding them in Teflon^® tubes. The silica aerogels were synthesized with various ratios of hydrophobic groups and dried according to the supercritical CO₂ method. Both types of reinforcements improve the catalytic activity of the material per mass of lipase. The fibre felts reinforcements also enable the encapsulation of higher concentrations of lipase. The materials were shaped into small moulded monoliths, which were readily washed and recycled without significant mechanical deterioration or loss of catalytic activity. In addition, hydrophobic carbon felts reinforce more efficiently silica aerogels that incorporate a high ratio of hydrophobic groups, while silica felts strengthen those aerogels that carry a low proportion of hydrophobic groups.     

Efficient Access to Deuterated and Tritiated Nucleobase Pharmaceuticals and Oligonucleotides using Hydrogen‐Isotope Exchange

A general approach for the efficient hydrogen‐isotope exchange of nucleobase derivatives is described. Catalyzed by ruthenium nanoparticles, using mild reaction conditions, and involving either D₂ or T₂ as isotopic sources, this reaction possesses a wide substrate scope and a high solvent tolerability. This novel method facilitates the access to essential diagnostic tools in drug discovery and development: tritiated pharmaceuticals with high specific activities and deuterated oligonucleotides suitable for use as internal standards during LC‐MS quantification.     

Online large volume sample staking preconcentration and separation of enantiomeric GHRH analogs by capillary electrophoresis

A capillary electrophoresis method is proposed to analyze the four most well-known growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH) analogs that are misused by athletes. Dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin used as a chiral selector allowed, for the first time, the separation of those basic peptide analogs, including enantiopeptides (sermorelin and CJC-1293) that differ by the chirality of only one amino acid. To increase the method sensitivity, electrokinetic preconcentration methods have been investigated. The large volume sample stacking with polarity switching (PS-LVSS) method with an injected sample volume corresponding to 80% of the capillary one was found superior to the sweeping in terms of signal enhancement factor (SEF). Acid and organic solvent addition to the sample (0.1 mM phosphoric acid with 30% methanol) led to a twofold signal improvement, when compared to water as a matrix. We increased capillary dimensions to provide a signal enhancement through the injection of a larger sample volume. Finally, using a combination of the optimized PS-LVSS preconcentration with the chiral capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), the GHRH analogs were separated and limits of detection between 75 and 200 ng/mL were reached. This method was successfully applied to urine after a desalting step. An optimized C18 SPE was used for that purpose in order to provide low sample conductivity (<130 µS/cm) and preserve the efficiency of LVSS preconcentration. SEF of 640 was obtained with desalted urine spiked with sermorelin by comparison to the CZE (without preconcentration) method.