Catalytic Generation and Chemoselective Transfer of Nucleophilic Hydrides from Dihydrogen

Copper(I)–N-heterocyclic-carbene (NHC) complexes enabled the catalytic generation of nucleophilic hydrides from dihydrogen (H₂) and their subsequent transfer to allylic chlorides. The highly chemoselective catalyst displayed no concomitant hydrogenation reactivity; in fact, the terminal double bond formed in the hydride transfer remained intact. Switching to deuterium gas (D₂) allowed for regioselective monodeuteration with excellent isotope incorporation.     

A Preliminary Study of Diastereoselectivity in the PdII‐Catalyzed C(sp3)‐H Alkoxylation of Cyclic Systems

Primary mechanism of a Pd^II‐catalyzed 8‐aminoquinoline‐directed C?H alkoxylation was investigated. It was understood that the Pd^II‐catalyzed C(sp³)?O bond formation proceeded through a concerted reductive elimination from the Pd^IV intermediate in the cyclic system. Deuteration experiments and related computational studies elucidate that intrinsic conformation determined the diastereoselectivity of the Pd^II‐catalyzed C?H alkoxylation of cyclic carboxylic acids.     

Multiple Site Hydrogen Isotope Labelling of Pharmaceuticals

Radiolabelling is fundamental in drug discovery and development as it is mandatory for preclinical ADME studies and late-stage human clinical trials. Herein, a general, effective, and easy to implement method for the multiple site incorporation of deuterium and tritium atoms using the commercially available and air-stable iridium precatalyst [Ir(COD)(OMe)]₂ is described. A large scope of pharmaceutically relevant substructures can be labelled using this method including pyridine, pyrazine, indole, carbazole, aniline, oxa-/thia-zoles, thiophene, but also electron-rich phenyl groups. The high functional group tolerance of the reaction is highlighted by the labelling of a wide range of complex pharmaceuticals, containing notably halogen or sulfur atoms and nitrile groups. The multiple site hydrogen isotope incorporation has been explained by the in situ formation of complementary catalytically active species: monometallic iridium complexes and iridium nanoparticles.     

Superacid-Mediated Late-Stage Aromatic Polydeuteration of Pharmaceuticals

The field of medicinal chemistry is currently witnessing a deuterium rush owing to the remarkable properties of this element as bioisoster of hydrogen atom. Aromatic hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) is one of the most studied strategies nowadays as it promises to access deuterium-modified drugs directly from their non-labeled parents. While most of the recent studies focus on metal-catalyzed C−H activation strategy, the use of superacidic conditions has been largely overlooked. This study shows that the use of TfOD as reaction medium allows the late-stage polydeuteration of a broad library of pharmaceuticals bearing a wide array of functional groups, complementing existing procedures.     

Does Perdeuteration Increase the Polarity of Janus Face Cycloalkanes?

Stimulated by a suggestion of the late Professor Jack D. Dunitz, that perdeuterated Janus face cycloalkanes may be more polar than their unlabelled forms, the deuterated isotopologue of all cis-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexafluorocyclohexane ([²H₆]- 1a ) and all cis-1,2,3,4-tetrafluorocyclopentane ([²H₆]- 3a ) were prepared. Computation at the B3LYP−D3 level indicated that [²H₆]- 1a is not more polar than its protio form 1, however perdeuterated cyclopentane [²H₆]- 3a may indeed be more polar than 3 , although the magnitude is predicted to be small. None-the-less retention time analysis on a reverse phase GC/MS column of an add-mix of 3 and [²H₆]- 3a gave some indication that the per-deuterated isotopologue 3a was detected marginally before the unlabelled compound consistent with increased polarity associated with perdeuteration.     

The Deuterated “Magic Methyl” Group: A Guide to Site-Selective Trideuteromethyl Incorporation and Labeling by Using CD3 Reagents

In the field of medicinal chemistry, the precise installation of a trideuteromethyl group is gaining ever-increasing attention. Site-selective incorporation of the deuterated “magic methyl” group can provide profound pharmacological benefits and can be considered an important tool for drug optimization and development. This review provides a structured overview, according to trideuteromethylation reagent, of currently established methods for site-selective trideuteromethylation of carbon atoms. In addition to CD₃, the selective introduction of CD₂H and CDH₂ groups is also considered. For all methods, the corresponding mechanism and scope are discussed whenever reported. As such, this review can be a starting point for synthetic chemists to further advance trideuteromethylation methodologies. At the same time, this review aims to be a guide for medicinal chemists, offering them the available C−CD₃ formation strategies for the preparation of new or modified drugs.     

金属有机框架CPL-1填充柱气相色谱分析氢同位素

金属有机框架(MOFs)材料CPL-1的比表面积大、孔径均一,在低温条件下对氢同位素具有良好的量子筛分效应,是气相色谱固定相潜在的应用材料。采用CPL-1填充制备了长0.5 m、内径1 mm的微孔填充柱,借助单晶Al_2O_3颗粒间隙构建了色谱载气流通路径,在低温条件下探索研究了CPL-1填充柱的氢同位素分析性能。结果表明,在77 K时CPL-1对H_2和D_2的吸附量接近4 mmol/g,优于MnCl2/γ-Al_2O_3和γ-Al_2O_3,CPL-1填充柱在取样量0.25~2 mL范围内对低浓度氢同位素样品的检测具有良好的线性关系,检测的相对误差小于4%。CPL-1填充柱具有线性范围宽、重复性好、准确度高等优点,在氢同位素色谱分析中具有潜在的应用价值。     

MnCl_2改性γ-Al_2O_3毛细管填充柱气相色谱分析氢同位素

针对常规气相色谱填充柱分析稳定氢同位素的柱效低、峰宽大、保留时间长等问题,采用MnCl_2改性γ-Al_2O_3填充的石英毛细管柱开展了系统性柱效分析及氢同位素分析技术研究。研究结果表明,使用MnCl_2对γ-Al_2O_3进行改性后,可大大改善单纯的γ-Al_2O_3表面有序度、孔结构和吸附性质,并将正氢(o-H_2)和仲氢(p-H_2)峰洗脱在单一谱峰区域内。制备的长1.0 m、内径0.53 mm的石英毛细填充柱与热导检测器(TCD)级联测试,在体积浓度1至10 m L/L范围内有较好的线性关系,对于低浓度样品检测的相对误差不大于5%。H_2、HD和D_2的保留时间可分别缩短至39、46和60 s,检出限可分别降低至0.046、0.067和0.072 m L/L。毛细管填充柱较常规填充柱具有峰形尖锐、相邻组分分离度高、保留时间短、检出限低等优点,可用于低浓度氢同位素快速测量及氢同位素在线分析。     

A Spectroscopic Overview of Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonds of NH…O,S,N Type

Intramolecular NH…O,S,N interactions in non-tautomeric systems are reviewed in a broad range of compounds covering a variety of NH donors and hydrogen bond acceptors. ¹H chemical shifts of NH donors are good tools to study intramolecular hydrogen bonding. However in some cases they have to be corrected for ring current effects. Deuterium isotope effects on ¹³C and ¹⁵N chemical shifts and primary isotope effects are usually used to judge the strength of hydrogen bonds. Primary isotope effects are investigated in a new range of magnitudes. Isotope ratios of NH stretching frequencies, νNH/ND, are revisited. Hydrogen bond energies are reviewed and two-bond deuterium isotope effects on ¹³C chemical shifts are investigated as a possible means of estimating hydrogen bond energies.     

One-Pot and Two-Chamber Methodologies for Using Acetylene Surrogates in the Synthesis of Pyridazines and Their D-Labeled Derivatives

Acetylene surrogates are efficient tools in modern organic chemistry with largely unexplored potential in the construction of heterocyclic cores. Two novel synthetic paths to 3,6-disubstituted pyridazines were proposed using readily available acetylene surrogates through flexible C₂ unit installation procedures in a common reaction space mode (one-pot) and distributed reaction space mode (two-chamber): (1) an interaction of 1,2,4,5-tetrazine and its acceptor-functionalized derivatives with a CaC₂−H₂O mixture performed in a two-chamber reactor led to the corresponding pyridazines in quantitative yields; (2) [4+2] cycloaddition of 1,2,4,5-tetrazines to benzyl vinyl ether can be considered a universal synthetic path to a wide range of pyridazines. Replacing water with D₂O and vinyl ether with its trideuterated analog in the developed procedures, a range of 4,5-dideuteropyridazines of 95–99% deuteration degree was synthesized for the first time. Quantum chemical modeling allowed to quantify the substituent effect in both synthetic pathways.