Influence of the Solvation Upon the Reaction of α-Cyclodextrin with Carboxylic Acids,Their Methyl Esters,and Their Sodium Salts in Aqueous Solution Studied by Calorimetric Measurements

The complex formation of α-cyclodextrin with carboxylic acids, their methyl esters, and their sodium salts has been studied using calorimetric titrations. The stronger solvation of the carboxylic sodium salts compared with the free acid or their methyl esters lowers the values of the reaction enthalpy and entropy. Complex formation is influenced in the positive direction by the release of “high-energy water” from the cavity of α-cyclodextrin. The values of the reaction enthalpy and entropy increase for the complex formation of α-cyclodextrin with increasing chain length of the carboxylic acids and their derivatives, and reach an approximately constant upper limit in the case of five methylene groups.     

Iron‐Catalyzed Aminomethyloxygenative Cyclization of Hydroxy‐α‐diazoesters with N,O‐Aminals

A new and efficient cyclization reaction has been developed to synthesize cyclic α,α‐disubstituted β‐amino esters via iron‐catalyzed intramolecular aminomethyloxygenative cyclization of diazo compounds with N,O‐aminal under mild reaction conditions. A broad range of hydroxy‐α‐diazoesters with different substituents and various N,O‐aminals were compatible with this protocol, affording the corresponding α,α‐disubstituted β‐amino esters bearing a five‐ to eight‐membered oxacycle in good yields.     

Light‐Driven Kinetic Resolution of α‐Functionalized Carboxylic Acids Enabled by an Engineered Fatty Acid Photodecarboxylase

Chiral α‐functionalized carboxylic acids are valuable precursors for a variety of medicines and natural products. Herein, we described an engineered fatty acid photodecarboxylase (CvFAP)‐catalyzed kinetic resolution of α‐amino acids and α‐hydroxy acids, which provides the unreacted R‐configured substrates with high yields and excellent stereoselectivity (ee up to 99 %). This efficient light‐driven process requires neither NADPH recycling nor prior preparation of esters, which were required in previous biocatalytic approaches. The structure‐guided engineering strategy is based on the scanning of large amino acids at hotspots to narrow the substrate binding tunnel. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of asymmetric catalysis by an engineered CvFAP.     

GC—MS analysis of carboxylic acids in petroleum after esterification with fluoroalcohols

The GC–MS characteristics of carboxylic acid esters prepared from fluorine-containing alcohols were compared to those of methyl esters. The GC retention of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl (TFE) esters was less than, and 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluoro-1-butyl (HFB) esters was approximately equivalent to that of methyl esters. Mass spectra of TFE and HFB aliphatic esters show significantly more intense molecular and key fragment ions than those of methyl esters. Also, owing to their significantly higher molecular weights, TFE or HFB ester molecular ions and most fragment ions of interest occur at significantly higher m/z values than most potential interfering ions. Data for about 70 individual TFE and HFB esters are reported. Application of the methodology to a petroleum-derived carboxylic acid concentrate resulted in identification of straight chain, isoprenoid, methyl-substituted straight chain (2-, 3-, 5-,10-, 12-positions along chain), and dimethyl-substituted straight chain acids containing from 11 to 22 carbons. Benzoic acid and homologs with up to 3-carbons in alkyl substitutents were minor components in the sample. The procedure provided for forming TFE and HFB esters from free acids requires less time and effort than a previously reported method, while retaining its capability for achieving essentially quantitative conversion. Free hydroxyl groups in alcohols and phenols are converted to trifluoroacetate esters concurrently with formation of TFE/HFB carboxylic acid esters. The reaction products, including compounds with two functional groups (diacids, salicylic acid, etc.), chromatograph well on conventional nonpolar GC stationary phases.     

Four oxoindole‐linked α‐alkoxy‐β‐amino acid derivatives

Four structures of oxoindolyl α‐hydroxy‐β‐amino acid derivatives, namely, methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐methoxy‐2‐phenylacetate, C₂₄H₂₈N₂O₆, (I), methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐ethoxy‐2‐phenylacetate, C₂₅H₃₀N₂O₆, (II), methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐[(4‐methoxybenzyl)oxy]‐2‐phenylacetate, C₃₁H₃₄N₂O₇, (III), and methyl 2‐[(anthracen‐9‐yl)methoxy]‐2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐phenylacetate, C₃₈H₃₆N₂O₆, (IV), have been determined. The diastereoselectivity of the chemical reaction involving α‐diazoesters and isatin imines in the presence of benzyl alcohol is confirmed through the relative configuration of the two stereogenic centres. In esters (I) and (III), the amide group adopts an anti conformation, whereas the conformation is syn in esters (II) and (IV). Nevertheless, the amide group forms intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds with the ester and ether O atoms in all four structures. The ether‐linked substituents are in the extended conformation in all four structures. Ester (II) is dominated by intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen‐bond interactions. In contrast, the remaining three structures are sustained by C—H...O hydrogen‐bond interactions.     

Fluorinated β-Sultones

Fluorinated (β)-sultones are formed on addition of sulfur trioxide to fluorinated olefins. Tetrafluoroethanesultone has been studied particularly thoroughly. The title compounds are characterized by the ease with which they undergo ring cleavage to give, e.g., derivatives of α-sulfo carboxylic acids, of sulfonic acids, of carboxylic acids, and of sulfuric acid. Fluorinated compounds of this type containing an α-hydrogen atom are especially valuable in preparative work.     

DBU-CH3I,a Potential Substitute for CH2N2 in the Preparation of Methyl Esters and Methyl Aryl Ethers: Studies with Assorted Acids

DBU-CH₃I has been poised to be a substitute for diazomethane in the preparation of methyl esters from carboxylic acids. The reactions can be carried out in commercial untreated acetone and acetonitrile, which have been exemplified with several methyl esters, otherwise it is difficult to prepare. Bis-esterification using diiodomethane can also be achieved in a similar fashion. Sufficiently acidic phenols are also conveniently O-methylated by the method.     

Cytotoxic Activity of Capnellene‐8β, 10α‐Diol Derivatives from a Taiwanese Soft Coral Capnella sp.

The sesquiterpene capnellene‐8β, 10α‐diol ( 1 ) was isolated from non‐polar extract of the soft coral Capnella sp. Ten acylation products of capnellene‐8β, 10α‐diol were prepared: 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐benzoylcapnellene ( 2 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐p‐toluoylcapnellene ( 3 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐4‐chlorobenzoyl‐capnellene ( 4 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐2‐furoylcapnellene ( 5 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐2‐thiophenoylcapnellene ( 6 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐4‐fluorobenzoylcapnellene ( 7 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐4‐propylbenzoylcapnellene ( 8 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐cinnamoylcapnellene ( 9 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐4‐nitrobenzoylcapnellene ( 10 ), and 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐4‐anisoylcapnellene ( 11 ). The structures of capnellene‐8β, 10α‐diol as well as its derivatives were established through standard spectroscopic analysis. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of the eleven compounds were evaluated against Hela, KB, Daoy, and WiDr human tumor cell lines.     

Structural elucidation of natural 2-hydroxy di- and tricarboxylic acids and esters, phenylpropanoid esters and a flavonoid from Autonoë madeirensis using gas chromatographic/electron ionization, electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometric techniques

The chemical composition of Autonoë madeirensis bulbs was characterized as part of a systematic phytochemical study of this species. The compounds reported were mainly identified on the basis of gas chromatography/electron ionization, electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry. The structures of the pure compounds were also characterized by means of other physical and spectroscopic data (m.p., IR, UV, NMR). The compounds identified were 2‐hydroxy di‐ and tricarboxylic acids and esters (malic acid, citric acid and their methyl and ethyl esters), cis‐ and trans‐hydroxycinnamic esters (methyl and ethyl p‐coumarate and methyl ferulate) and a new flavone diglucoside, 7‐O‐[β‐glucosyl‐(1→2)‐O‐β‐glucosyl]apigenin, the interglucosidic linkage (1→2) of which is, to the best of our knowledge, reported for the first time in a diglucoside of apigenin. The results may contribute to the chemotaxonomy of the Autonoë genus and lead to a rapid tool for the systematic characterization of these compounds in plant extracts. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Xanthone O‐Glycosides from the Roots of Pteris Multifida

Two new xanthone glycosides and six known compounds were isolated from the roots of Pteris multifida. Based on spectroscopic and chemical methods, the structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 1‐hydroxy‐4,7‐dimethoxy‐8‐(3‐methyl‐2‐butenyl)‐6‐O‐α‐L‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐[β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐β‐D‐glucopyranosylxanthone ( 1 ), and 1,3‐dihydroxy‐7‐methoxy‐8‐(3‐methyl‐2‐butenyl)‐6‐O‐α‐L‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 →2)‐[β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐β‐D‐glucopyranosylxanthone ( 2 ), respectively.     

Chiral capillary electrophoresis with cationic pyrrolidinium‐β‐cyclodextrin derivatives as chiral selectors

New single‐isomer, cationic β‐cyclodextrins, including mono‐6‐deoxy‐6‐pyrrolidine‐β‐cyclodextrin chloride (pyCDCl), mono‐6‐deoxy‐6‐(N‐methyl‐pyrrolidine)‐β‐cyclodextrin chloride (N‐CH₃‐pyCDCl), mono‐6‐deoxy‐6‐(N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐pyrrolidine)‐β‐cyclodextrin chloride (N‐EtOH‐pyCDCl), mono‐6‐deoxy‐6‐(2‐hydroxymethyl‐pyrrolidine)‐β‐cyclodextrin chloride (2‐MeOH‐pyCDCl) were synthesized and used as chiral selectors in capillary electrophoresis for the enantioseparation of carboxylic and hydroxycarboxylic acids and dansyl amino acids. The unsubstituted pyCDCl exhibited the greatest resolving ability. Most analytes were resolved over a wide range of pH from 6.0 to 9.0 with this chiral selector. In general, increasing pH led to a decrease in resolution. The effective mobilities of all the analytes were found to decrease with increasing CD concentration. The optimal concentration for most carboxylic acids and dansyl amino acid was in the range 5–7.5 mM and >15 mM for hydroxycarboxylic acids. ¹H NMR experiments provided direct evidence of inclusion in the CD cavity.     

O‐Arylation of Carboxylic Acids using (Phenyl)[2‐(trimethylsilyl)phenyl]iodonium Triflate as a Precursor of Arynes

Using (phenyl)[2‐(trimethylsilyl)phenyl]iodonium triflate as a precursor of arynes, Larock's method for O‐arylation of carboxylic acids and arynes was developed. A variety of acids including simple aliphatic carboxylic acids, aromatic carboxylic acids, allenoic acids, and p‐toluenesulfonic acid under mild reaction conditions could generate the aryl esters.     

Propargyloxycarbonyl as a protecting group for the side chains of serine, threonine and tyrosine

Propargyloxycarbonyl group is used as a protecting group for the hydroxyl groups of serine, threonine and tyrosine. The propargyloxycarbonyl derivatives of these hydroxy amino acids are stable to acidic and basic reagents commonly employed in peptide synthesis. The deprotection of the O-Poc derivatives using tetrathiomolybdate does not affect commonly used protecting groups such as N-Boc, N-Cbz, N-Fmoc, methyl and benzyl esters. The di-and tripeptides synthesized using O-Poc derivatives of serine, threonine and tyrosine are stable, isolable compounds and give the hydroxy peptides in good yields when treated with tetrathiomolybdate.     

Phosphoryl group differentiating α‐amino acids from β‐ and γ‐amino acids in prebiotic peptide formation

In recent years β‐amino acids have increased their importance enormously in defining secondary structures of β‐peptides. Interest in β‐amino acids raises the question: Why and how did nature choose α‐amino acids for the central role in life? In this article we present experimental results of MS and ³¹P NMR methods on the chemical behavior of N‐phosphorylated α‐alanine, β‐alanine, and γ‐amino butyric acid in different solvents. N‐Phosphoryl α‐alanine can self‐assemble to N‐phosphopeptides either in water or in organic solvents, while no assembly was observed for β‐ or γ‐amino acids. An intramolecular carboxylic–phosphoric mixed anhydride (IMCPA) is the key structure responsible for their chemical behaviors. Relative energies and solvent effects of three isomers of IMCPA derived from α‐alanine (2a–c), with five‐membered ring, and five isomers of IMCPA derived from β‐alanine (4a–e), with six‐membered ring, were calculated with density functional theory at the B3LYP/6‐31G** level. The lower relative energy (3.2 kcal/mol in water) of 2b and lower energy barrier for its formation (16.7 kcal/mol in water) are responsible for the peptide formation from N‐phosphoryl α‐alanine. Both experimental and theoretical studies indicate that the structural difference among α‐, β‐, and γ‐amino acids can be recognized by formation of IMCPA after N‐phosphorylation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 94: 232–241, 2003     

Base‐Induced Decarboxylation of Polyunsaturated α‐Cyano Acids Derived from Malonic Acid: Synthesis of Sesquiterpene Nitriles and Aldehydes with β‐, φ‐, and ψ‐End Groups

Catalytic base‐induced decarboxylation of polyunsaturated α‐cyano‐β‐methyl acids derived from malonic acid led to the corresponding nitriles 3 (Schemes 2 and 3), 6 (Scheme 5), and 9 (Scheme 6). This decarboxylation occurred with previous deconjugation of the α,β‐alkene moiety of the α‐cyano‐β‐methyl acid, leading to an α‐cyano‐β‐methylene propanoic acid which was easily decarboxylated (see Scheme 2). β‐Methylene intermediates, in some cases, could be isolated; mechanistic pathways are proposed. The nitriles 3, 6 , and 9 were reduced to the sesquiterpene aldehydes 4 (β‐end group), 7 (φ‐end group), and 10 (ψ‐end group), respectively.     

Palladium‐catalyzed decarboxylative coupling of α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids with aryl tosylates

We report a general method for selective cross‐coupling of α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids with aryl tosylates enabled by versatile Pd(II) complexes. This method features the general cross‐coupling of ubiquitous α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids by decarboxylation. The transformation is characterized by its operational simplicity, the use of inexpensive, air‐stable Pd(II) catalysts, scalability and wide substrate scope. The reaction proceeds with high trans selectivity to furnish valuable (E)‐1,2‐diarylethenes.     

Phenolic Compounds from Elsholtzia Bodinieri Van't

Seven phenolic compounds, including one new compound trans‐3,4,3′,5′‐tetrahydroxy‐4′‐methylstilbene 4‐O‐β‐D‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ), together with six known compounds (+)‐hinokiol ( 2 ), 6‐hydroxy‐5,7‐dimethoxycoumarin ( 3 ), caffeic acid ( 4 ), vanillic acid ( 5 ), 4‐hydroxy‐2,6‐dimethoxyphenol‐1‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside ( 6 ) and 4‐allyl‐2,6‐dimethoxyphenol‐1‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside ( 7 ), were isolated from the root bark of Elsholtzia bodinieri Van't. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence.     

Palladium‐catalyzed carbonylative cyclization of β‐bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids with primary amines leading to N‐alkylmaleimides

Cyclic β‐bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids are carbonylatively cyclized with primary amines under carbon monoxide pressure in MeCN in the presence of a catalytic amount of PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ to give N‐alkylmaleimides. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Direct High‐Performance Liquid Chromatographic Enantioseparation of β‐Methyl‐Substituted Unusual Amino Acids on a Quinine‐Derived Chiral Anion‐Exchange Stationary Phase

A quinine‐derived chiral anion‐exchange stationary phase was used for the direct high‐performance liquid chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of the N‐protected unusual β‐substituted α‐amino acids, β‐methylphenylalanine, β‐methyltyrosine, β‐methyltryptophan, and β‐methyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline‐3‐carboxylic acid. The readily prepared 2,4‐dinitrophenyl and tert‐butyloxycarbonyl derivatives were well separated, and in most cases the separation of all four stereoisomers of these β‐methyl‐α‐amino acids could be obtained in one chromatographic run. The elution sequences of the enantiomers of the different derivatives were determined and revealed a dependence on the type of the N‐protecting group. In this context, the effects of different protecting groups (acetyl, tert‐butyloxycarbonyl, benzoyl, 3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, 3,5‐dinitrobenzyloxycarbonyl, 2,4‐dinitrophenyl, and 9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl) on the chromatographic behavior were investigated.