A Cascade of Redox Reactions Generates Complexity in the Biosynthesis of the Protein Phosphatase‐2 Inhibitor Rubratoxin A

Redox modifications are key complexity‐generating steps in the biosynthesis of natural products. The unique structure of rubratoxin A ( 1 ), many of which arise through redox modifications, make it a nanomolar inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). We identified the biosynthetic pathway of 1 and completely mapped the enzymatic sequence of redox reactions starting from the nonadride 5 . Six redox enzymes are involved, including four α‐ketoglutarate‐ and iron(II)‐dependent dioxygenases that hydroxylate four sp³ carbons; one flavin‐dependent dehydrogenase that is involved in formation of the unsaturated lactone; and the ferric‐reductase‐like enzyme RbtH, which regioselectively reduces one of the maleic anhydride moieties in rubratoxin B to the γ‐hydroxybutenolide that is critical for PP2A inhibition. RbtH is proposed to perform sequential single‐electron reductions of the maleic anhydride using electrons derived from NADH and transferred through a ferredoxin and ferredoxin reductase pair.     

RAFT radical copolymerization of beta‐pinene with maleic anhydride and aggregation behaviors of their copolymer in aqueous solution

RAFT copolymerization of beta‐pinene and maleic anhydride was successfully achieved for the first time, using 1‐phenylethyl dithiobenzoate as chain transfer agent in a mixed solvent of tetrehydrofuran and 1.4‐dioxane (1:9, v/v) at a feed molar ratio of beta‐pinene to maleic anhydride as 3:7, and the alternating copolymer was prepared with predetermined molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution. Furthermore, using former alternating copolymer as a macro‐RAFT agent, block copolymer poly(beta‐pinene‐alt‐maleic anhydride)‐b‐polystyrene was synthesized in a chain extending with styrene. Hydrolysis of this block copolymer under acidic conditions formed a new amphiphilic block copolymers poly(beta‐pinene‐alt‐maleic acid)‐b‐polystyrene whose self‐assembly behaviors in aqueous solution at different pH were investigated through SEM and DLS. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1422–1429     

New heterocycles of 2,3‐diaryl‐substituted maleic hydrazides

2,3‐Diaryl‐substituted maleic anhydrides were prepared by a modified one‐pot synthesis of Perkin condensation using mixed sodium salts of arylglyoxylic acid and arylacetic acid with acetic anhydride in 1,4‐dioxane. The treatment of these anhydrides with ammonium bicarbonate, or methanolic hydrazine, offered the corresponding 2,3‐diaryl‐substituted maleimides and maleic hydrazides (4,5‐diaryl‐substituted 1,2‐dihydropyridazine‐3,6‐dione), respectively. Evidence obtained from NMR, UV, and mass spectra suggest that 2,3‐diaryl‐substituted maleic hydrazides do not exhibit monolactim forms. Ring contraction of the diaryl‐substituted maleic hydrazide by nitrosation led to the formation of the corresponding maleimide. Interconversion between the corresponding maleic hydrazide and maleimide was observed following equilibrium reaction. Our experiment proposes that the chemistry of 2,3‐diaryl‐substituted maleic hydrazides rarely involves the function of ethylene moiety and resembles that of succinic hydrazine. J. Heterocyclic Chem.,(2011).     

Reaction kinetics and microgel particle size characterization of ultraviolet‐curing unsaturated polyester acrylates

The free‐radical reaction kinetics and microgel formation of UV‐curing unsaturated polyester acrylates were studied in terms of the effects of internal maleic and terminal acrylate unsaturations. A triacrylate‐functional monomer, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, was used as the reactive diluent. A time‐resolved Fourier transform infrared technique was used to evaluate the consumption of double bonds and showed that internal (maleic) double bonds were involved in microgel formation at a rate similar to that of the more reactive terminal (acrylic) double bonds. Dynamic light scattering was used to measure the microgel particle size. The introduction of internal unsaturations caused smaller microgels, whereas terminal acrylate unsaturations resulted in larger particle sizes. These results were attributed to the higher tendency of the internal maleic double bonds toward intramolecular cyclization reactions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6544–6557, 2006     

Penultimate effects in the copolymerization of maleic anhydride with electron‐rich styrene derivatives

The (controlled) free‐radical copolymerization of maleic anhydride and styrene or derivatives thereof is often thought to provide nearly perfect alternating copolymers. Here, the RAFT copolymerization of electron‐rich styrene derivatives with maleic anhydride is reported. This copolymerization shows distinct penultimate effects, resulting in polymers with increased incorporation of styrene monomers, that is, where a tendency toward periodic (S‐S‐MA) copolymers exists. This work could be a first step towards periodic copolymers based on maleic anhydride and styrene derivatives. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2932–2939     

Effect of the initial maleic anhydride content on the grafting of maleic anhydride onto isotactic polypropylene

A series of ¹³C‐enriched maleic anhydride grafted isotactic polypropylene samples were prepared in solution at 170 °C by changes in the initial maleic anhydride content. The NMR spectra of the samples showed that the signals of the maleic anhydride attached to the tertiary carbons of the isotactic polypropylene chains increased considerably with increasing maleic anhydride content, whereas the signals of the maleic anhydride on the radical chain ends (with a single bond) arising from β scission did not. On the other hand, the signals of the maleic anhydride on the radical chain ends with double bonds increased markedly with increasing maleic anhydride content, and this suggested that β scission could occur extensively after maleic anhydride was attached to the tertiary carbons. As a result, the molecular weight of the grafted polypropylene decreased significantly with increasing maleic anhydride content in this study. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5529–5534, 2005     

Theoretical study of initiated reaction mechanism of polymerization of maleic anhydride catalyzed by OH−1 anion

A theoretical study of the polymerization reaction mechanism of maleic anhydride (MA) initiated by hydrate is presented. The reaction pathway has been studied with the density functional theory (DFT) method at the B3LYP/6‐311G** level. The geometrical parameters of transition states (TS) are optimized; intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculations have also been performed to obtain further credible features. Frequency analyses of all the stationary points are calculated at the same basis sets. The total energies of all geometries are corrected at second‐order Møller–Plesset (MP2)/6‐311G**. Calculation results reveal that the reaction mechanism is attributable to anion polymerization. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Phosphine‐Catalyzed Annulations of 4,4‐Dicyano‐2‐Methylenebut‐3‐enoates with Maleimides and Maleic Anhydride

A novel phosphine‐catalyzed [4+1] annulation of maleimides with 4,4‐dicyano‐2‐methylenebut‐3‐enoates has been developed to afford spirocyclic products, and the maleimides serves as C₁ synthons. Moreover, a phosphine‐catalyzed formal [3+2] annulation between 4,4‐dicyano‐2‐methylenebut‐3‐enoates and maleic anhydride has been also achieved, and maleic anhydride behaved as a C₃ synthon in the reaction, thus efficiently affording the functionalized cyclopentenones. A stable phosphinium‐containing zwitterionic compound is the key reactive intermediate in both annulations and was successfully isolated. Plausible mechanisms have been proposed on the basis of control experiments and deuterium‐labeling experiments.     

Origin of the “endo rule” in Diels–Alder reactions

Detailed density functional theory calculations definitively rationalize the preference for the endo cycloadduct (also known as endo rule) in text‐book thermal Diels–Alder reactions involving maleic anhydride and cyclopentadiene or butadiene. This selectivity is mainly caused by an unfavorable steric arrangement in the transition‐state region of the exo pathway which translates into a more destabilizing activation strain. In contrast with the widely accepted, orbital‐interaction‐based explanation for the endo rule, it is found that neither the orbital interactions nor the total interaction between the deformed reactants contributes to the endo selectivity. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A Series of Three‐Dimensional Rare Earth Coordination Polymers with Two Binary Carboxylate as Mixed‐Ligand: Syntheses,Structures, Properties of [LnIII(mal)(ox)0.5(H2O)2]·2H2O (Ln = Pr,Nd, and La)

A series of lanthanide coordination polymers, [Ln^III(mal)(ox)_0.5(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O (Ln = Pr ( 1 ), Nd ( 2 ), and La ( 3 ); H₂mal= maleic acid; H₂ox = oxalic acid), were synthesized firstly by the reaction of Ln^III nitrate salts with maleic anhydrid and oxalic acid under hydrothermal conditions and were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. X‐ray diffraction analyses reveal that they are crystallized in orthorhombic space group Fddd. Lanthanide metal center atom (Ln) and its corresponding centrosymmtric atom link through two chelating/bridging bidentate carboxyl groups of maleic acid ligands to form an infinite inorganic rod‐shaped building unit. These rod‐shaped building units were linked to each other through the carbon atoms of the maleate anions on the [110] plane to form lanthanide‐maleic acid layers. The oxalic acid pillared lanthanide‐maleic acid layers with intersected channels by free water molecules consist of a 3D framework structure. The thermogravimetric analyses of 1 – 3 were discussed in detail. The courses of the thermal decomposition of complexes are similar.     

Efficient Method for the Synthesis of Functionalized Basic Maleimides

A three‐step procedure involving Diels–Alder condensation of maleic anhydride with furane, formation of N‐substituted imide upon reaction with appropriate diamine, and a final retro Diels–Alder regeneration of the maleic carbon–carbon double bond is proposed for an unequivocal synthesis of N‐substituted basic maleimides. The novel method is characterized by mild reaction conditions, easy work‐up, high yields, and no need for additional catalysis.     

Effect of Solvent and Acid‐Base on Palladium (II)‐catalyzed Dicarbonylation of Terminal Acetylenes: a General,Efficient and Stereoselective Synthesis of Maleic Diesters and Maleic Anhydrides

The productions of maleic diesters and maleic anhydrides depend on the effect of solvent and acid‐base in palladium‐catalyzed dicarbonylation of terminal acetylenes. For primary and secondary alcohol in benzene, only maleic diesters were obtained stereospecifically from the dicarbonylation of acetylenes in the presence of PdCl₂, CuCl₂, and NaHCO₃. For tertiary alcohols, maleic anhydrides were synthesized selectively.     

Controlled radical copolymerization of styrene and maleic anhydride and the synthesis of novel polyolefin‐based block copolymers by reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) was applied to the copolymerization of styrene and maleic anhydride. The product had a low polydispersity and a predetermined molar mass. Novel, well‐defined polyolefin‐based block copolymers were prepared with a macromolecular RAFT agent prepared from a commercially available polyolefin (Kraton L‐1203). The second block consisted of either polystyrene or poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride). Furthermore, the colored, labile dithioester moiety in the product of the RAFT polymerizations could be removed from the polymer chain by UV irradiation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3596–3603, 2000     

Hyperbranched polymers with a degree of branching of 100%

4‐Methoxy‐4′‐(3″‐N‐maleimidopropoxy)benzaldazine has been prepared and used for the synthesis of hyperbranched polymers by ,criss‐cross'‐cycloaddition. In this type of reaction two unsaturated groups, such as the maleic imide groups, are added to the azine function. Hence, the azine behaves as a difunctional system, and therefore 4‐Methoxy‐4′‐(3″‐N‐maleimidopropoxy)benz‐aldazine is an AB₂ monomer, with the maleic imide group being the A‐function, and the azine group representing the B₂ part. The nature of this cycloaddition reaction ensures the coupled reaction of the two B‐functions of each monomer unit. Consequently, the resulting polymer consists exclusively of branched and terminal repeating units and therefore has a degree of branching of 100%.     

Determination of Maleic Hydrazide in Potato Samples Using Capillary Electrophoresis with Dual Detection (UV‐Electrochemical)

A new method for the separation of a mixture of different herbicides (propham, chlorpropham, asulam, metamitron, linuron, and maleic hydrazide) using MEKC is proposed. A base‐line separation for the mixture of herbicides is achieved in less than six minutes. The detection limits obtained for all the herbicides were lower than 1.0 μM using UV detection. This separation method was used for the determination of maleic hydrazide in potato samples. If a dual (UV‐electrochemical) detection system is employed, chlorpropham can be also detected. The results obtained showed that electrochemical detection was ten folds more sensitive than UV detection for maleic hydrazide. The detection limit of the proposed method for maleic hydrazide employing electrochemical detection was 1.3 μg g^?1, this value is lower than 50 μg g^?1, which is the maximum residue level permitted for this plant growth regulator in potato samples. The results obtained in the work clearly demonstrate the advantage of using electrochemical detection coupled to capillary electrophoresis, using this detection the concentration limits are not compromised by miniaturization and the components required are simple and inexpensive.     

Microwave‐Assisted Facile Synthesis and Crystal Structure of cis‐9,10,11,15‐Tetrahydro‐9,10[3′,4′]‐furanoanthracene‐12,14‐dione

A facile synthesis and crystal structure of cis‐9,10,11,15‐tetrahydro‐9,10[3′,4′]‐furanoanthracene‐12,14‐dione from the reaction of anthracene and maleic anhydride in xylene in a short time and high yield using a modified commercial domestic microwave oven is reported.     

Isomerisation of Erythro‐ and Threo‐Succinyl Units in Alternating Alkene‐Maleic Acid Copolymers: A Promising Route to New Microstructures

Summary: A first route to the isomerisation of erythro‐ and threo‐2,3‐disubstituted succinyl units in alternating alkene‐maleic acid copolymers is presented. The isomerisation reactions of the disodium salt of ethene‐maleic acid copolymer were carried out in aqueous solution at 180–240 °C in an autoclave. It is demonstrated that the erythro‐content can be changed from 17% up to 67%. The dissociation of methine C H bonds with the intermediate formation of a sp² hybridised carbon is proposed as the mechanism.

Isomerisation equilibrium between the threo‐ and erythro‐form of the 2,3‐disubstituted succinyl unit.     

Tris(4-anisyl)phosphine as an Efficient and Practical Reagent for the Synthesis of (E)-2-Benzylidenesuccinates

Condensation of maleic anhydride or dimethyl maleate with benzylaldehydes controlled by tris(4‐anisyl)‐phosphine to synthesize dimethyl (E)‐2‐benzylidenesuccinates has been systematically investigated. The protocol gives the product with high stereoselectivity in moderate to good yields under mild conditions. A plausible mechanism has been proposed.     

Simultaneous determination of furfural and its degradation products,furoic acid and maleic acid,in transformer oil by the reversed‐phase vortex‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography

To explore why the use of furfural as a transformer oil‐paper insulation aging characteristic is problematic in real world application, we developed a method for the simultaneous determination of furfural, furoic acid, and maleic acid in transformer oil by reversed‐phase vortex‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography. The conditions for the proposed method were optimized, and the obtained extract can be directly analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The detection limits (signal‐to‐noise ratio = 3) of the method ranged from 1.0 to 4.6 μg/L, the enrichment factors for furfural, furoic acid, maleic acid, and fumaric acid were 4.6, 25.1, 15.6, and 17.5, respectively, and the recovery rates for three analytes (fumaric acid was undetected) range from 82.1 to 106.2%. The contents of furfural, furoic acid, and maleic acid resulted from accelerated aging of transformer insulation oil‐paper were measured using the present method for the first time, and the aging samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry for the identification of furoic acid and maleic acid in the aging transformer oil samples. Using the optimal method, the target products of samples at different aging time were tracked and measured.     

阴阳极协同作用下对硝基苯酚的电催化降解

利用线性扫描伏安法和恒电流电解法研究了Ti/PbO2电极对于对硝基苯酚（PNP）降解的电催化活性,通过对阳极过程和阴极过程中对硝基苯酚及其降解中间产物的液相色谱测定,研究了阴阳极协同作用下对硝基苯酚电催化降解的历程。 结果表明,Ti/PbO2电极能够有效地电催化降解水溶液中的对硝基苯酚,在35 ℃,初始浓度为1 mmol/L的对硝基苯酚水溶液,恒定电流密度40×10-3 A/cm2,电解240 min,对硝基苯酚转化率为98.6%。 对硝基苯酚电催化氧化降解要经历生成对苯二酚、邻苯二酚、对苯醌、丁烯二酸和草酸,最终变成二氧化碳和水的反应历程,其中对苯二酚为第一步反应的主产物,对苯醌转化为丁烯二酸和丁烯二酸转化为草酸这两步反应是阳极氧化过程的速率控制步骤。 对硝基苯酚在阴极上发生还原反应,还原产物为对氨基苯酚（PAM）。 在无隔膜电解槽中,由于阴极还原产物对氨基苯酚很容易到阳极上发生氧化反应,阴阳两极产生协同作用,因而加速了对硝基苯酚的降解反应。