Anion-receptor molecules: Synthesis of a chiral and functionalized binding subunit,a bicyclic guanidinium group derived from L- or D- asparagine

The optically active (4S,8S)-4, 8-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene ((S,S)- 1 ) has been synthesized in nine steps from L -asparagine with a total yield of 5.1%. Similarly, the enantiomer (R,R)- 1 has been prepared from D -asparagine. (S,S)- and (S,S)- 1 are representative examples of rigid and functionalized bicyclic guanidine systems and constitute useful intermediates in the construction of chiral selective anion-receptor molecules.     

Structure and optical activity of a crystalline modification of isotactic poly-(S)-4-methyl-1-hexene

The results of an x-ray and polarimetric study of a crystalline modification (form I) of isotactic poly-(S)-4-methyl-1-hexene are reported and discussed. The x-ray fiber spectra of this polymer are practically indistinguishable from those of isotactic poly-(R)-(S)-4-methyl-1-hexene. Although the crystal structure of the latter can be described on the basis of helices of different screw sense packed in a P4 space group, the crystal structure of poly-(S)-4-methyl-1-hexene is better described on the basis of a P1 space group. The conclusion of the x-ray investigation, that in the crystals of the optically active polymer an equal number of right-handed and left-handed helices must be present, is supported by the polarimetric measurements, which have shown that the polymer in the crystalline form I possesses a rather low rotatory power.     

Enantiomer‐selective polymerization of (RS)‐(phenoxymethyl)thiirane with diethylzinc/L‐amino acid

Enantiomer‐selective polymerization of (RS)‐(phenoxymethyl)thiirane (RS‐ 1 ) was carried out with ZnEt₂/L ‐α‐amino acid as an initiator system, and the effect of the initiator system on the enantiomer selectivity was examined with various amino acids. All polymerizations heterogeneously proceeded, and every initiating system was effective in producing optically active polymers. For the polymerization of RS‐ 1 with diethylzinc (ZnEt₂)/L ‐leucine (1/1), the conversion was 43.7% in 12 days, and the number‐average molecular weight of the polymer was 18,000. The enantiomer selectivity was maximum when the molar ratio of the two components in the ZnEt₂/L ‐α‐amino acid system was 1:1. When the ZnEt₂/L ‐leucine (1/1) system was used in the polymerization, the best result was obtained with an enantiomer‐selectivity value of 5.36. During the polymerization, the S enantiomer was preferentially consumed, and the isotactic‐rich polymer was enriched in the S configurational units produced. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3443–3448, 2002     

Molecular Recognition and Enantiomer Separations on a novel chiral stationary phase based on a 9,9′-spirobi[9H-fluorene]-derived molecular cleft

An optically active molecular cleft incorporating a 9,9′-spirobi[9H-fluorene] spacer and two N-(5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)carboxamide: (CONH(naphthyr)) moieties as H-bonding sites was covalently bound to silica gel to provide the new chiral stationary phase (CSP) (R)- 16 (Scheme 2). Previous solution-binding studies in CDCl₃ had shown that the anchored molecular cleft was capable of complexing optically active dicarboxylic acids with differences in free energy of the formed diastereoisomeric complexes (Δ(ΔG⁰)) between 0.5 and 1.6 kcal mol^?1 (T = 300 K). The optical resolution of racemic dicarboxylic acids, that are bound with a high degree of enantioselectivity in the liquid phase, was now achieved by HPLC on the CSP (R)- 16. The order of enantiomer elution was as predicted from the solution studies, and the separation factor α varied between 1.18 and 1.24. A series of 1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diol derivatives were also resolved on the new CSP, in some cases with baseline separation. The order of enantiomer elution under normal-phase chromatographic conditions was rationalized by computer modeling of the association between the solute enantiomers and the immobilized molecular cleft. HPLC Separations with eluents of different polarity suggested that the attractive interactions between solute and immobilized chiral selector are a combination of H-bonding, which prevails in apolar eluents, and aromatic π--π stacking, which dominates in polar eluents.     

Asymmetric selective polymerization of racemic 1,2-diphenylethyl methacrylate with the ethylmagnesium bromide-(−)-sparteine complex

Asymmetric selective (or stereoelective) polymerization of racemic 1,2-diphenylethyl methacrylate (DPEMA) with ethylmagnesium bromide (EtMgBr)-(?)-sparteine catalyst was studied in toluene at ?78°C. In the polymerization (S) enantiomer was consumed preferentially and the enantiomeric excess of initially polymerized (S) enantiomer was consumed preferentially and the enantiomeric excess of initially polymerized DPEMA was greater than 90%. Optically pure (R) monomer was recovered at about 70% polymer yield. Poly(DPEMA) obtained with EtMgBr-(?)-sparteine complex was highly isotactic. It was found in the polymerization of optically active DPEMA that optical rotation of poly(DPEMA) was dependent on the tacticity and that isotactic and syndiotactic poly(DPEMA)s showed opposite optical rotations. Circular dichroism spectra of the optically active polymers were measured.     

Editorial

Abstract

Asymmetric syntheses of optically active polymethacrylate, polyacrylate, polyacrylamide, and polyisocyanate with helical conformation and their chiral recognition abilities are described. 1-Phenyldibenzosuberyl methacrylate (PDBSMA) gave a purely onehanded-helical, optically active polymer ([α]₃₆₅ +1670 ～ +1780º) with almost perfectly isotactic structure by anionic polymerization using optically active initiators. Radical polymerizations of PDBSMA using chiral initiators, chain transfer agents, and additives also afforded optically active polymers with a prevailing onehanded helicity. Triphenylmethyl acrylate yielded an optically active, helical polymer ([α]₃₆₅ +102º) having a dyad isotacticity of 70% using an optically active anionic initiator. Although the polyacrylate demonstrated chiral recognition ability as a chiral stationary phase for HPLC, the ability was low mainly because of the low degree of one-handedness. N-(3-Chlorophenyl)-N-phenylacrylamide gave an optically active, helical polymer ([α]_365–343º) in the asymmetric anionic polymerization; the polymer had a dyad tacticity of 77%. Optically active polyisocyanates with a predominantly one-handed helical conformation were prepared in homo-and co-polymerization of optically active phenyl isocyanate derivative. These polyisocyanates showed the ability to discriminate enantiomers in solution.     

(−)-Sparteine: The compound that most significantly influenced my research

A chiral diamine alkaloid, (−)-sparteine (Sp), has been found to be very effective as a ligand for Grignard reagents when used for the enantiomer-selective polymerization of racemic RS-1-phenylethyl methacrylate. The enantiomeric excess of the initially polymerized monomer is 93%, and at about a 60% conversion, nearly optically pure R-monomer is recovered. This enantiomer selectivity is today the highest in polymer chemistry. Triphenylmethyl methacrylate (TrMA) is a unique monomer that gives a highly isotactic polymer even during radical polymerization. When TrMA is polymerized with the Sp complex with n-butyllithium in toluene at −78 °C, an optically active, isotactic polymer [poly(triphenylmethyl methacrylate) (PTrMA)] with a one-handed helical conformation is obtained. The helical structure is maintained even at room temperature in solution. Analogous helical polymethacrylates that show various conformational changes have also been found. One-handed helical PTrMA exhibits high chiral recognition to a variety of racemates as a chiral stationary phase (CSP) for high-performance liquid chromatography. This finding has led to the development of very powerful CSPs based on polysaccharides, such as cellulose and amylose. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4480–4491, 2004     

Pd‐Catalyzed Allylic Substitution with Enantiomerically Pure Catalysts and Chiral Non‐Racemic Substrates: A New Approach to Catalyst‐Based Regiocontrol,Preliminary Communication

Chiral, enantiomerically pure Pd‐catalysts were used to control the regioselectivity of nucleophilic attack in allylic substitutions with optically active 1,3‐disubstituted allyl acetates (Schemes 4 – 6). In contrast to reactions with achiral catalysts, where the regioselectivity is determined by the steric and electronic effects of the allylic substituents, chiral catalysts allow selective preparation of either one of the two regioisomeric products, depending on which enantiomer of the catalyst is employed. It is not necessary to start from an enantiomerically pure substrate, because the major and minor enantiomers are converted to different regioisomers (not to enantiomeric products; see Scheme 3), resulting in products of very high ee, even when the starting material is only of moderate enantiomer purity.     

Organic Reactions in the Solid State: Reactions of Enclathrated 3,4-Epoxycyclopentanone (=6-Oxobicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-3-one) in Tri-o-thymotide and Absolute Configuration of 4-Hydroxy- and 4-Chlorocyclopent-2-en-1-one

Several aspects of the heterogeneous actions of aqueous and gaseous HCl on the chemical behavior of 3,4-epoxycyclopentanone (=6-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-3-one; 1 ) included in the asymmetric cages of tri-o-thymotide (TOT) clathrates belonging to space groups P3₁21 are described, showing specific features strikingly at variance with those observed in liquid solutions. In a first step, the substrate underwent an acid-promoted allylic isomerization, as already observed in our previous investigations, to give optically active 4-hydroxycyclopent-2-en-1-one ( 2 ). In a consecutive step, a displacement of the OH group was accomplished by the Cl⁻ anion to afford the corresponding chloro compound 3 . Polymorphism was encountered in the preparation of TOT/ 1 clathrates. Recrystallization of TOT in the pure guest 1 yielded micro-twinned crystals belonging to the P3₁ space group (host/guest ratio 1 : 1), whereas the expected P3₁21 lattice grew from a mixture of TOT, 1 , and MeOH. The structural determination of TOT/ 1 was carried out by X-ray diffraction (Fig. 1). Kinetic measurements were achieved that shed light on some striking features of this type of heterogeneous reactions for solid-liquid and solid-gas systems. Several reactions of pure clathrate antipodes (+)-TOT/ 1 with gaseous HCl were carried out under various conditions; concentration and enantiomer-excess(ee) determinations of the products 2 and 3 allowed to establish a larger ee for 3 , thus demonstrating the influence of the host-guest diastereomeric association on the progression of the reaction. The correlation of optical activities of the host and products for the global reaction disclosed the sequence (+)-(M)-TOT/ 1 →(−)- 2 →(−)- 3 . A new way for the preparation of 2 was devised. It was further demonstrated that the X-ray structure analysis of the chiral clathrate (M)-TOT/(+)- 2 (Fig. 4) associated with chiroptical measurements was an efficient and straightforward method to determine the absolute (+)-(R)-configuration of the guest. The enantioselectivity of the TOT clathrate for 2 was established by two different methods which allowed the appraisal of an accurate revised value of the specific rotation of 2 . The enclathration of 3 occurred exclusively in the orthorhombic centrosymmetric host lattice Pbca, thus prohibiting the X-ray structural determination of the guest absolute configuration. The problem of finding a pathway to the intended enantiomer enrichment of 3 was worked out through the action of aqueous HCl on microcrystalline (+)-TOT/(−)-(S)- 2 that gave an optically active mixture of unreacted 2 with 3 as sole product. The pure optically active 3 was isolated by subsequent TLC. The resolution of 3 was achieved by GC over a chiral column and its (unknown) specific rotation measured. The absolute configuration of 3 was established by the measurement of the enantiomer purity of the optically active mixture 3 obtained after the total conversion of (−)-(S)- 2 in the presence of thionyl chloride in Et₂O, dioxane, and benzene. It was deduced that the (−)- 3 enantiomer had the (S)-configuration.     

Unveiling of polymer/fullerene blend films morphology by ellipsometrically determined optical order within polymer and fullerene phases

Optical properties of polymer/fullerene blend films upon thermal annealing are investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry and described consistently within an optical model of the blend film. The optical model developed in this work treats both components, polymer and fullerene, as mixtures of reference materials, that is, their optically ordered and disordered phase. Then, the polymer/fullerene blend layer is also described as a mixture of these two components. In this manner, we extend an existing optical model, which accounts for the optical order within the polymer phases, on cases where the optically ordered PCBM phase occurs, too. Determination of the dielectric functions of all four reference materials allows for a unique quantitative characterization of a polymer/fullerene blend film by assigning to it thickness and the polymer to fullerene volume fraction of its layers as well as corresponding volume fractions of theirs optically ordered and disordered polymer and fullerene phases. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 1094–1100     

Asymmetric polymerization of N‐substituted maleimides with chiral oxazolidine–organolithium

Asymmetric anionic homopolymerizations of achiral N‐substituted maleimides (RMI) were performed with lithium 4‐alkyl‐2,2‐dialkyloxazolidinylamide. All obtained polymers were optically active, exhibiting opposite optical rotation to that of a corresponding oxazolidinyl group at the terminal of the main chain. This suggests that opposite optical rotation to the corresponding chiral oxazolidine was induced to the polymer main chain. In the polymerization using a fluorenyllithium (FlLi)–oxazolidine complex, the obtained polymer with a fluorenyl group at the polymer end showed a negative specific rotation. This also suggests that asymmetric induction took place in the polymer main chain. The asymmetric induction was supported by the circular dichroism (CD) and GPC analysis with polarimetric detector. Optical activity of the polymer was attributed to different contents of (S,S) and (R,R) structures formed from threo‐diisotactic additions, as supported by the ¹³C‐NMR spectra of the polymers and the model compounds. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 473–482, 1999     

Hydrogen-transfer polymerization of acrylamide and methacrylamide with optically active basic catalysts

Hydrogen-transfer polymerization of acrylamide and Methacrylamide with an optically active amyl alcoholate or n-amyl alcoholate (sodium, calcium, magnesium, barium, and aluminum) was investigated to 100°C in toluene. The initiation ability of the metal ion of the initiator increased in the order, sodium > barium > calcium > magnesium > aluminum. The optically active polymer was obtained by the polymerization of methacrylamide with an optically active alcoholate (barium or calcium), but was not obtained by the other alcoholates and by the polymerization of acrylamide with the optically active alcoholate. The specific rotation of the optically active polymer obtained was about +1.1° ～ +1.3°. The hydrolyzed product of the optically active polymer was α-methyl β-alanine having optical activity (+1.0°). The initiation mechanisms of the polymerization were thought to be the dehydrogenation of the monomer of the negative ion and the Michael addition reaction with the monomer of the negative ion and the catalyst, and it was confirmed that the optically active polymer was prepared by intermolecular hydrogen transfer mechanism. In the polymerization of MMA with menthol barium and borneol barium as the optically active catalyst, the optically active polymer was obtained.     

Asymmetric Hydroformylation of 4‐Vinyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one

A chiral cyclic carbonate, 4‐vinyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one was used as racemic substrate in asymmetric hydroformylation. The catalysts were formed in situ from “pre‐formed” PtCl₂(diphosphine) and tin(II) chloride. (2S,4S )‐2,4‐Bis(diphenylphosphinopentane ((S,S )‐BDPP)), (S,S )‐2,3‐O‐izopropylidine‐2,3‐dihydroxy‐1,4‐bis(diphenylphosphino)butane ((S,S )‐DIOP)), and (R )‐2,2′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl ((R )‐BINAP)) were used as optically active diphosphine ligands. The platinum‐containing catalytic systems provided surprisingly high activity. The hydroformylation selectivities of up to 97% were accompanied by perfect regioselectivity towards the dioxolane‐based linear aldehyde. The enantiomeric composition of all components in the reaction mixture was determined and followed throughout the reaction. The unreacted 4‐vinyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one was recovered in optically active form. The kinetic resolution was rationalized using the enantiomeric composition of the substrate and the products.     

Copolymerization of 7‐Methylenebicyclo[4.1.0]heptane with Carbon Monoxide Initiated by Optically Active Palladium Complexes

Seven Pd‐complexes with optically active bis[dihydroxazole]‐type ligands promote asymmetric alternating copolymerization of 7‐methylenebicyclo[4.1.0]heptane with CO, which produces an optically active polyketone, ? [C(?CH₂)? CO? C₆H₁₀]_n? . The reaction under increased CO pressure (> 5 atm) affords a polymer that contains monomer units with the cis‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diyl group almost exclusively. The polyketone exhibits positive or negative optical rotation depending on the Pd‐complex. The highest and lowest [α] of the polymer obtained are + 68.9 and ? 76.1, respectively. Addition of dibutylcuprate to a solution of the polymer in the presence of Me₃SiCl transforms the enone groups of the polymer to silyl enol ether groups, which are ozonized to (silyloxy)oxirane moieties.     

Synthesis and polymerization of N-[4-N′- (α-methylbenzyl)aminocarbonylphenyl]maleimide

A novel type of optically active N-[4-N′-(α-methylbenzyl)aminocarbonylphenyl]maleimide [(R)-MBCP] was synthesized from maleic anhydride, p-aminobenzoic acid, and (R)-methylbenzylamine. Radical homopolymerization of (R)-MBCP was performed in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 50 and 70°C for 24 h to give optically active polymers having [α]²⁵_D = -141° and -129°, respectively. Anionic polymerization of (R)-MBCP with n-butyllithium in THF and N,N-dimethylformamide gave an optically active polymer having ?78 to ?81° of [α]²⁵_D. Radical copolymerizations of (R)-MBCP (M₁) were performed with styrene (ST, M₂) and methyl methacrylate (MMA, M₂) in THF at 50°C. The monomer reactivity ratios (r₁, r₂) and the Alfrey-Price Q-e values were determined as follows: r₁ = 0.009, r₂ = 0.091, Q₁ = 1.30, e₁ = 1.87 in the (R)-MBCP-ST; r₁ = 0.27, r₂ = 1.21, Q₁ = 0.93, e₁ = 1.46 in the (R)-MBCP-MMA system. Chiroptical properties of the polymers were also investigated. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Origins of Enantiopreference of Mycobacterium smegmatis Acyl Transferase: A Computational Analysis

Acyl transferase from Mycobacterium smegmatis (MsAcT) is a promising biocatalyst because it catalyzes an acyl transfer reaction in aqueous solution, thereby accepting many primary and secondary alcohols as substrates. MsAcT also exhibits high enantioselectivity for a selected number of secondary alcohols. To increase the applicability of this enzyme for the production of optically active compounds, a detailed understanding of the reaction mechanism and the factors that affect enantioselectivity is essential. Herein, quantum chemical calculations are employed to study the reactions of two secondary alcohols, 1-isopropyl propargyl alcohol and 2-hydroxy propanenitrile, for which the enzyme displays opposite enantiopreference, favoring the S enantiomer in the former case and R enantiomer in the latter. A model of the active site has been designed and for both substrates various binding modes are evaluated and the intermediates and transition states along the reaction path are then located. The calculated energy profiles agree with the experimental observations, and reproduce the selectivity outcome. Through a detailed analysis of the geometries of key transition states, insights into the origins of the enantiopreference are obtained.     

Asymmetric induction copolymerization of optically active l-menthyl vinyl ether with styrene and N-phenylmaleimide

The copolymerizations of l-menthyl vinyl ether (l-MVE) with styrene (St) and N-phenylmaleimide (N-PMI) as comonomers were carried out in benzene with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator to give optically active copolymers. After the removal of the optically active menthyl group by use of hydrogen bromide gas, the ether-cloven l-MVE-N-PMI copolymer (VA-N-PMI) was still optically active. On the other hand, the optical activity of l-MVE-St copolymer disappeared after ether cleavage. It is thought that asymmetric induction took place in the polymer main chains. The optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism of the original and ether-cloven copolymers were measured in order to confirm the asymmetric induction.     

Naphthopyranquinone Antibiotics: Novel enantioselective syntheses of frenolicin B and some of its stereoisomers

Two new enantioselective syntheses of the naphthopyranquinone antibiotic frenolicin B ( 1 ), of its enantiomer 2 , and of its diastereoisomers 3 and 4 were accomplished using two different routes from optically active β-Hydroxy esters (R)- and (S)- 11 and 18. β-Hydroxy esters (R)- and (S)- 11 were prepared stereoselectively from optically active sulfenylacetates (S)- and (R)- 10 , respectively (Scheme 2, Method A). Alternatively, compound 18 was obtained in excellent yield by enantioselective hydrogenation of the corresponding β-keto ester 17 , using a chiral ruthenium-complex catalyst (Scheme 3, Method B). Subsequently, compounds (S)- 11 and 18 were transformed into frenolicin B (1). In analogy, Stereoisomers 2–4 were prepared from (S)- and (R)- 11 in good yields.     

Chiral economic total synthesis of natural and unnatural prostaglandins]

Using a meso-compound which is asymmetrically substituted with a chiral moiety as an intermediate, prostaglandins have been synthesized. Since the undesired enantiomer is readily recycled, this approach leads to a synthesis with high chiral efficiency. In addition it is possible to prepare both enantiomeric configurations of prostaglandins by simply altering the sequence of reactions. This concept should be generally useful in the synthesis of optically active molecules.     

Spectroscopic study of the complexes of poly(N-methacryloyl-L-asparagine) with palladium (II)

The complexes formed between palladium (II) and a polymeric ligand derived from L -asparagine, poly(N-methacryloyl-L -asparagine) (PNMAsn) have been investigated by electronic absorption and circular dichroism. N-isobutyroyl-L -asparagine (NIBAsn) was also synthesized and studied with the purpose of comparison with its polymeric analog. NIBAsn gives two complexes: at low pH, an optically active complex between one carboxylate and one secondary amide nitrogen (so-called 1N complex), and at higher pH, a 2N complex involving the primary and secondary amide group. This complex is also optically active. PNMAsn gives at low pH a 1N complex similar to that of NIBAsn, but at higher pH the 2N complex is formed between two carboxylate groups and two secondary amide groups of two different side chains of the polymer. At very high pH this 2N complex is hydrolyzed, i.e., the carboxylate-palladium bonds are replaced by hydroxyle-palladium bonds, and the complex becomes optically inactive.