Theoretical investigations into the intermediacy of chlorinated vinylcobalamins in the reductive dehalogenation of chlorinated ethylenes

The reductive dehalogenation of perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene by vitamin B(12) produces approximately 95% (Z)-dichloroethylene (DCE) and small amounts of (E)-DCE and 1,1-DCE, which are further reduced to ethylene and ethane. Chloroacetylene and acetylene have been detected as intermediates, but not dichloroacetylene. Organocobalamins (RCbls) have been proposed to be intermediates in this process. Density functional theory based approaches were employed to investigate the properties of chlorinated vinylcobalamins and chlorinated vinyl radicals. They reveal that all vinyl radicals studied have reduction potentials more positive (E degrees >or= -0.49) than that of the Co(II)/Co(I) couple of B(12) (E degrees = -0.61 V), indicating that any (chlorinated) vinyl radicals formed in the reductive dehalogenation process should be reduced to the corresponding anions by cob(I)alamin in competition with their combination with Co(II) to yield the corresponding vinylcobalamins. The computed Co-C homolytic bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) of the latter complexes range from 33.4 to 45.8 kcal/mol. The substituent effects on the BDEs are affected by the stabilities of the vinyl radicals as well as steric interactions between (Z)-chloro substituents and the corrin ring. The calculated E degrees values of the cobalamin models were within approximately 200 mV of one another since electron attachment is to a corrin ring pi-orbital, whose energy is relatively unaffected by chloride substitution of the vinyl ligand, and all were >500 mV more negative than that of the Co(II)/Co(I) couple of B(12). Reduction of the base-off forms of vinyl- and chlorovinylcobalamin models also involves the corrin pi* orbital, but reduction of the base-off dichlorovinyl- and trichlorovinylcobalamin models occurs with electron attachment to the sigma(Co)(-)(C*) orbital, yielding calculated E degrees values more positive than that of the calculated Co(II)/Co(I) couple of B(12). Thus, cob(I)alamin is expected to reduce these base-off vinyl-Cbls. Heterolytic cleavage of the Co-C bonds is much more favorable than homolysis (>21 kcal/mol) and is significantly more exergonic when coupled to chloride elimination.     

On the role of alkylcobalamins in the vitamin B12-catalyzed reductive dehalogenation of perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene

Theoretical studies are presented on the structures and reactivity of chlorinated ethylcobalamins, potential intermediates in the vitamin B12-catalyzed reductive dehalogenation of the environmental pollutants perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene; the results suggest an alternative mechanism of catalysis.     

Electrochemical studies of azido(imidazole) cobaloxime complexes

Summary Cyclic voltammetric studies of a series of azido(imidazole) cobaloxime complexes in acetonitrile with tetraethylammonium perchlorate as the supporting electrolyte reveal the presence of the central cobalt atom in these complexes in the +III state. In addition to reductions to cobalt(II), cobalt(I) and cobalt(0) species, evidence for oxidation to cobalt(IV) also was noted.     

Aqueous reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethylenes with tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin cobalt

The catalytic dechlorination of chlorinated ethylenes by 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin cobalt ((TCPP)Co), a cobalt complex structurally similar to vitamin B12, was studied. It was found to have superior aqueous-phase dechlorination activity on chlorinated ethylenes (CEs) relative to vitamin B12. Bimolecular rate constants for the degradation of CEs by (TCPP)Co of 250, 24, 0.24, and 1.5 M(-1) s(-1) were found for perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), cis-dichloroethylene (cDCE), and trans-dichloroethylene (tDCE), respectively. Through kinetic analysis, the rate laws for PCE and TCE were determined to be first order in substrate and catalyst, and PCE degradation was shown to be sensitive to the concentration of the titanium citrate bulk reductant and pH. The importance of the Co(I) oxidation state on dehalogenation was studied with UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy, a variety of reducing agents, and cyclic voltammetry. Evidence of chlorovinyl complexes as potential catalytic cycle intermediates was obtained through the preparation of (TPP)Co(trans-C2H2Cl) and the observation of (TPP)Co(C2HCl2) and (TCPP)Co(C2HCl2) by mass spectrometry. The X-ray crystal structure of (TPP)Co(trans-C2H2Cl) is reported.     

Nature of the intermediates in gold(I)-catalyzed cyclizations of 1,5-enynes

The carbene or carbocationic nature of the intermediates in the gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 1,5-enynes can be revealed, depending on the ligands on the gold catalysts. Gold complexes with highly electron-donating ligands promote reactions that proceed via intermediates with carbene-like character, leading to products with a bicyclo[3.1.0]hexene skeleton. The intermediate cyclopropyl endo-gold carbenes formed in this cyclization have been trapped, for the first time, to give biscyclopropane derivatives in a reaction that proceeds in a concerted fashion, according to DFT calculations.     

Characterization of chlorovinylcobalamin,a putative intermediate in reductive degradation of chlorinated ethylenes

The first X-ray structure of a vinylcobalamin is reported. Chlorovinylcobalamin is formed in the reaction of cob(I)alamin with chloroacetylene. Subsequently, cob(I)alamin catalyzes the reduction of chlorovinylcobalamin to vinylcobalamin in the presence of excess titanium(III)citrate. Introduction of a chlorine onto the vinyl group of vinylcobalamin greatly changes its reduction potential. These results are discussed with respect to vitamin B12-catalyzed dechlorination of perchloroethylene, a pollutant on the priority list of the EPA.     

Synthesis of proposed oxidation-cyclization-methylation intermediates of the coumarin antibiotic biosynthetic pathway

[structure: see text] A chemoenzymatic synthesis was described to prepare proposed oxidation-cyclization-methylation intermediates of the coumarin antibiotic biosynthetic pathway. The successful synthesis of these fragile molecules relies heavily on mild enzymatic deprotection and efficient enzymatic kinetic resolution to minimize epimerization, decomposition, multiple orthogonal protections, and retro aldol reactions often encountered in their chemical synthesis.     

Unexpected cycloisomerizations of nonclassical carbocation intermediates in gold(I)-catalyzed homo-Rautenstrauch cyclizations

An unexpected gold(I)-catalyzed homo-Rautenstrauch rearrangement of 1-cyclopropyl propargylic esters to cyclohexenones is disclosed. This rearrangement represents new evidence for the recently discussed gold-stabilized nonclassical carbocation character of intermediates in gold catalysis. A mechanistic study proved partial chirality transfer from optically active propargyl acetates.     

Properties and reactivity of chlorovinylcobalamin and vinylcobalamin and their implications for vitamin B12-catalyzed reductive dechlorination of chlorinated alkenes

Vitamin B12-catalyzed reductive dechlorination of perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) is a potential strategy for cleanup of polluted environments. Presented are crystal structures of vinylcobalamin 2 and cis-chlorovinylcobalamin 1. They show a strong resistance toward photolysis. Reduction of 2 is difficult, but reduction of 1 occurs readily and produces 2. The mechanism of this latter reaction involves acetylene as an intermediate. These and other findings are discussed in the context of environmental studies on B12-catalyzed dechlorination of PCE and TCE and investigations of the haloalkene reductive dehalogenases that catalyze similar reactions.     

On the intermediates in chiral bis(oxazoline)copper(II)-catalyzed enantioselective reactions--experimental and theoretical investigations

The intermediates in the chiral bis(oxazoline)copper(II)-catalyzed reactions have been investigated by means of experimental and theoretical investigations. It is shown that the absolute configuration of the hetero-Diels-Alder adduct obtained from the reaction of ethyl glyoxylate with 1,3-cyclohexadiene in the presence of the chiral bis(phenyloxazoline)copper(II) is dependent on the solvent. In this case, a linear relationship between the enantiomeric excess (ee) and the dielectric constant of the solvent was observed. However, the enantiomeric excess for the adduct obtained with the chiral bis(tert-butyloxazoline)copper(II) complex is independent of the solvent. The addition of different coordinating solvents to the chiral catalysts was investigated and no effect on the enantioselectivity of the reaction was observed. A series of chiral bis(tert-butyloxazoline)-, bis(phenyloxazoline)-, and bis(indaneoxazoline)copper(II) complexes has been prepared and characterized by X-ray analysis, and the similarity between the structures is discussed. For comparison, two related chiral bis(tert-butyloxazoline)- and bis(phenyloxazoline)zinc(II) complexes were also prepared and characterized. A series of chiral bis(oxazoline)copper(II)-substrate (the substrate being glyoxal or methyl glyoxylate) complexes was investigated by means of ab initio calculations. Calculation of the total energy of the optimized structure of 17-, 19-, and 21-electron bis(oxazoline)copper(II)-substrate complexes give the 17-electron complex as the most stable and the most reactive complex, while the 21-electron complex is less stable and also much less reactive. The optimized structures of both the 17-electron bis(tert-butyloxazoline)- and bis(phenyloxazoline)copper(II)-substrate complexes show that the plane of the substrate molecule is twisted by approximately 40-45 degrees out of the bis(oxazoline)copper(II) plane, in agreement with the X-ray structures. On the basis of the experimental results, X-ray structures, and ab initio calculations, the structure of the intermediate(s) and reactivity of the chiral bis(oxazoline)copper(II)-substrate complexes are discussed.     

X-ray analysis of a bridged cobaloxime (chloro-pyridino-cis-1, 12-bis-methyl glyoximato-dodecane-cobalt (3))

The structure of the title compound, a cobaloxime bridged by a polymethylene chain, has been confirmed by X-ray analysis.     

Solvent effect in the kinetics of cobaloxime(II)-catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol by O2

In the presence of triphenylphosphinecobaloxime(II), 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol undergoes catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation to the corresponding 1,2-benzoquinone (DTBQ) at room temperature and atmospheric dioxygen pressure. The semiquinone anion radical (DBS^•−) and its cobaloxime(III), complex Co^III(DBSQ)^•−) have been detected as intermediates by ESR spectroscopy. The kinetics were followed in benzene by measuring the dioxygen uptake as a function of time. The reaction is somewhat faster in MeOH, which is due to the greater stability of the hydrogen-bonded intermediate (X) formed from superoxocobaloxime (Co^IIIO₂) and the catechol. H-atom abstraction occurs in the rate-determining decomposition of X. The system investigated is a functional model of catecholase (oxidase) activity, based on free-radical intermediates, a possibility recently demonstrated for certain oxidoreductases.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and reactivity of copper(I) amidate complexes with aryl halides: insight into copper(I)-catalyzed Goldberg reaction

In this paper, copper(I) amidate complexes (2-3), proposed intermediates in copper-catalyzed Goldberg reaction, have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, (1)H NMR and X-ray crystallography. Ancillary ligand bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf) has contributed greatly to the stability of the copper-amidate complexes due to its strong chelating ability and weak intermolecular interactions. Thermal gravimetric analyses are carried out to determine the thermal competency of complexes 2-3 as the intermediates of the high-temperature Goldberg reactions. Reaction of complexes 2 and 3 with aryl halides generates the N-arylation products 5-8, accompanied by the formation of a copper(I) complex Cu(dppf)X (X = I or Br) 4, which has been determined by LC-MS analysis. These results provide new evidence for the mechanism of copper(I)-catalyzed Goldberg reaction.     

Modelling proposed intermediates in the hydrocarbonylation of alkenes catalysed by rhodium complexes of PBui3 and PPri3

In ethanol, hydrocarbonylation reactions of alkenes catalysed by triethylphosphine complexes of rhodium give alcohols as the products with low linear selectivity, whilst rhodium complexes of PPri3 or PBui3 give mainly aldehydes, again with low linear selectivity. Modelling the proposed acyl intermediates by studying [Rh(C(O)Me)(CO)m(L)4-m] (L = PPri3 or PBui3) shows that they exist as monophosphine species under the normal reaction conditions. In the absence of CO, [Rh(=C(OH)Me)(CO)L2]+ can also be formed. The implications of these NMR studies for the chemo- and regio-selectivity of the hydrocarbonylation reactions are discussed.     

Synthesis of optically active leukotriene (SRS-A) intermediates

In an approach to SRS-A and analogues thereof, the key (5$\text{S}$, 6$\text{S}$)-epoxy alcohol $\text{9}$ and its 6-epimer $\text{18}$ were prepared starting from $\text{D}$-araboascorbic acid and $\text{L}$-diethyl tartrate, respectively.     

细胞色素P-450模拟体系的活性中间体-氧配位铬(V)四苯基卟啉 配合物的分离、 表征和氧化反应

氮气保护下二氯甲烷中铬(III)四苯基卟啉衍生物在-40℃与亚碘酰苯反应,分离得氧配位铬(V)四苯基卟啉配合物:O=Cr(V)TPP(Cl)PhI,O=Cr(V)TPP(N~30PhI,O=Cr(V)TPP(p-CH~3O-C~6H~4O)(1/2)PhI。已经元素分析、可见、红外、顺磁、核磁和质谱法结构表征。这些配合物能氧化苯乙烯,环己醇,环己烯和环己烷,可作为细胞色素P-450模拟体系的活性中间体。