To bend about : The conformations of three phenyl‐C‐galactosides in solution were evaluated by using theoretical calculations and NMR spectroscopic studies. The α‐CF2 derivative (see scheme) showed significant flexibility of the pyranose ring and around the pseudoanomeric center, whereas the other two analogues more closely resemble the natural galactosides. Regardless, all three compounds bind to a plant lectin.
Making circles with N and O : Cyclic tripeptides containing an unnatural Cα‐tetrasubstituted THF amino acid are prepared by copper(I) and palladium(0)‐catalyzed N‐ and O‐arylation reactions. The reactions give access to side chain‐modified derivatives of the unnatural amino acid and macrocyclic peptidomimetics.
Cutting carbons : The three‐dimensional structure of polyneuridine aldehyde esterase (PNAE) gives insight into the enzymatic mechanism of the biosynthesis of C9‐ from C10‐monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (see scheme). PNAE is a very substrate‐specific serine esterase. It harbors the catalytic triad S87‐D216‐H244, and is a new member of the α/β‐fold hydrolase superfamily. Its novel function leads to the diversification of alkaloid structures.
A new way to make a bang : Several functionalized 1‐ethyl‐5‐aminotetrazoles, 1‐ethyl‐5‐nitrimino‐tetrazoles, and copper complexes have been synthesized and their chemical and energetic properties have been comprehensively characterized. The compounds belong to all classes of “energetic materials”: explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics.
Versatile dominoes : A novel, organocatalytic, Michael–Knoevenagel condensation domino reaction of ethyl 4‐diethoxyphosphoryl‐3‐oxobutanoate with various aryl‐ and aliphatic‐substituted α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes catalyzed by a chiral diarylprolinol ether has been successfully performed. The reaction proceeds in a highly enantio‐ and diastereoselective manner giving access to optically active 6‐substituted‐3‐diethoxyphosphoryl‐2‐oxocyclohex‐3‐enecarboxylates (see scheme).
Bromide is best : The first [2]rotaxane incorporating the triazolium anion‐binding motif is prepared using bromide anion templation. Preliminary anion‐binding investigations reveal that the rotaxane exhibits the rare selectivity preference for bromide over chloride ions.
Cobalt cyclopentadienyl complexes incorporating a fumarate and a CO ligand (see picture) efficiently catalyze inter‐ and intramolecular [2+2+2] cycloadditions of alkynes, nitriles, and/or alkenes to give benzenes, pyridines, or 1,3‐cyclohexadienes. Unlike catalysts such as [CpCo(CO)2] or [CpCo(C2H4)2] (Cp=C5H5), they are air‐stable, easy to handle, compatible with microwave conditions, and do not necessarily require irradiation to be active.
Economical atoms : 2‐Cyclopenten‐1‐ones, 5‐alkylidenefuran‐2(5 H)‐ones and indan‐1‐ones have been synthesized by atom‐economic reductive cyclocarbonylation of internal alkynes with carbon monoxide catalyzed by [{RhCl(CO)2}2]/CO(NH2)2 in the presence of water (see scheme).
Mild‐mannered : The low‐valent aryl gallium(I) species :GaAr′ (Ar′=2,6‐(2,6‐iPr2C6H3)2C6H3) undergoes addition to H2 or NH3 at room temperature and one atmosphere of pressure to afford 1 or 2 (see scheme), which were characterized by X‐ray crystallography and NMR and IR spectroscopy.
Positive discrimination : Chemo‐ and regioselective palladium‐catalyzed cycloetherification of allendiols, namely β,γ‐ and γ,δ‐allendiols, may occur by judicious choice of palladium‐catalyzed conditions owing to their potential ability to discriminate between both nucleophilic sites (see scheme).
Welcome to the family! The constitution of the chiral D2‐C80 fullerene has been confirmed through single‐crystal X‐ray analysis of the chlorinated C80Cl12. The addition pattern of the chlorine atoms in the structure of C80Cl12 together with other structures of halogenated higher fullerenes is discussed. A stepwise principle of higher fullerene reactivity is proposed. Unusual short intermolecular chlorine–chlorine contacts are reported.
2009: A boraanthracene odyssey : General routes to boraanthracene derivatives—long proposed, but never observed—are disclosed, along with the structural and photophysical properties of these compounds and their remarkable reactivity towards oxygen.
Modeling magnetism: The antiferromagnetic ground state of the C60/Si(001)‐c(4×4) surface is predicted by means of density functional theory calculations. Two adjacent dangling bonds (DBs) generated by the adsorption of C60 are antiferromagnetically coupled with each other. This study demonstrates that magnetic Si surfaces can be prepared by engineering single Si DBs with unpaired electrons.
A domino effect from one extremity to the other is observed in a large‐amplitude mannosyl [2]rotaxane molecular machine. In their Communication on page 5186 ff., F. Coutrot and E. Busseron describe the efficient preparation of new [2]rotaxane molecular machines containing anilinium and either mono‐ or disubstituted pyridinium amide stations. In the case of the disubstituted pyridinium amide, the macrocycle shuttles from the anilinium to the pyridinium upon deprotonation and causes an impressive flipping of the chair conformation of the glucidic moiety.
