Isoprene‐Assisted Radical Coupling of (Co)polymers Prepared by Cobalt‐Mediated Radical Polymerization

Tackling blocks : The isoprene‐assisted radical coupling (I‐ARC) of polymers prepared by cobalt‐mediated radical polymerization (see picture) is the first efficient radical coupling method that is not restricted to short chains. When applied to AB diblock copolymers, I‐ARC constitutes a straightforward approach to the preparation of novel symmetrical ABA triblock copolymers.

     

High‐Resolution Structural Characterization of a Helical α/β‐Peptide Foldamer Bound to the Anti‐Apoptotic Protein Bcl‐xL

Get into the groove : The first high‐resolution structure of a foldamer bound to a protein target is described (see picture; foldamer in sticks). The foldamer consists of α‐ and β‐amino acid residues and is bound to the anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl‐x_L. The overall binding mode and key interactions observed in the foldamer/Bcl‐x_L complex mimic those seen in complexes of Bcl‐x_L with natural α‐peptide ligands. Additional contacts in the foldamer/Bcl‐x_L complex involving β‐amino acid residues appear to contribute to binding affinity.

     

α‐Chiral Acetylenes Having an All‐Carbon Quaternary Center: Phase Transfer Catalyzed Enantioselective α Alkylation of α‐Alkyl‐α‐alkynyl Esters

Going through the phases : The title reaction was found to proceed by an initial base‐mediated isomerization to allenyl esters and subsequent phase transfer catalyzed alkylation at the α position of the ester (see scheme).

     

Synthesis of α‐[5‐(5‐amino‐1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐yl)‐2‐imidazolylthio]acetic acids

The paper describes synthesis and antituberculosis activity of α‐[5‐(5‐amino‐1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐yl)‐imidazol‐2‐ylthio]acetic acids ( 5a,b ). The compounds were tested against Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv in comparison to rifampicin. Compounds exhibited low activity (MIC ≤ 6.25 μg/ml, % inhibition ≥ 24).     

Synthesis of a novel class of 3‐(2′‐benzothiazolyl)‐2,3‐dihydroquinazolin‐4(1H)‐ones under solvent‐free and catalyst‐free conditions

A solvent‐ and catalyst‐free one‐pot three‐component condensation reaction approach was developed for the synthesis of a new class of 3‐(2′‐benzothiazolyl)‐2,3‐dihydroquinazolin‐4(1H)‐ones in relatively good yields.     

Synthesis of Single‐Crystal Tetra(4‐pyridyl)porphyrin Rectangular Nanotubes in the Vapor Phase

Stacking up : One‐dimensional single‐crystalline rectangular nanotubes (RNTs) of 5,10,15,20‐tetra(4‐pyridyl)porphyrin (H₂TPyP, see picture) are synthesized by a vaporization–condensation–recrystallization process. The single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and selected‐area electron diffraction data reveal that the H₂TPyP RNTs form by self‐stacking of H₂TPyP units through hydrogen‐bonding, H–π, and π–π intermolecular interactions.

     

Protecting‐Group‐Controlled Surface Chemistry—Organization and Heat‐Induced Coupling of 4,4′‐Di(tert‐butoxycarbonylamino)biphenyl on Metal Surfaces

Like pearls on a string , molecular building blocks have been preorganized and then interlinked on a surface (see STM images). In this way both the supramolecular self‐assembly of the reactants as well as the subsequent thermal activation to release the protecting group are controlled.

     

A convenient synthesis of novel 1,3,4‐triaryl‐3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones by cyclization of aromatic isocyanates with β‐arylamino‐1‐phenylpropan‐1‐ones

A simple one‐step method for preparation of novel 1,3,4‐triaryl‐3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones has been developed by reaction of aromatic isocyanates with β‐arylamino‐1‐phenylpropan‐1‐ones in refluxing toluene in the presence of KHSO₄ and HCl.     

5‐(Pyrrolidin‐2‐yl)tetrazole‐Catalyzed Aldol and Mannich Reactions: Acceleration and Lower Catalyst Loading in a Continuous‐Flow Reactor

Continuous organocatalysis : Fast aldol and Mannich reactions require less catalyst when conducted in a microreactor. A proline tetrazole derivative (5–10 mol %) catalyzes asymmetric aldol reactions between various aromatic aldehydes and ketones in microreactor at 60 °C with reaction times ranging from 10 to 30 min.

     

Regioselectivity Control in the Metal‐Catalyzed Functionalization of γ‐Allenols,Part 2: Theoretical Study

Calculating cyclization : Theoretical work directed towards the elucidation of the mechanisms of the gold‐, palladium‐, and lanthanum‐catalyzed oxycyclizations (5‐exo versus 6‐endo versus 7‐endo) of γ‐allenols has been pursued in close relationship with the experimental study (Part 1, accompanying paper) and has corroborated the bench results to provide a complete study of the reactivity of γ‐allenols under different metal‐catalyzed conditions.

     

Multiple Evidence for Gold(I)⋅⋅⋅Silver(I) Interactions in Solution

Metallophilic Au???Ag interactions exist in concentrated solutions as well as in the 2D polymeric solid‐state structure of [AuAg₃(C₆F₅)(CF₃CO₂)₃(CH₂PPh₃)]_n (see picture for the asymmetric unit) according to EXAFS and pulsed‐gradient spin‐echo NMR spectroscopy measurements. Calculations support both the emission assignments and the existence of the metallophilic interactions in solution.

     

A new convenient synthesis of 2,4‐disubstituted‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐a] quinazolin‐5(4H)‐ones

A novel series of 2,4‐disubstituted‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐a]quinazolin‐5(4H)‐ones were prepared by Dimroth rearrangement of their respective isomers namely 1,4‐disubstituted‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]‐quinazolin‐5(4H)‐ones. The latter were prepared via new synthetic strategy based on 1,5‐elecrocyclization of the respective N‐(4‐oxo‐3‐phenylquinazolin‐2‐yl)nitrilimines.     

Rhodium(I)‐Catalysed Intramolecular [2+2+2] Cyclotrimerisations of 15‐, 20‐ and 25‐Membered Azamacrocycles: Experimental and Theoretical Mechanistic Studies

Number of members makes a difference : The [2+2+2] intramolecular cyclotrimerisation of a new series of 20‐ and 25‐membered azamacrocycles catalysed by the Wilkinson's catalyst are reported (see scheme). The 20‐ and 25‐membered azamacrocycles show different reactivity. Why? Theoretical calculations give insight into the reactivity differences observed for the 20‐ and 25‐membered macrocycles.