Gold-Catalyzed Oxidative Aminocyclizations of Propargyl Alcohols and Propargyl Amines to Form Two Distinct Azacyclic Products: Carbene Formation versus a 3,3-Sigmatropic Shift of an Initial Intermediate

Gold-catalyzed oxidations of propargyl alcohols with nitrones by using a P(tBu)₂(o-biphenyl)Au⁺ catalyst, afforded bicyclic annulation products from the Mannich reactions of gold enolates. The same reactions of propargyl amines with nitrones by using the same gold catalyst gave distinct oxoarylation products. Our DFT calculations indicate that oxidation of propargyl alcohols with nitrones by using electron-rich gold catalysts lead only to gold carbenes, which can generate gold enolates or oxoarylation intermediates with enolate species having a barrier smaller than that of oxoarylation species.     

Separation and characterisation of products of the reaction between propionamide and formaldehyde

Summary Propionamide-formaldehyde reaction products have been characterised using micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC), HPLC-electrospray-MS (HPLC-ES-MS) and time-of-flight-MS (TOF-MS). HPLC-MS-MS was used to distinguish between isomeric species. The MEKC separation of all reaction products was obtained with good resolution and efficiency. Comparison of water-micelle distribution constants (P _MEKC) for propionamide-formaldehyde with those for caprolactam-formaldehyde reaction products suggests that the concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate appropriate for use in MEKC is inversely related toP _MEKC. Quantification of all species containing one or two amide units was achieved using standard calibration, mass balance and the assumption of identical absorption coefficients for the same functional groups in monomers and dimers.     

Isolation properties and potential applications of thermophilic actinomycetes

Actinomycetes comprise a large and diverse group of largely mycelial bacteria, many of which are important ecologically and are exploited commercially for the production of natural products such as antibiotics and enzymes. Thermophilic species are also known but these are relatively poorly studied compared with the predominant mesophilic genera. This article describes habitats and methods for isolation and recovery of thermophilic actinomycetes, such asStreptomyces, Thermomonospora, andThermoactinomyces. General properties are discussed with respect to mesophilic species and their potential for the production of enzymes concerned with hydrolysis of complex macromolecules described. Their ability to synthesize antibiotics is reviewed and the advantages of production at high temperatures illustrated with reference to granaticin production byStreptomyces thermoviolaceus. Work with some of the better studied thermophilic species indicates the presence of novel properties. More intensive investigations of their properties, as well as those of actinomycetes that grow at extremes of pH or salinity, may lead to the discovery of novel natural products.     

Biomethylation of tin (II) complexes in the presence of pure strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The methylation of several tin compounds by strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (yeast) is described. The production of the methyl tin species was established by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Monomethyl tin (IV) products dominated but some dimethyl tin products were observed. This appears to be the first report of a tin methylation by a pure strain of a methylating species rather than a complex mixture obtained from an environmental source.     

Photoredox- and Nickel-Catalyzed Hydroalkylation of Alkynes with 4-Alkyl-1,4-dihydropyridines: Ligand-Controlled Regioselectivity

Dual photoredox- and nickel-catalyzed hydroalkylation of terminal alkynes with 4-alkyl-1,4-dihydropyridines under visible light irradiation to afford Markovnikov- or anti-Markovnikov-type alkylated alkenes in good-to-high yields has been achieved, in which the regioselectivity of the products was effectively controlled by coordination ligands for nickel species. Using [NiCl₂(dtbbpy)] as a catalyst led to the formation of Markovnikov-type products, whereas using NiCl₂ ⋅ 6 H₂O led to the formation of anti-Markovnikov-type products.     

Palladium/Copper‐Cocatalyzed Oxidative Amidobrominations of Alkenes

In the presence of LiBr, a palladium/copper combination catalyzes dehydrogenative amidobrominations of acrylates with NH‐sulfoximines, leading to N‐vinylated products by dual NH/CH coupling, followed by oxidative enamide bromination. Mechanistically, the domino process is proposed to involve palladium(II) species as key intermediates. First synthetic applications of the products have been demonstrated.     

Total Synthesis of the Cytotoxic Marine Triterpenoid Isodehydrothyrsiferol Reveals Partial Enantiodivergency in the Thyrsiferol Family of Natural Products

Recently, the phenomenon of enantiodivergence was uncovered as a new phenomenon in the biosynthesis of natural products. In nature, chiral natural products are usually produced in optically active form, but both enantiomers sometimes arise in different genera and/or species or in a single species. Here we show through enantioselective total synthesis that the natural product isodehydrothyrsiferol shows partial enantiodivergency in that six of the nine or ten asymmetric centers are enantiomeric to those of other members of the marine squalene‐derived triterpenoid thyrsiferol family. In addition, isodehydrothyrsiferol and dehydrothyrsiferol, which show partial enantiodivergency, were isolated from the same producer, the red alga Laurencia viridis . These results demonstrate that partial enantiodivergence can develop even between natural products originating from a single species.     

Chemical constituents and biological activities of the genus Linaria (Scrophulariaceae)

This is a review on 95 references dealing with the genus Linaria (Scrophularioideae-Antirrhineae tribe), a known genus of the Scrophulariaceae family, which comprises about 200 species mainly distributed in Europe, Asia and North Africa. The use of some Linaria species in folk medicine has attracted the attention for chemical and biological studies. This report is aimed to be a comprehensive overview on the isolated or identified known and often new metabolites from the 41 Linaria species so far cited. It is organised presenting first the phytochemical classes of alkaloids, polyphenols including flavonoids, the latter being quite diffused and mostly present as flavones, flavonols and their glycosides, and terpenoids including iridoids and steroids. Second, the results from biological investigation on plant extracts, pure natural products isolated from Linaria species and some synthetic derivatives are reported, with antitumour, anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-inflammatory and analgesic, antioxidant and antibacterial activities.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Trisubstituted Vicinal Diols through Copper(I)-Catalyzed Diastereoselective and Enantioselective Allylation of Ketones with Siloxypropadienes

Chiral trisubstituted vicinal diols are a type of important organic compounds, serving as both common structure units in bioactive natural products and chiral auxiliaries in asymmetric synthesis. Herein, by using siloxypropadienes as the precursors of allyl copper(I) species, a copper(I)-catalyzed diastereoselective and enantioselective reductive allylation of ketones was achieved, providing both syn-diols and anti-diols in good to excellent enantioselectivity. DFT calculations show that cis-γ-siloxy-allyl copper species are generated favorably with either 1-TBSO-propadiene or 1-TIPSO-propadiene. Moreover, the steric difference of TBS group and TIPS group distinguishes the face selectivity of acetophenone, leading to syn-selectivity for 1-TBSO-propadiene and anti-selectivity for 1-TIPSO-propadiene. Easy transformations of the products were performed, demonstrating the synthetic utility of the present method. Moreover, one chiral diol prepared in the above transformations was used as a suitable organocatalyst for the catalytic asymmetric reductive self-coupling of aldimines generated in situ with B₂(neo)₂.     

Electrosynthesis of N-Arylazoles by Electrolyzing a Mixture of Azole and 1,4-Dimethoxybenzene in a Diaphragmless Cell

An analysis is performed and data are compared on the electrosynthesis of N-arylazoles and regularities of this process in conditions of a diaphragmless galvanostatic electrolysis (Pt, MeCN, Bu₄NClO₄) of a mixture of 1,4-dimethoxybenzene (DMB) with azoles (pyrazole, triazole, their derivatives, tetrazole). Electrolysis of an azole/DMB mixture leads to the formation of products of an ortho-substitution—1,4-dimethoxy-2-(azolyl-1)benzenes—and, simultaneously, hydrolytically unstable products of an ipso-bis-attachment—1,4-dimethoxy-1,4-di-(azolyl-1)cyclohexa-2,5-dienes. The overall yield of these compounds increases upon adding a base (collidine) or an acid (AcOH) into the initial mixture, and the basicity of initial azoles substantially affects the electrosynthesis results. New notions on the nature of nucleophilic species interacting with radical cation of DMB are considered. The species in question are complexes of azoles with one another or with collidine generated at the expense of the hydrogen bond, rather than azolate ions. Furthermore, the cathodic process is largely connected not with the generation of azolate ions (as a result of the reduction of initial azoles) but with the deprotonation of onium compounds (BH⁺)—products of the interaction of azoles or collidine with protons. The mechanism of electrosynthesis of N-arylazoles is discussed. The key stages of the synthesis are the attack of a nucleophile on the ipso- and, possibly, ortho-positions of the benzene ring of radical cation of DMB, as well as the rearrangement of the intermediate cation of 1,4-dimethoxy-1-(azolyl-1)arenonium into the cation of 1-(azolyl-1)-2,5-dimethoxyarenonium, which affects both the yield and ratio of final products of the reaction mixture.     

Photolyse des 3-Phenyl-2, 1-benzisoxazols und einiger seiner Derivate in Bromwasserstoffsäure

Photolysis of 3-phenyl-2, 1-benzisoxazole and some derivatives in hydrobromic acid The behaviour of 3-phenylanthranils (3-phenyl-2, 1-benzisoxazoles) towards photolysis in hydrobromic acid differs greatly from that in hydrochloric and sulfuric acid. Thus, reduction and substitution products are obtained. The formation of the reduction products involves hydrogen abstraction by a nitrenium ion species in the triplet state and that of the substitution products can be attributed to a subsequent S_E-bromination.     

Combined Experimental and Computational Investigations of Rhodium‐Catalysed CH Functionalisation of Pyrazoles with Alkenes

Detailed experimental and computational studies have been carried out on the oxidative coupling of the alkenes C₂H₃Y (Y=CO₂Me ( a ), Ph ( b ), C(O)Me ( c )) with 3‐aryl‐5‐R‐pyrazoles (R=Me ( 1 a ), Ph ( 1 b ), CF₃ ( 1 c )) using a [Rh(MeCN)₃Cp*][PF₆]₂/Cu(OAc)₂ ? H₂O catalyst system. In the reaction of methyl acrylate with 1 a , up to five products ( 2 aa – 6 aa ) were formed, including the trans monovinyl product, either complexed within a novel Cu^I dimer ( 2 aa ) or as the free species ( 3 aa ), and a divinyl species ( 6 aa ); both 3 aa and 6 aa underwent cyclisation by an aza‐Michael reaction to give fused heterocycles 4 aa and 5 aa , respectively. With styrene, only trans mono‐ and divinylation products were observed, whereas with methyl vinyl ketone, a stronger Michael acceptor, only cyclised oxidative coupling products were formed. Density functional theory calculations were performed to characterise the different migratory insertion and β‐H transfer steps implicated in the reactions of 1 a with methyl acrylate and styrene. The calculations showed a clear kinetic preference for 2,1‐insertion and the formation of trans vinyl products, consistent with the experimental results.     

Rapid identification of cervus antlers by species-specific PCR assay

Abstract

A rapid PCR technology was developed to differentiate Cervus antlers species and adulteration based on the difference in mitochondrial genome. Three specifically designed primer sets were confirmed to have high inter-species specificity and good intra-species stability. Limits of detection were estimated to be 1?ng of genomes for reindeer and 10?ng for the other species. Especially, when the mixture of Cervus antlers and reindeer or sambar was assayed, these primer sets still exhibited strong capability of differentiation but not the conventional COI barcoding. By using the newly developed approach, five batches out of fourteen commercial Cervus antler products were identified to be fake products made from reindeer antlers. It has shown its good potential to be extensively applied in the identification of counterfeits or adulterates of Cornu Chinese medicines for their pulverized and processed form, and even the traditional Chinese patent medicines composed of these species.     

Dithiirane or thiosulfine intermediates in the reaction of acetyl diaroylchloromethyl disulfides with secondary amines?

Summary Since 1979,Senning's acetyl dibenzoylchloromethyl disulfide has been known as one of the first thiosulfine/dithiirane precursors. Its reactions with an excess of morpholine fulfill three advantageous conditions at once: thiosulfine or dithiirane species are intercepted by intermolecular additions, without heating, and without rearrangements. In the present work, reactions between a series of new acetyl diaroylchloromethyl disulfides ((4-X-C₆H₄-CO)₂-CCl-SSCOCH₃;X=F, Cl, Br, CH₃, and CH₃O) and an excess of morpholine are studied. As dominating products, 2-(4-morpholinyldithio)-1,3-diaryl-1,3-propanediones are obtained. The reactions are complete within several seconds. In order to obtain high yields of interception products, the mixtures have to be worked up within a few minutes. From the observation of high reaction rates at room temperature, a new reaction mechanism is deduced that involves the initial formation of dithiirane species (alone or before thiosulfine species).Dedicated to Prof.Peter K. Claus on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Die Struktur von Panepoxydon und verwandten Pilzmetaboliten

The structure of panepoxydone ( 1 ) and some related products, produced by two species of Panus (basidiomycetes), are proposed on the basis of chemical transformations and physical measurements. The absolute configurations of the main products are deduced by the interpretation of CD. studies and compared with those of the structurally related compounds epoxydone ( 10 ), terreic acid ( 11 ) and terremutin ( 12 ).     

Reaction of bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene with the arenesulfenamide—phosphorus(v) oxohalide system: chemo-, regio-, and steroselectivity

The chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivities of electrophilic sulfenylation of bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene with arenesulfenamides activated by phosphorus(v) oxohalides were studied. The ratio of the products of endo- to exo-attack of the diene by the electrophilic species depends on the solvent nature. The proportions of the products formed upon addition to one double bond and upon homoallylic participation of the second double bond depend on solvent polarity, the nature of the halogen, the substituents in the sulfenamide benzene ring, and on the reaction time. In addition, the formation of mixed adducts was proven for the reaction carried out in acetonitrile and the formation of disulfenylation products was found in the reaction with excess sulfenylating reagent. Isomerization of exo-3-arylthio-endo-2-halobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-enes to the products formed with homoallylic participation of the second double bond, exo-5-arylthio-endo-3-halotricyclo[2.2.1.0^2,6]heptanes, was shown to be possible.     

In situ FT-IR studies on mechanistics of heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation of ethene over uranyl species anchored on MCM-41

The uranyl species encapsulated within the mesopores of siliceous MCM-41 serves as efficient heterogeneous photo-catalyst for the sunlight-assisted direct oxidation of ethene. The mode of oxidation is through abstraction of H-atom from ethene by the photolytically excited uranyl species and the consequent formation of peroxy species. The in situ IR spectroscopy results indicate that these peroxy species give rise to final products such as carbon dioxide and water on further oxidation via formation of formate-type transient species. Furthermore, the silanol groups of the host matrix help in immobilization of these peroxy species through hydrogen bonding and, at the same time, they participate in the subsequent oxidation reactions also.     

An experimental and modeling study of the oxidation of n-heptane,ethylbenzene, and n-butylbenzene in a jet-stirred reactor at pressures up to 10 bar

In the context of better understanding pollutant formation from internal combustion engines, new experimental speciation data were obtained in a high-pressure jet-stirred reactor for the oxidation of three molecules, which are considered in surrogates of diesel fuel, n-heptane, ethylbenzene, and n-butylbenzene. These experiments were performed at pressures up to 10 bar, at temperatures ranging from 500 to 1 100 K, and for a residence time of 2 s. Based on results previously obtained close to the atmospheric pressure for the same molecules, the pressure effect on fuel conversion and product selectivity was discussed. In addition, for the three fuels, the experimental temperature dependence of species mole fractions was compared with simulations using recent literature models with generally a good agreement. For n-heptane, the obtained experimental data, at 10 bar for stoichiometric mixtures, included the temperature dependence of the mole fractions of the reactants and those of 21 products. Interestingly, the formation of species previously identified as C₇ diones was found significantly enhanced at 10 bar compared with lower pressures. The oxidation of ethyl- and n-butylbenzenes was investigated at 10 bar for equivalence ratios of 0.5, 1, and 2. The obtained experimental data included the temperature dependence of the mole fractions of the reactants and those of 13 products for the C₈ fuels and of 19 products for the C₁₀ one. For ethylbenzene under stoichiometric conditions, the pressure dependence (from 1 to 10 bar) of species mole fraction was also recorded and compared with simulations with more deviations obtained than for temperature dependence. For both aromatic reactants, a flow rate analysis was used to discuss the main pressure influence on product selectivities.     

A Torquospecific 1,5-Electrocyclization

Saponification of homodiazepine 1a and 1b , in the absence of any proton donors, led to the formation of the 6π electron anionic species A which, by virtue of a 1,5-electrocyclization, is in equilibrium with the allylic anion B . This latter tricyclic species is thermodynamically less favoured than its bicyclic isomer A . Nevertheless, B could be trapped by acylation and led tupe- 2 compounds which are the major reaction products. This is due to the fact that B is more nucleophilic and, therefore, much more reactive than A . The transoid topology of the tricyclic products 2 was demonstrated by ¹H-NMR and by an X-ray diagram of 2d . The transoid geometry of 2 is a consequence of a torquospecific 1,5-electrocyclization (of A ), which is due to a steric, and possibly even to an electronic factor.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of Ruthenium(III) Catalyzed Oxidation of Dimethyl Sulfoxide by N-Chlorosuccinimde in Aqueous Alkaline Medium

The ruthenium(III) catalyzed oxidation of dimethyl sulfoxide by N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) in aqueous alkaline medium is found to occur via substrate-catalyst complex formation followed by the interaction of active species of NCS viz., HOCl and the complex in a slow step to yield the products with regeneration of the catalyst. One of the products, succinimide, retards the rate of reaction. The reaction is first order in [NCS] and [Ru(III)], lower than first order in [DMSO] and of inverse fractional order in [OH^-]. A suitable mechanism is proposed and the reaction constants of individual steps involved in the mechanism have been evaluated. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.