Epoxidation of styrenes with the peroxidase from the cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum

An enzyme concerned with the epoxidation of styrenes was isolated from cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum. The enzyme had peroxidase activity as well as epoxidation activity, and its amino acid sequence showed 89% homology in their 9 amino acid overlap with horseradish peroxidase. In the enzymatic reaction, hydrogen peroxide and p-cresol were necessary and molecular oxygen was the source of the oxygen atom of the epoxide. The enzymatic reaction using a spin trap reagent and monitoring of the reaction with ESR indicated that the epoxidation reaction of styrenes proceeded by a radical mechanism with peroxidase.     

Validation of a multivariate calibration method for the determination of chlorophyll a, b and c and their corresponding pheopigments

This work concerns the validation of a previously described multivariate method for determining chlorophylls and their corresponding pheopigments. The meaning of the term validation is discussed, and the work is divided into two parts, concerning model validation and method validation. The model validation showed that 40 standards are sufficient to ensure that the Y-domain is adequately spanned, and that differentiation of the data improves the models. The wavelength range was restricted to 510–770 nm, thus, eliminating interfering signals from carotenoids that had not been included in the calibration solutions. This restriction does not affect the predictive ability towards any analytes except pheophytin a. For accurate predictions of pheophytin a the wavelength region between 350 and 415 nm was included in the model. All model evaluations were based on partial least squares regression for one y-variable (PLS1). A criterion used to quantify the performance of the model was the deviation, which is an estimate of variance calculated for predictions of samples, taking into account the model’s predictive ability, the leverage and the x-residuals. In the method validation section, predictions of samples by the proposed method are compared with results obtained using an HPLC reference method. It was found for chlorophyll a that the root mean square error of cross validation (RMSECV) calculated from the model was several times higher than the corresponding root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) calculated from the HPLC analysis. A likely explanation for this is that the RMSECV is determined in the presence of severely interfering compounds, a desired consequence of spanning the Y-space. Samples were extracted (then measured and predicted) from algal cultures, representing six different taxonomic divisions of phytoplankton. The pigment composition of these species is known, so the analyst knows in advance which chlorophylls are present. Predictions by the models are consistent with a priori knowledge of the pigment composition. To evaluate the potential of these models to deal with data recorded by different instruments, the absorption spectra for a set of samples were registered with two instruments. The results show that there is a minor and negligible bias between the predictions obtained using these instruments, probably due to a slight shift in the wavelengths recorded by them.     

Vicinal alkylation-carboxymethylation of electron-poor alkenes by radical-chain reactions with O-alkyl O-silyl ketene acetals and their [3+2] annulation by reaction with O-cyclopropylcarbinyl O-silyl ketene acetals

O-Silyl ketene acetals of the type H₂CC(OR)OSiMe₂Bu^t, in which R is a tertiary or secondary alkyl group, react with electron-poor alkenes to bring about vicinal alkylation-carboxymethylation of the latter. When R is a cyclopropyldimethylcarbinyl group such reactions take a more complex course involving ring opening of the cyclopropylcarbinyl radical and lead ultimately to [3+2] annulation of the alkene.     

Radical-chain functionalisation at C-H centres using an O-oxiranylcarbinyl O-silyl ketene acetal

A readily prepared O-oxiranylcarbinyl O-silyl ketene acetal has been used to bring about functionalisation at various types of saturated C-H group, through the intermediacy of an oxiranylcarbinyl radical that undergoes rapid ring opening to give a highly reactive allyloxyl radical.     

The stereochemistry of the dichlorocobalt(III) complexes with (2S,5S,9S)- and (2S,5R,9S)-trimethyltriethylenetetraamines

Dichlorocobalt(III) complexes of (2S,5S,9S)-trimethyltriethylenetetraamine (L₁) and (2S,5R,9S)-trimethyltriethylenetetraamine (L₂) have been prepared. Both L₁ and L₂ coordinate to the cobalt(III) ion to give three isomers: Λ-cis-α, Δ-cis-β, trans isomers for L₁ and Δ-cis-α, Δ-cis-β, trans isomers for L₂. Each of the trans-dichloro complexes of the two ligands have been isomerized stereospecifically to the cis-α-dichloro complex in methanol, and each of the cis-α-dichloro complexes stereospecifically to the trans-diaqua complex in water. Both the geometrical and optical inversions took place at the same time in the observed stereospecific isomerizations.     

(R)-4-menthen-3-one in the synthesis of (3S)-methylundecand (2S)-methyldec-1-ylbromides, key synthons for (S,S,S)-diprionylacetate

New capabilities for the synthetic use of (R)-4-menthen-3-one were demonstrated using as examples (3S)-methylundec- and (2S)-methyldec-1-ylbromides, key synthons for (S,S,S)-diprionylacetate (sex pheromone of pine sawflies of genera Diprion and Neodiprion).     

N-Phenyltriazolinedione as an initiator in the radical addition of thiophenol to alkenes

N-Phenyltriazolinedione is found to be an efficient initiator in the radical (anti-Markovnikov) addition of thiophenol to 2-methyl-2-butene. A second, minor, product (an alcohol, from oxygen addition) was also obtained, and a possible mechanistic scheme is proposed.     

Electrochemistry as a correlation tool with the catalytic activities in [RuCl2(p-cymene)(PAr3)]-catalysed Kharasch additions

[RuCl₂(p-cymene)] complexes containing triarylphosphine ligands with various substituents at the para position were used to catalyse the atom transfer radical addition of carbon tetrachloride to various olefins, and their catalytic activities were nicely correlated with their electrochemical parameters.     

Samarium(II)-induced ring-expansion reaction of 1,2-cyclobutanedicarboxylates to produce cyclopentanones

Novel ring-expansion reaction of 1,2-cyclobutanedicarboxylates with Sm(II) in the presence of HMPA with a catalytic amount of methanol was found to provide 2-oxocyclopentanecarboxylates.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of （R）- and （S）-Moprolol

A simple and effective procedure for the enantioselective synthesis of （R）- and （S）-moprolol was described. The key step was the asymmetric synthesis of enantiopure （R）- and （S）-guaifenesin, which were synthesized from enantioenriched （R）-3-chloro-l,2-propanediol and （S）-epichlorohydrin via kinetics of hydrolysis resolution of racemic epichlorohydrin by chiral Salen-Co^Ⅲ complex. The e.e. values of both the optical compounds were above 98%, and the chemical structures of the target compounds were confirmed by ^1H NMR, ^13C NMR, IR, and MS.     

Crystal and molecular structure of (1S,2S,4aS, 8aS)-N-(N-allyldiaminomethanethione)-1-(2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyldecahydronaphthalenyl) acetamide

Crystal and molecular structure of a new homodrimanic compound (1S,2S,4aS, 8aS)-N-(N-allyldiaminomethanethione)-1-(2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyldecahydronaphthalenyl) acetamide has been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal is monoclinic, unit cell parameters are: a = 9.577(2) Å, b = 7.414(1) Å, c = 16.856(3) Å; β = 94.83(3)°, space group P2₁, Z = 2, of composition C₂₀H₃₅N₃O₂S. Two cyclohexan fragments have ordinary structure and chair-configuration typical of this compound class in homodrimanic skeleton. Ethanol molecule is located in the outer sphere. The withdrawal of carbon atoms from planar fragments of cyclohexan rings varies within the limits from 0.722(5) Å to − 0.634(5) Å. A dihedral angle between the mean-square planes of the latter equals 16.0(2)°, torsion angle (5)-(5)-(10)-(16) 171.0(1)° indicates their trans-joint. In the side non linear chain allyl group is connected to terminal nitrogen atom of thiosemicarbazide molecule. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds between carbonyl atom of acetamide fragment, ethanol molecule, and donor-acceptor groups of thiosemicarbazide moiety play the main part in crystal structure organization. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2005 by E. P. Styngach, S. T. Malinovskii, L. P. Bets, L. A. Vlad, M. Gdanets, and F. Z. Makaev __________ Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 46, No. 4, pp.785–789, July–August, 2005.     

Enantioselective organic syntheses using chiral transition metal complexes V. (2S,3S)-Bis(dibenzophospholyl)butane, a rigid (S,S)-CHIRAPHOS analog

The P–Ph cleavage of phenyldibenzophosphole (1) with lithium in THF gives lithium dibenzophospholide (2). Reaction of 2 with ethyleneglycol ditosylate produces the known chelate ligand 1,2-bis(dibenzophospholyl)ethane (3) in good yield. Similarly, 2 and (2R,3R)-butanediol ditosylate give the new chiral chelate ligand (2S,3S)-bis(dibenzophospholyl)butane (4). Ligand exchange of [CpRu(PPh₃)₂Cl] with 3 or 4 yields the halfsandwich complexes [CpRu(C₁₂H₈PC₂H₄PC₁₂H₈)Cl] (5) and [CpRu((S,S)-C₁₂H₈PCHMeCHMePC₁₂H₈)Cl] (6). Complex 6 was characterized crystallographically (monoclinic, space group P2₁ (no. 4), a=820.6(4), b=1501.0(3), c=1172.8(6) pm, β=108.87(2)°, V=1.367(1)×10⁹ pm³, Z=2). The most conspicuous feature of the structure of 6 is the perfect coplanarity of the two dibenzophosphole moieties imposed by their steric interaction with the Cp ligand. Complex 6 and the thiophene complex [CpRu((S,S)-C₁₂H₈PCHMeCHMePC₁₂H₈)(SC₄H₄)]BF₄ (7) derived therefrom are remarkably unreactive with regard to ligand substitutions. A possible explanation is the lack of intramolecular

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–C stabilization en route to the transition state of ligand substitution. The enantiomeric purity of 6 and 7 could nevertheless be demonstrated by conversion to diastereomerically pure [CpRu((S,S)-C₁₂H₈PCHMeCHMePC₁₂H₈)((S)-CNCHMePh)]BF₄ (8).     

Preliminary studies on the synthesis of rancinamycins from nitrosugars: first total synthesis of (3S,4S,5S,6R)-5-benzyloxy-6-hydroxy-3,4-(isopropylidendioxy)-cyclohex-1-enecarbaldehyde

The first total synthesis of (3S,4S,5S,6R)-5-benzyloxy-6-hydroxy-3,4-(isopropylidendioxy)-cyclohex-1-enecarbaldehyde from d-glucose is described. The key steps of this synthesis are the stereoselective Michael addition of 2-lithio-1,3-dithiane to 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-6-nitro--d-xilo-hex-5-enofuranose followed by the enantioselective two-step transformation of 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-5-C-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)-6-nitro-β-l-idofuranose into (1S,2S,3S,4S,5S,6R)-5-benzyloxy-6-hydroxy-3,4-(isopropylidendioxy)-2-nitro-cyclohexanecarbaldehyde propylene dithioacetal, which was finally converted into the target compound.     

Diastereoselective allylation of N-glyoxyloyl-(2R)-bornane-10,2-sultam and (1R)-8-phenylmenthyl glyoxylate: synthesis of (2S,4S)-2-hydroxy-4-hydroxymethyl-4-butanolide

The diastereoselective addition of allylsilanes and allylstannanes to N-glyoxyloyl-(2R)-bornane-10,2-sultam 1 and (1R)-8-phenylmenthyl glyoxylate 7 in the presence of Lewis acids has been studied. We obtained diastereoselectivities up to 84% and 94% for the allylation of 2 and 7, respectively. The application of the allylation products of 1 or 2 in the synthesis of 4-butanolides, for example (2S,4S)-2-hydroxy-4-hydroxymethyl-4-butanolide 13 is presented.     

Asymmetric syntheses of protected (2S,3S,4S)-3-hydroxy-4-methylproline and 4′-tert-butoxyamido-2′-deoxythymidine

Described herein is a versatile approach to (i) (2S,3S,4S)-3-hydroxy-4-methylproline 3, a constituent of echinocandins and related oligopeptide antibiotics; (ii) (2S,3S)-3-hydroxyproline 1; (iii) (2R,3S)-3-hydroxyprolinol 5, and (iv) 4′-tert-butoxyamido-2′-deoxythymidine 6b. The method features a stepwise regio- and diastereoselective reductive furylation of the protected (3S,4S)-4-methylmalimide 10, (S)-malimide 9, and a chemoselective oxidative transformation of the furyl group to the carboxyl group as the key steps.     

Phosphonyl radical addition to enol ethers. The stereoselective synthesis of cyclic ethers

Addition of diethyl phosphite or diethyl thiophosphite to enol ethers, in the presence of a radical initiator, results in the regioselective synthesis of organophosphonate or phosphonothioate derivatives, respectively, under mild conditions. This method can be applied to the stereoselective formation of substituted tetrahydrofurans and tetrahydropyrans, on cyclisation of vinyl ethers bearing unsaturated side chains.     

Organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of β-blockers: (S)-propranolol and (S)-naftopidil

An efficient enantioselective synthesis of β-adrenergic blockers (S)-propranolol and (S)-naftopidil with >98% ee using an l-proline-catalyzed α-aminoxylation of an aldehyde as a key step is described.     

The enolate anions of chlorophylls a and b as ambident nucleophiles in oxidations with (−)- or (+)-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxaziridine. Synthesis of 13(S/R)-hydroxychlorophylls a and b

The enolate anions of chlorophylls (Chl) are ambident nucleophiles that are of considerable organic chemical interest in relation to the theory of electron delocalization (aromaticity) and charge-transfer in large conjugated π-systems, as well as for their chemical reactivity. Under deaerated conditions, the (−)- and (+)-enantiomers of (10-camphorsulfonyl)oxaziridine (CSOAI) are effective oxidants for the enolate anions of Chl a and Chl b, when 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) serves as a base. In this study, the use of these sterically hindered reagents to hydroxylate Chl a and Chl b is described for the first time. The total yield of 13²(S/R)-HO-Chl a was 71 and 90% for the oxidations of Chl a with (−)-CSOAI and (+)-CSOAI, respectively. Chl b, however, behaved clearly differently from Chl a. The total yield of 13²(S/R)-HO-Chl b was 40% in the oxidation with (−)-CSOAI and 60% in the reaction with (+)-CSOAI. A competing side-reaction, which resulted in the 15²-methyl, 17³-phytyl ester of Mg-15¹(S/R)-unstable rhodin, was found to lower the yields of the desired main products. The formation of the side-products was largely avoided and the yield of 13²(S/R)-HO-Chl b was improved by increasing the volume of hexane and using phosphate buffer in the first step of the work-up. With (−)-CSOAI, a 94% diastereomeric excess (de) was achieved for 13²(R)-HO-Chl a, whereas the de for 13²(R)-HO-Chl b was 66%. With (+)-CSOAI, the de was 10% for 13²(R)-HO-Chl a and 8% for 13²(R)-HO-Chl b. The results were interpreted in terms of a nucleophilic reaction mechanism, kinetically controlled by steric hindrance, originating on the one hand in the 17-propionate phytyl ester side-chain, protruding over the isocyclic ring E of the Chl enolate ion, and on the other hand in the bulky camphorsulfonyl unit of CSOAI. Possible reasons for the different results from the Chl b oxidations as compared with those of the Chl a oxidations are discussed. Comparison of the differences in the NMR δ_C-values between 13²(S)- and 13²(R)-HO-Chl a as well as those between 13²(S)- and 13²(R)-HO-Chl b, indicated that the change of stereochemical configuration at C-13² induces only slight differences in the δ_C-values. Of special interest are the δ_C-values of C-13², which are at ca. 91 ppm for the a- and b-series diastereomers. This carbon is deshielded by ca. 25 ppm relative to the C-13² of 13²(R)-Chl a (δ_C=65.5). Owing to this, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy is a good method to distinguish the 13²-hydroxylated chlorophylls from the intact, naturally occurring chlorophylls.     

Synthesis and absolute stereochemistry of serricornin [(4S,6S,7S)-4,6-dimethyl-7-hydroxy-3-nonanone] : The sex pheromone of the cigarette beetle

The absolute stereochemistry o serricornin (4,6-dimethyl-7-hydroxy-3-nonanone) was established as 4S, 6S, 7S by synthesizing both (4S, 6S, 7S)-isomer and its antipode. Only the natural enantiomer was bioactive.     

Synthesis of chiral lithium carbamates from (S)-2-(N,N-dialkyl-aminomethyl)pyrrolidines and (S)-methoxymethylpyrrolidine

A convenient synthesis of chiral lithium N-alkyl carbamates 1a–4a from chiral pyrrolidines 1–4, LiH and CO₂ is described. The yields are good to excellent. A combined experimental (¹H, ⁶Li-HOESY, cryoscopy) and theoretical study (B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)) succeeded in assigning the predominant solution state structure of 1a.