Mechanism for the direct synthesis of tryptophan from indole and serine: a useful NMR technique for the detection of a reactive intermediate in the reaction mixture

The reaction mechanism for the biomimetic synthesis of tryptophan from indole and serine in the presence of Ac₂O in AcOH was investigated. Although the time‐course ¹H‐NMR spectra of the reaction of 5‐methoxyindole with N‐acetylserine were measured in the presence of (CD₃CO)₂O in CD₃CO₂D, the reactive intermediate could not be detected. This reaction was conducted without 5‐methoxyindole in order to elucidate the reactive intermediate, but the intermediate could not be isolated from the reaction mixture. Since the intermediate would be expected to have a very short life time, and therefore be very difficult to detect by conventional analytical methods, the structure of the intermediate was elucidated using a 2D‐NMR technique, diffusion‐ordered spectroscopy (DOSY). Two intermediates were detected and confirmed to be 2‐methyl‐4‐methyleneoxazol‐5(4H)‐one and 2‐methyl‐4‐hydroxymethyloxazol‐5(4H)‐one. The present results demonstrated that DOSY is a powerful tool for the detection of unstable intermediates. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical study on the reaction mechanism of CN radical with ketene

The bimolecular single collision reaction potential energy surface of CN radical with ketene (CH2CO) was investigated by means of B3LYP and QCISD(T) methods. The calculated results indicate that there are three possible channels in the reaction. The first is an attack reaction by the carbon atom of CN at the carbon atom of the methylene of CH2CO to form the intermediate NCCH2CO followed by a rupture reaction of the C-C bond combined with -CO group to the products CH2CN CO. The second is a direct addition reaction between CN and CH2CO to form the intermediate CH2C(O)CN followed by its isomerization into NCCH2CO via a CN-shift reaction, and subsequently, NCCH2CO dissociates into CH2CN CO through a CO-loss reaction. The last is a direct hydrogen abstraction reaction of CH2CO by CN radical. Because of the existence of a 15.44 kJ/mol reaction barrier and higher energy of reaction products, the path can be ruled out as an important channel in the reaction kinetics. The present theoretical computation results, which give an available suggestion on the reaction mechanism, are in good agreement with previous experimental studies.     

MM3 force field prediction of the enantioselective preference in the asymmetric synthesis of a chiral 2-cyclohexen-1-ol using a chiral lithium amide reagent

Enantioselective preference in the asymmetric synthesis where cyclohexene oxide is transformed enantioselectively to chiral (S)- or (R)-2-cyclohexen-1-ol by the reaction with the appropriate chiral lithium amide reagent has been evaluated theoretically using the MM3 force field. The plausible possible structures for each precursor (reaction intermediate complex) leading to a (S)- or (R)-2-cyclohexen-1-ol have been optimized with the extended MM3 force field applicable to the lithium amide functional group, and the populations of their (S)- or (R)-reaction intermediate complexes at an ambient temperature (298 K) were calculated. The initial structure for evaluating the reaction intermediates of this asymmetric synthesis was constructed on the basis of the optimized ab initio transition state structure (MP2/6-31+G^∗) comprising lithium amide LiNH₂ and propene oxide. To the thus obtained transition state structure composed of LiNH₂ and propene oxide, the other remaining Cartesian coordinates for the actual reaction intermediates composed of the chiral lithium amides and cyclohexene oxide were added to make the reaction intermediate structure. The conformational search for the reaction intermediate has been carried out by using the Stochastic search Algorithm, and the optimized geometries and their conformational energies (steric energies) have been calculated by the MM3 force field. The populations calculated from the conformational energies of the reaction intermediate leading to the (S)- or (R)-2-cyclohexen-1-ol were shown to be linearly well correlated with the experimentally reported enantiomer excess (% ee) values. The critical factors to control the enantioselectivity were investigated on the basis of the optimized structures of the reaction intermediate complexes. The MM3 force field approach was shown to be applicable to the theoretical evaluation of the enantioselectivity and be useful for designing a new functional chiral lithium amide reagent for the asymmetric synthesis.     

Catalytic Decomposition of H2O2over Supported ZnO

 Transition metal sulfates of Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cr(III), Mn(II), and Fe(III) supported on ZnO were prepared and characterized by SEM, EDX, and XRD. The kinetics of the heterogeneous decomposition of H₂O₂ over these supported catalysts was investigated. The reaction rate is correlated with both the amount of supported metal ion and its redox potential. The rate of reaction increases with increasing initial concentration of H₂O₂, attains a maximum, and decreases thereafter. It also increases with pH and reaches a maximum at high pH values. A reaction mechanism is proposed that implies the formation of a peroxo intermediate at the early stages of the reaction. A second intermediate is assumed to be formed at high [H₂O₂]_o which inhibits the progress of the reaction.     

Catalytic Decomposition of H2O2over Supported ZnO

Summary.  Transition metal sulfates of Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cr(III), Mn(II), and Fe(III) supported on ZnO were prepared and characterized by SEM, EDX, and XRD. The kinetics of the heterogeneous decomposition of H₂O₂ over these supported catalysts was investigated. The reaction rate is correlated with both the amount of supported metal ion and its redox potential. The rate of reaction increases with increasing initial concentration of H₂O₂, attains a maximum, and decreases thereafter. It also increases with pH and reaches a maximum at high pH values. A reaction mechanism is proposed that implies the formation of a peroxo intermediate at the early stages of the reaction. A second intermediate is assumed to be formed at high [H₂O₂]_o which inhibits the progress of the reaction. Received April 26, 2000. Accepted (revised) August 24, 2000     

Theoretical study of mechanism of cycloaddition reaction between singlet dichlorosilylene carbene (Cl<Subscript>2</Subscript>Si=C:) and formaldehyde

The mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction between singlet dichlorosilylene carbene (Cl₂Si=C:) and formaldehyde has been investigated with MP2/6-31G* method, including geometry optimization and vibrational analysis for the involved stationary points on the potential energy surface. The energies of the different conformations are calculated by Zero-point energy and CCSD (T)//MP2/6-31G* method. From the potential energy profile, it can be predicted that the reaction has two competitive dominant reaction pathways. The first dominant reaction pathway consists of two steps: (1) the two reactants (R1, R2) firstly form a four-membered ring intermediate (INT4) through a barrier-free exothermic reaction of 387.9 kJ/mol; (2) intermediate (INT4) then isomerizes to H-transfer product (P4.2) via a transition state (TS4.2) with energy barrier of 4.7 kJ/mol. The second dominant reaction pathway as follows: on the basis of intermediate (INT4) created between R1 and R2, intermediate (INT4) further reacts with formaldehyde (R2) to form the intermediate (INT5) through a barrier-free exothermic reaction of 158.3 kJ/mol. Then, intermediate (INT5) isomerizes to a silicic bis-heterocyclic product (P5) via a transition state (TS5), for which the barrier is 40.1 kJ/mol.     

Theoretical studies of mechanisms of cycloaddition reaction between difluoromethylene carbene and acetone

Mechanisms of the cycloaddition reaction between singlet difluoromethylene carbene and acetone have been investigated with the second‐order Møller–Plesset (MP2)/6‐31G* method, including geometry optimization and vibrational analysis. Energies for the involved stationary points on the potential energy surface (PES) are corrected by zero‐point energy (ZPE) and CCSD(T)/6‐31G* single‐point calculations. From the PES obtained with the CCSD(T)//MP2/6‐31G* method for the cycloaddition reaction between singlet difluoromethylene carbene and acetone, it can be predicted that path B of reactions 2 and 3 should be two competitive leading channels of the cycloaddition reaction between difluoromethylene carbene and acetone. The former consists of two steps: (i) the two reactants first form a four‐membered ring intermediate, INT2, which is a barrier‐free exothermic reaction of 97.8 kJ/mol; (ii) the intermediate INT2 isomerizes to a four‐membered product P_2b via a transition state TS2b with an energy barrier of 24.9 kJ/mol, which results from the methyl group transfer. The latter proceeds in three steps: (i) the two reactants first form an intermediate, INT1c, through a barrier‐free exothermic reaction of 199.4 kJ/mol; (ii) the intermediate INT1c further reacts with acetone to form a polycyclic intermediate, INT3, which is also a barrier‐free exothermic reaction of 27.4 kJ/mol; and (iii) INT3 isomerizes to a polycyclic product P₃ via a transition state TS3 with an energy barrier of 25.8 kJ/mol. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

A simple method for analysis of consecutive reactions with a second order formation and a first order decay of an intermediate

A simple method is developed to evaluate rate constants from absorbance-time traces for a pair of consecutive reactions consisting of a second order formation and a first order decay of an intermediate. Initially, a first order profile is simulated utilizing the data near the end of the reaction. The difference between this simulated and observed profiles provides the absorbance-time data for the initial phase from which a second order rate constant is evaluated. These rate constants were used to simulate composite kinetic curves which were then compared with experimental curves. This method was used to test the reaction between cis-Pt(NH₃)₂(H₂O)₂ ²⁺ and a nonapeptide, ERFKCPCPT. The reaction proceeds through a cysteine coordinated intermediate formed in a second order process (first order with respect to each reactant). The intermediate is then converted to a product through a first order process, in which both cysteines are coordinated to platinum(II).     

An electrochemical interpretation of the mechanism of the chemical decarboxylation of 6-carboxyperhydropyrimidin-4-ones

The present work analyzes the anodic oxidation of the tetrabutylammonium salt of 1-benzoyl-2(S)-tert-butyl-6(S)-carboxyperhydropyrimidin-4-one, which is a useful starting material in the synthesis of enantiopure α-substituted β-amino acids. It was demonstrated that in CH₂Cl₂ solvent, the anodic oxidation reaction results in fast and complete decarboxylation, followed by proton elimination thereby leading to the same product of chemical (diacetoxyiodobenzene) oxidative decarboxylation. The electrochemical mechanism involves two electron transfer steps, but appears as a monoelectronic process owing to the release of one proton from the key acyliminium carbocation intermediate. The relative stability of this intermediate and the suppression of any solvolysis reaction in CH₂Cl₂ allow for the detection of the acyliminium intermediate by means of cyclic voltammetry experiments. By contrast, in the presence of a nucleophilic solvent such as acetonitrile, the acyliminium intermediate is trapped in a typical Ritter reaction.     

Imine hydrosilylation using an iron complex catalyst: A computational study

The reaction mechanism for imine hydrosilylation in the presence of an iron methyl complex and hydrosilane was studied using density functional theory at the M06/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. Benzylidenemethylamine (PhCH = NMe) and trimethylhydrosilane (HSiMe₃) were employed as the model imine and hydrosilane, respectively. Hydrosilylation has been experimentally proposed to occur in two stages. In the first stage, the active catalyst (CpFe(CO)SiMe₃, 1 ) is formed from the reaction of pre-catalyst, CpFe(CO)₂Me, and hydrosilane through CO migratory insertion into the Fe Me bond and the reaction of the resulting acetyl complex intermediate with hydrosilane. In the second stage, 1 catalyzes the reaction of imine with hydrosilane. Calculations for the first stage showed that the most favorable pathway for CO insertion involved a spin state change, that is, two-state reactivity mechanism through a triplet state intermediate, and the acetyl complex reaction with HSiMe₃ follows a σ-bond metathesis pathway. The calculations also showed that, in the catalytic cycle, the imine coordinates to 1 to form an Fe C N three-membered ring intermediate accompanied by silyl group migration. This intermediate then reacts with HSiMe₃ to yield the hydrosilylated product through a σ-bond metathesis and regenerate 1 . The rate-determining step in the catalytic cycle was the coordination of HSiMe₃ to the three-membered ring intermediate, with an activation energy of 23.1 kcal/mol. Imine hydrosilylation in the absence of an iron complex through a [2 + 2] cycloaddition mechanism requires much higher activation energies. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Detection and Characterization of a Novel Copper-Dependent Intermediate in a Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenase

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are copper-containing enzymes capable of oxidizing crystalline cellulose which have large practical application in the process of refining biomass. The catalytic mechanism of LPMOs still remains debated despite several proposed reaction mechanisms. Here, we report a long-lived intermediate (t_1/2=6–8 minutes) observed in an LPMO from Thermoascus aurantiacus (TaLPMO9A). The intermediate with a strong absorption around 420 nm is formed when reduced LPMO-Cu^I reacts with sub-equimolar amounts of H₂O₂. UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, resonance Raman and stopped-flow spectroscopy suggest that the observed long-lived intermediate involves the copper center and a nearby tyrosine (Tyr175). Additionally, activity assays in the presence of sub-equimolar amounts of H₂O₂ showed an increase in the LPMO oxidation of phosphoric acid swollen cellulose. Accordingly, this suggests that the long-lived copper-dependent intermediate could be part of the catalytic mechanism for LPMOs. The observed intermediate offers a new perspective into the oxidative reaction mechanism of TaLPMO9A and hence for the biomass oxidation and the reactivity of copper in biological systems.     

Conjugate addition of (trimethylstannyl)copper reagents to α,β-acetylenic N,N-dimethylamides. Trapping of the intermediates with electrophiles

A study of the reaction of Me₃SnCu·.Me₂S (1) and [Me₃SnCuSPh]Li (2) with α,β - acetylenic N,N-dimethylamides 3 shows (a) that the overall process can be controlled experimentally so as to produce either N,N-dimethyl ($\text{E}$)-(4) or ($\text{Z}$)-3-trimethylstannyl-2-alkenamides (5), (b) that the initially formed intermediate derived from interaction of 2 and 3 is significantly more stable than that obtained by reaction of 2 and α,β-acetylenic esters, and (c) that the intermediate produced by treating 3 with 1 can be trapped with electrophiles other than proton.     

Iron‐Catalyzed Diboration and Carboboration of Alkynes

An iron‐catalyzed diboration reaction of alkynes with bis(pinacolato)diboron (B₂pin₂) and external borating agents (MeOB(OR)₂) affords diverse symmetrical or unsymmetrical cis‐1,2‐diborylalkenes. The simple protocol for the diboration reaction can be extended to the iron‐catalyzed carboboration of alkynes with primary and, unprecedentedly, secondary alkyl halides, affording various tetrasubstituted monoborylalkenes in a highly stereoselective manner. DFT calculations indicate that a boryliron intermediate adds across the triple bond of an alkyne to afford an alkenyliron intermediate, which can react with the external trapping agents, borates and alkyl halides. In situ trapping experiments support the intermediacy of the alkenyl iron species using radical probe stubstrates.     

Structure and isomerization of cyclotrimetallenes

The substituent migration on the X₂Y rings (X, Y=C, Si, Ge) was studied by theoretical method with silyl and hydrogen substituents and it was found that all the reactions (with the exception of cyclopropene) proceed in a two-step mechanism via a stable intermediate. The rate determining step of the reaction is the first step. The barrier of the second step is small and the energy of the intermediate is close to that of the reactant. Both the first transition state (T1) and the intermediate (I) are of monobridge structures of different types. Since the intermediate bridge structure is almost as stable as the product, it may be observed in the substituent migration reactions.     

Highly efficient and diastereoselective gold(I)-catalyzed synthesis of tertiary amines from secondary amines and alkynes: substrate scope and mechanistic insights

An efficient method for the synthesis of tertiary amines through a gold(I)‐catalyzed tandem reaction of alkynes with secondary amines has been developed. In the presence of ethyl Hantzsch ester and [{(tBu)₂(o‐biphenyl)P}AuCl]/AgBF₄ (2 mol %), a variety of secondary amines bearing electron‐deficient and electron‐rich substituents and a wide range of alkynes, including terminal and internal aryl alkynes, aliphatic alkynes, and electron‐deficient alkynes, underwent a tandem reaction to afford the corresponding tertiary amines in up to 99 % yield. For indolines bearing a preexisting chiral center, their reactions with alkynes in the presence of ethyl Hantzsch ester catalyzed by [{(tBu)₂(o‐biphenyl)P}AuCl]/AgBF₄ (2 mol %) afforded tertiary amines in excellent yields and with good to excellent diastereoselectivity. All of these organic transformations can be conducted as a one‐pot reaction from simple and readily available starting materials without the need of isolation of air/moisture‐sensitive enamine intermediates, and under mild reaction conditions (mostly room temperature and mild reducing agents). Mechanistic studies by NMR spectroscopy, ESI‐MS, isotope labeling studies, and DFT calculations on this gold(I)‐catalyzed tandem reaction reveal that the first step involving a monomeric cationic gold(I)–alkyne intermediate is more likely than a gold(I)–amine intermediate, a three‐coordinate gold(I) intermediate, or a dinuclear gold(I)–alkyne intermediate. These studies also support the proposed reaction pathway, which involves a gold(I)‐coordinated enamine complex as a key intermediate for the subsequent transfer hydrogenation with a hydride source, and reveal the intrinsic stereospecific nature of these transformations observed in the experiments.     

Synthesis of γ-keto carboxylic acids from γ-keto-α-chloro carboxylic acids via carbonylation—decarboxylation reactions catalysed by a palladium system

A palladium-based catalytic system is highly active in the synthesis of γ-keto acids of type ArCOCH₂CH₂COOH via carbonylation-decarboxylation of the corresponding α-chloride. Typical reaction conditions are: P(CO) = 20–30 atm; substrate/H₂O/Pd = 100–400/800–1000/1 (mol); temperature: 100–110 °C; [Pd]=0.25 × 10⁻²−1 × 1O⁻² M; solvent: acetone; reaction time: 1–2 h. A palladium(II) complex can be used as catalyst precursor. Under the reaction conditions above, reduction of the precursor to palladium metal occurs to a variable extent. High catalytic activity is observed when the precursor undergoes extensive decomposition to the metal. Pd/C is also highly active. Slightly higher yields are obtainable when the catalytic system is used in combination with a ligand such as PPh₃. A mechanism for the catalytic cycle is proposed: (i) The starting keto chloride undergoes oxidative addition to reduced palladium with formation of a catalytic intermediate having a Pd-[CH(COOH)CH₂COPh] moiety. The reduced palladium may be the metal coordinated by other atoms of palladium and/or by carbon monoxide and/or by a PPh₃ ligand when catalysis is carried out in the presence of this ligand. It is also proposed that the keto group in the β-position with respect to the carbon atom bonded to chlorine weakens the CCl bond, easing the oxidative addition step and enhancing the activity of the catalyst. (ii) Carbon monoxide ‘inserts’ into the PdC bond of the above intermediate to give an acyl catalytic intermediate having a Pd-[COCH(COOH)CH₂COPh] moiety. (iii) Nucleophilic attack of H₂O to the carbon atom of the carbonyl group bonded to the metal of the acyl intermediate yields a malonic acid derivative as product intermediate. This, upon decarboxylation, gives the final product. Alternatively, the desired product may form without the malonic acid derivative intermediate, through the following reaction pathway: the acyl intermediate undergoes decarboxylation with formation of a different acyl intermediate, having a Pd-[CO-CH₂CH₂COPh] moiety, which, upon nucleophilic attack of H₂O on the carbon atom of the carbonyl group bonded to the metal, yields the final product.     

Homogeneous reaction of carbon disulfide and o-phenylene diamine catalyzed by tertiary amines

Synthesis of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (MBI) was carried out by reacting o-phenylene diamine and carbon disulfide catalyzed by tertiary amine (R₃N) in a homogeneous solution. Dichloromethane, chlorobenzene, chloroform, toluene, and benzene were employed as the organic solvent. The advantage of using such organic solvents is that MBI precipitates from the organic solution. Only mechanical separation processes, such as filtration and centrifugation, can be used to obtain the MBI product of high purity. Based on the reaction mechanism, a kinetic model, which included two steps of reactions in the organic phase, was proposed, i.e.: (i) a chemical equilibrium of the reaction of CS₂ and R₃N to produce an active intermediate (R₃N(SINGLEBOND)CS₂) was built up within a short period of time and (ii) this active intermediate further reacted with o-phenylene diamine to produce the desired MBI product. A combination of the zeroth order and pseudo-first-order rates law was used to describe the kinetic data. However, the reaction follows pseudo-first-order rate law at higher temperature, and the reaction follows zeroth-order rate law at lower temperature. The effects of the operating conditions on the conversion of o-phenylene diamine were also investigated. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Complex catalysis: XX. Nitrosylmolybdenum complexes as precatalysts for olefin metathesis. The formation and stability of a [Mo0Cl(NO)]-containing intermediate and its significance for the generation of the catalytically active complex

The reaction of the nitrosylmolybdenum complexes Mo^IICl₃(NO)(OPPh₃)₂ and Mo⁰Cl₂(NO)₂(PPh₃)₂ with EtAlCl₂ gives a [Mo⁰Cl(NO)]-containing intermediate, the formation and further reaction of which were followed by IR-spectroscopy after trapping with CO/PPh₃ and Et₂NC(S)SS(S)CNEt₂, respectively. The dependences on time and temperature of the formation and decomposition of the “[Mo⁰Cl(NO)]” intermediate were also investigated. By comparison of metathesis activity and the decay of the “[Mo⁰Cl(NO)]” intermediate, the latter was confirmed to be an essential catalyst precursor from which the actual metathesis catalyst, very probably a nitridomolybdenum complex, is formed.     

Lewis acid-promoted alpha-hydroxy beta-dicarbonyl to alpha-ketol ester rearrangement

The decarbomethoxylation reaction of a substituted α-hydroxy-α-carbomethoxy pentacyclic substituted ketone, used as an advanced intermediate in the synthesis of the alkaloid aspidophytine, can be effected by heating with MgI₂ in CH₃CN. The reaction was shown to proceed by a novel α-hydroxy β-dicarbonyl to α-ketol ester rearrangement. It was possible to isolate a carbonate intermediate in 75% yield, thereby providing support for the proposed pathway.     

Effect of Micelles on kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of Serine by acid Permanganate

The oxidation of serine (HORCO₂H) by acid permanganate was investigated both in the absence and presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). It has been observed that the presence of surfactant enhanced the reaction rate. The reaction is first order with respect to [Serine] and [MnO₄^?]. The reaction is retarded by the hydrogen ion in the absence of SDS but catalyzed in the presence of SDS. The overall rate expression for the reduction of Mn(VII) may be written as In the presence of SDS of the rate law is The reaction appears to involve a parallel consecutive reaction mechanism in which Mn(IV) appears as the reaction intermediate. ??′_4f signifies the rate constant for the reaction path leading to the formation of Mn(IV) from Mn(VII) as reaction intermediate, whereas ??′_2f signifies the rate constant for the reaction path leading to the reduction of Mn(VII) to Mn(II) without prior formation of Mn(IV). A mechanism satisfying the various kinetic parameters has been proposed.