Cross-Electrophile C−PIII Coupling of Chlorophosphines with Organic Halides: Photoinduced PIII and Aminoalkyl Radical Generation Enabled by Pnictogen Bonding

Pnictogen bonding (PnB) has gained recognition as an appealing strategy for constructing novel architectures and unlocking new properties. Within the synthetic community, the development of a straightforward and much simpler protocol for cross-electrophile C−P^III coupling remains an ongoing challenge with organic halides. In this study, we present a simple strategy for photoinduced PnB-enabled cross-electrophile C−P^III couplings using readily available chlorophosphines and organic halides via merging single electron transfer (SET) and halogen atom transfer (XAT) processes. In this photomediated transformation, the PnB formed between chlorophosphines and alkyl amines facilitates the photogeneration of P^III radicals and α-aminoalkyl radicals through SET. Subsequently, the resulting α-aminoalkyl radicals activate C−X bonds via XAT, leading to the formation of carbon radicals. This methodology offers operational simplicity and compatibility with both aliphatic and aromatic chlorophosphines and organic halides.     

Photo-Induced Halogen-Atom Transfer: Generation of Halide Radicals for Selective Hydrohalogenation Reactions

The first photo-mediated process enabling the generation of halide radicals by Halogen-Atom Transfer (XAT) is described. Contrary to radical transformations involving XAT reactivity, which exploit stable carbon radicals, this unique approach uses 1,2-dihaloethanes for the generation of unstable carbon radicals by XAT. These transient radicals then undergo β-scission with release of ethylene and formation of more stable halide radicals which have been used in selective hydrohalogenations of a large number of unsaturated hydrocarbons, including Michael acceptors, unactivated alkenes and alkynes. This hydrohalogenation is tolerant of a broad range of functionalities and is believed to proceed through a radical-chain manifold that propagates by the use of silane derivatives.     

Radical hydroxymethylation of alkyl iodides using formaldehyde as a C1 synthon

Radical hydroxymethylation using formaldehyde as a C1 synthon is challenging due to the reversible and endothermic nature of the addition process. Here we report a strategy that couples alkyl iodide building blocks with formaldehyde through the use of photocatalysis and a phosphine additive. Halogen-atom transfer (XAT) from α-aminoalkyl radicals is leveraged to convert the iodide into the corresponding open-shell species, while its following addition to formaldehyde is rendered irreversible by trapping the transient O-radical with PPh₃. This event delivers a phosphoranyl radical that re-generates the alkyl radical and provides the hydroxymethylated product.

Halogen-atom transfer (XAT) based on phosphoranyl radical chemistry enables the hydroxymethylation of alkyl iodides with formaldehyde.     

Photocatalytic C−H Functionalization of Nitrogen Heterocycles Mediated by a Redox Active Protecting Group

Herein, we report a photocatalytic strategy for the C−H functionalization of saturated azaheterocycles under mild conditions with only one equivalent of starting material. Our strategy is based on a redox active benzamide protecting group that is activated via a halogen-atom transfer (XAT) process to trigger the formation of an α-amino radical. This nucleophilic radical intermediate was then engaged in Giese additions and radical cross couplings to afford C−H alkylated and arylated products.     

Manganese/Cobalt Bimetallic Relay Catalysis for Divergent Dehydrogenative Difluoroalkylation of Alkenes

The involvement of manganese radical for halogen atom transfer (XAT) reactions has been esteemed as one reliable method but encountered with limited catalytic models. In this paper, a novel bimetallic relay catalysis of Mn₂(CO)₁₀ and cobaloxime has been developed for divergent dehydrogenative difluoroalkylation of alkenes using commercially available difluoroalkyl bromides. A wide range of structurally diverse terminal, cyclic and internal alkenes as well as tetrasubstituted alkenes are found to be good coupling partners to deliver difluoroalkylated allylic products and difluoromethylated cyclic products, accompanied with the production of H₂ as the by-product. This bimetallic relay strategy features broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions and excellent functional group compatibility. Its success represents an important step-forward to expedite the construction of a rich library of difluoroalkylated products.     

New ruthenium-based protocol for cleavage of terminal olefins to primary alcohols: improved synthesis of a bicyclic nucleoside

A new protocol for the oxidative cleavage of terminal alkenes to give exclusively primary alcohols in high yields is introduced. The protocol is based on RuO4-mediated dihydroxylation, NaIO4-mediated diol cleavage, and NaBH4-mediated reduction, but the introduction of a reducing step before the diol cleavage removes the formation of byproducts and improves the yield significantly. The new protocol has been developed and used for the improved preparation of a [3.2.0]bicycloarabinonucleoside with important potential in antisense and antigene technology.     

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of benzoheterocyclic compounds via solid-state melt reaction (SSMR)

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of biologically active benzoheterocyclic compounds such as benzothiazoles, benzimidazoles, benzospirothiazoles, and quinoxaline scaffolds have been accomplished via solid state melt reaction (SSMR) with excellent yields. The new protocol does not require any catalyst, solvent, and workup. Two anti-tumor agents have been prepared to demonstrate the application of this new method.     

Potassium selenocyanate as an efficient selenium source in C-Se cross-coupling catalyzed by copper iodide in water

An efficient and conceptually new protocol for C-Se cross coupling of potassium selenocyanate with aryl halides via copper-catalyzed cascade reaction has been developed in water. Utilizing this protocol, a variety of aryl and heteroaryl halides were reacted with potassium selenocyanate to afford the corresponding diaryl selenides in moderate to good yields.     

Synthesis of 1,2,4-oxadiazole-linked orthogonally urethane-protected dipeptide mimetics

The synthesis of a new class of 1,2,4-oxadiazole-linked orthogonally urethane-protected dipeptide mimetics is described. The protocol employs a reaction between an N-protected amino acyl fluoride and an amino acid-derived amidoxime. All the three commonly employed urethanes have been used in this protocol for N-protection. The course of the reaction was found to be high yielding and all new compounds were well characterized by NMR and mass spectroscopy. The O-acyl amidoxime intermediate has also been isolated as a stable solid.     

High-throughput screening assay for the tunable selection of protein ligands

Here, we describe a new protein-ligand binding assay that is amenable to high-throughput screening applications. The assay involves the use of SUPREX (stability of unpurified proteins from rates of H/D exchange), a new H/D exchange and mass spectrometry-based technique we recently developed for the quantitative analysis of protein-ligand binding interactions. As part of this work, we describe a new high-throughput SUPREX protocol, and we demonstrate that this protocol can be used to efficiently screen peptide ligands in a model combinatorial library for binding to a model protein system, the S-protein. The high-throughput SUPREX protocol developed here is generally applicable to a wide variety of protein ligands, including DNA, small molecules, metals, and other proteins. On the basis of the results of the model study in this work, one person with access to one MALDI mass spectrometer should be able to screen approximately 10 000 compounds per 24-h period using the protocol described here. With full automation and the use of a commercially available MALDI mass spectrometer optimized for high-throughput analyses, we estimate that the SUPREX-based assay described here could be used to screen on the order of 100 000 ligands per day.     

Catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to coumarins--synthesis of versatile chiral building blocks

A new protocol for the Cu-catalysed asymmetric conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to coumarins has been developed. The corresponding products are formed in high yields and enantioselectivities. Through a sequential protocol involving conjugate addition followed by nucleophilic ring opening of the chiral enolate, chiral esters and amides are readily accessible.     

Green and efficient synthesis of bidentate Schiff base Ru catalysts for olefin metathesis

A simple, green synthetic protocol to bidentate Schiff base substituted ruthenium carbene complexes is described. These complexes are potent catalysts for olefin metathesis, but the original synthetic route employs the Schiff base ligands in the form of highly toxic thallium(I) salts. The new protocol involves a two-step, quasi-one-pot approach and silver(I) carbonate as base. The target ruthenium carbene complexes are obtained in yields that are similar to, or better than, those of the original protocol.     

Harmonized protocol and certified reference material for the determination of extractable contents of phosphorus in freshwater sediments--a synthesis of recent works.

An analytical protocol for the determination of the extractable phosphorus contents in freshwater sediments has been harmonized through interlaboratory studies in the frame of the Standards Measurements and Testing Program of the European Commission. A homogeneous and stable sediment reference material has been prepared and certified on the basis of this protocol named SMT protocol, and will be available in spring of 2001. The SMT protocol, together with the reference material, are useful tools in the field of water management, especially at a time when quality assurance and data comparability are of paramount importance in laboratory analysis. The knowledge of the bioavailable forms of phosphorus is important not only for sediments but also for sludge and soils. Therefore, the SMT protocol could be extended to these materials and new CRMs could be prepared. The SMT protocol was used in a study of a reservoir, which allowed to calculate the P stock, therefore helping to predict the restoration delay of the lake. The paper describes the protocol and the CRM, and gives a brief outline of the case study.     

MSMBuilder2: Modeling Conformational Dynamics at the Picosecond to Millisecond Scale

Markov State Models provide a framework for understanding the fundamental states and rates in the conformational dynamics of biomolecules. We describe an improved protocol for constructing Markov State Models from molecular dynamics simulations. The new protocol includes advances in clustering, data preparation, and model estimation; these improvements lead to significant increases in model accuracy, as assessed by the ability to recapitulate equilibrium and kinetic properties of reference systems. A high-performance implementation of this protocol, provided in MSMBuilder2, is validated on dynamics ranging from picoseconds to milliseconds.     

1‐Picolinyl‐5‐azido Thiosialosides: Versatile Donors for the Stereoselective Construction of Sialyl Linkages

With the picolinyl (Pic) group as a C‐1 located directing group and N₃ as versatile precursor for C5‐NH₂, a novel 1‐Pic‐5‐N₃ thiosialyl donor was designed and synthesized, based on which a new sialylation protocol was established. In comparison to conventional sialylation methods, the new protocol exhibited obvious advantages, including excellent α‐stereoselectivity in the absence of a solvent effect, broad substrate scope encompassing the challenging sialyl 8‐ and 9‐hydroxy groups of sialic acid acceptors, flexibility in sialoside derivative synthesis, high temperature tolerance and easy scalability. In particular, the applicability to the synthesis of complex and bioactive N‐glycan antennae when combined with the MPEP glycosylation protocol via the “latent‐active” strategy has been shown. Mechanistically, the excellent α‐stereoselectivity of the novel sialylation protocol could be attributed to the dramatic electron‐withdrawing effect of the protonated Pic groups, which was supported by control reactions and DFT calculations.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of 1,4-bis(difluoromethyl)benzene

A fast, mild, and practical microwave-assisted protocol for synthesis of 1,4-bis(difluoromethyl)benzene from 1,4-bis(dichloromethyl)benzene and KF was developed. The new protocol increased the yield and reduced the reaction time significantly in contrast to the conventional heating procedure. Also, the synergistic effect of a composite phase transfer catalyst was studied.     

Harmonized protocol and certified reference material for the determination of extractable contents of phosphorus in freshwater sediments – A synthesis of recent works

An analytical protocol for the determination of the extractable phosphorus contents in freshwater sediments has been harmonized through interlaboratory studies in the frame of the Standards Measurements and Testing Program of the European Commission. A homogeneous and stable sediment reference material has been prepared and certified on the basis of this protocol named SMT protocol, and will be available in spring of 2001. The SMT protocol, together with the reference material, are useful tools in the field of water management, especially at a time when quality assurance and data comparability are of paramount importance in laboratory analysis. The knowledge of the bioavailable forms of phosphorus is important not only for sediments but also for sludge and soils. Therefore, the SMT protocol could be extended to these materials and new CRMs could be prepared. The SMT protocol was used in a study of a reservoir, which allowed to calculate the P stock, therefore helping to predict the restoration delay of the lake. The paper describes the protocol and the CRM, and gives a brief outline of the case study. Received: 14 November 2000 / Revised: 25 January 2001 / Accepted: 31 January 2001     

New synthesis of 4-methoxyisophthalic acid

Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry - A new synthetic route to 4-methoxyisophthalic acid, the key intermediate in the synthesis of Picotamide, is reported. The new protocol starts from...     

A new biosynthetic tracer for the inline measurement of virus retention in membrane processes: part I--Synthesis protocol

In this study, a new biosynthetic tracer was developed to characterize the virus retention dynamics of membrane systems. This new tracer is a modified bacteriophage obtained by the grafting of enzymatic probes to an MS2 bacteriophage, one of the smallest non-pathogenic bacteria viruses, with an average diameter of about 30 nm. A protocol for the synthesis and purification of this new tracer was developed in this work. The production of this biosynthetic tracer was first qualitatively shown by a chromatographic characterization and an enzymatic test. The average number of probes grafted per phage was then quantified for three batches of tracers made from the same native phage suspension and the same batch of enzymatic probes. This quantification demonstrated the reproducibility of the synthesis protocol developed.     

A simple protocol for the synthesis of 2-arylbenzoxazoles by oxidation with o-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) and its application in the synthesis of arylbenzoxazole-containing amino acids

A simple protocol for the preparation of 2-arylbenzoxazoles has been developed based on the oxidation of phenolic Schiff bases with o-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX), wherein the oxidant can be recycled. The robustness of this new protocol has been demonstrated in the synthesis of arylbenzoxazole-containing amino acids.