γ,δ‐ and δ,ε‐Unsaturated Aldehydes from γ‐ and δ‐Lactones in One Step. Preliminary Communication

A one‐step transformation of γ‐ and δ‐(spiro)lactones into γ,δ‐ and δ,ε‐unsaturated aldehydes with an excess of formic acid in the vapor phase over a supported manganese catalyst is described for the first time. The scope and limitations of this new reaction are shown with different lactones as substrate, and a mechanistic rationale is proposed.     

β‐LiMoO2(AsO4)

A new non‐centrosymmetrical form of lithium molybdyl arsenate has been synthesized and grown as a single crystal. The structure of β‐LiMoO₂(AsO₄) is built up of corner‐sharing AsO₄ tetrahedra and MoO₆ octahedra which form a three‐dimensional framework containing tunnels running along the a axis, wherein the Li⁺ cations are located. This novel structure is compared with the compound LiMoO₂(AsO₄) of the same formula, and with those of AMO₂(XO₄) (A is Na, K, Rb or Pb, M is Mo or V, and X is P or As) and B(MoO₂)₂(XO₄)₂ (B is Ba, Pb or Sr).     

Differentiation of Boc‐protected α,δ‐/δ,α‐ and β,δ‐/δ,β‐hybrid peptide positional isomers by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Two new series of Boc‐N‐α,δ‐/δ,α‐ and β,δ‐/δ,β‐hybrid peptides containing repeats of L ‐Ala‐δ⁵‐Caa/δ⁵‐Caa‐L ‐Ala and β³‐Caa‐δ⁵‐Caa/δ⁵‐Caa‐β³‐Caa (L ‐Ala = L ‐alanine, Caa = C‐linked carbo amino acid derived from D ‐xylose) have been differentiated by both positive and negative ion electrospray ionization (ESI) ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). MSⁿ spectra of protonated isomeric peptides produce characteristic fragmentation involving the peptide backbone, the Boc‐group, and the side chain. The dipeptide positional isomers are differentiated by the collision‐induced dissociation (CID) of the protonated peptides. The loss of 2‐methylprop‐1‐ene is more pronounced for Boc‐NH‐L ‐Ala‐δ‐Caa‐OCH₃ (1), whereas it is totally absent for its positional isomer Boc‐NH‐δ‐Caa‐L ‐Ala‐OCH₃ (7), instead it shows significant loss of t‐butanol. On the other hand, second isomeric pair shows significant loss of t‐butanol and loss of acetone for Boc‐NH‐δ‐Caa‐β‐Caa‐OCH₃ (18), whereas these are insignificant for its positional isomer Boc‐NH‐β‐Caa‐δ‐Caa‐OCH₃ (13). The tetra‐ and hexapeptide positional isomers also show significant differences in MS² and MS³ CID spectra. It is observed that ‘b’ ions are abundant when oxazolone structures are formed through five‐membered cyclic transition state and cyclization process for larger ‘b’ ions led to its insignificant abundance. However, b₁⁺ ion is formed in case of δ,α‐dipeptide that may have a six‐membered substituted piperidone ion structure. Furthermore, ESI negative ion MS/MS has also been found to be useful for differentiating these isomeric peptide acids. Thus, the results of MS/MS of pairs of di‐, tetra‐, and hexapeptide positional isomers provide peptide sequencing information and distinguish the positional isomers. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure and Properties of γ‐Brass‐Type Pt2Zn11—δ (0.2 < δ < 0.3)

The γ‐brass type phase Pt₂Zn_11—δ (0.2 < δ < 0.3) was prepared by reaction of the elements in evacuated silica ampoules. The structures of crystals grown in the presence of excess zinc or alternatively excess platinum were determined from single crystal X‐ray diffraction intensities and confirmed by Rietveld profile fits. Pt₂Zn_10.72(1) crystallizes in the space group I4¯3m, a = 908.55(4) pm, Z = 4. The structure refinement converged at R_F = 0.0302 for I_o > 2σ (I_o) for 293 symmetrically independent intensi ties and 19 variables. The structure consists of a 26 atom cluster which is comprised of four crystallographically distinct atoms. The atoms Zn(1), Pt(1), Zn(2) and Zn(3) form an inner tetrahedron IT, an outer tetrahedron OT, an octahedron OH, and a distorted cuboctahedron CO respectively. About 14 % of the Zn(1) sites are unoccupied. Pt₂Zn_10.73 melts at 1136(2) K. It is a moderate metallic conductor (ρ₂₉₈ = 0.2—0.9 mΩ cm) whose magnetic properties (χ_mol = —4.6 10^—10 to —5.4 10^—10 m³ mol^—1) are dominated by the core diamagnetism of its components.     

Synthese und Kristallstrukturen von α‐ und β‐Ba3(PS4)2 sowie von Ba3(PSe4)2

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of α‐, β‐Ba₃(PS₄)₂ and Ba₃(PSe₄)₂ Ba₃(PS₄)₂ and Ba₃(PSe₄)₂ were prepared by heating mixtures of the elements at 800 °C for 25 h. Both compounds were investigated by single crystal X‐ray methods. The thiophosphate is dimorphic and undergoes a displacive phase transition at about 75 °C. Both modifications crystallize in new structure types. In the room temperature phase (α‐Ba₃(PS₄)₂: P2₁/a; a = 11.649(3), b = 6.610(1), c = 17.299(2) Å, β = 90.26(3)°; Z = 4) three crystallographically independent Ba atoms are surrounded by ten sulfur atoms forming distorted polyhedra. The arrangement of the PS₄ tetrahedra, isolated from each other, is comparable with the formation of the SO₄^2? ions of β‐K₂SO₄. In β‐Ba₃(PS₄)₂ (C2/m; a = 11.597(2), b = 6.727(1), c = 8.704(2) Å; β = 90.00(3)°; Z = 2) the PS₄ tetrahedra are no more tilted along [001], but oriented parallel to each other inducing less distorted tetrahedra and polyhedra around the Ba atoms, respectively. Ba₃(PSe₄)₂ (P2₁/a; a = 12.282(2), b = 6.906(1), c = 18.061(4) Å; β = 90.23(3)°; Z = 4) is isotypic to α‐Ba₃(PS₄)₂ and no phase transition could be detected up to about 550 °C.     

Methyl 4‐O‐β‐l‐galactopyranosyl‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside (methyl β‐l‐lactoside)

Methyl β‐l ‐lactoside, C₁₃H₂₄O₁₁, (II), is described by glycosidic torsion angles ϕ (O5_Gal—C1_Gal—O4_Glc—C4_Glc) and ψ (C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C4_Glc—C5_Glc) of 93.89 (13) and −127.43 (13)°, respectively, where the ring atom numbering conforms to the convention in which C1 is the anomeric C atom and C6 is the exocyclic hydroxy­methyl (CH₂OH) C atom in both residues (Gal is galactose and Glc is glucose). Substitution of l ‐Gal for d ‐Gal in the biologically relevant disaccharide, methyl β‐lactoside [Stenutz, Shang & Serianni (1999). Acta Cryst. C 55 , 1719–1721], (I), significantly alters the glycosidic linkage inter­face. In the crystal structure of (I), one inter‐residue (intra­molecular) hydrogen bond is observed between atoms H3O_Glc and O5_Gal. In contrast, in the crystal structure of (II), inter‐residue hydrogen bonds are observed between atoms H6O_Glc and O5_Gal, H6O_Glc and O6_Gal, and H3O_Glc and O2_Gal, with H6O_Glc serving as a donor with two intra­molecular acceptors.     

17‐Oxo‐5α‐androstane‐3α,4β‐diyl diacetate and 17‐oxo‐5β‐androstane‐3α,4β‐diyl diacetate

The title compounds, both C₂₃H₃₄O₅, are the 5α and 5β configurations of two diacetate epimers. The 5β‐diacetate crystallizes in an hexagonal structure, unusual for steroid molecules. The unit cell has an accessible solvent volume of 358 ų, responsible for clathrate behaviour. The 5β‐epimer also features some shorter than average bond lengths in the 3α,4β‐acetoxy groups. The conformations of the molecules of both epimers are compared with those obtained through abinitio quantum chemistry calculations. Cohesion of the crystals can be attributed to van der Waals and weak molecular C—H⋯O interactions.     

δ‐Sulfanilamide

The δ polymorph of sulfanilamide (or 4‐aminobenzenesulfonamide), C₆H₈N₂O₂S, displays an overall three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded network that is dominated by a two‐dimensional substructure with R²₂(8) rings; these result from dimeric N—H...O interactions between adjacent sulfonamide groups. This study shows how the polymorphism of sulfanilamide is linked to its versatile hydrogen‐bonding capabilities.     

Synthesis of Epigoitrin from (R)‐(+)‐4‐Hydroxy‐γ‐butyrolactone

Epigoitrin is one of the major components of several natural species, including Isatis indigotica Fort, turnip, and cabbage. It presents antithyroid and antivirus activities. Here, we report an efficient and practical method for the chemical synthesis of epigoitrin from commercially available (R)‐(+)‐4‐hydroxy‐γ‐butyrolactone.     

Ni5‐δSn4Zn (δ ∼ 0.25) from single‐crystal data

Work on the ternary Ni–Sn–Zn phase diagram revealed the existence of the title compound pentanickel tetratin zinc, Ni_3.17Sn_2.67Zn_0.67 [Schmetterer et al. (2012). Intermetallics, doi:10.1016/j.intermet.2011.05.025]. It crystallizes in the Ni₅Ga₃Ge₂ structure type (orthorhombic, Cmcm) and is related to the InNi₂ type (hexagonal, P6₃/mmc) of the neighbouring Ni₃Sn₂ high‐temperature (HT) phase, but is not a superstructure. The crystal structure was determined using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Its homogeneity range was characterized using electron microprobe analysis. Phase analysis at various temperatures indicated that the phase decomposes between 1073 and 1173 K, where a more extended ternary solid solution of the Ni₃Sn₂ HT phase was found instead.     

A Novel Synthesis of γ,δ‐Unsaturated Aldehydes from α‐Formyl‐γ‐lactones

A preparatively useful one‐step transformation of γ,γ‐disubstituted α‐formyl‐γ‐lactones into trisubstituted γ,δ‐unsaturated aldehydes is described, by means of catalytic amounts of either AcOH or AcOEt in the vapor phase over a glass support. A mechanistic rationale is proposed.     

Preparation and Reactivity of Mo(NCMe)(η2‐C2Ph2)2(η4‐C4Ph4)

Reaction of Mo(CO)(η²‐C₂Ph₂)₂(η⁴‐C₄Ph₄) and Me₃NO in acetonitrile solvent affords Mo(NCMe)(η²‐C₂Ph₂)₂(η⁴‐C₄Ph₄) 1 . Compound 1 reacts with trimethylphosphine to produce Mo(PMe₃)(η²‐C₂Ph₂)₂(η⁴‐C₄Ph₄) 2 , or reacts with diphenylacetylene to produce (η⁵‐C₅Ph₅)₂Mo 3 and Mo(η²‐O₂CPh)(η⁴‐C₄Ph₄H)(η⁴‐C₄Ph₄) 4 . The molecular structures of 1, 2 and 4 have been determined by an X‐ray diffraction study.     

The Crystal Structure of ζ2‐Al3Cu4‐δ

The crystal structure of the ζ₂‐phase Al₃Cu_4‐δ was determined by means of X‐ray powder diffraction: a = 409.72(1) pm, b = 703.13(2) pm, c = 997.93(3) pm, space group Imm2, Pearson symbol oI24‐3.5, R_I = 0.0696. ζ₂‐Al₃Cu_4‐δ forms a distinctive a × √3a × 2c superstructure of a metal deficient Ni₂In‐type‐related structure. The phase is meta‐stable at ambient temperature. Between 400 °C and 450 °C it decomposes into ζ₁‐Al₃Cu₄ and η₂‐AlCu. Entropic contributions to the stability of ζ₂‐Al₃Cu_4‐δ are reflected in three statistically or partially occupied sites.     

Preparation of (S,S)‐Fmoc‐β2hIle‐OH, (S)‐Fmoc‐β2hMet‐OH,and (S)‐Fmoc‐β2hTyr(tBu)‐OH for Solid‐Phase Syntheses of β2‐ and β2/β3‐Peptides

The preparation of three new N‐Fmoc‐protected (Fmoc=[(9H‐fluoren‐9‐yl)methoxy]carbonyl) β²‐homoamino acids with proteinogenic side chains (from Ile, Tyr, and Met) is described, the key step being a diastereoselective amidomethylation of the corresponding Ti‐enolates of 3‐acyl‐4‐isopropyl‐5,5‐diphenyloxazolidin‐2‐ones with CbzNHCH₂OMe/TiCl₄ (Cbz=(benzyloxy)carbonyl) in yields of 60–70% and with diastereoselectivities of >90%. Removal of the chiral auxiliary with LiOH or NaOH gives the N‐Cbz‐protected β‐amino acids, which were subjected to an N‐Cbz/N‐Fmoc (Fmoc=[(9H‐fluoren‐9‐yl)methoxy]carbonyl) protective‐group exchange. The method is suitable for large‐scale preparation of Fmoc‐β²hXaa‐OH for solid‐phase syntheses of β‐peptides. The Fmoc‐amino acids and all compounds leading to them have been fully characterized by melting points, optical rotations, IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and mass spectra, as well as by elemental analyses.