The interaction of optically active molecules

The discrimination energy between two optically active molecules is calculated using a non-perturbative method. Results of Craig and coworkers emerge as a limiting case.     

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of novel optically active tryptophan analogues

[reaction: see text] Both unsaturated proline derivatives and optically active tryptophan analogues have been obtained via Pd-catalyzed cyclization of aniline-containing acetylenic amino acids. The side chain length of the cyclization precursor determines which one of the two possible products will be formed.     

Synthesis and properties of novel optically active polyimides

A facile synthesis of an optically active di‐isocyanate containing alkylene groups and a preformed imide structure is described. Polycondensation reactions of the prepared di‐isocyanate with pyromellitic dianhydride, benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride, and hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalic anhydride resulted in the preparation of optically active, thermally stable polyimides. The prepared monomer and polymers were characterized by conventional methods. Optical and physical properties of the polymers including thermal stability, thermal behavior, solution viscosity, and solubility behavior were studied. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 514–518, 2001     

Synthesis of directly connected BODIPY oligomers through Suzuki-Miyaura coupling

Treatment of a meso-arylboron dipyrrin (BODIPY) with NBS provides mono- and dibrominated BODIPYs at the 2- and 6-positions in excellent yields with high regioselectivity. Brominated products can be employed as a nice building block for the synthesis of a variety of BODIPY derivatives through Suzuki-Miyaura coupling. Because of a lack of substituents at the 1,3,5,7-positions, a directly β-β-linked BODIPY dimer exhibits a completely coplanar conformation of BODIPY units, offering effective π-conjugation.     

Asymmetric synthesis of deoxypolypropionate units via stereoselective hydrogenation of optically active cycloheptatriene

Optically active polypropionate units were synthesized in 9-11 steps from 3,5-dimethylphenol. The sequence consists of the Buchner reaction controlled by a chiral 2,4-pentanediol tether and diastereoselective hydrogenation over Raney nickel. [reaction: see text]     

Enantioselective recognition by optically active chiral fluorescence sensors bearing amino acid units

Chiral fluorescence receptors 1 and 2 were synthesized and their structures characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS spectra, and elemental analysis. The chiral recognition abilities of 1 and 2 were studied by ¹H NMR and fluorescence spectra. The results demonstrate that receptors 1 and 2 with bis(tetrabutylammonium) dibenzoyl tartrate formed a 1:1 complex. Receptor 2 exhibits an excellent enantioselective recognition ability toward the enantiomers of bis(tetrabutylammonium) dibenzoyl tartrate.     

Synthesis and properties of novel diisocyanate based optically active polyimides

A new optically active diisocyanate was prepared from the reaction of l-leucine and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and subsequent transformation of intermediate imide-containing diacid to diisocyanate via Weinstock modification of Curtius rearrangement. Solution polycondensation reaction of the prepared diisocyanate with PMDA, 3,3,4,4-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride, and hexafluoroisopropylidene 2,2-bis(phthalic anhydride) resulted in the preparation of novel optically active polyimides. The optimal conditions for polyimidations (reaction duration and temperature programming) were obtained via study of the model compound. The monomer, model compound and polymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹HNMR, mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis and their optical and physical properties were studied as well.     

Hexasubstituted donor-acceptor benzenes as nonlinear optically active molecules with multiple charge-transfer transitions

The synthesis of three novel nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores with threefold symmetry, namely 1,3,5-tris(4-N,N-diethylaminophenyl)-2,4,6-tris(4-nitrophenyl)benzene (3), 1,3,5-tris(4-N,N-dihexylaminophenylbutadiynyl)-2,4,6-tris(4-nitrophenyl)benzene (13) and 1,3,5-tris(4-N,N-dihexylaminophenylethynyl)-2,4,6-tris(4-nitrophenylethynyl)benzene (4 b), is reported. We used the [Co(2)(CO)(8)]-catalysed trimerisation of 4-N,N-diethylamino-4'-nitrotolane (5) to prepare 3. The trimerisation experiment carried out with 1-(4-N,N-diethylaminophenyl)-6-(4-N,N-nitrophenyl)hexatriyne (6) and [Rh(PPh(3))(3)Cl] afforded 13. A stepwise approach was used to prepare 4 b. 1,3,5-Trichloro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene (8 b) was coupled with 4-nitrophenyl-acetylene (14) under Pd(0) catalysis to yield 1,3,5-trichloro-2,4,6-tris(4-nitrophenylethynyl)benzene (15). The coupling reaction of 15 with 4-N,N-dihexylaminophenylethynyltributylstannane (21) led to 4 b. X-ray investigations on 3, 4 b and 13 confirmed the structural assignments and revealed that the peripheral aryl rings in 4 b are less twisted around the connecting bonds than in 3 and 13. A large second-order polarisability (beta) of 4 b relative to 3 and 13 was determined by hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS). Compound 4 b represents an NLO chromophore with second-order polarisabily among the highest obtained so far for two-dimensional nondipolar NLO chromophores.     

Easy access to optically active Hagemann's esters

The synthesis of optically active Hagemann's esters was investigated. The starting materials in this approach were enamino esters (R,Z)-8, prepared through the condensation of keto ester 6 with (R)-1-phenylethylamine 7. Michael addition reaction of the enamino esters (R,Z)-8 with methyl vinyl ketone gave the expected adducts 10 with good e.e.s of 93–96%. Subsequent annulation of the adducts furnished optically active Hagemann's esters.     

The racemization of an optically active sulfilimine and optically active aminosulfonium salts

The racemization of an optically active sulfilimine and optically active aminosulfonium salts was kinetically measured. The mechanism of the racemization of optically active sulfilimine (?)-1 has been established. The activation parameters for the racemization of (?)-1 and (?)-7 were calculated. A plausible pathway for the decomposition of (?)-6, (?)-7 and (?)-8 with tetra-n-butylammonium bromide in the presence of methyl ethyl ketone to provide 3-p-tolylthio-2-butanone 22 is proposed.     

Conversion of optically active hydrindanone to (+)-bakkenolide-A

A total synthesis of (+)-bakkenolide-A was carried out via the key intermediate 4, which was prepared based on an asymmetric cyclization-carbonylation reaction established in our laboratory. Diastereoselective construction of the spirolactone moiety was achieved using Mitsuhashi's protocol as a key step.     

Optically active oligomer units in aggregates of a highly unsaturated, optically inactive carotenoid phospholipid

Enantiomers of glycerophospholipids show low or no optical activity. Accordingly, optical activity was not observed with the R enantiomer of a highly unsaturated carotenoyl lysophospholipid in solution. In spite of this, strong Cotton effects are detected in water. The amphiphilic carotenoid-phospholipid monomers associate to form aggregates, whose optical activity is attributed to oligomeric entities. These small helical assemblies cannot exist independently. Yet, the calculated octamer represents the simplest repeating primary unit that sufficiently expresses the absorption properties and supramolecular optical activity.     

Synthesis of novel chiral dopants based on optically active p-substituted mandelic acids

Novel esters of optically active p-substituted mandelic acids (+)-1 and (+)-2 were prepared by a convergent synthetic strategy in high enantiomeric excess (99% ee). The esters (+)-1 and (+)-2 induce helical macrostructures in the mesophases of achiral liquid-crystal materials, although neither exhibits mesorphism on its own.     

The first catalytic highly enantioselective alkylation of ketimines--a novel approach to optically active quaternary alpha-amino acids

A series of novel ketimines with intrinsic protecting group anchoring was synthesized and allowed to react with various silylketene acetals in the presence of 5-10 mol % of a chiral Zn(OTf)(2)-(R,R)-Ph-pybox-aqua complex. The corresponding optically active quaternary alpha-amino acid derivatives were obtained in high yields and with enantioselectivities ranging from 34 % up to 95 % ee. The catalyst was studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, and a dynamic equilibrium of two species was identified in solution. These are a homo-chiral 1:2 metal-ligand complex and a 1:1 metal-ligand complex, of which the latter is expected to be the actual catalyst of the diastereo- and enantioselective reaction. A strong positive nonlinear effect was observed due to the formation of a catalytically inactive 1:2 metal-ligand hetero-chiral complex. On the basis of DFT calculations and the absolute stereochemistry of the products, simultaneous coordination of the imino electrophile and a single molecule of H(2)O to the chiral Lewis acid complex is proposed. Coordination of the imine-nitrogen atom in the axial position of an octahedral complex can account for the facial selectivity as well as the diastereoselectivity observed.     

Enantioselective allyltitanations. Synthesis of optically active 1,2-diol units: useful intermediates for the preparation of biologically active compounds

1,2-Diol units were synthesized with excellent enantiomeric excess by using an enantioselective allyltitanation of α-alkoxy-substituted aldehydes.     

Asymmetric interaction of optically active polymers with asymmetric small molecules. III. The effect of pH on asymmetric interaction of optically active acidic polymer with tryptophan

The interaction of optically active polymer prepared from L-lysine and adipyl chloride by interfacial polycondensation with D - and L-tryptophan was studied. It was found that selective interaction occurred, and the amount of L-isomer bound to the polymer was greater than that of D -isomer in the range from pH 3.0 to 7.5 at 25°C. At near pH 5.0, the maximum asymmetrical ratio was obtained. The optical rotatory dispersion and viscosity of the polymer were measured. The relationship between conformational differences of the polymer and asymmetric interaction is discussed.     

Microbial approaches to optically active sulfur-containing fluorinated compounds

A number of sulfur-containing compounds with a trifluoromethyl or a monofluoromethyl group was prepared. Studies on the microbial transformation of them have been undertaken, and possible routes to optically active bifunctional fluorinated compounds were examined.