Thermal transformation of a chiral,non-racemic epoxide into a conglomerate

Formation of conglomerates is of general interest because they offer the possibility of enantiomeric separation by preferential crystallization. A surprising result was obtained for the chiral epoxide 1a, 2, 7, 7a-tetrahydro-3-methoxynaphth-(2,3b)-oxirene, for which we have shown that the racemate crystals of a non racemic mixture can be easily transformed into a conglomerate by gentle heating and cooling within a defined temperature range. This transformation is not possible with the pure racemic mixture. Thus the enantiomeric excess seems to be the driving force for the conglomerate formation. Experiments have been carried out on analytical and preparative scale. Non racemic mixtures have been characterized by high pressure liquid chromatography on chiral stationary phase and crystal transformation has been monitored with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and infrared spectroscopy (IR).     

Catalytic mechanism of limonene epoxide hydrolase, a theoretical study

The catalytic mechanism of limonene epoxide hydrolase (LEH) was investigated theoretically using the density functional theory method B3LYP. LEH is part of a novel limonene degradation pathway found in Rhodococcus erythropolis DCL14, where it catalyzes the hydrolysis of limonene-1,2-epoxide to give limonene-1,2-diol. The recent crystal structure of LEH was used to build a model of the LEH active site composed of five amino acids and a crystallographically observed water molecule. With this model, hydrolysis of different substrates was investigated. It is concluded that LEH employs a concerted general acid/general base-catalyzed reaction mechanism involving protonation of the substrate by Asp101, nucleophilic attack by water on the epoxide, and abstraction of a proton from water by Asp132. Furthermore, we provide an explanation for the experimentally observed regioselective hydrolysis of the four stereoisomers of limonene-1,2-epoxide.     

Synthesis and properties of a novel,liquid, trifunctional,cycloaliphatic epoxide

A novel cycloaliphatic triepoxide, 1,1‐bis(2′,3′‐epoxycyclohexyloxymethyl)‐3,4‐epoxycyclohexane ( II ), and its precursor, 1,1‐bis(2′‐cyclohexenyloxymethyl)‐3‐cyclohexene, were synthesized. Their chemical structures were confirmed with IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. II was easily cured with hexahydro‐4‐methylphthalic anhydride with 1,3,5‐triethylhexahydro‐s‐triazine as a curing accelerator. The physical properties of the cured product were examined with thermomechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical analysis. Compared with the commercial diepoxide ERL‐4221 under the same curing conditions, the cured product based on II showed a much higher glass‐transition temperature (198 °C), a higher crosslinking density (2.08 × 10^?3 mol/cm³), and a lower coefficient of thermal expansion [6.2 × 10⁵(/°C)]. II may become a promising candidate material for modern microelectronic packaging. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2799–2804, 2001     

Stereospecific enzymatic hydrolysis of racemic epoxide: a process for making chiral epoxide

Among various microbial cultures evaluated, Rhodotorula glutinis SC 16293 and Aspergillus niger SC 16311 catalyzed the stereospecific hydrolysis of the racemic epoxide, RS-1-{2′,3′-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-4′-yl}-1,2-oxirane, 1 to the corresponding R-diol, R-1-{2′,3′-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-4′-yl}-ethane-1,2-diol, 3. The S-epoxide, S-1-{2′,3′-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-4′-yl}-1,2-oxirane, 2 remained unreacted in the reaction mixture. A reaction yield of 45–50% (theoretical maximum yield is 50%) and an enantiomeric excess (ee) of >95% were obtained for unreacted S-epoxide 2 using each culture. Addition of 10% methyl tert-butyl ether to an aqueous reaction mixture during hydrolysis by R. glutinis improved the ee of the unreacted S-epoxide 2 to >99% (yield 48%) and that of the R-diol 3 to 79%. Unlike R. glutinis, hydrolysis of racemic epoxide 1 in the presence of 10% methyl tert-butyl ether by A. niger showed an adverse effect and gave S-epoxide 2 in 54% yield and 49% ee.     

Aspergilloxide, a novel sesterterpene epoxide from a marine-derived fungus of the genus Aspergillus

[structure: see text]. A new sesterterpene epoxide-diol, aspergilloxide (1), was isolated from the extract of a cultured marine-derived fungus (strain CNM-713) identified as an undescribed member of the genus Aspergillus. The structure of 1 was determined by interpretation of NMR data and by chemical methods. The absolute stereochemistry of aspergilloxide was assigned by application of the modified Mosher method. The carbon skeleton of 1 represents a new addition to the architectural diversity of the sesterterpenoid (C25) class of secondary metabolites.     

Graphite epoxide

Oxidation of graphite may be carried out by reaction with meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid to yield graphite epoxide. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) showed that the functionalization occurs at the edges rather than on the basal plane of the graphite. Quantification of the epoxide content is possible through the deepoxidation reaction using MeReO3/PPh3.     

The acid catalysed rearrangement of a diterpenoid epoxide

A study has been made of the principal rearrangement products resulting from formic acid treatment of 19-hydroxy-ent-beyerene epoxide (3). In concentrated solutions 3 has been found to undergo a deep seated rearrangement to the allylic alcohol (14). A mechanism for the formation of 14 is proposed involving a novel 1,4-hydride shift in the bicyclo[3:2:1]octane C/D ring system following cleavage of the C₁₅O bond. Supporting evidence has been obtained from a study of the specifically labelled epoxide (4), the deuterium in 14 appearing exclusively at C₁₂. Four products (7 and 11–13) emanating from the known beyerane → kaurane interconversion have been identified.     

Enantioselective epoxide polymerization using a bimetallic cobalt catalyst

A highly active enantiopure bimetallic cobalt complex was explored for the enantioselective polymerization of a variety of monosubstituted epoxides. The polymerizations were optimized for high rates and stereoselectivity, with s-factors (k(fast)/k(slow)) for most epoxides exceeding 50 and some exceeding 300, well above the threshold for preparative utility of enantiopure epoxides and isotactic polyethers. Values for mm triads of the resulting polymers are typically greater than 95%, with some even surpassing 98%. In addition, the use of a racemic catalyst allowed the preparation of isotactic polyethers in quantitative yields. The thermal properties of these isotactic polyethers are presented, with many polymers exhibiting high T(m) values. This is the first report of the rapid synthesis of a broad range of highly isotactic polyethers via the enantioselective polymerization of racemic epoxides.     

Octafluoroisobutylene epoxide derivatives

Octafluoroisobutylene epoxide (OFIBO) reacts with alkoxides in a manner similar to hexafluoropropylene epoxide (HFPO). Higher oligomers of OFIBO than previously reported have been prepared, but no difunctional polymers with molecular weights as high as obtained with HFPO could be made.Unsaturated ethers derived from OFIBO dimer and from a potassium pentafluorophenoxide-OFIBO adduct have been incorporated into perfluorinated polymers. The unsaturated ether, perfluoro(2-phenoxypropene), affords a crosslinking site for the nucleophilic vulcanization of a tetrafluoro-ethylene-perfluoro (methyl vinyl ether) perfluoroelastomer.     

Iminologous epoxide ring-closure

The discovery of new reactions enables chemists to attain a better understanding of fundamental chemical reactivity and push the boundaries of organic synthesis. Our understanding and manipulation of high-energy states such as reactive conformations, intermediates, and transition structures contribute to this field. Herein we interrogate epoxide ring-closure by inserting the C N functionality into a well-known precursor to nucleophilic epoxide ring-closure. The synthesis of tetrasubstituted, nitrile-tethered epoxides takes place via activation of iminologous diols followed by fragmentation. Mechanistic study reveals the transformation to be stereospecific, which is consistent with the concerted nature of the epoxide ring-closure.

The discovery of new reactions enables chemists to attain a better understanding of fundamental chemical reactivity and push the boundaries of organic synthesis.     

Reaction of 3-chloroallyltrimethylsilane with acid chloride and exploitation of a new regioselective synthesis of αβ-unsaturated epoxide

α-Chloro-βγ-unsaturated ketone (2) was synthesized from the reaction of 3-chloroallyltrimethylsilane (1) with acid chloride. The ketone was converted into αβ-unsaturated epoxide (3) regioselectively in good yield via reduction with NaBH₄ or LiAlH₄ followed by treatment with NaOH. Treatment with methyl lithium instead of reduction gave homologous epoxide (5).     

Synthesis of a 4,5-epoxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one derivative via epoxide ring opening, 1,3-carbonyl transposition and epoxide ring regeneration: a synthetic study on a scyphostatin analogue

A 6-alkyl-4,5-epoxy-6-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one derivative, a model compound for the hydrophilic moiety of scyphostatin, was stereoselectively synthesized from the Diels-Alder adduct. The key steps were the reductive cleavage of the 4,5-epoxide ring of the epoxidated adduct, the 1,3-carbonyl transposition of the 3-carbonyl group to the C1 position by a Wharton reaction and stereoselective bromination to provide a trans bromohydrin derivative, a precursor to the desired compound. Desilylation of the bromohydrin derivative with TBAF directly gave the target compound.     

Nonracemic 2-diazo-1-oxiranyl-ethanone, a versatile chiral epoxide educt in diazocarbonyl reactions

(S)-(-)-2-Diazo-1-oxiranyl-ethanone, prepared in two steps from (R)-(+)-glycidol, has been employed as an intermediate in several characteristic diazocarbonyl reactions to yield novel, nonracemic products including an epoxy quinoxaline and epoxy thiazoles and oxazoles.     

ZrCl4 as a new and efficient catalyst for the opening of epoxide rings by amines

Zirconium(IV) chloride catalyses the nucleophilic opening of epoxide rings by amines leading to the efficient synthesis of β-amino alcohols. The reaction works well with aromatic and aliphatic amines in short times at room temperature in the absence of solvent. Exclusive trans stereoselectivity is observed for cyclic epoxides. Aromatic amines exhibit excellent regioselectivity for preferential nucleophilic attack at the sterically less hindered position during the reaction with unsymmetrical epoxides. However, in case of styrene oxide, selective formation of the benzylic amine was observed during the reactions with aromatic amines.     

Enantioselectivity of a recombinant epoxide hydrolase from Agrobacterium radiobacter

The recombinant epoxide hydrolase from Agrobacterium radiobacter AD1 was used to obtain enantiomerically pure epoxides by means of a kinetic resolution. Epoxides such as styrene oxide and various derivatives thereof and phenyl glycidyl ether were obtained in high enantiomeric excess and in reasonable yield. The enantioselectivity (E-value) of the resolution was calculated from progress curves for styrene oxide (E=16.2) and para-chlorostyrene oxide (E=32.2).