An unprecedented alpha-olefin distribution arising from a homogeneous ethylene oligomerization catalyst

Treatment of the bis(benzimidazolyl)amine chromium complex 2 with ethylene in the presence of MAO affords an exceptionally active oligomerization catalyst and an unprecedented distribution of 1-olefin products in which the C4n series is much more abundant than the C4n+2 series. Deuterium labeling studies are consistent with a metallacyclic chain growth mechanism in which the unusual product distribution arises from the interplay of two sites.     

Studies on the DNA binding and cleavage activity of a synthesized polyamide containing dipeptide Ser-His

The DNA binding and cleavage activity of a synthetic polyamide containing dipeptide Ser-His has been investigated by spectroscopic techniques, such as electronic absorbance and circular dichroism (CD) spectropolarimetry, as well as gel electrophoresis. The results show that the molecule has a strong interaction with DNA and can improve DNA-cleavage ability about 100 fold as compared with single dipeptide Ser-His.     

'Upenamide: An unprecedented macrocyclic alkaloid from the Indonesian sponge Echinochalina sp

'Upenamide (1) represents a new class of macrocyclic marine alkaloid possessing both spirooxaquinolizidinone and hemiaminal ring systems. It was isolated from the Indonesian sponge Echinochalina sp. The gross structure of 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic methods and accurate mass measurements. A suggestion is made as to its biogenetic origin.     

An unprecedented radical ring closure on a pyridine nitrogen

An unprecedented radical ring-closure onto the pyridine nitrogen was observed when certain types of substituents were present around the pyridine nucleus.     

An unprecedented azobenzene-based organic single-component ferroelectric

Organic single-component ferroelectrics, as an important class of metal-free ferroelectrics, are highly desirable because of their easy processing, mechanical flexibility, and biocompatibility. However, although nearly 50 years have passed since the discovery of photochromism in azobenzene-doped cholesteric liquid crystals, ferroelectricity has never been found in azobenzene-based crystals. Here, we use an amino group to substitute a fluorine atom of 2,2′,4,4′,6,6′-hexafluoroazobenzene, which successfully introduces ferroelectricity into 2-amino-2′,4,4′,6,6′-pentafluoroazobenzene (APFA). APFA shows an extremely high Curie temperature (T_c) of 443 K, which is outstanding among single-component ferroelectrics. It also exhibits an indirect optical band gap of 2.27 eV as well as photoisomerization behavior between the trans-form and the cis-form triggered by pedal motion. To our knowledge, APFA is the first azobenzene-based ferroelectric crystal. This work opens an avenue to design excellent single-component ferroelectrics and will inspire the exploration of azobenzene-based ferroelectrics for promising applications in biofriendly ferroelectric devices.

The first azobenzene-based organic single-component ferroelectric 2-amino-2′,4,4′,6,6′-pentafluoroazobenzene was designed, which shows an exceptionally high Curie temperature (T_c) of 443 K.     

An unprecedented co-crystal including a cis-high-spin and a trans-low-spin FeII complex molecule

Two structurally and magnetically nonequivalent isomeric molecules, a cis-high-spin and a trans-low-spin isomer constitute the unit cell of a new iron(II) complex {cis-[FeL(B5)(NCS)(2)].trans-[FeL(B5)(NCS)(2)]}.CH(3)OH, , (L(B5) = N,N'-bis((2-N-methylimidazol-1-yl)methylene))-2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diamine); the synthesis, X-ray structure, and magnetic and M?ssbauer study of this unique example of co-crystallised geometric, conformational and electronic isomers are reported.     

An unprecedented twist to ODCase catalytic activity

Orotidine-5'-monophosphate decarboxylase (ODCase) has evolved to catalyze a decarboxylation reaction, most probably via a carbanion species at the C6 position of orotidine-5'-monophosphate. We reveal an unusual biochemical pathway of conversion of 6-cyano-uridine-5'-monophosphate by ODCase to barbiturate-5'-monophosphate via perhaps an electrophilic center at the C6 position, leading to inhibition. This potential of ODCase is very useful in the design of novel inhibitors.     

A kinetic study of product cleavage reactions from the solid phase by a biocompatible and removable cleaving reagent, HCl

TFA has been widely used as a cleaving reagent in solid-phase organic synthesis. However, it is difficult to remove from the final product, and it is toxic to various cells. To search for an alternative, we studied the kinetics of HCl cleavage reactions of 18 resin-bound compounds on various linkers. HCl is very easy to remove completely from samples, and the residual HCl does not have a toxic effect in cell assays. Most compounds studied in this work can be easily cleaved using a low concentration of HCl (0.9-2.3%) and the minimal amount of time (60-90 min). Even in the most difficult case, a moderate 8% HCl and an extended time (10-15 h) are enough to cleave the product. Therefore, our kinetic studies establish HCl as a biocompatible, removable, and effective substitute for TFA when final compounds are used for biological screening and drug discovery.     

An efficient synthetic method for Z-fluoroalkene dipeptide isosteres: Application to the synthesis of the dipeptide isostere of Sta-Ala

Reaction of γ,γ-difluoro-α,β-enoates having a δ-hydroxyl group with trialkylaluminum (R₃Al) was found to be promoted by CuI·2LiCl and to proceed in SN2′ manner giving rise to the α-alkylated (Z)-γ-fluoro-β,γ-enoates, while reductive defluorination of γ,γ-difluoro-α,β-enoates with Me₂CuLi followed by reaction with alkyl halides provided the corresponding (Z)-α-alkylated products in high yields. The latter reaction was applied to the preparation of the dipeptide (Z)-fluoroalkene isostere of Sta-Ala, which is the central dipeptide unit in Pepstatin, a natural inhibitor of aspartate proteases.     

An unprecedented gedunin rearrangement reaction converts a methyl group into the methylene group of a cyclopropyl ring

Herein we describe an unprecedented formation of a cyclopropane ring through the conversion of a methyl group that was not functionalized for the purpose. In a one-step reaction, 7-deacetoxy-7α-hydroxygedunin (4) afforded two new gedunin derivatives, namely 7-deacetoxy-13,14,18-cyclopropyl-7α,15β, 17ξ-trihydroxy-gedu-16-oic acid (7) and 7-deacetoxy-9,11-en-7α,15β-dihydroxygedunin (8) along with the known 7-deacetoxy-7,9-diene-15β-hydroxygedunin (5).     

An unprecedented recyclable catalyst system for asymmetric hydroboration

Immobilised preformed chiral homogeneous catalysts were subjected to catalytic hydroboration of styrene with catecholborane and the activity, regio- and enantioselectivity observed were similar to those found when the corresponding homogeneous catalyst was used, remaining constant for several consecutive runs.     

An unprecedented oxidative trimerization of sesamol catalyzed by laccases

The laccase-catalyzed oxidative coupling of sesamol, a naturally occurring phenolic antioxidant, with O₂ as the oxidant proceeds with high selectivity and delivers a previously unknown trimer in 61% yield. Further experiments demonstrate that the outcome of the sesamol oxidation strongly depends on the catalyst and the oxidant employed.     

An unprecedented concerted pathway in the alkaline hydrolysis of S-aryl thioesters

[reaction: see text] Kinetic data indicate that the hydrolysis of S-2,4-dinitrophenyl 4'-hydroxythiobenzoate in mild alkaline solutions (pH 8-11) most likely follows a dissociative, E1cB pathway, through a p-oxoketene intermediate, whereas at higher pH values an associative mechanism carries the reaction flux. Free linear energy relationships obtained from a kinetic study on the alkaline hydrolyses of substituted S-aryl 4'-hydroxythiobenzoates seem to suggest that the associative pathway is a concerted, one-step process, rather than the classical mechanism via a tetrahedral intermediate.     

An unprecedented fivefold interpenetrated lvt network containing the exceptional racemic motifs originated from nine interwoven helices

An unprecedented fivefold interpenetrated lvt network, containing the rare racemic motifs originated from nine interwoven helices, is reported, which represents the highest degree of interpenetration presently known for 3D nets containing only planar four-coordinate nodes.     

An unprecedented type of linear metallocene with an f-element

The dication [(C5Me5)2U(NCMe)5]2+ was obtained by dissolving (C5Me5)2UI2 in acetonitrile or by treating (C5Me5)2UMe2 with HNEt3BPh4 in acetonitrile. The crystal structure revealed that the cyclopentadienyl rings are parallel and equidistant to the plane defined by the metal center and nitrogen atoms of the five MeCN ligands. Fifty years after the discovery of ferrocene, this compound represents a unique example of linear metallocene with auxiliary ligands in the equatorial girdle; it is also the first linear sandwich complex of an f-element.     

An unprecedented rearrangement of a 1,1-diprotected hydrazine derivative. Structure revision of a catalyst-containing by-product

Treatment of 1-Boc-1-tosyl-hydrazine with 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (TMG) gave rise to two products, one containing and the other not containing TMG. The latter was identified as 1-Boc-2-tosyl-hydrazine. This rearrangement provided useful insight into the nature of the first product that had previously been isolated and assigned an incorrect tentative structure. To rationalize the results a plausible mechanism via a common intermediate, involving TMG as a nucleophilic catalyst is proposed. A simpler procedure for the preparation of the starting material is also presented.