De novo analysis of electron impact mass spectra using fragmentation trees

The automated fragmentation analysis of high resolution EI mass spectra based on a fragmentation tree algorithm is introduced. Fragmentation trees are constructed from EI spectra by automated signal extraction and evaluation. These trees explain relevant fragmentation reactions and assign molecular formulas to fragments. The method enables the identification of the molecular ion and the molecular formula of a metabolite if the molecular ion is present in the spectrum. These identifications are independent of existing library knowledge and, thus, support assignment and structural elucidation of unknown compounds. The method works even if the molecular ion is of very low abundance or hidden under contaminants with higher masses. We apply the algorithm to a selection of 50 derivatized and underivatized metabolites and demonstrate that in 78% of cases the molecular ion can be correctly assigned. The automatically constructed fragmentation trees correspond very well to published mechanisms and allow the assignment of specific relevant fragments and fragmentation pathways even in the most complex EI-spectra in our dataset. This method will be very helpful in the automated analysis of metabolites that are not included in common libraries and it thus has the potential to support the explorative character of metabolomics studies.     

A synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyridines via pyridyne intermediates

A synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyridines from pyridyne intermediates is reported together with a study of the reactions of 2-methyl-2H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyridine (5) with oxidising and reducing agents.     

Highly sulfurated heterocycles via dithiiranes and trithietanes as key intermediates

2,2,4,4-Tetramethyl-3-thioxocyclobutanone (8b) easily reacts with gaseous chlorine to yield the stable alpha-chloro sulfenyl chloride 10. The same product was obtained when 8b was treated either with phosphorus pentachloride (PCl(5)) or sulfuryl chloride (SO(2)Cl(2)) in CCl(4) solution. Sulfur dichloride (SCl(2)) reacts with 8b to give the alpha-chloro thiosulfenyl chloride 12 along with an almost equimolar amount of the trisulfide 13b. The less reactive disulfur dichloride (S(2)Cl(2)) was shown to react slowly with 8b and the symmetrical tetrasulfide 15 was found as the exclusive product. The pure thiosulfenyl chloride 12 added to adamantanethione (8c) yielded the unsymmetrical trisulfide 13c. When 12 was treated with thioacetic acid, the acetylated trisulfide 17 was formed in high yield. "Unzipping" reactions with the acetylated disulfide 16 and trisulfide 17 with morpholine in THF at -40 degrees C led to the formation of mixtures of two sulfur-rich heterocycles identified as the pentathiepane 6b and the hexathiepane 7b. A mixture of analogous products was obtained when alpha-chloro sulfenyl chloride 10 was treated with sodium sulfide in anhydrous THF at -40 degrees C. The formation of 6b and 7b is believed to occur via the intermediate dithiirane 1b and/or the isomeric thiosulfine 2b. In the case of 17 the reaction starts probably with the formation of a nonisolable tetrathiane 18b as presented in Scheme 5.     

A new (R)-hydroxynitrile lyase from Prunus mume: asymmetric synthesis of cyanohydrins

A new hydroxynitrile lyase (HNL) was isolated from the seed of Japanese apricot (Prunus mume). The enzyme has similar properties with HNL isolated from other Prunus species and is FAD containing enzyme. It accepts a large number of unnatural substrates (benzaldehyde and its variant) for the addition of HCN to produce the corresponding cyanohydrins in excellent optical and chemical yields. A new HPLC based enantioselective assay technique was developed for the enzyme, which promotes the addition of KCN to benzaldehyde in a buffered solution (pH=4.5).     

The synthesis of key intermediates in cembranolides

Two key intermediates of cembranolides- (2E,6E,10E)-3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-9-phenylsulfonyl-2,6,10,14-tetraen-1-hexadecanol (1) and (2E,6E,10E,14E)-2,6,10,14-tetramethyl-8-phenylsulfonyl-2,6,10,14-tetraen-1,16-hexadecanediol (2) were synthesized starting from geraniol and linalool and some improved synthetic methods were used.     

Selective preparation of key intermediates for the synthesis of key intermediates for the synthesis of gemini surfactants by phase-transfer catalysis

A comparison of liquid-liquid and solid-liquid PTC for the selective synthesis of diglycidyl ether from protected pentaerythritol and epichlorohydrin is presented. Solid-liquid PTC was found to be more useful than liquid-liquid PTC because the use of water or other solvents can be avoided and higher yields and selectivity are achieved. It was proved that etherification takes place in the solid phase-organic phase system even in the absence of the phase-transfer catalyst. However, the use of tetrabutylammonium bisulfate as catalyst is essential due to its crucial effect on the enhancement of the rate of etherification and on the improvement of the selectivity to diglycidyl ether, which is higher than 98%.     

Phosphide-borane complexes as key intermediates in the synthesis of optically active 1,3-oxaphospholanes

The syntheses, from the triphenylphosphine-borane complex, of chiral 1,3-oxaphospholanes and optically active bis-1,3-oxaphospholanes, obtained by cleavage of a carbon-phosphorus bond with lithium, are described. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Application of directed metalation in synthesis. Part 7: Synthesis of suitably functionalised benzo[b]thiophenes as key intermediates in the synthesis of benzothienopyranones

One-pot syntheses of (3-hydroxybenzo[b]thiophen-2-yl) aryl methanones from ortho-methylsulfanylaryl N,N-diethyl amides and of 1-(3-hydroxybenzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)ethanone and 1-(3-hydroxybenzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)propan-1-one via an anionic ortho-Fries rearrangement are described. The hydroxy ketones were used as key intermediates in the synthesis of benzothienopyranones.     

A diastereoselective synthesis of both quercus lactone isomers employing allyl-type organometallics as key intermediates

Consecutive treatment of endo-butenyl potassium or endo-1-(tetrahydropyranyloxy)-exo-butenyl lithium with fluorodimethoxyboron and pentanal at ?75°C affords an erythro- and, respectively, threo-adduct, the hydrolysis and oxidation of which leads to the cis- and, respectively, trans-isomer of 5-butyl-4-methyl-tetrahydro-2-furanone (4-butyl-3-methyl-4-butanolide), 1, the so-called quercus or oak lactones.     

Secondary organic aerosol from limona ketone: insights into terpene ozonolysis via synthesis of key intermediates

Limona ketone was synthesized to explore the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation mechanism from limonene ozonolysis and also to test group-additivity concepts describing the volatility distribution of ozonolysis products from similar precursors. Limona ketone SOA production is indistinguishable from alpha-pinene, confirming the expected similarity. However, limona ketone SOA production is significantly less intense than limonene SOA production. The very low vapor pressure of limonene ozonolysis products is consistent with full oxidation of both double bonds in limonene and furthermore with production of products other than ketones after oxidation of the exo double bond in limonene. Mass-balance constraints confirm that ketone products from exo double-bond ozonolysis have a minimal contribution to the ultimate product yield. These results serve as the foundation for an emerging framework to describe the effect on volatility of successive generations of organic compounds in the atmosphere.     

Chemical synthesis of RNA via 2′-O-cyanoethylated intermediates

It was found that 2′-O-cyanoethyl group could be removed from 2′-O-cyanoethylated ribonucleoside derivatives by treatment with Bu₄NF. This finding was successfully applied to the synthesis of oligoribonucleotides via their 2′-O-cyanoethylated derivatives as key intermediates where a cyanoethyl group was used as the 2′-hydroxyl protecting group. The rate of condensation using this protecting group in the presence of various activators was generally faster than that observed when a TBDMS group was used as the protecting group.     

Stereoselective synthesis of P-chirogenic dibenzophosphole-boranes via aryne intermediates

A new aryne-mediated tandem cross-coupling/P-cyclization sequence starting from tertiary phosphine-boranes and 1,2-dibromobenzenes is reported. P-chirogenic dibenzophospholes become accessible in a regio-, chemo-, and diastereoselective way.     

One-pot chemoenzymatic synthesis of protected cyanohydrins

In a chemoenzymatic one-pot reaction of ethyl cyanoformate with benzaldehyde catalyzed by the hydroxynitrile lyase from Prunus amygdalus ethoxycarbonylated (R)-mandelonitrile is formed in a highly enatioselective manner. The reaction was performed both in aqueous and organic media. ¹H NMR investigations revealed a two-step procedure consisting of an enzyme-catalyzed addition of HCN, generated by hydrolysis of ethyl cyanoformate, to the aldehyde followed by ethoxycarbonylation of the free cyanohydrin in a second step     

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of key intermediates for triazole antifungal agents

[reaction: see text] A short-step synthesis of versatile chiral building blocks for triazole antifungal agents such as ZD0870 and Sch45450 was developed via catalytic enantioselective cyanosilylation of electron-deficient ketones as the key step. High enantioselectivity was produced using a catalyst prepared from Gd(HMDS)(3) and ligand 5 in a 2:3 ratio. This new catalyst preparation method was superior to the previous method using Gd(O(i)Pr)(3) as a metal source. A rationale for the difference is proposed on the basis of structural studies of the catalyst complexes using ESI-MS.     

The efficient synthesis of chiral key intermediates for monobactam antibiotics

Chemical asymmetric syntheses of the key intermediates (4,6,8) for the synthesis of monobactam antibiotics (SQ 26776 (azthreonam), sulfazecin, and SQ 26180) are accomplished from (±)-4-phenylsulfonyl-2-azetidinone.     

A new strategy for dinucleotide synthesis via phosphite route involving phosphorochloridates as intermediates

Readily available nucleoside trimethylsilyl phosphites and analoguous compounds are transformed in high yield into the corresponding phosphorochloridates by reaction with sulfuryl chloride. These compounds are employed as efficient reagents for internucleotide linkage formation.     

A synthesis of isoindoles and isoindolines via aryne intermediates

The intramolecular cyclization of the tertiary amines (3) with potassium amide in liquid ammonia affords a variety of unsymmetrical isoindolines (5) and isoindoles (6).