12‐ to 22‐Membered Bridged β‐Lactams as Potential Penicillin‐Binding Protein Inhibitors

As potential inhibitors of penicillin‐binding proteins (PBPs), we focused our research on the synthesis of non‐traditional 1,3‐bridged β‐lactams embedded into macrocycles. We synthesized 12‐ to 22‐membered bicyclic β‐lactams by the ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) of bis‐ω‐alkenyl‐3(S)‐aminoazetidinone precursors. The reactivity of 1,3‐bridged β‐lactams was estimated by the determination of the energy barrier of a concerted nucleophilic attack and lactam ring‐opening process by using ab initio calculations. The results predicted that 16‐membered cycles should be more reactive. Biochemical evaluations against R39 DD‐peptidase and two resistant PBPs, namely, PBP2a and PBP5, revealed the inhibition effect of compound 4d , which featured a 16‐membered bridge and the N‐tert‐butyloxycarbonyl chain at the C3 position of the β‐lactam ring. Surprisingly, the corresponding bicycle, 12d , with the PhOCH₂CO side chain at C3 was inactive. Reaction models of the R39 active site gave a new insight into the geometric requirements of the conformation of potential ligands and their steric hindrance; this could help in the design of new compounds.     

Stereoselective synthesis of enantiopure cyclic α‐aminophosphonic acids: Direct observation of inversion at phosphorus in phosphonate ester silyldealkylation by bromotrimethylsilane

The paper describes a simple, direct synthesis of enantiopure cyclic α‐aminophosphonic acids on the basis of silyldealkylation and followed by hydrolysis of the parent diastereoisomeric cyclic 1,4,2‐oxazaphosphorines, which have been obtained by intramolecular stereospecific nucleophilic addition of phosphites to imines. In this approach, the high diastereoselectivity of the stereocontrolling penultimate step is preserved by conversion of the intermediate ester to the final phosphonic acid under very mild, nonracemizing conditions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 19:575–582, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20480     

Highly Stereoselective β‐Mannopyranosylation via the 1‐α‐Glycosyloxy‐isochromenylium‐4‐gold(I) Intermediates

While the gold(I)‐catalyzed glycosylation reaction with 4,6‐O‐benzylidene tethered mannosyl ortho‐alkynylbenzoates as donors falls squarely into the category of the Crich‐type β‐selective mannosylation when Ph₃PAuOTf is used as the catalyst, in that the mannosyl α‐triflates are invoked, replacement of the ^?OTf in the gold(I) complex with less nucleophilic counter anions (i.e., ^?NTf₂, ^?SbF₆, ^?BF₄, and ^?BAr₄^F) leads to complete loss of β‐selectivity with the mannosyl ortho‐alkynylbenzoate β‐donors. Nevertheless, with the α‐donors, the mannosylation reactions under the catalysis of Ph₃PAuBAr₄^F (BAr₄^F=tetrakis[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate) are especially highly β‐selective and accommodate a broad scope of substrates; these include glycosylation with mannosyl donors installed with a bulky TBS group at O3, donors bearing 4,6‐di‐O‐benzoyl groups, and acceptors known as sterically unmatched or hindered. For the ortho‐alkynylbenzoate β‐donors, an anomerization and glycosylation sequence can also ensure the highly β‐selective mannosylation. The 1‐α‐mannosyloxy‐isochromenylium‐4‐gold(I) complex ( Cα ), readily generated upon activation of the α‐mannosyl ortho‐alkynylbenzoate ( 1 α ) with Ph₃PAuBAr₄^F at ?35 °C, was well characterized by NMR spectroscopy; the occurrence of this species accounts for the high β‐selectivity in the present mannosylation.     

Synthesis and Structures of β‐Diketoiminate Complexes of Magnesium

The reaction of the β‐diketoiminate lithium complex (dipp)NacNacLi · OEt₂ ((dipp)NacNac = 2‐((2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)amino)‐4‐((2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imino)‐pent‐2‐enyl) with iPrMgCl and MgI₂ yield the corresponding (dipp)NacNacMgiPr · OEt₂ ( 1 ) and (dipp)NacNacMgI · OEt₂ ( 2 ). The reaction of 2 with NaBH₄ in diethylether gives (dipp)NacNacMg(μ‐H)₃BH · OEt₂ ( 3 ). The core element of compounds 1 – 3 is a six‐membered ring formed by N(1)–C(1)–C(2)–C(3)–N(2) and magnesium. The structures of 1 and 2 show the β‐diketoiminate backbone in a boat‐conformation with the tetrahedrally coordinated metal center at the prow and the opposing carbon atom at the stern. The magnesium atom in 3 is octahedrally coordinated and out of the β‐diketoiminate plane.     

Methyl 4‐O‐β‐D‐mannopyranosyl β‐D‐xylopyranoside

Methyl β‐D‐mannopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D‐xylopyranoside, C₁₂H₂₂O₁₀, (I), crystallizes as colorless needles from water, with two crystallographically independent molecules, (IA) and (IB), comprising the asymmetric unit. The internal glycosidic linkage conformation in molecule (IA) is characterized by a ϕ′ torsion angle (O5′_Man—C1′_Man—O1′_Man—C4_Xyl; Man is mannose and Xyl is xylose) of −88.38 (17)° and a ψ′ torsion angle (C1′_Man—O1′_Man—C4_Xyl—C5_Xyl) of −149.22 (15)°, whereas the corresponding torsion angles in molecule (IB) are −89.82 (17) and −159.98 (14)°, respectively. Ring atom numbering conforms to the convention in which C1 denotes the anomeric C atom, and C5 and C6 denote the hydroxymethyl (–CH₂OH) C atom in the β‐Xylp and β‐Manp residues, respectively. By comparison, the internal glycosidic linkage in the major disorder component of the structurally related disaccharide, methyl β‐D‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D‐xylopyranoside), (II) [Zhang, Oliver & Serriani (2012). Acta Cryst. C 68 , o7–o11], is characterized by ϕ′ = −85.7 (6)° and ψ′ = −141.6 (8)°. Inter‐residue hydrogen bonding is observed between atoms O3_Xyl and O5′_Man in both (IA) and (IB) [O3_Xyl...O5′_Man internuclear distances = 2.7268 (16) and 2.6920 (17) Å, respectively], analogous to the inter‐residue hydrogen bond detected between atoms O3_Xyl and O5′_Gal in (II). Exocyclic hydroxymethyl group conformation in the β‐Manp residue of (IA) is gauche–gauche, whereas that in the β‐Manp residue of (IB) is gauche–trans.     

Disorder and conformational analysis of methyl β‐d‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d‐xylopyranoside

Methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d ‐xylopyranoside, C₁₂H₂₂O₁₀, (II), crystallizes as colorless needles from water with positional disorder in the xylopyranosyl (Xyl) ring and no water molecules in the unit cell. The internal glycosidic linkage conformation in (II) is characterized by a ϕ′ torsion angle (C2′_Gal—C1′_Gal—O1′_Gal—C4_Xyl) of 156.4 (5)° and a ψ′ torsion angle (C1′_Gal—O1′_Gal—C4_Xyl—C3_Xyl) of 94.0 (11)°, where the ring atom numbering conforms to the convention in which C1 denotes the anomeric C atom, and C5 and C6 denote the hydroxymethyl (–CH₂OH) C atoms in the β‐Xyl and β‐Gal residues, respectively. By comparison, the internal linkage conformation in the crystal structure of the structurally related disaccharide, methyl β‐lactoside [methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside], (III) [Stenutz, Shang & Serianni (1999). Acta Cryst. C 55 , 1719–1721], is characterized by ϕ′ = 153.8 (2)° and ψ′ = 78.4 (2)°. A comparison of β‐(1→4)‐linked disaccharides shows considerable variability in both ϕ′ and ψ′, with the range in the latter (∼38°) greater than that in the former (∼28°). Inter‐residue hydrogen bonding is observed between atoms O3_Xyl and O5′_Gal in the crystal structure of (II), analogous to the inter‐residue hydrogen bond detected between atoms O3_Glc and O5′_Gal in (III). The exocyclic hydroxymethyl conformations in the Gal residues of (II) and (III) are identical (gauche–trans conformer).     

Methyl β‐d‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d‐allopyranoside tetrahydrate

The title compound, C₁₃H₂₄O₁₁·4H₂O, (I), crystallized from water, has an internal glycosidic linkage conformation having ϕ′ (O5_Gal—C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C4_All) = −96.40 (12)° and ψ′ (C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C4_All—C5_All) = −160.93 (10)°, where ring‐atom numbering conforms to the convention in which C1 denotes the anomeric C atom, C5 the ring atom bearing the exocyclic hydroxymethyl group, and C6 the exocyclic hydroxymethyl (CH₂OH) C atom in the βGalp and βAllp residues. Internal linkage conformations in the crystal structures of the structurally related disaccharides methyl β‐lactoside [methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside] methanol solvate [Stenutz, Shang & Serianni (1999). Acta Cryst. C 55 , 1719–1721], (II), and methyl β‐cellobioside [methyl β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside] methanol solvate [Ham & Williams (1970). Acta Cryst. B 26 , 1373–1383], (III), are characterized by ϕ′ = −88.4 (2)° and ψ′ = −161.3 (2)°, and ϕ′ = −91.1° and ψ′ = −160.7°, respectively. Inter‐residue hydrogen bonding is observed between O3_Glc and O5_Gal/Glc in the crystal structures of (II) and (III), suggesting a role in determining their preferred linkage conformations. An analogous inter‐residue hydrogen bond does not exist in (I) due to the axial orientation of O3_All, yet its internal linkage conformation is very similar to those of (II) and (III).     

Synthesis of some fused β‐carbolines including the first example of the pyrrolo[3,2‐c]‐β‐carboline system

Condensation of 1‐methyl‐β‐carboline‐3‐carbaldehyde with ethyl azidoacetate and subsequent thermolysis of the resulting azidopropenoate was used to [c] annulate a pyrrole ring onto the β‐carboline moiety, thus producing the first example of the pyrrolo[3,2‐c]‐β‐carboline ring system. The latter ring system results from cyclization at the C‐4 carbon, whereas cyclization at the N‐2 nitrogen atom also occurs to form a pyrazolo[3,2‐c]‐β‐carboline ring system. Condensation of β‐carboline‐1‐carbaldehyde with ethyl azidoacetate produced a non‐isolable intermediate, which immediately underwent cyclization, however in this case cyclization occurred via attack at the ester and the azide remained intact. The resulting 5‐azidocanthin‐6‐one was transformed to the first examples of 5‐aminocanthin‐6‐ones. β‐Carboline‐1,3‐dicarbaldehyde failed to give an acceptable reaction with ethyl azidoacetate, but did undergo selective condensation with dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate at the C‐1 carbaldehyde with concomitant cyclization to form a highly functionalized 2‐formyl‐canthine derivative.     

Efficient synthesis and crystal structure of 2‐propyl‐5‐(substituted)phenyl‐1,4‐dioxo‐1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8‐octahydro‐[1,4,2]diazaphosphorino[1,2‐a] [1,3,2]benzodiazaphosphorine 3‐oxides

In order to search for novel antitumor and antiviral agents with high activity and low toxicity, some 2‐propyl‐5‐(substituted)phenyl‐1,4‐dioxo‐1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8‐octahydro‐[1,4,2]diazaphosphorino[1,2‐a][1,3,2]benzodiazaphosphorine 3‐oxides ( 2a–e ) have been designed incorporating the proximate carbonyl and phosphoryl groups into the benzoannulated phosphadiamide heterocycle and synthesized in acceptable yields. These compounds contain the proximate carbonyl and phosphoryl groups in the fused heterocycle. Their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic methods and microanalyses. The results from X‐ray crystallography analysis of 2a showed that the proximate carbonyl and phosphoryl groups are not coplanar because of their being jointly located in the fused heterocycle, having ring tension, and this then destroys the conjugation between the CO and the PO moieties. As a result, the length of the P C bonds measured as 1.851(3)–1.852(3) Å are just the same as that of a P C bond not involved in conjugation (1.80–1.85 Å). Also,the C(1), C(2), C(3), N(2), N(3), and P(1) atoms of the [1,4,2]diazaphosphorino moiety exist preferably in the boat conformation. The coplanar C(1), C(3), N(2), and N(3) atoms, within an average deviation of 0.0102 Å, form the ground floor of the boat conformation, whereas the P(1) and C(2) atoms are on the same side of the coplanar structure with the distance of 0.7067 and 0.6315 Å, respectively. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 13:63–71, 2002; DOI 10.1002/hc.1107     

1,2‐Diaza‐3‐silacyclopent‐5‐ene – Synthese und Reaktionen

1,2‐Diaza‐3‐silacyclopent‐5‐ene – Synthesis and Reactions The dilithium salt of bis(tert‐butyl‐trimethylsilylmethylen)ketazine ( 1 ) forms an imine‐enamine salt. 1 reacts with halosilanes in a molar ratio of 1:1 to give 1,2‐diaza‐3‐silacyclopent‐5‐enes. Me₃SiCH=CCMe₃ [N(SiR,R′)‐N=C‐C]HSiMe₃ ( 2 ‐ 7 ). ( 2 : R,R′ = Cl; 3 : R = CH₃, R′ = Ph; 4 : R = F, R′ = CMe₃; 5 : R = F, R′ = Ph; 6 : R = F, R′ = N(SiMe₃)₂; 7 : R = F, R′ = N(CMe₃)SiMe₃). In the reaction of 1 with tetrafluorosilane the spirocyclus 8 is isolated. The five‐membered ring compounds 2 ‐ 7 and compound 9 substituted on the silicon‐fluoro‐ and (tert‐butyltrimethylsilyl) are acid at the C(4)‐atom and therefore can be lithiated. Experiments to prepare lithium salts of 4 with MeLi, n‐BuLi and PhLi gave LiF and the substitution‐products 10 ‐ 12 . 9 forms a lithium salt which reacts with ClSiMe₃ to give LiCl and the SiMe₃ ring system ( 13 ) substituted at the C(4)‐atom. The ring compounds 3 ‐ 7 and 10 ‐ 12 form isomers, the formation is discussed. Results of the crystal structure and analyses of 8 , 10 , 12 , and 13 are presented.     

N‐(p‐Chloro­phenyl)‐3,3‐di­phenyl‐4‐(β‐phenyl­styryl)azetidin‐2‐one

In the title compound, C₃₅H₂₆ClNO, the four‐membered β‐lactam ring is essentially planar, with a maximum deviation of 0.012 (1) Å for the N atom. The C—C bond lengths in the β‐lactam ring are 1.591 (2) and 1.549 (2) Å. The two phenyl rings attached to the β‐lactam ring are nearly perpendicular to each other [83.2 (1)°].     

Methyl 4‐O‐β‐d‐galactopyranosyl α‐d‐mannopyranoside methanol 0.375‐solvate

Methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐α‐d ‐mannopyranoside methanol 0.375‐solvate, C₁₃H₂₄O₁₁·0.375CH₃OH, (I), was crystallized from a methanol–ethanol solvent system in a glycosidic linkage conformation, with ϕ′ (O5_Gal—C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C4_Man) = −68.2 (3)° and ψ′ (C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C4_Man—C5_Man) = −123.9 (2)°, where the ring is defined by atoms O5/C1–C5 (monosaccharide numbering); C1 denotes the anomeric C atom and C6 the exocyclic hydroxymethyl C atom in the βGalp and αManp residues, respectively. The linkage conformation in (I) differs from that in crystalline methyl α‐lactoside [methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐α‐d ‐glucopyranoside], (II) [Pan, Noll & Serianni (2005). Acta Cryst. C 61 , o674–o677], where ϕ′ is −93.6° and ψ′ is −144.8°. An intermolecular hydrogen bond exists between O3_Man and O5_Gal in (I), similar to that between O3_Glc and O5_Gal in (II). The structures of (I) and (II) are also compared with those of their constituent residues, viz. methyl α‐d ‐mannopyranoside, methyl α‐d ‐glucopyranoside and methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranoside, revealing significant differences in the Cremer–Pople puckering parameters, exocyclic hydroxymethyl group conformations and intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding patterns.     

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.     

Efficient asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes using C2‐novel chiral pyridine β‐amino alcohols as chiral ligands

A series of novel C₂‐symmetric chiral pyridine β‐amino alcohol ligands have been synthesized from 2,6‐pyridine dicarboxaldehyde, m‐phthalaldehyde and chiral β‐amino alcohols through a two‐step reaction. All their structures were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and IR. Their enantioselective induction behaviors were examined under different conditions such as the structure of the ligands, reaction temperature, solvent, reaction time and catalytic amount. The results show that the corresponding chiral secondary alcohols can be obtained with high yields and moderate to good enantiomeric excess. The best result, up to 89% ee, was obtained when the ligand 3c (2S,2′R)‐2,2′‐((pyridine‐2,6‐diylbis(methylene))bisazanediyl))bis(4‐methyl‐1,1‐diphenylpentan‐1‐ol) was used in toluene at room temperature. The ligand 3g (2S,2′R)‐2,2′‐((1,3‐phenylenebis(methylene))bis(azanediyl))bis(4‐methyl‐1,1‐diphenylpentan‐1‐ol) was prepared in which the pyridine ring was replaced by the benzene ring compared to 3c in order to illustrate the unique role of the N atom in the pyridine ring in the inductive reaction. The results indicate that the coordination of the N atom of the pyridine ring is essential in the asymmetric induction reaction. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and isolation of bromo‐β‐carbolines obtained by bromination of β‐carboline alkaloids

β‐Carbolines ( 1–5 ) undergo electrophilic aromatic substitution with N‐bromosuccinimide under different experimental conditions. Although 6‐bromo‐nor‐harmane ( la ) obtained by bromination of nor‐harmane ( 1 ) was isolated and fully characterized sometime ago, the other bromoderivatives of nor‐harmane ( 1b‐1e ) and harmane ( 2a‐2e ) were partially described as part of the reaction mixtures. The preparation and subsequent isolation, purification and full characterization of 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e are reported (mp, R _f, ¹H‐nmr, ¹³C‐nmr and ms) together with the preparation, isolation and charaterization, for the first time, of the bromoderivatives obtained from harmine ( 3a‐3e ), harmol ( 4a, 4b ) and 7‐acetylharmol ( 5a‐5c ). As brominating reagent N‐bromosuccinimide and N‐bromosuccinimide‐silica gel in dichloromethane and in chloroform as well as the β‐carboline ‐ N‐bomosuccinimide solid mixture have been used and their uses have been compared. Semiempirical AMI and PM3 calculations have been performed in order to predict reactivity in terms of the energies of HOMO, HOMO‐LUMO difference and in terms of the charge density of β‐carbolines ( 1–5 ) and bromo‐β‐carbolines ( 1a‐1e, 2a‐2e, 3a‐3e, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b and 5c ) (Scheme 1). Theoretical and experimental results are discussed briefly.     

Multiple Cycloaddition Reactions of Ketones with a β‐Diketiminate Al Compound

A β‐diketiminate Al compound ( 1 ) with an exocyclic double bond reacts with two equivalents each of benzophenone and 2‐benzoylpyridine in a [4+2] cycloaddition to generate bicyclic and tricyclic compounds 2 and 3, respectively. Compound 2 consists of six‐ and eight‐membered aluminium rings, whereas 3 has two five‐ and one eight‐membered ring. Compounds 2 and 3 were characterized by a number of analytical tools including single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The quantum mechanical calculations suggest that the dissociation of the solvent molecule from 1 would lead to an active species 1A having two 1,4‐dipolar 4π electron moieties, in which the electrophilic site is the Al atom and the nucleophilic positions are polarized exocyclic and endocyclic C?C π bonds. The detailed mechanistic study shows that the dipolarophiles, benzophenone, and 2‐benzoylpyridine undergo double cycloaddition with two 1,4‐dipolar 4π electron moieties of 1A . Herein, the addition of one molecule of the dipolarophile promotes the addition of the second one.     

Phosphoryl group differentiating α‐amino acids from β‐ and γ‐amino acids in prebiotic peptide formation

In recent years β‐amino acids have increased their importance enormously in defining secondary structures of β‐peptides. Interest in β‐amino acids raises the question: Why and how did nature choose α‐amino acids for the central role in life? In this article we present experimental results of MS and ³¹P NMR methods on the chemical behavior of N‐phosphorylated α‐alanine, β‐alanine, and γ‐amino butyric acid in different solvents. N‐Phosphoryl α‐alanine can self‐assemble to N‐phosphopeptides either in water or in organic solvents, while no assembly was observed for β‐ or γ‐amino acids. An intramolecular carboxylic–phosphoric mixed anhydride (IMCPA) is the key structure responsible for their chemical behaviors. Relative energies and solvent effects of three isomers of IMCPA derived from α‐alanine (2a–c), with five‐membered ring, and five isomers of IMCPA derived from β‐alanine (4a–e), with six‐membered ring, were calculated with density functional theory at the B3LYP/6‐31G** level. The lower relative energy (3.2 kcal/mol in water) of 2b and lower energy barrier for its formation (16.7 kcal/mol in water) are responsible for the peptide formation from N‐phosphoryl α‐alanine. Both experimental and theoretical studies indicate that the structural difference among α‐, β‐, and γ‐amino acids can be recognized by formation of IMCPA after N‐phosphorylation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 94: 232–241, 2003     

Cycloaddition of N‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethylidene)‐substituted carboxamides and carbamates to 1,2,4‐thiadiazol‐5(2H)‐imines

1,2,4‐Thiadiazol‐5(2H)‐imines 4 react with N‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethylidene)‐substituted amides 5 to form [3 + 2]‐cycloaddition products 6 featured by an extra coordination of the ring sulfur atom to the terminal nitrogen atom of the side 1,3‐diazapropenylidene group, as established by X‐ray diffraction investigation. This coordination evidently plays an important role in the alkylation of compounds 6 into 8 at the oxygen atom under mild conditions. The S N bond “switch‐over” restoring the original 1,2,4‐thiadiazole ring occurs therewith. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:474–480, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10182     

Theoretical study of the thermolysis reaction of β‐hydroxynitriles in the gas phase

The gas‐phase thermal decomposition of 3‐hydroxypropionitrile, 3‐hydroxybutyronitrile, and 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbutyronitrile has been studied at the MP2/6‐31G(d) level of theory at 683.15 K and 0.06 atm. Results based both in energy and structure data seem to indicate a favorable route of decomposition via a six‐membered cyclic transition state (similar to those suggested for thermal decomposition of other related compounds, such as β‐hydroxyketones, β‐hydroxyalkenes, and β‐hydroxyalkynes) rather than a four‐membered cyclic transition state or even a quasiheterolytic pathway. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003     

Mass spectrometry characterization of 3‐OH butyrated β‐cyclodextrin

Oligo(3‐OH butyrate)‐β‐cyclodextrin esters (PHB‐CD) were obtained through ring opening of β‐butyrolactone (β‐BL) in the presence of β‐cyclodextrin (CD) and (‐)‐sparteine (SP) as nucleophilic activator. The resulted reaction mixture was first separated in two fractions and then investigated through a deep mass spectrometry (MS) study performed on a liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐quadrupole time of flight (LC‐ESI‐QTOF) instrument. LC MS and tandem MS structural assignment of the reaction products was completed by NMR. The performed analysis revealed that poly(3‐OH butyrate) homopolymers (PHB) are formed together with the PHB‐CD products. Secondary reactions resulting in the formation of crotonates were also proved to occur. A comparison between MS and NMR results demonstrated that more than one PHB oligomer is attached to the CD in the PHB‐CD product. The tandem MS fragmentation studies validated the proposed structure of CD derivatives. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010