First-principle studies of intermolecular and intramolecular catalysis of protonated cocaine

We have performed a series of first-principles electronic structure calculations to examine the reaction pathways and the corresponding free energy barriers for the ester hydrolysis of protonated cocaine in its chair and boat conformations. The calculated free energy barriers for the benzoyl ester hydrolysis of protonated chair cocaine are close to the corresponding barriers calculated for the benzoyl ester hydrolysis of neutral cocaine. However, the free energy barrier calculated for the methyl ester hydrolysis of protonated cocaine in its chair conformation is significantly lower than for the methyl ester hydrolysis of neutral cocaine and for the dominant pathway of the benzoyl ester hydrolysis of protonated cocaine. The significant decrease of the free energy barrier, approximately 4 kcal/mol, is attributed to the intramolecular acid catalysis of the methyl ester hydrolysis of protonated cocaine, because the transition state structure is stabilized by the strong hydrogen bond between the carbonyl oxygen of the methyl ester moiety and the protonated tropane N. The relative magnitudes of the free energy barriers calculated for different pathways of the ester hydrolysis of protonated chair cocaine are consistent with the experimental kinetic data for cocaine hydrolysis under physiologic conditions. Similar intramolecular acid catalysis also occurs for the benzoyl ester hydrolysis of (protonated) boat cocaine in the physiologic condition, although the contribution of the intramolecular hydrogen bonding to transition state stabilization is negligible. Nonetheless, the predictability of the intramolecular hydrogen bonding could be useful in generating antibody-based catalysts that recruit cocaine to the boat conformation and an analog that elicited antibodies to approximate the protonated tropane N and the benzoyl O more closely than the natural boat conformer might increase the contribution from hydrogen bonding. Such a stable analog of the transition state for intramolecular catalysis of cocaine benzoyl-ester hydrolysis was synthesized and used to successfully elicit a number of anticocaine catalytic antibodies.     

Theoretical study of cyclization of 2′-hydroxychalcone

The isomerization mechanism of 2′(OH)chalcone (1) in flavanone (2) was studied. The calculations were performed with the semiempirical method AM1, using totally optimized molecular geometries. A 6-step mechanism including several equilibrium states was proposed. It was concluded that: (a) At the conformational equilibrium of 1 there could be 43.9% of s-cis conformer; (b) The acid dissociation of 1 trans-s-trans is considerable; (c) The E_E, ΔH_f and net charges show that the rotation of ring A of 1 and the formation of ring C of 2 occurs without greater impairments; (d) Although the keto structure is the most stable one, the enolate of 2 is present in the reaction medium; (e) The conversion of enol of 2 in the keto form would be the limiting step of the analyzed isomerization rate.     

A new tetradentate nitrogen ligand for organometallic catalysis: electrochemical nickel-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization

The new tetraaza-molecule, 1 has been synthesized and used as a ligand for a cationic mononuclear nickel(II) complex. This complex is an efficient catalysts for the intramolecular electrochemical cyclization of o-haloaryl compounds containing unsaturated side chains.     

Gas-phase proton-transport self-catalysed isomerisation of glutamine radical cation: The important role of the side-chain

The gas-phase isomerisation reaction of glutamine radical cation from [NH₂CH (CH₂CH₂CONH₂) COOH ]^+• to [ NH₂C (CH₂CH₂CONH₂) C (OH)₂]^+• has been studied theoretically using the MPWB1K functional approach. The [ NH₂ C (CH₂CH₂CONH₂) C (OH)₂]^+• diol species has been found to be the most stable isomer for glutamine radical cation. Moreover, it has been observed that glutamine has a long enough side-chain with basic groups that acts as a solvent molecule favouring the proton-transfer from C _α to COOH group. This fact reduces dramatically the isomerisation energy barriers compared to the same process for glycine radical cation in gas phase. Thus, this reaction can be considered as an example of gas-phase proton-transport catalysed reaction in which the proton-transport is carried out by the reactant molecule itself instead of any solvent. Contribution to the Serafin Fraga Memorial Issue.     

Gas-phase dissociation reactions of protonated saxitoxin and neosaxitoxin

The aim of this study was to investigate the behavior of the protonated paralytic shellfish poisons saxitoxin (STX) and neosaxitoxin (NEO) in the gas-phase after ion activation using different tandem mass spectrometry techniques. STX and NEO belong to a group of neurotoxins produced by several strains of marine dinoflagellates. Their chemical structures are based on a tetrahydropurine skeleton to which a 5-membered ring is fused. STX and NEO only vary in their substituent at N-1, with STX carrying hydrogen and NEO having a hydroxyl group at this position. The collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra exhibited an unusually rich variety and abundance of species due to the large number of functional groups within the small skeletal structures. Starting with triple-quadrupole CID spectra as templates, linked ion-trap MSn data were added to provide tentative dissociation schemes. Subsequent high-resolution FTICR experiments gave exact mass data for product ions formed via infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) from which elemental formulas were derived. Calculations of proton affinities of STX and NEO suggested that protonation took place at the guanidinium group in the pyrimidine ring for both molecules. Most of the observed parallel and consecutive fragmentations could be rationalized through neutral losses of H2O, NH3, CO, CO2, CH2O and different isocyanate, ketenimine and diimine species, many of which were similar for STX and NEO. Several exceptions, however, were noted and differences could be readily correlated with reactions involving NEO's additional hydroxyl group. A few interesting variations between CID and IRMPD spectra are also highlighted in this paper.     

Electrochemically initiated intramolecular cyclization of 2-nitro-2′-isothiocyanatobiphenyl

2-Nitro-2′-isothiocyanatobiphenyl was prepared as a new substance, suitable for the investigation of an electrochemically initiated intramolecular cyclization. If it is reduced at a mercury cathode in acidic media an acid catalysed intramolecular follow-up reaction occurs which leads to the formation of 6-mercaptodibenzo (d, f)-(1,3)-diazepin-5-oxide. The rate of the follow-up reaction decreases in neutral or alkaline media and the reduction of the isothiocyanato group also takes place. The main product is here 5,6-dihydrobenzo(c)cinnoline.     

Fluoroalkylation of aromatics: An intramolecular radical cyclization of 4-chloro-1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-octafluorobutylbenzenes

In the presence of sodium dithionite and DMSO, the intramolecular radical cyclization of 4-chloro-1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-octafluorobutylbenzenes is achieved to give the corresponding cyclic compounds in moderate to good yields.     

The mobility of protonated aminoalcohols: Evidence for proton-induced cyclization

The reduced mobility in air, at 200C, of protonated aminoalcohols was measured by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). The relatively high mobilities that were measured indicated that proton-induced cyclization took place in the aminoalcohols, similar to what was previously observed in diamines. This conclusion is in agreement with the proton affinities (PA) of these compounds that indicated that the proton was more strongly attached to the molecule than in normal aliphatic amines. It was also found that the, = aminoalcohols had slightly higher mobilities than their corresponding 1,2 isomers, further supporting the conclusion for proton-induced cyclization.     

Lactone-directed intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclization: synthesis of trans-dihydroconfertifolin

Trienes 1 and 3 were obtained in five steps from ethyl 4-acetoxy-3-oxobutanoate and 6-iodo-3-methyl-1,3-hexadiene. Intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclization of 1 and 3 gave tricyclic lactones 2 and 4 as the major products, respectively. The key intermediate 4 was converted in two steps to trans-dihydroconfertifolin (5).     

Gas-phase kinetics and mechanism of the reactions of protonated hydrazine with carbonyl compounds. Gas-phase hydrazone formation: kinetics and mechanism

The gas-phase reactions of protonated hydrazine (hydrazinium) with organic compounds were studied in a selected ion flow tube-chemical ionization mass spectrometer (SIFT-CIMS) at 0.5 Torr pressure and approximately 300 K and with hybrid density functional calculations. Carbonyl and other polar organic compounds react to form adducts, e.g., N(2)H(5)(+)(CH(3)CH(2)CHO). In the presence of neutral hydrazine, aldehyde adducts react further to form protonated hydrazones, e.g., CH(3)CH(2)CH[double bond]HNNH(2)(+) from propanal. Using deuterated hydrazine (N(2)D(4)) and butanal, we demonstrate that the gas-phase ion chemistry of hydrazinium and carbonyls operates by the same mechanisms postulated for the reactions in solution. Calculations provide insight into specific steps and transition states in the reaction mechanism and aid in understanding the likely reaction process upon chemical or translational activation. For most carbonyls, rate coefficients for adduct formation approach the predicted maximum collisional rate coefficients, k approximately 10(-9) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). Formaldehyde is an exception (k approximately 2 x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)) due to the shorter lifetime of its collision complex. Following adduct formation, the process of hydrazone formation may be rate limiting at thermal energies. The combination of fast reaction rates and unique chemistry shows that protonated hydrazine can serve as a useful chemical-ionization reagent for quantifying atmospheric carbonyl compounds via CIMS. Mechanistic studies provide information that will aid in optimizing reaction conditions for this application.     

Pd-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of pyrrolo-2-carboxamides: regiodivergent routes to pyrrolo-pyrazines and pyrrolo-pyridines

Treatment of N-alkyl-N-allyl-pyrrolo-2-carboxamides with catalytic amounts of palladium derivatives gave regioselectively intramolecular cyclizations to generate bicyclic pyrrolo-fused structures. Pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-1-ones were achieved in high yields by an amination reaction, while pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-7-ones and pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-4-ones were obtained by an oxidative coupling process.     

Synthesis and intramolecular cyclization of bisthiadiazinylmethane derivatives

Bisthiadiazinylmethane derivatives obtained from 1,2,6-thiadiazine 1,1-dioxides and formaldehyde, undergo unusual intramolecular cyclizations to thiadiazino [4,3-g] [2,1,3] benzothiadiazine tetraoxides. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds are discussed on the basis of ¹H and ¹³C-NMR data and X-ray analysis.     

tert-BuOK-mediated carbanion-yne intramolecular cyclization: synthesis of 2-substituted 3-benzylbenzofurans

A mild, efficient, and regioselective carbanion-yne intramolecular cyclization mediated by t-BuOK for the synthesis of 2-substituted 3-benzylbenzofurans is developed. It was started from o-iodophenol (1), based on O-alkylation, and the Sonogashira reaction in sequence to produce 2-(2-phenylethynylphenoxy)-1-arylalkanones (5). An intramolecular carbanion-yne 5-exo-dig cyclization reaction of 5, which was mediated by t-BuOK, yielded title benzofurans in good yields.     

An intramolecular cyclization of 7-substituted 6-fluoro- 1,8-naphthyridine and -quinoline derivatives

A synthesis of 1,4-oxazine and pyrazine ring systems by an intramolecular cyclization of 7-substituted 1-ethyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-1,8-naphthyridine and -quinoline derivatives having a nitrogen or oxygen nucleophilic site in the C-7 appendage was studied. The in vitro antibacterial activities of compounds prepared by this method were tested.     

Gas-phase chemistry of ionized and protonated GeF4: a joint experimental and theoretical study

The gas-phase ion chemistry of GeF(4) and of its mixtures with water, ammonia and hydrocarbons was investigated by ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS) and ab initio calculations. Under ITMS conditions, the only fragment detected from ionized GeF(4) is GeF(3)(+). This cation is a strong Lewis acid, able to react with H(2)O, NH(3) and the unsaturated C(2)H(2), C(2)H(4) and C(6)H(6) by addition-HF elimination reactions to form F(2)Ge(XH)(+), FGe(XH)(2)(+), Ge(XH)(3)(+) (X = OH or NH(2)), F(2)GeC(2)H(+), F(2)GeC(2)H(3)(+) and F(2)GeC(6)H(5)(+). The structure, stability and thermochemistry of these products and the mechanistic aspects of the exemplary reactions of GeF(3)(+) with H(2)O, NH(3) and C(6)H(6) were investigated by MP2 and coupled cluster calculations. The experimental proton affinity (PA) and gas basicity (GB) of GeF(4) were estimated as 121.5 ± 6.0 and 117.1 ± 6.0 kcal mol(-1), respectively, and GeF(4)H(+) was theoretically characterized as an ion-dipole complex between GeF(3)(+) and HF. Consistently, it reacts with simple inorganic and organic molecules to form GeF(3)(+)-L complexes (L = H(2)O, NH(3), C(2)H(2), C(2)H(4), C(6)H(6), CO(2), SO(2) and GeF(4)). The theoretical investigation of the stability of these ions with respect to GeF(3)(+) and L disclosed nearly linear correlations between their dissociation enthalpies and free energies and the PA and GB of L. Comparing the behavior of GeF(3)(+) with the previously investigated CF(3)(+) and SiF(3)(+) revealed a periodically reversed order of reactivity CF(3)(+) < GeF(3)(+) < SiF(3)(+). This parallels the order of the Lewis acidities of the three cations.     

Mass spectrometric intramolecular cyclization reactions of some 2-N-phenyliminoperhydro-1,3-oxazines

Mass spectrometric fragmentation of four monocyclic and eight condensed skeleton 2-N-phenyliminoper-hydro-1,3-oxazine derivatives have been characterized by metastable ion analysis, collision induced dissociation measurements, exact mass measurements and ion structural studies. Extensive rearrangement reactions, best characterized in terms of intramolecular cyclizations, took place. Namely, when R = H the N-cyclization was almost exclusive whereas in cases where R > H steric reasons rendered the O-cyclization more feasible. Part of the fragmentation of the R = H compounds seemed to occur via the amino form. On the other hand the methane chemical ionization spectra of cis- and trans-anellated 5,6-trimethylene-2-N-phenyliminoperhydro-1,3-oxazines proved that at least some imino structure was present in the gas phase.     

Copper-mediated intramolecular aza-Wacker-type cyclization of 2-alkenylanilines toward 3-aryl indoles

A copper-mediated intramolecular aza-Wacker-type cyclization was developed for the direct and efficient synthesis of 3-aryl indoles using 2-alkenylanilines in moderate to good yields with good functional group compatibility. This strategy shows the high efficiency, operational simplicity as well as broad substrate scope.     

One-pot synthesis of trifluoromethylated phthalans via intramolecular cyclization from 2-alkynylbenzaldehydes

An efficient tandem addition/cyclization procedure for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated phthalans under mild conditions was developed. This procedure involves tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF)-promoted addition of Ruppert–Prakash reagent (TMSCF₃) to 2-alkynylbenzaldehyde to give 2-alkynylbenzylicalcohols, which would then undergo base-catalyzed selective 5-exo-dig cyclization to furnish the corresponding products.