Biogenesis of betalaine. Biotransformation of dopa and tyrosine in betalaminic acid part of the betanins

During studies on the biogenesis of betalains (I) in cactus fruits (Opuntia sp.). DL -dopa-1-[¹⁴C] and -2-[¹⁴C] were incorporated into betanin (III) which was obtained radiopure after crystallization. The specific activity remained constant after conversion to betanidin (IV) and to a neobetanidin derivative (IX). Reaction of radiobetanin with proline afforded indicaxanthin (V) carrying more than 90% of the radioactivity. Dopa (VI) is thus an efficient precursor for betalamic acid (VIII) but not for cyclodopa (VII). Decarboxylation of radiobetanidin and radioindicaxanthin showed that the carboxyl group of dopa remained a carboxyl group in the biotransformation to betalamic acid. It is concluded that the aromatic ring of dopa is cleaved and that re-cyclization involving the nitrogen generates the dihydropyridine moiety. Under the same conditions mevalonic acid, aspartic acid and phenylalanine showed low incorporations. Studies with beet seedlings and DL -dopa-1-[¹⁴C], -2-[¹⁴C] and DL -tyrosine-1-[¹⁴C] afforded similar results but with low incorporations.     

Cyclodopa glucoside ( = (2S)-5-(β-D-glocopyranosyloxy)-6-hydroxyindoline-2-carboxylic acid) and its occurrence in red beet (beta vulgaris var. rubra L.)

Cyclodopa glucoside ( = (2S)-5-(β-D -glucopyranosyloxy)-6-hydroxyindoline-2-carboxylicacid; 1a ) is prepared from betainin ( 2a ) via a base exchange reaction. Its purification and physical properties are described. The compound is N-formylated in dilute HCOOH solution. Cyclodopa glucoside is contained in considerable amount in redbeet juice varying from 0.07 to 1.9 mmol/kg or from 12 to 46% relative to teh content of betanin. Teh occurrence of free cyclodopa glucoside supports its role as intermediate in betanin biosynthesis.     

Zur Biosynthese des Strychnins. 135. Mitteilung über Alkaloide

From the feeding of young plants of Strychnos nux-vomica with [¹⁴C]-1-and [¹⁴C]-2-acetate it could be deduced that the C-atoms 22 and 23 were derived from acetate. [¹⁴C]-2-mevalonate, [¹⁴C]-2-geraniol and [¹⁴C]-2-geranyl pyrophosphate were also incorporated into strychnine. The distribution of radioactivity in the «mevalonate-strychnine» was in agreement with the monoterpenoid hypothesis. Feeding experiments especially with [¹⁴C]-tryptophane showed that the main production centre of the alkaloid lay in the roots and that only a small part of it was carried to the leaves. Tritium labelled WIELAND GUMLICH aldehyde as well as N_(a)-[¹⁴C]-1-acetyl WIELAND GUMLICH aldehyde were not converted into strychnine by S. nux-vomica.     

Einbauversuche mit (3H und 14C)-doppelmarkiertem Farnesol in Cantharidin. 5. Mitteilung zur Biosynthese des Cantharidins

Incorporation experiments with (³H and ¹⁴C) doubly labelled farnesols into cantharidin After injection of 11′, 12-[³H]-7-[¹⁴C]-farnesol or 11′, 12-[³H]-5,6-[¹⁴C]-farnesol, the ³H-label is located specifically in the C(9)-methyl-group of cantharidin, whereas the ¹⁴C-labelling pattern follows an incorporation via acetic acid (Scheme 4). C-Atoms 5, 6 and 7 from the middle part of the farnesol molecule are utilized for cantharidin biosynthesis to an extent that is about 2.1–11% of the incorporation rate of the methyl groups C(11′) and C(12), depending on the position of the ¹⁴C-label in farnesol. These results confirm our earlier hypothesis [1] that the C₁₀-molecule cantharidin is biosynthesized from the C₁₅-precursor farnesol which is cleaved between C(1)–C(2), C(4)–C(5), and C(7)–C(8). The synthesis of 7-[¹⁴C]-farnesol and of 5,6-[¹⁴C]-farnesol is described.     

3‐Rhoda‐1,2‐diazacyclopentanes: A Series of Novel Metallacycle Complexes Derived From CN Functionalization of Ethylene

Rh‐containing metallacycles, [(TPA)Rh^III(κ²‐(C,N)‐CH₂CH₂(NR)₂‐]Cl; TPA=N,N,N,N‐tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine have been accessed through treatment of the Rh^I ethylene complex, [(TPA)Rh(η²‐CH₂CH₂)]Cl ([ 1 ]Cl) with substituted diazenes. We show this methodology to be tolerant of electron‐deficient azo compounds including azo diesters (RCO₂N?NCO₂R; R=Et [ 3 ]Cl, R=iPr [ 4 ]Cl, R=tBu [ 5 ]Cl, and R=Bn [ 6 ]Cl) and a cyclic azo diamide: 4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3,5‐dione (PTAD), [ 7 ]Cl. The latter complex features two ortho‐fused ring systems and constitutes the first 3‐rhoda‐1,2‐diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane. Preliminary evidence suggests that these complexes result from N–N coordination followed by insertion of ethylene into a [Rh]?N bond. In terms of reactivity, [ 3 ]Cl and [ 4 ]Cl successfully undergo ring‐opening using p‐toluenesulfonic acid, affording the Rh chlorides, [(TPA)Rh^III(Cl)(κ¹‐(C)‐CH₂CH₂(NCO₂R)(NHCO₂R)]OTs; [ 13 ]OTs and [ 14 ]OTs. Deprotection of [ 5 ]Cl using trifluoroacetic acid was also found to give an ethyl substituted, end‐on coordinated diazene [(TPA)Rh^III(κ²‐(C,N)‐CH₂CH₂(NH)₂‐]⁺ [ 16 ]Cl, a hitherto unreported motif. Treatment of [ 16 ]Cl with acetyl chloride resulted in the bisacetylated adduct [(TPA)Rh^III(κ²‐(C,N)‐CH₂CH₂(NAc)₂‐]⁺, [ 17 ]Cl. Treatment of [ 1 ]Cl with AcN?NAc did not give the Rh?N insertion product, but instead the N,O‐chelated complex [(TPA)Rh^I ( κ²‐(O,N)‐CH₃(CO)(NH)(N?C(CH₃)(OCH?CH₂))]Cl [ 23 ]Cl, presumably through insertion of ethylene into a [Rh]?O bond.     

Use of Dibutyl[14C]formamide as a Formylating Reagent in the Vilsmeier–Haack Reaction and Synthesis of a 14C‐Labeled Novel Phosphodiesterase‐4 (PDE‐4) Inhibitor

A simple, high‐yielding synthesis of dibutyl[¹⁴C]formamide ([¹⁴C]DBF; 1 ) from ¹⁴CO₂ was developed (Scheme 1): reaction of LiBEt₃H and ¹⁴CO₂ followed by aqueous workup gave H¹⁴CO₂H in high yield. Conversion of the [¹⁴C]formic acid to 1 was effected by a standard carbodiimide coupling procedure. The utility of 1 as an alternative to dimethyl[¹⁴C]formamide ([¹⁴C]DMF) in alkylation reactions and in the [¹⁴C]Vilsmeier–Haack reaction was demonstrated for several substrates (Table 2). A ¹⁴C‐labeled phosphodiesterase‐4 (PDE‐4) inhibitor, [¹⁴C]‐ 2 , was synthesized by application of this technology (Scheme 2).     

Unusually long, multicenter, cation(δ+)···anion(δ-) bonding observed for several polymorphs of [TTF][TCNE

The α, β, and δ polymorphs of [TTF][TCNE] (TTF=tetrathiafulvalene; TCNE=tetracyanoethylene) exhibit a new type of long, multicenter bonding between the [TTF]^δ+ and [TCNE]^δ? moieties, demonstrating the existence of long, hetero‐multicenter bonding with a cationic^δ+???anionic^δ? zwitterionic‐like structure. These diamagnetic π‐[TTF]^δ+[TCNE]^δ? heterodimers exhibit a transfer of about 0.5 e^? from the TTF to the TCNE fragments, as observed from experimental studies, in accord with theoretical predictions, that is, [TTF^δ+???TCNE^δ?] (δ?0.5). They have several interfragment distances <3.4 Å, and a computed interaction energy of ?21.2 kcal mol^?1, which is typical of long, multicenter bonds. The lower stability of [TTF]^δ+[TCNE]^δ? with respect to typical ionic bonds is due, in part, to the partial electron transfer that reduces the electrostatic bonding component. This reduced electrostatic interaction, and the large interfragment dispersion stabilize the long, heterocationic/anionic multicenter interaction, which in [TTF^δ+???TCNE^δ?] always involves two electrons, but have ten, eight, and eight bond critical points (bcps) involving C? C, N? S, and sometimes C? S and C? N components for the α, β, and δ polymorphs, respectively. In contrast, γ‐[TTF][TCNE] possesses [TTF]₂²⁺ and [TCNE]₂^2? dimers, each with long, homo‐multicenter 2e^?/12c (c=center, 2 C+4 S) [TTF]₂²⁺ cationic⁺???cationic⁺ bonds, as well as long, homo‐multicenter 2e^?/4c [TCNE]₂^2? anionic^????anionic^? bonding. The MO diagrams for the α, β, and δ polymorphs have all of the features found for conventional covalent C? C bonds, and for all of the previously studied multicenter long bonds, for example, π‐[TTF]₂²⁺ and π‐[TCNE]₂^2?. The HOMOs for α‐, β‐, and δ‐[TTF][TCNE] have 2c C? S and 3c C? C? C orbital‐overlap contributions between the [TTF]^δ+? and [TCNE]^δ? moieties; these are the shortest intra [TTF???TCNE] separations. Thus, from an orbital‐overlap perspective, the bonding has 2c and 3c components residing over one S and four C atoms.     

Bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-triene: 2-Mono- and 2,5-Disubstituted Derivatives via Highly Regioselective Lithiation of Its Cr(CO)3 Complex and via Reductive Silylation/Oxidation

Treatment of [η⁶-(bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3–5 triene)]tricarbonylchromium(0) ( 2 ) with BuLi or lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinide (TMPLi) gives rise to a highly regioselective deprotonation at C(2). Subsequent reaction with electrophiles (6 examples) gives [η⁶-(2-R-bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-triene)]tricarbonylchromiurn complexes 3 and 5 – 9 in moderate (R?I, 50%; R?CHO, 67%) to good (R?Me, D, SiMe₃, CO₂Me, > 80%) yield (Scheme 1). Analogous reactions with tricarbonyl (η⁶-indane)chromium ( 10 ) give mixtures of complexes substituted at C(4) and C(5) (Scheme 2). In 10 , deprotonation β to the ring junction is strongly favoured with the bulky base TMPLi. Double lithiation/electrophile additions to 2 give access to [η⁶-(2-R′-5-R″-bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-triene)]tri-carbonylchromium complexes (e.g. 13 (R′?R″?Me₃Si) and 14 (R′?Me₃Si, R″?CHO)) as single products. The Cr(CO)³ group can be easily removed by oxidation (I₂, Ce(IV), O₂/light; 2 examples each) to give the free arenes. Base-catalyzed (C_sF, DMF/D₂O) deuterodesilylation of 13 yields the [(2,5-²H₂)bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-triene]chromium complex 15 , and treatment of 2,5-bis(trimethylsilyl) compound 16 with CF₃COOD gives the 2,4-dideuterated 17 . Compound 16 is also accessible more directly via reductive silylation/oxidation of bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-triene ( 1 ). Stereoselective base-catalyzed (t-BuOK.) H/D exchange of the benzylic H-atoms. opposite to the Cr(CO)₃ moiety in 2 takes place rapidly in (D₆)DMSO, but benzylic functionalization via this route remains elusive.     

Nitrene Insertion into CC and CH Bonds of Diamide Diimine Ligands Ligated to Chromium and Iron

The impact of redox non‐innocence (RNI) on chemical reactivity is a forefront theme in coordination chemistry. A diamide diimine ligand, [{‐CH?N(1,2‐C₆H₄)NH(2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃)}₂]ⁿ (n=0 to ?4), (dadi)ⁿ, chelates Cr and Fe to give [(dadi)M] ([ 1 Cr(thf)] and [ 1 Fe]). Calculations show [ 1 Cr(thf)] (and [ 1 Cr]) to have a d⁴ Cr configuration antiferromagnetically coupled to (dadi)^2?*, and [ 1 Fe] to be S=2. Treatment with RN₃ provides products where RN is formally inserted into the C? C bond of the diimine or into a C? H bond of the diimine. Calculations on the process support a mechanism in which a transient imide (imidyl) aziridinates the diimine, which subsequently ring opens.     

Chiral Lithiated Allylic α‐Sulfonyl Carbanions: Experimental and Computational Study of Their Structure,Configurational Stability,and Enantioselective Synthesis

X‐ray crystal structure analysis of the lithiated allylic α‐sulfonyl carbanions [CH₂?CHC(Me)SO₂Ph]Li ? diglyme, [cC₆H₈SO₂tBu]Li ? PMDETA and [cC₇H₁₀SO₂tBu]Li ? PMDETA showed dimeric and monomeric CIPs, having nearly planar anionic C atoms, only O?Li bonds, almost planar allylic units with strong C?C bond length alternation and the s‐trans conformation around C1?C2. They adopt a C1?S conformation, which is similar to the one generally found for alkyl and aryl substituted α‐sulfonyl carbanions. Cryoscopy of [EtCH?CHC(Et)SO₂tBu]Li in THF at 164 K revealed an equilibrium between monomers and dimers in a ratio of 83:17, which is similar to the one found by low temperature NMR spectroscopy. According to NMR spectroscopy the lone‐pair orbital at C1 strongly interacts with the C?C double bond. Low temperature ⁶Li,¹H NOE experiments of [EtCH?CHC(Et)SO₂tBu]Li in THF point to an equilibrium between monomeric CIPs having only O?Li bonds and CIPs having both O?Li and C1?Li bonds. Ab initio calculation of [MeCH?CHC(Me)SO₂Me]Li ? (Me₂O)₂ gave three isomeric CIPs having the s‐trans conformation and three isomeric CIPs having the s‐cis conformation around the C1?C2 bond. All s‐trans isomers are more stable than the s‐cis isomers. At all levels of theory the s‐trans isomer having O?Li and C1?Li bonds is the most stable one followed by the isomer which has two O?Li bonds. The allylic unit of the C,O,Li isomer shows strong bond length alternation and the C1 atom is in contrast to the O,Li isomer significantly pyramidalized. According to NBO analysis of the s‐trans and s‐cis isomers, the interaction of the lone pair at C1 with the π* orbital of the CC double bond is energetically much more favorable than that with the “empty” orbitals at the Li atom. The C1?S and C1?C2 conformations are determined by the stereoelectronic effects n_C–σ_SR* interaction and allylic conjugation. ¹H DNMR spectroscopy of racemic [EtCH?CHC(Et)SO₂tBu]Li, [iPrCH?CHC(iPr)SO₂tBu]Li and [EtCH?C(Me)C(Et)SO₂tBu]Li in [D₈]THF gave estimated barriers of enantiomerization of ΔG^≠=13.2 kcal mol^?1 (270 K), 14.2 kcal mol^?1 (291 K) and 14.2 kcal mol^?1 (295 K), respectively. Deprotonation of sulfone (R)‐EtCH?CHCH(Et)SO₂tBu (94 % ee) with nBuLi in THF at ?105 °C occurred with a calculated enantioselectivity of 93 % ee and gave carbanion (M)‐[EtCH?CHC(Et)SO₂tBu]Li, the deuteration and alkylation of which with CF₃CO₂D and MeOCH₂I, respectively, proceeded with high enantioselectivities. Time‐dependent deuteration of the enantioenriched carbanion (M)‐[EtCH?CHC(Et)SO₂tBu]Li in THF gave a racemization barrier of ΔG^≠=12.5 kcal mol^?1 (168 K), which translates to a calculated half‐time of racemization of t_1/2=12 min at ?105 °C.     

Building up Strain in One Step: Synthesis of an Edge‐Fused Double Silacyclobutene from an Extensively Trichlorosilylated Butadiene Dianion

The exhaustive trichlorosilylation of hexachloro‐1,3‐butadiene was achieved in one step by using a mixture of Si₂Cl₆ and [nBu₄N]Cl (7:2 equiv) as the silylation reagent. The corresponding butadiene dianion salt [nBu₄N]₂[ 1 ] was isolated in 36 % yield after recrystallization. The negative charges of [ 1 ]^2? are mainly delocalized across its two carbanionic (Cl₃Si)₂C termini (α‐effect of silicon) such that the central bond possesses largely C=C double‐bond character. Upon treatment with 4 equiv of HCl, [ 1 ]^2? is converted into neutral 1,2,3,4‐tetrakis(trichlorosilyl)but‐2‐ene, 3 . The Cl^? acceptor AlCl₃, induces a twofold ring‐closure reaction of [ 1 ]^2? to form a six‐membered bicycle 4 in which two silacyclobutene rings are fused along a shared C=C double bond (84 %). Compound 4 , which was structurally characterized by X‐ray crystallography, undergoes partial ring opening to a monocyclic silacyclobutene 2 in the presence of HCl, but is thermally stable up to at least 180 °C.     

Mass spectrometric monitoring of oxidation of aliphatic C6–C8 hydrocarbons and ethanol in low pressure oxygen and air plasmas

Experimental and theoretical studies on the oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons (n‐hexane, cyclohexane, n‐heptane, n‐octane and isooctane) and ethanol in 28 Torr O₂ or air plasma generated by a hollow cathode discharge ion source were made. Ions corresponding to [M + 15]⁺ and [M + 13]⁺ in addition to [M ? H]⁺ and [M ? 3H]⁺ were detected as major ions where M is the sample molecule. The ions [M + 15]⁺ and [M + 13]⁺ were assigned as oxidation products, [M ? H + O]⁺ and [M ? 3H + O]⁺, respectively. By the tandem mass spectrometry analysis of [M ? H + O]⁺ and [M ? 3H + O]⁺, H₂O, olefins (and/or cycloalkanes) and oxygen‐containing compounds were eliminated from these ions. Ozone as one of the terminal products in the O₂ plasma was postulated as the oxidizing reagent. As an example, the reactions of C₆H₁₄^+? with O₂ and of C₆H₁₃⁺ (CH₃CH₂CH⁺CH₂CH₂CH₃) with ozone were examined by density functional theory calculations. Nucleophilic interaction of ozone with C₆H₁₃⁺ leads to the formation of protonated ketone, CH₃CH₂C(=OH⁺)CH₂CH₂CH₃. In air plasma, [M ? H + O]⁺ became predominant over carbocations, [M ? H]⁺ and [M ? 3H]⁺. For ethanol, the protonated acetic acid CH₃C(OH)₂⁺ (m/z 61.03) was formed as the oxidation product. The peaks at m/z 75.04 and 75.08 are assigned as protonated ethyl formate and protonated diethyl ether, respectively, and that at m/z 89.06 as protonated ethyl acetate. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure and formation of gaseous [C4H6O]+˙ ions: 1—The enolic ions [CH2C(OH)?CHCH2]+˙ and [CH2CH?CHCH(OH)]+˙ and their relationship with their keto counterparts

The [C₄H₆O]^+˙ ion of structure [CH₂?CHCH?CHOH]^+˙ (a) is generated by loss of C₄H₈ from ionized 6,6-dimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol. The heat of formation ΔH_f of [CH₂?CHCH?CHOH]^+˙ was estimated to be 736 kJ mol^?1. The isomeric ion [CH₂?C(OH)CH?CH₂]^+˙ (b) was shown to have ΔH_f, ? 761 kJ mol^?1, 54 kJ mol^?1 less than that of its keto analogue [CH₃COCH?CH₂]^+˙. Ion [CH₂?C(OH)CH?CH₂]^+˙ may be generated by loss of C₂H₄ from ionized hex-1-en-3-one or by loss of C₄H₈ from ionized 4,4-dimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol. The [C₄H₆O]^+˙ ion generated by loss of C₂H₄ from ionized 2-cyclohexen-1-ol was shown to consist of a mixture of the above enol ions by comparing the metastable ion and collisional activation mass spectra of [CH₂?CHCH?CHOH]^+˙ and [CH₂?C(OH)CH?CH₂]^+˙ ions with that of the above daughter ion. It is further concluded that prior to their major fragmentations by loss of CH₃˙ and CO, [CH₂?CHCH?CHOH]⁺˙ and [CH₂?C(OH)CH?CH₂]^+˙ do not rearrange to their keto counterparts. The metastable ion and collisional activation characteristics of the isomeric allenic [C₄H₆O]^+˙ ion [CH₂?C?CHCH₂OH]^+˙ are also reported.     

Synthesis,Interionic Structure,and Reactivity toward CO and p‐Methylstyrene of Palladacyclic Compounds Bearing α‐Diimine Ligands

Palladacyclic compounds [Pd(C₆H₄(C₆H₅C?O)C?N? R)(N? N)] [X] (R = Et, ⁱPr, 2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃; N? N = bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine, or 1,4‐(o,o′‐dialkylaryl)‐1,4‐diazabuta‐1,3‐dienes; [X]^? = [BF₄]^? or [PF₆]^?) were synthesized from the dimers [{Pd(C₆H₄(C₆H₅C?O)C?N? R)(μ‐Cl)}₂] and N? N ligands. Their interionic structure in CD₂Cl₂ was determined by means of ¹⁹F,¹H‐HOESY experiments and compared with that in the solid state derived from X‐ray single‐crystal studies. [Pd(C₆H₄(C₆H₅C?O)C?N? R)(N? N)] [X] complexes were found to copolymerize CO and p‐methylstyrene affording syndiotactic or isotactic copolymers when bpy or 1,4‐(o,o′‐dimethylaryl)‐1,4‐diazabuta‐1,3‐dienes were used, respectively. The reactions with CO and p‐methylstyrene of the bpy derivatives were investigated. Two intermediates derived from a single and a double insertion of CO into the Pd? C bonds were isolated and completely characterized in solution.     

Cyanidosilicates—Synthesis and Structure

Starting from fluoridosilicate precursors in neat cyanotrimethylsilane, Me₃Si?CN, a series of different ammonium salts [R₃NMe]⁺ (R=Et, ⁿPr, ⁿBu) with the novel [SiF(CN)₅]^2? and [Si(CN)₆]^2? dianions was synthesized in facile, temperature controlled F^?/CN^? exchange reactions. Utilizing decomposable, non‐innocent cations, such as [R₃NH]⁺, it was possible to generate metal salts of the type M₂[Si(CN)₆] (M⁺=Li⁺, K⁺) via neutralization reactions with the corresponding metal hydroxides. The ionic liquid [BMIm]₂[Si(CN)₆] (m.p.=72 °C, BMIm=1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium) was obtained by a salt metathesis reaction. All the synthesized salts could be isolated in good yields and were fully characterized.     

Comparative Studies of Thermally Induced Homolytic CarbonCarbon Bond Cleavage Reactions of Strained Dicarba[2]ferrocenophanes and Their Ring‐Opened Oligomers and Polymers

Reactivity studies of dicarba[2]ferrocenophanes and also their corresponding ring‐opened oligomers and polymers have been conducted in order to provide mechanistic insight into the processes that occur under the conditions of their thermal ring‐opening polymerisation (ROP) (300 °C). Thermolysis of dicarba[2]ferrocenophane rac‐[Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)₂(CHPh)₂] (rac‐ 14 ; 300 °C, 1 h) does not lead to thermal ROP. To investigate this system further, rac‐ 14 was heated in the presence of an excess of cyclopentadienyl anion, to mimic the postulated propagating sites for thermally polymerisable analogues. This afforded acyclic [(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)‐CH₂Ph] ( 17 ) through cleavage of both a Fe?Cp bond and also the C?C bond derived from the dicarba bridge. Evidence supporting a potential homolytic C?C bond cleavage pathway that occurs in the absence of ring‐strain was provided through thermolysis of an acyclic analogue of rac‐ 14 , namely [(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(CHPh)₂‐C₅H₅] ( 15 ; 300 °C, 1 h), which also afforded ferrocene derivative 17 . This reactivity pathway appears general for post‐ROP species bearing phenyl substituents on adjacent carbons, and consequently was also observed during the thermolysis of linear polyferrocenylethylene [Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)₂(CHPh)₂]_n ( 16 ; 300 °C, 1 h), which was prepared by photocontrolled ROP of rac‐ 14 at 5 °C. This afforded ferrocene derivative [Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄CH₂Ph)₂] ( 23 ) through selective cleavage of the ?H(Ph)C?C(Ph)H? bonds in the dicarba linkers. These processes appear to be facilitated by the presence of bulky, radical‐stabilising phenyl substituents on each carbon of the linker, as demonstrated through the contrasting thermal properties of unsubstituted linear trimer [(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(CH₂)₂(η⁵‐C₅H₄)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(CH₂)₂(η⁵‐C₅H₄)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₅)] ( 29 ) with a ?H₂C?CH₂? spacer, which proved significantly more stable under analogous conditions. Evidence for the radical intermediates formed through C?C bond cleavage was detected through high‐resolution mass spectrometric analysis of co‐thermolysis reactions involving rac‐ 14 and 15 (300 °C, 1 h), which indicated the presence of higher molecular weight species, postulated to be formed through cross‐coupling of these intermediates.     

Biosynthesis of cytochalasans. Part 4. The mode of incorporation of common naturally-occurring carboxylic acids into cytochalasin D1.

Utilization of sodium [1-¹⁴C]-, [2–¹⁴C]-, and [1,2-¹³C]-acetates, [1-¹⁴C]-, [1-¹³C]-, or [2-¹⁴C]-propionates, [1-¹⁴C]-or [2-¹⁴C]-malonates, of [1-¹⁴C]- or of [1-¹⁴C]-myristic acid, or of [1-¹⁴C]- and [1-¹⁴C]-palmitic acid in the biosynthesis of cytochalasin D ( 1 ) by Zygosporium masonii was determined by degradation studies or by carbon magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The precursors were incorporated primarily via the acetate-malonate pathway to generate 1 from nine intact acetate units, eight of which are coupled in a head to tail fashion to form the C₁₆-polyketide moiety.     

Biosynthesis of the Cytochalasans. Biosynthetic studies on chaetoglobosin A and 19-O-acetylchaetoglobosin A

Incorporation of [1-¹³C]-, [2-¹³C]- and [1,2-¹³C₂]-acetate, [1-¹³C]-propionate, [¹³C-CH₃]-L -methionine and [3-¹⁴C]-DL -tryptophan into chaetoglobosin A ( 1 ) and 19-O-acetylchaetoglobosin A ( 2 ) by Chaetomium globosum demonstrated that the building blocks of 1 and 2 are 9 and 10 units of acetate/malonate respectively, 3 units of methionine and 1 unit of tryptophan. Propionate is incorporated indirectly after several biological transformations. Using [2-¹³C, 2-²H₃]-acetate as precursor, the starter unit of the polyketide-chain was identified. Experiments which [¹³C, ²H₃-CH₃-L -methionine demonstrated that the three C-methylations occur with retention of all three H-atoms of the methyl group. Incorporation experiments with various ¹⁴C- and ³H-labelled tryphtophan samples and with [2-²H]- and [2-¹⁵N]-L -tryptophan showed that the amino acid is incorporated intact with retention of both the α-H- and the α-N-atom. On the basis of these results a more detailed general scheme of the cytochalasan biogenesis is proposed.     

On the incorporation of geraniol and farnesol into cantharidin (author's transl)

On the incorporation of geraniol and farnesol into cantharidin Earlier investigations [1] have shown that cantharidin (1) is biosynthesized by the male Lytta vesicatoria L. (Meloidae, Coleoptera) from the common terpenoid precursors mevalonate and farnesol (3) . To prove if geraniol (2) is incorporated via farnesol (3) into cantharidin (1) the following geraniols have been synthesized and injected into either larvae or male adult Lytta vesicatoria, partly in a mixture with synthetic 11′, 12-[³H]-farnesol as an internal standard: 2-[¹⁴C]-, 7-[¹⁴C]-, 7′, 8-[¹⁴C]-, 7′, 8-[³H]-geraniol. Unexpectedly, geraniol (2) was not specifically incorporated into cantharidin (1) perhaps due to its higher toxicity or its faster degradation relative to the other precursors before incorporation. The incorporation of U-[¹⁴C]-leucine, U-[¹⁴C]-isoleucine and 1-[¹⁴C]-glucose into cantharidin (1) via their metabolites is evident by degradation studies, whereas 1-[¹⁴C]- and 2-[¹⁴C]-glycine do not serve as precursors for cantharidin (1) .     

Influence of the Homopolar Dihydrogen Bonding CH⋅⋅⋅HC on Coordination Geometry: Experimental and Theoretical Studies

The reaction of the N‐thiophosphorylated thiourea (HOCH₂)(Me)₂CNHC(S)NHP(S)(OiPr)₂ (HL), deprotonated by the thiophosphorylamide group, with NiCl₂ leads to green needles of the pseudotetrahedral complex [Ni(L‐1,5‐S,S′)₂] ? 0.5 (n‐C₆H₁₄) or pale green blocks of the trans square‐planar complex trans‐[Ni(L‐1,5‐S,S′)₂]. The former complex is stabilized by homopolar dihydrogen C?H???H?C interactions formed by n‐hexane solvent molecules with the [Ni(L‐1,5‐S,S′)₂] unit. Furthermore, the dispersion‐dominated C?H??? H?C interactions are, together with other noncovalent interactions (C?H???N, C?H???Ni, C?H???S), responsible for pseudotetrahedral coordination around the Ni^II center in [Ni(L ‐1,5‐S,S′)₂] ? 0.5 (n‐C₆H₁₄).