Stereocomplex formation between enantiomeric poly(α‐methyl‐α‐ethyl‐β‐propiolactones): Effect of molecular weight

Optically pure S(?) and R(+)‐poly(α‐methyl‐α‐ethyl‐β‐propiolactones) (PMEPLs) of controlled low molecular weights were synthesized by anionic polymerization of the corresponding optically active monomers, and characterized using gel permeation chromatography, Maldi‐TOF mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy. Blends of PMEPLs of opposite configurations and different molecular weights were investigated. All blends lead to the formation of a stereocomplex and its crystallization prevails over a wide range of mixing ratios. The stereocomplex melts 30–40 °C above that of the corresponding pure polymers, depending on the molecular weight; pairs of polymers having similar molecular weights exhibit the highest melting temperatures and enthalpies of fusion. Finally, when the stereocomplex is dispersed in a PMEPL matrix, it acts as a very effective nucleation agent for the crystallization of the polymer in excess. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2380–2389, 2007     

β‐Carboline alkaloids from the stems of Picrasma quassioides

Five new β‐carboline alkaloids, 6,12‐dimethoxy‐3‐(2‐hydroxylethyl)‐β‐carboline (1), 3,10‐dihydroxy‐β‐carboline (2), 6,12‐dimethoxy‐3‐(1‐hydroxylethyl)‐β‐carboline (3), 6,12‐dimethoxy‐3‐(1,2‐dihydroxylethyl)‐β‐carboline (4), and 6‐methoxy‐3‐(2‐hydroxyl‐1‐ethoxylethyl)‐β‐carboline (5), and two new natural products, 6‐methoxy‐12‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxycarbonyl‐β‐carboline (6) and 3‐hydroxy‐β‐carboline (7) were isolated from the stems of Picrasma quassioides along with 16 known β‐carboline alkaloids (8–23). The structures of new compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses, and the 1D and 2D NMR data of compounds 6, 7 and 10 were reported for the first time. The bioassays showed that only compounds 14 and 16 could enhance the differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadiocytes accompanied by secretion of adiponectin proteins among these 23 compounds. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of 7‐chloro‐9‐trifluoromethyl‐/7‐fluorophenothiazines

Synthesis of 7‐chloro‐9‐trifluoromethyl‐/7‐fluorophenothiazines is reported by Smiles rearrangement of 5‐chloro‐3‐trifluoromethyl‐/5‐fluoro‐2‐formamido‐2′‐nitrodiphenyl sulfides. The later were obtained by the formylation of 2‐amino‐5‐chloro‐7‐trifluoromethyl‐/5‐fluoro‐2′‐nitrodiphenyl sulfides, which were prepared by the condensation of 2‐amino‐5‐fluoro‐/5‐chloro‐3‐trifluoromethyl benzenethiols with o‐halonitrobenzenes. 1‐Nitrophenothiazines have also been synthesized by the condensation of 2‐aminobenzenethiols with o‐halonitrobenzenes, involving Smiles rearrangement in situ. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 18:81–86, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20235     

Thermal decomposition of methyl β‐hydroxyesters in m‐xylene solution

The products and kinetics of the thermal decomposition of several methyl‐β‐hydroxyesters in m‐xylene solution have been studied. It has been shown that all β‐hydroxyesters studied pyrolyze to form a mixture of methyl acetate and the corresponding aldehyde or ketone and that the decomposition follows first‐order kinetics and appears to be homogeneous and unimolecular. The rate pyrolysis of methyl‐3‐hydroxypropanoate, methyl‐3‐hydroxybutanoate, and methyl‐3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbutanoate has been measured between 250 and 320°C. The relative rates of primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols at 553 K are 1.0, 8.5 and 54.1, respectively. The absence of large substituent effects indicates that little charge separation occurs during the breaking of carbon–carbon single bond. The activation entropy is compatible with a semipolar six‐membered cyclic transition state postulated for other β‐hydroxy compounds. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 92–96, 2007     

Stereoselective Organocatalyzed Synthesis of α‐Fluorinated β‐Amino Thioesters and Their Application in Peptide Synthesis

α‐Fluorinated β‐amino thioesters were obtained in high yields and stereoselectivities by organocatalyzed addition reactions of α‐fluorinated monothiomalonates (F‐MTMs) to N‐Cbz‐ and N‐Boc‐protected imines. The transformation requires catalyst loadings of only 1 mol % and proceeds under mild reaction conditions. The obtained addition products were readily used for coupling‐reagent‐free peptide synthesis in solution and on solid phase. The α‐fluoro‐β‐(carb)amido moiety showed distinct conformational preferences, as determined by crystal structure and NMR spectroscopic analysis.     

Synthesis and self‐assembly behavior study of α,ω‐dicarboxyl‐poly(ethylene glycol)–permethyl‐6‐amino‐6‐deoxy‐β‐cyclodextrin‐monoamide: A new β‐cyclodextrin conjugate

A new type of amphiphilic macromolecule was synthesized through the attachment of a poly(ethylene glycol) chain to a permethyl‐amino‐β‐cyclodextrin ring. The structure of the product was studied with 1D and 2D NMR experiments and with MALDI‐TOF MS. The resulting comet‐shaped molecule showed self‐assembly behavior in polar solvents. The presence of supramolecular structures in aqueous media was detected with dynamic light scattering and proven also by 2D NOESY and DOSY experiments. The supramolecular structures that formed could serve as starting materials for new types of drug delivery bioconjugates containing two independent dopable sites, that is, the cyclodextrin ring and the core of the supramolecular structure. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5149–5155, 2007     

Synthesis of novel N‐alkyl/aryl‐N′‐(4‐arylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐N″‐xylosyl guanidines

The reaction of 2,3,4‐tri‐O‐acetyl‐β‐D‐xylopyranosyl isothiocyanate ( 1 ) and 2‐amino‐4‐arylthiazoles ( 2 ) gave xylosylthioureas 3 . These thiourea derivatives reacted with alkyl/aryl amine in the presence of HgCl₂ to give a new series of N‐alkyl/aryl‐N″‐(4‐arylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐N″‐xylosyl guanidines 4 . Some of the synthesized guanidines were screened for their biological activity. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 18:688–694, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20379     

Co‐crystals of 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐α‐d‐glucopyranose and 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐β‐d‐glucopyranose

3‐Deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐d ‐glucopyranose crystallizes from acetone to give a unit cell containing two crystallographically independent molecules. One of these molecules (at site A) is structurally homogeneous and corresponds to 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐β‐d ‐glucopyranose, C₆H₁₁FO₅, (I). The second molecule (at site B) is structurally heterogeneous and corresponds to a mixture of (I) and 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐α‐d ‐glucopyranose, (II); treatment of the diffraction data using partial‐occupancy oxygen at the anomeric center gave a high‐quality packing model with an occupancy ratio of 0.84:0.16 for (II):(I) at site B. The mixture of α‐ and β‐anomers at site B appears to be accommodated in the lattice because hydrogen‐bonding partners are present to hydrogen bond to the anomeric OH group in either an axial or equatorial orientation. Cremer–Pople analysis of (I) and (II) shows the pyranosyl ring of (II) to be slightly more distorted than that of (I) [θ_(I) = 3.85 (15)° and θ_(II) = 6.35 (16)°], but the general direction of distortion is similar in both structures [ϕ_(I) = 67 (2)° (B_C1,C4) and ϕ_(II) = 26.0 (15)° (^C3TB_C1); B = boat conformation and TB = twist‐boat conformation]. The exocyclic hydroxymethyl (–CH₂OH) conformation is gg (gauche–gauche) (H5 anti to O6) in both (I) and (II). Structural comparisons of (I) and (II) to related unsubstituted, deoxy and fluorine‐substituted monosaccharides show that the gluco ring can assume a wide range of distorted chair structures in the crystalline state depending on ring substitution patterns.     

One‐pot synthesis of novel 2′‐deoxyuridine derivatives containing α‐aminophosphonate moieties

A series of α‐aminophosphonate derivatives of 2′‐deoxyuridine ( 8a–k ) have been prepared from 5′‐O‐tert‐butyldimethylsilyl‐3′‐amino‐2′, 3′‐dideoxyuridine in good yields. The structures of all the products were confirmed by ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR, ³¹C NMR, and IR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry and elemental analyses. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 18:230–235, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20288     

(E)‐,(Z)‐Parallel Preparative Methods for Stereodefined β,β‐Diaryl‐ and α,β‐Diaryl‐α,β‐unsaturated Esters: Application to the Stereocomplementary Concise Synthesis of Zimelidine

Parallel and practical methods for the preparation of both (E)‐ and (Z)‐β‐aryl¹‐β‐aryl²‐α,β‐unsaturated esters 1 and (E)‐ and (Z)‐α‐aryl¹‐β‐aryl²‐α,β‐unsaturated esters 2 are described. These methods involve accessible, robust, stereocomplementary N‐methylimidazole (NMI)‐mediated enol tosylations (14 examples, 70–99 % yield), as well as stereoretentive Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐couplings (36 examples, 64–99 % yield). The highlighted feature of the present protocol is the use of parallel and stereocomplementary approaches to obtain highly (E)‐ and (Z)‐pure products 1 and 2 by utilizing sequential enol tosylations and cross‐coupling reactions. An expeditious and parallel synthesis of (E)‐ and (Z)‐zimelidine ( 3 ), which is a highly representative selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), was performed by utilizing the present methods.     

4‐Deoxy‐4‐fluoro‐β‐d‐glucopyranose

4‐Deoxy‐4‐fluoro‐β‐d ‐glucopyranose, C₆H₁₁FO₅, (I), crystallizes from water at room temperature in a slightly distorted ⁴C₁ chair conformation. The observed chair distortion differs from that observed in β‐d ‐glucopyranose [Kouwijzer, van Eijck, Kooijman & Kroon (1995). Acta Cryst. B 51 , 209–220], (II), with the former skewed toward a B^C3,O5 (boat) conformer and the latter toward an ^O5TB_C2 (twist–boat) conformer, based on Cremer–Pople analysis. The exocyclic hydroxymethyl group conformations in (I) and (II) are similar; in both cases, the O—C—C—O torsion angle is ∼−60° (gg conformer). Intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the crystal structures of (I) and (II) is conserved in that identical patterns of donors and acceptors are observed for the exocyclic substituents and the ring O atom of each monosaccharide. Inspection of the crystal packing structures of (I) and (II) reveals an essentially identical packing configuration.     

A silicon‐assisted synthesis of (E)‐β‐haloenamides from N‐vinylamides

(E)‐β‐Iodoenamides and (E)‐β‐iodoenimides can be easily obtained from N‐vinyl derivatives (N‐vinylamides and N‐vinylimides) by stereoselective ruthenium‐catalysed silylative coupling with vinyltrimethylsilane (Marciniec coupling) and subsequent stereospecific silicon–iodine exchange. Bromodesilylation of (E)‐β‐silylenimides affords (E)‐β‐bromoenimides, while the analogous reactions involving (E)‐β‐silylenamides lead to decomposition of substrates. N‐Halosuccinimides have been found as the most effective halogenating agents in the desilylation step under mild conditions. The ruthenium‐catalysed silylation/halodesilylation sequence can be performed in a one‐pot procedure. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photoinduced and thermal reactions of α‐cyano‐β‐bromomethylcinnamide with 1‐benzyl‐1,4‐dihydronicotinamide

The photoinduced reaction of a mixture of (Z)‐α‐cyano‐β‐bromomethylcinnamide (1) and (E)‐α‐cyano‐β‐bromomethylcinnamide (2) with 1‐benzyl‐1, 4‐dihydronicotinamide produces a mixture of the (E)‐ and (Z)‐ isomers of α‐cyano‐β‐methylcinnamide (3 and 4). Using spin‐trapping technique for monitoring reactive intermediate, it is shown that the reaction proceeds via electron transfer‐debromination‐H abstraction mechanism. The thermal reaction of the same substrate with BNAH at 60°C in the dark gives three products: the (E)‐ and (Z)‐isomers of α‐cyano‐β‐methylcinnamide and a dehydrodimeric product; 2, 7‐dicyano‐3, 6‐diphenylocta‐2, 4, 6‐trien‐1, 8‐dioic amide (7). Based on product analysis, scavenger experiment and cyclic voltammetry, an electron transfer‐debromination‐disproportionation mechanism is proposed.     

Reactions of unsymmetrical α‐diazo‐β‐diketones with imines: Syntheses of 4H‐1,3‐oxazin‐4‐ones

Cycloaddition reactions of an unsymmetrical α‐diazo‐β‐diketone, 2‐diazo‐1‐phenyl‐1,3‐butanedione, with a series of imines having various substituents were studied. The results indicated that only cycloadducts derived from acetylphenylketene, which was generated by the thermal Wolff rearrangement of 2‐diazo‐1‐phenyl‐1,3‐butanedione with phenyl migration, and imines were obtained. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 13:165–168, 2002; Published online in Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10015     

Selective 17‐β‐estradiol molecular imprinting

An efficient novel method for the synthesis of a covalent molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) highly specific to β‐estradiol have been developed. MIP prepared by both covalent and non covalent techniques, demonstrated high selectivity toward β‐estradiol. MIPs were synthesized by radical polymerization of 17‐β‐estradiol 4‐vinyl‐benzene carboxyl or sulfonyl esters used as covalent functional monomers, methacrylic acid as noncovalent functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as crosslinking agent, and acetonitrile as swelling and porogenic component. Almost 35% (w/w) of 17‐β‐estradiol was successfully removed from the polymer network by basic hydrolysis. The binding ability of MIP was 10.73 μg/mg MIP following removal of 17‐β‐estradiol in the 2 mg/mL β‐estradiol solution. Selective rebinding of β‐estradiol toward MIP was tested in the presence of competitive binders including estrone, 19‐nortestosterone, epiandrosterone, and cholesterol. Estrone having closest similar chemical structure to β‐estradiol exhibited only 0.6 μg/mg MIP competitive binding, being exposed to equivalent concentrations. Moreover, other competitive steroids demonstrated negligible affinity toward MIP indicating high selectivity of novel MIP system toward β‐estradiol. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5534–5542, 2009     

Ring‐opening polymerization of benzylated 1,6‐anhydro‐β‐D‐lactose and specific biological activities of sulfated (1→6)‐α‐D‐lactopyranans

A new anhydro disaccharide monomer, 1,6‐anhydro‐2,3‐di‐o‐benzyl‐4‐o‐(2′,3′,4′,6′‐tetra‐o‐benzyl‐β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranose (benzylated 1,6‐anhydro lactose (LSHBE)), was synthesized from D ‐lactose to investigate the polymerizability and biological activities of the resulting branched polysaccharides. The ring‐opening polymerization of LSHBE was carried out with phosphorus pentafluoride as a catalyst under high vacuum to give a stereoregular benzylated (1 → 6)‐α‐D ‐lactopyranan. The molecular weights of poly(LSHBE)s increased with an increase in the amount of CH₂Cl₂ solvent, and polymerization temperatures were affected in both molecular weights and yields of the polymers. The copolymerization of LSHBE with benzylated 1,6‐anhydro‐β‐D ‐glucopyranose (LGTBE) gave the corresponding copolysacchrides having different proportions of lactose and glucose units in good yields. After debenzylation to recover hydroxyl groups and then sulfation, sulfated homopoly(lactose)s and copoly(lactose and glucose)s were obtained. Sulfated homopoly(lactose)s had moderate anti‐HIV (EC₅₀ = 5.9 and 1.3 μg/mL) and blood anticoagulant activities (AA = 18 and 13 unit/mg), respectively. Sulfated copoly(lactose and glucose) having 15 mol % lactose units gave high anti‐HIV and blood anticoagulant activities of 0.3 μg/mL and 54 unit/mg, respectively. These biological results suggest that the distance between branched units on the main chain plays an important role in the anti‐HIV and blood anticoagulant activities. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 913–924, 2009     

Thermal cycloaddition reaction of symmetrical and unsymmetrical α‐diazo‐β‐diketones with 4‐aryl‐2‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,5‐benzothia/diazepines

Symmetrical and unsymmetrical α‐diazo‐β‐diketones undergo thermal Wolff rearrangements to generate α‐carbonylketenes to participate as dienes in Diels–Alder reactions with 4‐aryl‐2‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,5‐benzothia/diazepines to give, whereapplicable, regiospecific cycloadducts, 4a,5,6,12‐tetrahydro‐1H/1H,7H‐1,3‐oxazino[3,2‐d][1,5]benzo‐thia/diazepin‐1‐ones. A mechanism of formation of the regiospecific cycloadducts is suggested. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 10: 35–40, 1999     

Acyclic Branched α‐Fluoro Ketones for the Direct Asymmetric Mannich Reaction Leading to the Synthesis of β‐Tetrasubstituted β‐Fluoro Amines

The preparation of acyclic β‐fluoro amines bearing tetrasubstituted fluorine stereocenters is described via a direct Zn/ProPhenol‐catalyzed Mannich reaction. The reaction utilizes branched vinyl or alkynyl α‐fluoro ketones that can be coupled with a range of aryl, heteroaryl, vinyl, or cyclopropyl aldimines in high yield and with excellent diastereo‐ (up to >20:1) and enantioselectivity (up to 99 %). The use of readily cleaved tert‐butoxycarbonyl (Boc) or carboxybenzyl (Cbz) imine protecting groups adds utility to the reaction by allowing for easy access to the free amine products under mild and chemoselective reaction conditions.     

Fluorine in Peptides: The Synthesis of α‐Fluoro‐β‐Amino Dipeptides by Direct Deoxofluorination/Rearrangement of N‐Seryl Dipeptides

This article describes the stereo‐ and regioselectivity of the deoxofluorination of N‐terminal dipeptides bearing a serine residue to generate, after rearrangement, α‐fluoro‐β‐amine‐terminated dipeptides. The ratio of the rearranged α‐fluorinated regioisomer is increased, relative to the non‐rearranged β‐fluoro isomer, with N‐alkylated amides. Otherwise, an intramolecular H‐bond between the free amine and the amide NH suppresses formation of the key aziridinium intermediate required for α‐fluorination. N‐Methyl and N‐allyl amides give exclusively α‐fluorination products. Subsequent deprotection of the N‐allyl amide to give a α‐fluoro‐β‐amino dipeptide product is demonstrated.     

Novel polymer‐supported β‐dithioketonate nickel catalysts for selective propylene dimerization

Brominated and chloromethylated styrene–divinylbenzene resins were used for the synthesis of polymer‐bound dithio‐β‐diketones, obtained by anchoring the chelate ligand through the central position. The heterogenized dithio‐β‐diketone ligand was subsequently reacted either as sodium salt with a Ni(II) phosphino derivative or directly with a Ni(0) complex in the presence of a free phosphine and activated in situ with an aluminum co‐catalyst for the selective dimerization of propylene to 2,3‐dimethylbutenes. The hetetogenized catalysts so obtained showed, particulary when prepared starting from chloromethylated styrene/divinylbenzene resins, very high activity and selectivity towards 2,3‐dimethylbutenes. Moreover, the above catalysts, at least under the adopted reaction conditions, did not display any appreciable metal leaching during the catalytic cycle, thus working as really heterogeneous systems. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.