The Williamson Reaction: A New and Efficient Method for the Alternate Resolution of 2,2'-Bis(bromomethyl)-1,1'-binaphthyl and 1,1'-Binaphthalene-2,2'-diol

Treatment of 2,2'-bis(bromomethyl)-1,1'-binaphthyl [(R,S)-2] with 1,1'-binaphthalene-2,2'-diol (+)-(R)-1 and cesium or potassium carbonate in refluxing acetone, gave the diastereoisomeric dioxacyclophanes (-)-(R,S)-3a and (+)-(R,R)-3b, both obtained in high yield, and the cyclic tetraether (+)-(R,R,R,S)-4 as isolated side product. Boron tribomide-promoted ether cleavage of 3a and 3b gave optically pure (-)-(S)-2 and (+)-(R)-2, respectively, and the recovered diol (+)-(R)-1. Alternatively, the same reaction sequence furnished the resolved diols (-)-(S)-1 and (+)-(R)-1 from (R,S)-1 and (+)-(R)-2, as well as optically pure 2,2'-bis(chloromethyl)-1,1'-binaphthyl (+)-(R)-5 from the racemic dibromide (R,S)-2 by using boron trichloride for ether cleavage.     

单组分酚膦中性镍催化乙烯均聚与共聚反应

以酚膦化合物为双齿配体,合成与表征了一系列单组分中性镍烯烃聚合催化剂。 研究表明,酚膦配体结构显著影响中性镍的催化性能,酚氧邻位无取代基的(2-PPh2-C6H4O)Ni(Me)(Py)(3a)活性较低,向酚氧邻位引入叔丁基或苯基等位阻基团可大幅度提高(2-PPh2-C6H3(R)O)Ni(Me)(Py)(3b~3d)的催化效率,最高催化活性可达4.46×106 g PE/(mol(Ni)·h)。 同时,聚乙烯的分子量也可以通过取代基效应进行适度调控,使用酚氧邻位带有苯基或蒽基的催化剂(3c~3d)可获得较高分子量的聚乙烯。 用供电子叔丁基替代二苯膦的一个苯环可提高催化活性中心镍原子的电子云密度,使辅助配体吡啶更容易离去,从而可在较低温度下引发乙烯聚合反应。 此外,这类酚膦中性镍催化剂对极性基团具有较强的耐受性,可催化乙烯与极性5-降冰片烯-2-乙酸酯的共聚反应。     

番荔枝皂素(4S,5S)和(4S,5R)-Muricatacin的合成及Annonacin四氢呋喃段绝对构型的确证

本文以L-谷氨酸为原料合成了(1S,5S)和(4S,5R)-Muricatacin,并以该两化合物的NMR和[a]~D数据确证了Annonacin中四氢呋喃段的四个手性中心为(15R,16R,19R,20R).     

Lewis-acid-catalyzed rearrangement of arylvinylidenecyclopropanes: significant influence of substituents and electronic nature of aryl groups

Lewis-acid-catalyzed reactions of arylvinylidenecyclopropanes having three substituents at the corresponding cyclopropyl rings have been investigated thoroughly. The reaction products are highly dependent on the substituents at the corresponding cyclopropyl rings and the electronic nature of the aryl groups. For arylvinylidenecyclopropanes bearing two alkyl groups at the C-1 position (R1, R2, R3=aryl; R4=H; R5, R6=alkyl), naphthalene derivatives were formed in the presence of Lewis-acid Eu(OTf)3 in DCE at 40 degrees C. For arylvinylidenecyclopropanes in which R1, R2, R3=aryl and R4, R5=alkyl (syn/anti isomeric mixtures), the corresponding 6aH-benzo[c]fluorine derivatives were formed in the syn-configuration via a double intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction when all of the aryl groups do not have electron-withdrawing groups or the corresponding indene derivatives were obtained via an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction as long as one electron-deficient aryl group was attached. For arylvinylidenecyclopropanes in which R1, R2, R3, R4=aryl and R5=alkyl or H, the corresponding indene derivatives were obtained exclusively via a sterically demanding intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction. Lewis-acid effects and mechanistic insights have been discussed on the basis of experimental investigations.     

Synthesis of trimethyl (2S,3R)- and (2R,3R)-[2-2H1]-homocitrates and dimethyl (2S,3R)- and (2R,3R)-[2-2H1]-homocitrate lactones-an assay for the stereochemical outcome of the reaction catalysed both by homocitrate synthase and by the Nif-V protein

Trimethyl (3R)-homocitrate 17, trimethyl (2S,3R)-[2-2H1]-homocitrate 17a and (2R,3R)-[2-2H1]-homocitrate 17b, as well as dimethyl (3R)-homocitrate lactone 18, (2S,3R)-[2-2H1]-homocitric lactone 18a and (2R,3R)-[2-2H1]-homocitric lactone 18b have been synthesised. D-quinic acid 12 was used as the source of the (3R)-centre in the unlabelled target compounds 17 and 18. (2)-Shikimic acid 19 and the (2)-[2-2H]-shikimic acid derivative 32 respectively were used in the synthesis of the labelled compounds. In the latter syntheses, Sharpless directed epoxidation of the olefin in the 5-deoxy ester diols 23 and 35 ensured a reaction from the same face as the allylic and homoallylic alcohols, and the reduction of the protected epoxides 25 and 37 ensured that the label was introduced in a stereoselective manner. The 1H NMR spectra of the labelled products present an assay for the stereochemistry of the biological reactions catalysed by homocitrate synthase and by the protein from the nifV gene.     

A Non Ambiguous Evidence of the Betain Dissociation as a Part of the “Retro-Wittig” Process

Abstract

The ring-opening of oxiranes by triphenylphosphine in phenol as solvent, at 100°C, follows pathways (a) and (b) in the case of R ? phenyle, or R′, R″? alkyle, or pathway (c) in the case of R, R′? alkyle, R″? H.     

Binary and ternary blends of high‐density polyethylene with poly(ethylene terephthalate) and polystyrene based on recycled materials

Binary blends of recycled high‐density polyethylene (R‐HDPE) with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (R‐PET) and recycled polystyrene (R‐PS), as well as the ternary blends, i.e. R‐HDPE/R‐PET/R‐PS, with varying amounts of the constituents were prepared by twin screw extruder. The mechanical, rheological, thermal, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were utilized to characterize the samples. The results revealed that both R‐HDPE/R‐PET and R‐HDPE/R‐PS blends show phase inversion but at different compositions. The R‐PET was found to have much higher influence on the properties enhancement of the R‐HDPE compared to R‐PS, but at the phase inverted situation, a significant loss in the tensile strength of R‐HDPE/R‐PET blend was observed due to the weak interaction at this morphological state. However, the ternary blends with higher loading of second phase, namely greater than 50 wt% of R‐PET+R‐PS, demonstrated better mechanical properties than the binary blends with the same content of either R‐PET or R‐PS. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A simple method for the preparation of N-sulfonylsulfilimines from sulfides.

While excellent methods exist for the oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides R1R2S-->R1R2SO, the azaversion of this atom transfer redox process, i.e., R1R2S-->R1R2S=N-SO2R3, has been less reliable. In sulfilimine synthesis, sulfoxide has been an inevitable byproduct in all cases to date, and the yields of sulfilimine have varied widely. A nearly ideal procedure for the sulfide to sulfonyl sulfilimine transformation is described. Almost quantitative yields are achieved from a diverse set of sulfides and a broad range of the readily available sulfonyl nitrenoid sources known as chloramine salts (R3SO2NClNa), essentially by simply stirring them together in acetonitrile.     

Exergy analysis of a domestic refrigerator using eco-friendly R290/R600a refrigerant mixture as an alternative to R134a

The aim of the present work is to bring out an exergy analysis of the hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture of R290/R600a as an alternative to R134a on the performance of a domestic refrigerator which is originally designed to work with R134a. The performance of both refrigerants was evaluated using an exergy analysis. The effects of evaporator temperature on the coefficient of performance (COP), exergy loss, exergic efficiency, and efficiency defect in the four major components of the system for R134a and R290/R600a mixture were experimentally investigated. The results obtained showed that the COP of R290/R600a mixture was improved up to 28.5 % than that of R134a. The highest average exergic efficiency of the system (42.1 %) was obtained using R290/R600a mixture at an evaporator temperature of 263 K (?10 °C). The overall efficiency defect in the refrigeration cycle working with R290/R600a mixture was consistently better than R134a.     

Synthesis and characterisation of trigonal C2-chiral di- and tetra-substituted bis(oxazoline) alkyl zinc complexes and their reactivity towards protic reagents

A series of zinc(ii) alkyl complexes stabilised by the C(2)-chiral bis(oxazoline) ligand ((R(1),R(2))BOX, with R(1) = (4S)-tBu, R(2) = H (a); R(1) = (4S)-Ph, R(2) = H (b); R(1) = (4R)-Ph, R(2) = (5S)-Ph (c)), has been synthesised and structurally characterised. ((R(1),R(2))BOX)H ligands react with ZnEt(2) in toluene to give the heteroleptic three-coordinate compounds of ((R(1),R(2))BOX)ZnEt, 1a, 1b and 1c in high yield. However, when the addition of (BOX)H ligands (a-b) over ZnEt(2) is "uncontrolled", the formation of homoleptic four-coordinate compounds are favoured (2a-b), but not for the more sterically crowded ligand (c). The zinc-ethyl derivatives (1a-c) react readily with protic reagents such as acetic acid (HOAc) and methanol (MeOH). For compounds 1a-c a redistribution of ligands is observed leading preferentially to homoleptic compounds, except for the bulkier ligand c providing a three-coordinate complex identified as ((Ph,Ph)BOX)Zn(OMe), 4c. The reaction of acetylacetone (acacH) with compounds 1a-c leads straightforwardly to the more stable four-coordinate compounds corresponding to ((R(1),R(2))BOX)Zn(η(2)-acac), 5a-c. The potential of these compounds as initiators for the copolymerisation of epoxides with CO(2) was investigated.     

A parallel chiral-achiral liquid chromatographic method for the determination of the stereoisomers of ketamine and ketamine metabolites in the plasma and urine of patients with complex regional pain syndrome

A parallel chiral/achiral LC-MS/MS assay has been developed and validated to measure the plasma and urine concentrations of the enantiomers of ketamine, (R)- and (S)-Ket, in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) patients receiving a 5-day continuous infusion of a sub-anesthetic dose of (R,S)-Ket. The method was also validated for the determination of the enantiomers of the Ket metabolites norketamine, (R)- and (S)-norKet and dehydronorketamine, (R)- and (S)-DHNK, as well as the diastereomeric metabolites hydroxynorketamine, (2S,6S)-/(2R,6R)-HNK and two hydroxyketamines, (2S,6S)-HKet and (2S,6R)-Hket. In this method, (R,S)-Ket, (R,S)-norKet and (R,S)-DHNK and the diastereomeric hydroxyl-metabolites were separated and quantified using a C₁₈ stationary phase and the relative enantiomeric concentrations of (R,S)-Ket, (R,S)-norKet and (R,S)-DHNK were determined using an AGP-CSP. The analysis of the results of microsomal incubations of (R)- and (S)-Ket and a plasma and urine sample from a CRPS patient indicated the presence of 10 additional compounds and glucuronides. The data from the analysis of the patient sample also demonstrated that a series of HNK metabolites were the primary metabolites in plasma and (R)- and (S)-DHNK were the major metabolites found in urine. The results suggest that norKet is the initial, but not the primary metabolite and that downstream norKet metabolites play a role in (R,S)-Ket-related pain relief in CRPS patients.     

EPR, ENDOR, and DFT study of free radicals in L-lysine·HCl·2H2O single crystals X-irradiated at 298 K

With K-band EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance), ENDOR (Electron-Nuclear DOuble Resonance), and EIE (ENDOR-induced EPR) techniques, three free radicals (RI-RIII) in L-lysine hydrochloride dihydrate single crystals X-irradiated at 298 K were detected at 298 K, and six radicals (R1, R1', R2-R5) were detected if the temperature was lowered to 66 K from 298 K. R1 and RI dominated the central portion of the EPR at 66 and 298 K, respectively, and were identified as main chain deamination radicals, (-)OOC?H(CH(2))(4)(NH(3))(+). R1' was identified as a main chain deamination radical with the different configuration from R1 at 66 K, and it probably formed during cooling the temperature from 298 to 66 K. The configurations of R1, R1', and RI were analyzed with their coupling tensors. R2 and R3 each contain one α- and four β-proton couplings and have very similar EIEs at three crystallographic axes. The two-layer ONIOM calculations (at B3LYP/6-31G(d,p):PM3) support that R2 and R3 are from different radicals: dehydrogenation at C4, (-)OOCCH(NH(3))(+)CH(2)?H(CH(2))(2)(NH(3))(+), and dehydrogenation at C5, (-)OOCCH(NH(3))(+)(CH(2))(2)?HCH(2)(NH(3))(+), respectively. The comparisons of the coupling tensors indicated that R2 (66 K) is the same radical as RII (298 K), and R3 is the same as RIII. Thus, RII and RIII also are the radicals of C4 and C5 dehydrogenation. R4 and R5 are minority radicals and were observed only when temperature was lowered to 66 K. R4 and R5 were only tentatively assigned as the side chain deamination radical, (-)OOCCH (NH(3))(+)(CH(2))(3)?H(2), and the radical dehydrogenation at C3, (-)OOCCH(NH(3))(+)?H(CH(2))(3)(NH(3))(+), respectively, although the evidence was indirect. From simulation of the EPR (B//a, 66 K), the concentrations of R1, R1', and R2-R5 were estimated as: R1, 50%; R1', 11%; R2, 14%; R3, 16%; R4, 6%; R5, 3%.     

Effect of electrolytes on the surface behavior of rhamnolipids R1 and R2

The surface behavior of solutions of the rhamnolipids, R1 and R2, were investigated in the absence and presence of an electrolyte (NaCl) through surface tension measurements and optical microscopy at pH 6.8. The NaCl concentrations studied are 0.05, 0.5 and 1 M. Electrolytes directly affect the carboxylate groups of the rhamnolipids. The solution/air interface has a net negative charge due to the dissociated carboxylate ions at pH 6.8 with strong repulsive electrostatic forces between the rhamnolipid molecules. This negative charge is shielded by the Na⁺ ions in the electrical double layer in the presence of NaCl, causing the formation of a close-packed monolayer, and a decrease in CMC, and surface tension values. The maximum compaction is observed at 0.5 M NaCl concentrations for R1 and R2 monolayers, with the R1 monolayer more compact than R2. The larger spaces left below the hydrophobic tails of R1 with respect to that of R2, due to the missing second rhamnosyl groups are thought to be responsible for the higher compaction. The rigidity of both R1 and R2 monolayers increases with the electrolyte concentration. The rigidity of the R1 monolayer is greater than that of R2 at all NaCl concentrations due to the lower hydrophilic character of R1. The variation of CMC values as a function of NaCl concentration obtained from the surface tension measurements and critical packing parameter (CPP) calculations show that spherical micelles, bilayer and rod like micelles are formed in the rhamnolipid solutions as a function of the NaCl concentration. The results of optical microscopy supported these aggregation states indicating lamellar nematic liquid crystal, cubic lamellar and hexagonal liquid crystal phases in R1 and R2 solutions depending on the NaCl concentration.     

Rational polynomial representation of ribonucleotide reductase activity

Background  

Recent data suggest that ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) exists not only as a heterodimer R1₂R2₂ of R1₂ and R2₂ homodimers, but also as tetramers R1₄R2₄ and hexamers R1₆R2₆. Recent data also suggest that ATP binds the R1 subunit at a previously undescribed hexamerization site, in addition to its binding to previously described dimerization and tetramerization sites. Thus, the current view is that R1 has four NDP substrate binding possibilities, four dimerization site binding possibilities (dATP, ATP, dGTP, or dTTP), two tetramerization site binding possibilities (dATP or ATP), and one hexamerization site binding possibility (ATP), in addition to possibilities of unbound site states. This large number of internal R1 states implies an even larger number of quaternary states. A mathematical model of RNR activity which explicitly represents the states of R1 currently exists, but it is complicated in several ways: (1) it includes up to six-fold nested sums; (2) it uses different mathematical structures under different substrate-modulator conditions; and (3) it requires root solutions of high order polynomials to determine R1 proportions in mono-, di-, tetra- and hexamer states and thus RNR activity as a function of modulator and total R1 concentrations.     

Phosphate activation in the ground state of purine nucleoside phosphorylase

Phosphate and ribose 1-phosphate (R1P) bound to human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) have been studied by FTIR spectroscopy for comparison with phosphate bound with a transition state analogue. Bound phosphate is dianionic but exists in two distinct binding modes with similar binding affinities. The phosphate of bound R1P is also dianionic. Bound R1P slowly hydrolyzes to ribose and phosphate even in the absence of nucleobase. The C-OP bond is cleaved in bound R1P, the same as in the PNP-catalyzed reaction. Free R1P undergoes both C-OP and CO-P solvolysis. A hydrogen bond to one P-O group is stronger than those to the other two P-O groups in both the PNP.R1P complex and in one form of the PNP.PO4 complex. The average hydrogen bond strength to the PO bonds in the PNP.R1P complex is less than that in water but stronger than that in the PNP.PO4 complex. Hydrolysis of bound R1P may be initiated by distortion of the phosphate moiety in bound R1P. The unfavorable interactions on the phosphate moiety of bound R1P are relieved by dissociation of R1P from PNP or by hydrolysis to ribose and phosphate. The two forms of bound phosphate in the PNP.PO4 complex are interpreted to be phosphate positioned as the product in the nucleoside synthesis direction and as the reactant in the phosphorolysis reaction; their interconversion can occur by the transfer of a proton from one PO bond to another. The electronic structure of phosphate bound with a transition state analogue differs substantially from that in the Michaelis complexes.     

Synthesis and characterization of some new C2 symmetric chiral bisamide ligands derived from chiral Feist's acid

The hemilabile chiral C2 symmetrical bidentate substituted amide ligands (1R,2R)-5(a-d) and (1S,2S)-6(a-d) were synthesized in quantitative yield from (1R,2R)-(+)-3-methylenecyclo-propane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (1R,2R)-3 and (1S,2S)-(-)-3-methylene-cyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (1S,2S)-3, in two steps, respectively. The chiral Feist's acids (1R,2R)-3 and (1S,2S)-3 were obtained in good isomeric purity by resolution of trans-(±)-3-methylene-cyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid from an 8:2 mixture of tert-butanol and water, using (R)-(+)-α-methylbenzyl amine as a chiral reagent. This process is reproducible on a large scale. All these new synthesized chiral ligands were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR, and mass spectrometry, as well as elemental analysis and their specific rotations were measured. These new classes of C2 symmetric chiral bisamide ligands could be of special interest in asymmetric transformations.     

Activation mechanism of the human histamine H4 receptor--an explicit membrane molecular dynamics simulation study

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in a membrane-embedded environment were carried out on the homology model of the human histamine H4 receptor (hH4R) alone and in complex with its endogenous activator histamine and with the first reported selective hH4R antagonist JNJ7777120. During the simulation of the histamine-hH4R complex, considerable changes occurred in the hH4R structure as well as in the interaction pattern of histamine at the binding site. These changes are in agreement with experimental data published on GPCR activation. In particular, the intracellular side of TM helix VI moved significantly away from TM helices III and VII. Moreover, histamine formed an interaction with Asn147 (4.57) that was previously proved to be important in hH4R activation. Results of the MD simulations of the native hH4R and the JNJ7777120-hH4R complex suggest that these models represent an inactive conformation of hH4R. MD simulation in the presence of JNJ7777120 resulted in the movement of the intracellular side of TM helix VI in the direction of TM helix III. Snapshots of the simulations may serve as functionally relevant models in the development of novel hH4R ligands in the future.     

In vivo noninvasive detection of chlorophyll distribution in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) leaves by indices based on hyperspectral imaging

The objective of this study was to investigate the spectral behavior of the relationship between reflectance and chlorophyll content and to develop a technique for non-destructive chlorophyll estimation and distribution in leaves using hyperspectral imaging. The hyperspectral imaging data cube of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) leaves in the range of 450-850 nm was investigated and preprocessed. Sixty optical signatures or indices as a function of the associated reflectance (R(λ)) at the special wavelength (λ) nm which proposed in the literatures were used to predict the total chlorophyll content in cucumber leaves. Finally, R(710)/R(760), (R(780)-R(710))/(R(780)-R(680)), (R(750)-R(705))/(R(750)+R(705)), (R(680)-R(430))/(R(680)+R(430)), R(860)/(R(550)×R(708)), (R(695-705))(-1)-(R(750-800))(-1), and REP-LEM (a index based on red edge position and estimated with a linear extrapolation method) were identified as optimum indices. Red-edge waveband (680-780 nm) appeared in all these optimum indices, indicating the importance of REP (red edge position) in chlorophyll estimation. When (R(695-705))(-1)-(R(750-800))(-1), the best index was applied to an independent validation set, chlorophyll content (r=0.8286) were reasonably well predicted, indicating model robustness. Depending on the sample, this technique enables to identify and characterize the relative content of various chlorophyll that distribution in the cucumber leaves. The map shows a relatively low level of chlorophyll at margins. Higher level can be noticed in the regions along the main veins and in some areas exhibiting dark green tissue. Our results indicate that hyperspectral imaging has considerable promise for predicting pigments in leaves and, the pigments can be detected in situ in living plant samples non-destructively.     

Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory cerebrosides from phytolaccae radix

A mixture of cerebrosides, called poke-weed cerebrosides, was purified from Phytolaccae Radix (Phytolaccaceae) and characterized as 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosides of phytosphingosine type ceramides comprised of a common long chain base (2S,3S,4R,8Z)-2-amino-8-octadecene-1,3,4-triol and fatty acids. The fatty acyl chain of ceramide moieties was determined as (2R)-2-hydroxypentacosanoic acid, (2R)-2-hydroxylignoceric acid, (2R)-2-hydroxytricosanoic acid, (2R)-2-hydroxybehenic acid, (2R)-2-hydroxypalmitic acid, and palmitic acid. The pokeweed cerebroside inhibited the cyclooxygenase-2 dependent phase of prostaglandin D2 generation in bone marrow-derived mast cells in a concentration dependent manner with an IC50 of 6.2 microg/ml.