Inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder (iEDDA) bioorthogonal conjugation of half-sandwich transition metallocarbonyl entities to a model protein

Novel transition metallocarbonyl complexes carrying a norbornene or an oxanorbornene group were synthesized by [4 + 2] cycloaddition between the organometallic maleimide dienophiles and cyclopentadiene or furan, respectively. The oxanorbornene adduct was obtained as a mixture of endo and exo isomers as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopy. The (oxa)norbornene groups further provided convenient chemical reporters to carry out inverse electron demand Diels-Alder (iEDDA) reactions with tetrazine derivatives. Detailed kinetic studies with a model tetrazine revealed that faster rates of reaction were determined with both isomers of the oxanorbornene complex with respect to the norbornene complexes. Eventually, incorporation of metallocarbonyl entities into bovine serum albumin equipped with tetrazine handles was achieved as shown by IR spectroscopy of the protein conjugates.     

Furans-Maleimides Diels-Alder Reactions in Protic Ionic Liquid

The authors have studied the Diels-Alder reactions between furan derivatives and maleimide derivatives in an ionic liquid and have found that higher reactivity can be obtained in a protic ionic liquid [Mim]Tf2N than in the conventional organic solvent.Furthermore,in the Diels-AIder reactions of 2- and 2,5-alkylfurans with N-alkylmaleimide,the reactivity increases by extending the alkyl chain length of N-alkylmaleimide.In addition,it was demonstrated that endo-selectivity increases when 2,5-disubstituted furans are used.These results will be explained by comparing the stability of the Diels-Alder adduct with that of the products obtained from the reactions of 2-substituted furans and 2,5-disubstituted furans.     

Quantum chemical study of the products and hypothetical intermediates in the dehydrobromination of bromobullvalene in furan

Equilibrium structural parameters of didehydrobullvalene, its adducts with furan, and tris(didehydrobullvalene) and bullvalenophenol tautomers have been determined by DFT M06-2X/cc-pVTZ quantum chemical calculations. The energies of the assumed Diels-Alder adducts are considerably higher than the energies of the isolated products, and the energy barriers separating them are fairly low. Interconversion of enantiomers of the major adduct via two sequential Cope rearrangements with calculated barriers of 17.2 and 15.0 kcal/mol, respectively, may be regarded as an example of truly degenerate mediated tautomerism.     

Vinylogous Mannich reactions: some theoretical studies on the origins of diastereoselectivity

[reaction: see text] Ab initio calculations at the RHF/3-21G level were used to investigate the limiting transition states in the addition of 2-methoxyfuran to a pyrrolinium ion. Four stationary points were found on the potential energy surface with relative energies of threo Diels-Alder, 0.0 kcal/mol; erythro open, 0.9 kcal/mol; erythro Diels-Alder, 1.3 kcal/mol; and threo open, 1.8 kcal/mol.     

Retro [2 + 2 + 2] ring opening in tricyclobutabenzene derivatives. Thermochemistry and reaction barriers. A theoretical hybrid density functional study

The starting materials, transition states, and products of the concerted retro [2 + 2 + 2] ring-opening reactions of several tricyclobutabenzene derivatives substituted by double-bonded substituents were calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G theoretical level. It was found that the geometries of the products (cyclododecatriyne derivatives) are governed by the electronegativity of the substituents and hyperconjugation effects. The transition-state geometries of all the derivatives are similar. It was found that the retro [2 + 2 + 2] ring-opening reactions are endothermic (ca. 30-85 kcal mol(-1), depending on the substituents) with high barriers, ranging between ca. 95 and 115 kcal mol(-1). It is predicted that the tricyclobutabenzene derivatives under study will be stable when prepared and that they can be made by [2 + 2 + 2] intramolecular ring closure of the respective cyclododecatriyne derivative, especially with the use of transition metals as mediators or catalysts.     

Stereoselectivity in Diels-Alder reactions of diene-substituted N-alkoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydropyridines

Diene substituent effects on the regiochemical and stereochemical outcomes of uncatalyzed Diels-Alder reactions of N-alkoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydropyridines with both styrene and methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) were studied. Alkyl substitution on the diene in all cases examined resulted in a kinetic preference for 7-endo isomers (7-phenyl 51-96% exo and 7-acetyl 54-96% exo). For both dienophiles, the highest stereoselectivities (>or=89% endo) were observed with 5-methyl or 6-methyl substituents in the dihydropyridine. Theoretical calculations of the energies of gas phase endo and exo transition states at the RHF/3-21G(*) predict that total entropy, DeltaStotal, considerations favor endo cycloadducts for both dienophiles with DHP, while total energy considerations, DeltaEo, favor endo cycloadducts for styrene and exo cycloadducts for MVK. At this level, favored endo-phenyl isomers are correctly predicted for styrene reactions, but the calculation of 7-acetyl exo or endo isomer dominance is diene-substituent-dependent for MVK reactions. The preference for endo addition of MVK to the parent, 5-methyl, and 6-methyl-DHPs was successfully predicted by calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G* theory level.     

Synchronism in the Diels-Alder reaction

Defined as the formation of two new bonds of equal length at the same time, synchronism has been shown to be not possible for the Diels-Alder reaction when the products are not of strict C_s symmetry. This has been done in two steps. First, the SCF -MO transition-state structures for the cyclization reactions of ethylene with cyclopentadiene and furan have been calculated. The activation energies (and heat of reaction) with the STO -3G, 3-21G, and 4-31G basis sets are as follows: with cyclopentadiene 35.0 (?80.7), 30.0 (?32.0), 38.4 (?19.9) kcal/mol; with furan 33.4 (?66.4), 34.6 (?16.5), 42.1 (?8.8) kcal/mol. Then, using a bond-order-bond-length relationship, a value for the tendency toward asynchronism has been calculated for substituted reactants where the two new bonds are arbitrarily held equal. This tendency has been shown in all cases which break strict C_s symmetry. Further, inspection of the atomic-orbital coefficients showed that the substituents cannot be considered as mere perturbations on the pi system in many cases.     

The strength of parallel-displaced arene-arene interactions in chloroform

[reaction: see text] Triptycene-derived compounds have been prepared to serve as conformational equilibrium reporters for direct measurements of arene-arene interactions in the parallel-displaced orientation. A series of such compounds bearing arenes with different substituents were synthesized, and the ratios of the syn and anti conformers were determined by variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy. The syn conformer allows attached arenes to interact with each other while the anti conformer does not. The free energies derived from the syn/anti ratios in chloroform range from slightly positive (0.2 kcal/mol) to considerably negative (-0.98 kcal mol) values. The interactions between the arenes bearing electron-donating groups (EDG) are either negligible or slightly repulsive, while the interactions between arenes bearing electron-withdrawing groups (EWG) are attractive. Intermediate free energy values are obtained for those compounds bearing arenes with one EDG and one EWG.     

An experimental and theoretical study of stereoselectivity of furan-maleic anhydride and furan-maleimide diels-alder reactions

The stereoselectivity of the reaction of furan (1) with maleic anhydride (2) and maleimide (3) was studied experimentally and theoretically. Although the two reactions are highly similar with regard to their preference for endo and exo steroisomers, notable differences were experimentally observed and explained on the basis of calculated reaction-free energies and transition-state barriers. The experimental values of rate constants (k(1+2endo) = (1.75 +/- 0.48) x 10(-5); mol(-1) l s(-1); k(1+2exo) = (3.10 +/- 0.55) x 10(-5); mol(-1) l s(-1); k(1+3endo) = (1.93 +/- 0.082) x 10(-5); mol(-1) l s(-1), k(1+3exo) = (1.38 +/- 0.055) x 10(-5); mol(-1) l s(-1) all at 300 K) and the observed reaction course clearly confirm that neither of these reactions are prototypical examples of Diels-Alder [4 + 2] cycloadditions, whose dominant preference is for endo isomers. However, only by comparing their energetics-calculated at the CCSD(T) level of theory-with the analogous reactions involving cyclopentadiene (8) as a diene can these observations be understood. The low thermodynamic stability of furan [4 + 2] adducts opens retro-Diels-Alder reaction channels and overrules the very small kinetic preference (calculated and measured here) of initial formation for endo stereoisomers. On a macroscopic scale "an irregular"-thermodynamically more stable-exo stereoisomer was consequently observed as a dominant species.     

Diels-Alder Reaction of phosphaethene with 1,3-dienes: an ab initio study

Computations on Diels-Alder (DA) reactions of phosphaethene with 1,3-butadiene and with isoprene reveal asynchronous transition structures. The DFT (B3LYP/6-311+G) activation energies of these reactions, 12-14 kcal/mol, are much lower than that of the parent ethene-butadiene reaction, 28 kcal/mol, even though the exothermicities of all lie in the same range, from -29 to -33 kcal/mol. The transition states (TSs) for the phosphethene-butadiene or isoprene DA reactions are earlier than the TSs of the butadiene-ethene cycloaddition. Due to the weakness of the C=P pi bond compared to the C=C pi bonds, the energies required to reach the phosphaethene TSs are much less than the carbocyclic cases. The computed (1)H NMR chemical shifts and nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS) quantify the aromatic character of the transition states. Regioselectivities of the neutral phosphaethene-isoprene DA reactions are modest, at best. However, computations on radical cation DA reactions of phosphaethene with isoprene, which proceed stepwise with open chain intermediates, can account for the high regioselectivities that have been observed in some cases.     

Structures and dynamic solution behavior of cationic, two-coordinate gold(I)-π-allene complexes

A family of seven cationic gold complexes that contain both an alkyl substituted π-allene ligand and an electron-rich, sterically hindered supporting ligand was isolated in >90% yield and characterized by spectroscopy and, in three cases, by X-ray crystallography. Solution-phase and solid-state analysis of these complexes established preferential binding of gold to the less substituted C=C bond of the allene and to the allene π face trans to the substituent on the uncomplexed allenyl C=C bond. Kinetic analysis of intermolecular allene exchange established two-term rate laws of the form rate=k(1)[complex]+k(2)[complex][allene] consistent with allene-independent and allene-dependent exchange pathways with energy barriers of ΔG(≠)(1)=17.4-18.8 and ΔG(≠)(2)=15.2-17.6 kcal mol(-1), respectively. Variable temperature (VT) NMR analysis revealed fluxional behavior consistent with facile (ΔG(≠)=8.9-11.4 kcal mol(-1)) intramolecular exchange of the allene π faces through η(1)-allene transition states and/or intermediates that retain a staggered arrangement of the allene substituents. VT NMR/spin saturation transfer analysis of [{P(tBu)(2)o-binaphthyl}Au(η(2)-4,5-nonadiene)](+)SbF(6)(-) (5), which contains elements of chirality in both the phosphine and allene ligands, revealed no epimerization of the allene ligand below the threshold for intermolecular allene exchange (ΔG(≠)(298K)=17.4 kcal mol(-1)), which ruled out the participation of a η(1)-allylic cation species in the low-energy π-face exchange process for this complex.     

利用呋喃/马来酰亚胺Diels-Alder反应实现聚甲基丙烯酸丁酯/聚苯乙烯合金相容

利用呋喃和马来酰亚胺之间的可逆Diels-Alder反应,对不相容的聚甲基丙烯酸正丁酯(Poly(n-butyl methacrylate),PBMA)/聚苯乙烯(Polystyrene,PS)合金进行了增容研究。 首先,通过原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)共聚合成侧基含呋喃基团的聚甲基丙烯酸正丁酯(P(BMA-co-FMA)),并通过后反应改性合成侧基含马来酰亚胺基团的聚苯乙烯(MPS),然后利用呋喃和马来酰亚胺基团之间的Diels-Alder反应促使该共混物中两种高分子的相容性得到明显改善,本实验通过核磁共振波谱仪(NMR)表征验证了功能化高分子及其共混物中的Diels-Alder反应,并通过透射电子显微镜观测相分离结构变化和差示扫描量热法测定相变温度证明了相容性的明显改善。 共混物可以进行热塑性加工,且其相形态和力学性能可以通过控制反应时间予以调节,三点弯曲试验发现随着反应时间的延长共混物逐渐由韧性材料向脆性材料转变。     

Poly-2-vinylfuran,synthesis, characterization,and diels-alder reaction with maleic anhydride

Poly-2-vinylfuran, synthesized by free-radical polymerization of 2-vinylfuran, was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The pendant furan rings on the polymer backbone were then used as the diene component of a Diels-Alder reaction with maleic anhydride. The juxtaposition of the furan rings at first suggested an “avalanche” Diels-Alder reaction, in which the product of one cyclization would be the reactant of the next. A lack of polymer stereoregularity and the reversibility of the Diels-Alder reaction, however, prevented its formation. On the other hand, when the dienophile was used in a 1:1 molar ratio with respect to furan the smooth reaction produced a new polymer, the maleic anhydride adduct of poly-2-vinylfuran, which characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, was air stable and soluble in a number of solvents up to 70% transformation. When heated to 160°C the polymer reverted to maleic anhydride and somewhat decomposed poly-2-vinylfuran.     

Improved synthesis of DCDHF fluorophores with maleimide functional groups

A group of dicyanodihydrofuran (DCDHF) fluorophores with thiol-reactive maleimide functionality has been synthesized. One of the methods involves aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction between an arylfluoride containing DCDHF and an amine containing protected maleimide. An alternative and generally useful method involves combination of the Mitsunobu reaction of a DCDHF-OH with a furan or 2-methylfuran protected maleimide and then subsequent retro Diels-Alder reaction.     

Mechanisms of the Knoevenagel hetero Diels-Alder sequence in multicomponent reactions to dihydropyrans: experimental and theoretical investigations into the role of water

The role of water in a multicomponent domino reaction (MCR) involving styrene, 2,4-pentanedione, and formaldehyde was studied. Whereas anhydrous conditions produced no reaction, the MCR successfully proceeded in the presence of water, affording the targeted dihydropyran derivatives with good yield. The mechanism of this MCR (Knoevenagel hetero Diels-Alder sequence) was studied with and without explicit water molecules using the SMD continuum solvation model in combination with the B3LYP density functional and the 6-311++G** basis set to compute the water and acetone (aprotic organic solvent) solution Gibbs free energies. In the Knoevenagel step, we found that water acted as a proton relay to favor the formation of more flexible six-membered ring transition state structures both in concerted (direct H(2)O elimination) and stepwise (keto-enol tautomerization and dehydration) pathways. The inclusion of a water molecule in our model resulted in a significant decrease (-8.5 kcal mol(-1)ΔG(water)(?)) of the direct water elimination activation barrier. Owing to the presence of water, all chemical steps involved in the MCR mechanism had activation free energies barriers lower than 39 kcal mol(-1) at 25 °C in aqueous solvent (<21 kcal mol(-1) ZPE corrected electronic energies barriers). Consequently, the MCR proceeded without the assistance of any catalyst.     

Accurate prediction of rate constants of Diels-Alder reactions and application to design of Diels-Alder ligation

Bioorthogonal reactions are useful tools to gain insights into the structure, dynamics, and function of biomolecules in the field of chemical biology. Recently, the Diels-Alder reaction has become a promising and attractive procedure for ligation in bioorthogonal chemistry because of its higher rate and selectivity in water. However, a drawback of the previous Diels-Alder ligation is that the widely used maleimide moiety as a typical Michael acceptor can readily undergo Michael addition with nucleophiles in living systems. Thus, it is important to develop a nucleophile-tolerant Diels-Alder system in order to extend the scope of the application of Diels-Alder ligation. To solve this problem, we found that the theoretical protocol M06-2X/6-31+G(d)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) can accurately predict the activation free energies of Diels-Alder reactions with a precision of 1.4 kcal mol(-1) by benchmarking the calculations against the 72 available experimental data. Subsequently, the electronic effect and ring-strain effect on the Diels-Alder reaction were studied to guide the design of the new dienophiles. The criteria of the design is that the designed Diels-Alder reaction should have a lower barrier than the Michael addition, while at the same time it should show a similar (or even higher) reactivity as compared to the maleimide-involving Diels-Alder ligation. Among the designed dienophiles, three substituted cyclopropenes (i.e. 1,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-, 1,2-bis(hydroxylmethyl)- and 1,2-bis(hydroxylmethyl)-3-carboxylcyclopropenes) meet our requirements. These substituted cyclopropene analogs could be synthesized and they are thermodynamically stable. As a result, we propose that 1,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-, 1,2-bis(hydroxylmethyl)- and 1,2-bis(hydroxylmethyl)-3-carboxylcyclopropenes may be potential candidates for efficient and selective Diels-Alder ligation in living systems.     

Allylic stereocontrol of the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction

The stereochemical outcome of the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of ester-linked 1,3,8-nonatrienes can be controlled by substituents about a stereogenic center attached to C1. The scope and limitations of this approach have been investigated, with variation in substrate structure about the allylic stereocenter and the dienophile. The stereochemical outcomes of these reactions are explained by reference to B3 LYP/6-31G(d) transition structures. New insights into the conformational preferences of allylic alcohol derivatives are reported, results which allow an explanation of the differing levels of pi-diastereofacial selectivity and cis/trans (i.e. endo/exo) selectivity from the reaction.     

Methyl substituent effects in radical cation Diels-Alder reactions

The effect of methyl substitution on the Diels-Alder radical cation reaction was studied using B3LYP with a 6-31G* basis set. Five separate pathways, one concerted and four stepwise, were examined for each possible position of a methyl substituent. None of the concerted transition structures could be located without symmetry constraints, and all but one of the structures obtained under these conditions were destabilized by a second-order Jahn-Teller distortion. A concerted pathway with simultaneous bond formation at C1 and C4 is therefore excluded. Stepwise pathways that had the methyl group either on a carbon involved in the initial bond formation or in a position where it could not stabilize the radical/cation were a few kcal/mol above alternate pathways. High transition state energies for the formation of vinylcyclobutane derivatives cause it to be a minor product in general. The pathway that proceeds through an anti-intermediate is the most favored, while the pathways forming the gauche-out intermediate that converts to the anti-intermediate is also strongly represented. Both of the major pathways lead directly to the formation of the methylcyclohexene product.     

New Experimental Conditions for Diels–Alder and Friedel-Crafts Alquilation Reactions with Thiophene: A New Selenocyanate with Potent Activity against Cancer

The reactivity of thiophene in Diels-Alder reactions is investigated with different maleimide derivatives. In this paper, we have synthesized for the first time the Diels–Alder adducts of thiophene at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Maleimido–thiophene adducts were promoted by AlCl₃. The effects of solvent, time, temperature and the use of different Lewis acids were studied, showing dramatic effects for solvent and Lewis acid. Furthermore, the catalysis with AlCl₃ is highly stereoselective, preferably providing the exo form of the adduct. Additionally, we also discovered the ability of AlCl₃ to catalyze the arylation of maleimides to yield 3-aryl succinimides in a straightforward manner following a Friedel–Crafts-type addition. The inclusion of a selenocyanate group contributes to the cytotoxic activity of the adduct. This derivatization (from compound 7 to compound 15) results in an average GI₅₀ value of 1.98 µM in the DTP (NCI-60) cell panel, resulting in being especially active in renal cancer cells.     

Computational investigation of the suitability of heterocyclic aromatic compounds with two heteroatoms in the 1 and 3 ring positions as dienes for the diels alder reaction

Semiempirical and density functional theory computational studies were carried out with the target determining the reactivity of five membered heterocycles with heteroatoms in the 1 and 3 positions as dienes for Diels-Alder reactions. The relative reactivity was evaluated in their reaction with acetylene, ethylene, and cyclopropene as dienophiles for cycloaddition. Qualitative criteria such as uniformity of heterocycle bond orders, change of bond orders and frontier molecular orbital energies in transformation of reactants into transition state structures were used to determine the relative reactivity in comparison with furan. These results are compared with the computed activation barriers as well as with experimental findings, where available. If cycloaddition is feasible with these heterocycles, a new synthetic transformation of simple organic compounds to valuable prostaglandin derivatives can be accomplished.