Approaching supramolecular functionality

Functional molecules require a high degree of complexity which is difficult to achieve by covalent synthesis. This article discusses supramolecular approaches to the creation of larger architectures through noncovalent bonds, self-assembly, and template strategies. It highlights selected examples for the structural and conformational control of function and attempts to identify difficulties and challenges which may arise in future.     

Genes encoding enzymes responsible for biosynthesis of L-lyxose and attachment of eurekanate during avilamycin biosynthesis

The oligosaccharide antibiotic avilamycin A is composed of a polyketide-derived dichloroisoeverninic acid moiety attached to a heptasaccharide chain consisting of six hexoses and one unusual pentose moiety. We describe the generation of mutant strains of the avilamycin producer defective in different sugar biosynthetic genes. Inactivation of two genes (aviD and aviE2) resulted in the breakdown of the avilamycin biosynthesis. In contrast, avilamycin production was not influenced in an aviP mutant. Inactivation of aviGT4 resulted in a mutant that accumulated a novel avilamycin derivative lacking the terminal eurekanate residue. Finally, AviE2 was expressed in Escherichia coli and the gene product was characterized biochemically. AviE2 was shown to convert UDP-D-glucuronic acid to UDP-D-xylose, indicating that the pentose residue of avilamycin A is derived from D-glucose and not from D-ribose. Here we report a UDP-D-glucuronic acid decarboxylase in actinomycetes.     

Die Kristall- und MolekülStruktur des N,N′-Diformylanilins

Crystal and Molecular Structure of N,N′-Diformylaniline N,N′-diformylaniline crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with Z = 8 and a = 856.1(2), b = 1277.6(3), c = 1306.1(3) pm, β 92.29(2)°, V = 1427.4(5) · 10⁶ pm³. As shown by X-ray structure determination (2642 symmetry independent reflections, R_W = 0.034) the molecule exists in two enantiomeric forms. The molecular structure can be described by two planes; the angle between the plane of the aromatic ring and the plane of the N,N′-diformylamino group is 70.1 resp. 108.3°. The results are compared with those obtained for other derivats.     

Spontaneous Nef reaction of 3-aryl-2-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-4-nitroalkanoic acids

Spontaneous Nef reaction of primary and secondary 3-aryl-2-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-4-nitroalkanoic acids has been observed for the first time. The reaction provides a general and effective, highly diastereoselective synthesis of 3-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-1-hydroxysuccinimides and 2-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-4-oxoalkanoic acids.     

‘Lone pair’ Electronic Structure,Conformation and Oxidation Behaviour of Diaziridines

Photoelectron spectroscopic investigations indicate that (i) monocyclic diaziridines prefer a trans-conformation of the nitrogen-lone pairs, and (ii) the interaction between these is comparable to that exhibited by open-chain analogues, i.e. alkyl-substituted hydrazines. The chemical experience concerning the particular case of ? NH? NH? →? N?N? oxidation of diaziridines can therefore not be accounted for by a prevailing unfavorable ‘lone pair’ interaction. Thermochemical as well as entropy arguments may serve as an explanation. A rather unsatisfactory agreement between predictions from various theoretical procedures and experimental results for the ionization potentials of ‘lone pair’ MO electrons is noted.