Polarizing the Nazarov cyclization: the impact of dienone substitution pattern on reactivity and selectivity

The impact of dienone substitution on the Nazarov cyclization has been examined in detail. Substrates bearing different substituents at each of four positions on the dienone backbone were systematically probed in order to identify trends leading to higher reactivity and better selectivity. Desymmetrization of the pentadienyl cation and oxyallyl cation intermediates through placement of polarizing groups at both the C-2 and C-4 positions was found to be particularly effective. These modifications allowed cyclizations to occur in the presence of catalytic amounts of mild Lewis acids. It was also found that stereoconvergent cyclization of mixtures of E and Z isomers of alkylidene beta-ketoesters occurred via an efficient isomerization process that occurred under the reaction conditions.     

A simple method to prepare single isomer tetrasubstituted olefins by successive Suzuki–Miyaura cross-couplings of E-β-chloro-α-iodo-α,β-unsaturated esters

A convenient method of synthesizing tetrasubstituted olefins as single isomers is described. E-β-Chloro-α-iodo-α,β-unsaturated esters are first converted into the corresponding E-β-chloro-α,β-unsaturated esters using Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions with arylboronic acids and alkenylboronic acids. These transformations gave complete selectivity, and proceeded with substitution at the more activated α-iodide position. These compounds, isolated as single isomers, were then transformed into tetrasubstituted olefins by Suzuki–Miyaura couplings with arylboronic acids, alkenylboronic acids, and alkyl boranes to afford the corresponding tetrasubstituted olefins as single isomers. During this coupling process, it was discovered that the use of small ligands, such as PMe₃ or PEt₃, was critical for efficient coupling. The stereochemistry and regiochemistry of the products were unequivocally established using NMR methods.     

Investigating the Structural Compaction of Biomolecules Upon Transition to the Gas-Phase Using ESI-TWIMS-MS

Collision cross-section (CCS) measurements obtained from ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) analyses often provide useful information concerning a protein’s size and shape and can be complemented by modeling procedures. However, there have been some concerns about the extent to which certain proteins maintain a native-like conformation during the gas-phase analysis, especially proteins with dynamic or extended regions. Here we have measured the CCSs of a range of biomolecules including non-globular proteins and RNAs of different sequence, size, and stability. Using traveling wave IMS-MS, we show that for the proteins studied, the measured CCS deviates significantly from predicted CCS values based upon currently available structures. The results presented indicate that these proteins collapse to different extents varying on their elongated structures upon transition into the gas-phase. Comparing two RNAs of similar mass but different solution structures, we show that these biomolecules may also be susceptible to gas-phase compaction. Together, the results suggest that caution is needed when predicting structural models based on CCS data for RNAs as well as proteins with non-globular folds.

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Dimerization of functional pyrroloindolizines for the synthesis of complex myrmicarin alkaloids

The union of functionalized pyrroloindolizines for the synthesis of heterodimeric products relevant to myrmicarin alkaloids is described. Design and synthesis of tricyclic substrates and new methods for their union enable the investigation of late-stage cyclopentannulation strategies. The rapid assembly of dimeric structures using unique modes of pyrroloindolizine reactivity presents a concise approach to the dimeric myrmicarins and relevant derivatives.     

Multigram synthesis of well-defined extended bifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains

A series of novel, well-defined, unsymmetrical poly(ethylene glycol) chains of the type X(OCH(2)CH(2))(n)()Y (where X = protecting group; Y = nucleofuge or a different protecting group; n = 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24) were prepared in high yields by applying orthogonal protecting groups. The purity of the compounds was fully verified by elemental and high-resolution mass spectrometry analyses.     

Evaluation of DNA dosimetry to assess ozone-mediated variability of biologically harmful radiation in Antarctica

In this study we investigated the use of a DNA dosimeter to accurately measure changes in ultraviolet B radiation (UVBR; 280-315 nm) under Antarctic ozone hole conditions. Naked DNA solution in quartz tubes was exposed to ambient solar radiation at Rothera Research Station, Antarctica, between October and December 1998 for 3 h during UVBR peak hours (1200-1500 h). Trends in UVBR-mediated DNA damage (formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers [CPD]) were related to cloud cover, ozone-column depth and spectroradiometric measurements of ambient radiation. Ozone-column depths ranged from 130 to 375 DU during the study period, resulting in highly variable UVBR doses, from 1.6 to 137 kJ m(-2) over the 3 h exposure, as measured by spectroradiometry. There was a strong positive correlation (86%) between dosimeter CPD concentrations and DNA-weighted UVBR doses. Ozone depth was a strong predictor of DNA damage (63%), and there was no significant relationship between CPD formation and cloud cover. Subtle changes in spectral characteristics caused by ozone depletion were detected by the biodosimeter; the highest CPD concentrations were observed in October when ozone-mediated shifts favored shorter wavelengths of UVBR. We conclude that the DNA biodosimeter is an accurate indicator of biologically effective UVBR, even under highly variable ozone conditions.     

Synthesis and reactions of 3‐amino‐2‐methyl‐3H‐[1,2,4]triazolo[5,1‐b]‐quinazolin‐9‐one and 2‐hydrazino‐3‐phenylamino‐3H‐quinazolin‐4‐one

The reaction of 3‐N‐(2‐mercapto‐4‐oxo‐4H‐quinazolin‐3‐yl)acetamide ( 1 ) with hydrazine hydrate yielded 3‐amino‐2‐methyl‐3H‐[1,2,4]triazolo[5,1‐b]quinazolin‐9‐one ( 2 ). The reaction of 2 with o‐chlorobenzaldehyde and 2‐hydroxy‐naphthaldehyde gave the corresponding 3‐arylidene amino derivatives 3 and 4 , respectively. Condensation of 2 with 1‐nitroso‐2‐naphthol afforded the corresponding 3‐(2‐hydroxy‐naphthalen‐1‐yl‐diazenyl)‐2‐methyl‐3H‐[1,2,4]triazolo[5,1‐b]quinazolin‐9‐one ( 5 ), which on subsequent reduction by SnCl₂ and HCl gave the hydrazino derivative 6. Reaction of 2 with phenyl isothiocyanate in refluxing ethanol yielded thiourea derivative 7. Ring closure of 7 subsequently cyclized on refluxing with phencyl bromide, oxalyl dichloride and chloroacetic acid afforded the corresponding thiazolidine derivatives 8, 9 and 10 , respectively. Reaction of 2‐mercapto‐3‐phenylamino‐3H‐quinazolin‐4‐one ( 11 ) with hydrazine hydrate afforded 2‐hydrazino‐3‐phenylamino‐3H‐quinazolin‐4‐one ( 12 ). The reactivity 12 towards carbon disulphide, acetyl acetone and ethyl acetoacetate gave 13, 14 and 15 , respectively. Condensation of 12 with isatin afforded 2‐[N‐(2‐oxo‐1,2‐dihydroindol‐3‐ylidene)hydrazino]‐3‐phenylamino‐3H‐quinazolin‐4‐one ( 16 ). 2‐(4‐Oxo‐3‐phenylamino‐3,4‐dihydroquinazolin‐2‐ylamino)isoindole‐1,3‐dione ( 17 ) was synthesized by the reaction of 12 with phthalic anhydride. All isolated products were confirmed by their ir, ¹H nmr, ¹³C nmr and mass spectra.