Syntheses of 2‐Keto‐3‐deoxy‐D‐xylonate and 2‐Keto‐3‐deoxy‐L‐arabinonate as Stereochemical Probes for Demonstrating the Metabolic Promiscuity of Sulfolobus solfataricus Towards D‐Xylose and L‐Arabinose

Practical syntheses of 2‐keto‐3‐deoxy‐D ‐xylonate (D ‐KDX) and 2‐keto‐3‐deoxy‐L ‐arabinonate (L ‐KDA) that rely on reaction of the anion of ethyl 2‐[(tert‐butyldimethylsilyl)oxy]‐2‐(dimethoxy phosphoryl) acetate with enantiopure glyceraldehyde acetonide, followed by global deprotection of the resultant O‐silyl‐enol esters, have been developed. This has enabled us to confirm that a 2‐keto‐3‐deoxy‐D ‐gluconate aldolase from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus demonstrates good activity for catalysis of the retro‐aldol cleavage of both these enantiomers to afford pyruvate and glycolaldehyde. The stereochemical promiscuity of this aldolase towards these enantiomeric aldol substrates confirms that this organism employs a metabolically promiscuous pathway to catabolise the C5‐sugars D ‐xylose and L ‐arabinose.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Construction of Quaternary α‐Amino Acid Containing Pyrrolidines through 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides to α‐Aminoacrylates

The first catalytic enantioselective 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to α‐aminoacrylate catalyzed by a AgOAc/ferrocenyl oxazolinylphosphine (FOXAP) system was developed, which exhibits excellent exo‐ and enantioselectivity (92–99 % ee). This process provides efficient access to useful 4‐aminopyrrolidine‐2,4‐dicarboxylic acid (APDC)‐like compounds containing a unique quaternary α‐amino acid unit.     

Mechanism of Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation of Phosphorothioate Esters: Influence of the Leaving Group on α Regioselectivity

The mechanism of Cu^I‐catalyzed allylic alkylation and the influence of the leaving groups (OPiv, SPiv, Cl, SPO(OiPr)₂; Piv: pivavloyl) on the regioselectivity of the reaction have been explored by using density functional theory (DFT). A comprehensive comparison of many possible reaction pathways shows that [(iPr)₂Cu]^? prefers to bind first oxidatively to the double bond of the allylic substrate at the anti position with respect to the leaving group, and this is followed by dissociation of the leaving group. If the leaving group is not taken into account, the reaction then undergoes an isomerization and a reductive elimination process to give the α‐ or γ‐selective product. If OPiv, SPiv, Cl, or SPO(OiPr)₂ groups are present, the optimal route for the formation of both α‐ and γ‐substituted products changes from the stepwise elimination to the direct process, in which the leaving group plays a stabilizing role for the reactant and destabilizes the transition state. The differences to the energy barrier for the α‐ and γ‐substituted products are 2.75 kcal mol^?1 with SPO(OiPr)₂, 2.44 kcal mol^?1 with SPiv, 2.33 kcal mol^?1 with OPiv, and 1.98 kcal mol^?1 with Cl, respectively; these values show that α regioselectivity in the allylic alkylation follows a SPO(OiPr)₂>SPiv>OPiv>Cl trend, which is in satisfactory agreement with the experimental findings. This trend mainly originates in the differences between the attractive electrostatic forces and the repelling steric interactions of the SPO(OiPr)₂, SPiv, OPiv, and Cl groups on the Cu group.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Arylation,Alkenylation, and Alkynylation of Unprotected Thioglycosides at Room Temperature

Unprotected thioglycosides were effective nucleophiles for Ni⁰‐catalyzed C? S bond‐forming reaction with functionalized (hetero)aryl, alkenyl, and alkynyl halides. The functional‐group tolerance on the electrophilic partner was typically high and the anomeric selectivities of the thioglycosides were high in all cases. The efficiency of this general procedure was well‐demonstrated by the synthesis of 4‐methyl‐7‐thioumbelliferyl‐β‐D ‐cellobioside (MUS‐CB).     

Asymmetric α‐Hydroxylation of Tetralone‐Derived β‐Ketoesters by Using a Guanidine–Urea Bifunctional Organocatalyst in the Presence of Cumene Hydroperoxide

Highly enantioselective catalytic oxidation of 1‐tetralone‐derived β‐keto esters was achieved by using a guanidine–urea bifunctional organocatalyst in the presence of cumene hydroperoxide (CHP), a safe, commercially available oxidant. The α‐hydroxylation products were obtained in 99 % yield with up to 95 % enantiomeric excess (ee). The present oxidation was successfully applied to synthesize a key intermediate of the anti‐cancer agent daunorubicin ( 2 ).     

An Interwoven Metal‐Organic Framework Combining Mechanically Interlocked Linkers and Interpenetrated Networks

New dibenzo[24]crown‐8 ether derivatives were prepared that contain appendages with thioether donors that can coordinate to a metal ion. These macrocycles were then combined with 1,2‐bis(pyridinium) ethane axles to create two types of [2]rotaxane ligands; those with the four thioether donors on the crown ether and those with six donor groups, four from the crown ether and two more attached to the stoppering groups of the dumbbell. The crown ethers and both types of [2]rotaxane ligands were allowed to react with Ag^I ions to form metal‐organic rotaxane framework (MORF) style coordination polymers. The interlocked hexadentate ligand forms the first example of a new type of lattice containing interwoven frameworks resulting from both interpenetration of frameworks due to the presence of an interlocked ligand and more classical interpenetration of independent frameworks.     

Potential of using plant proteins and chicken feathers for cotton warp sizing

Two plant proteins, soyprotein and wheat gluten, and chicken feathers used to size cotton substrates provided sizing performance similar to starch and were also easily degraded in activated sludge. Sizing is an essential process to impart protection to warp yarns and increase weaving efficiency. Cotton yarns have traditionally been sized with starch, modified starch derivatives, CMC, poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), or a combination thereof along with quite a few other fiber binding ingredients. Although starch and starch derivatives are extensively used for sizing, there can be several limitations including less-than-satisfactory sizing performance and difficulties in desizing starch based size. Plant proteins such as wheat gluten, soyproteins and poultry feathers are available in large quantities at low cost and have limited industrial applications. However, these proteins are known to have excellent film-forming properties, a primary requirement for a warp size, and have also been used as adhesives. Using proteins as warp sizing agents on cotton yarns potentially could provide acceptable sizing performance and be cost-effective, as well. In this research, soyproteins, wheat gluten, and chicken feathers were studied for exploring their feasibility for sizing, desizing, biodegradability, and ability to replace starch and PVA for sizing cotton yarns. It was found that all three proteins provided similar cohesion to fibers and abrasion resistance compared to starch. Protein sizes had significantly high BOD₅/COD ratio compared to PVA, suggesting that the proteins are easily degradable in textile effluent treatment plants.     

基于改进极根学习机的回转窑煅烧带温度预测方法

针对传统算法预测回转窑煅烧带温度存在精度低、速度慢的问题,提出了基于改进极限学习机(ELM)的回转窑煅烧带温度预测方法。对ELM输入权值矩阵定义了变换系数,采用黄金分割法在给定区间内搜寻变换系数的最佳值,改进了ELM网络参数的确定方式,弥补了随机确定输入权值并且不作调整的缺陷,在保证ELM训练速度的前提下提高预测精度、减小模型随机性。实验结果表明,改进的ELM预测精度高、训练速度快、模型性能优,可满足工况恶劣的回转窑的生产需要。     

C?H Functionalization/Asymmetric Michael Addition Cascade Enabled by Relay Catalysis: Metal Carbenoid Used for C?C Bond Formation

A combination of either ruthenium(II) or rhodium(II) complexes and quinine‐derived squaramide enables 3‐diazooxindoles, indoles, and nitroalkenes to undergo highly efficient asymmetric three‐component reactions, thus affording optically active 3,3′‐bis(indole)s through a consecutive C C bond‐forming sequence, which turned out to be applicable to the facile total synthesis of (−)‐folicanthine.