Total syntheses of (+)-bernumidine and its unnatural enantiomer

Total syntheses of (+)-bernumidine and its unnatural enantiomer were accomplished through chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution and ruthenium(II)-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation, which provided (R)-salsolidine propyl carbamate and N-acetyl (S)-salsolidine in high yields and enantiomeric excesses, respectively. Both enantiomers of salsolidine were accessed and converted into (+)- and (?)-bernumidine via simple and efficient transformations.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the solid state reaction TlCl + KI → TlI + KCl

The kinetics of the solid state displacement reaction TlCl + KI → TlI + KCl was investigated by the diffusion couple method (using single crystal disks and pellets) in the temperature range 215–300°C. Two distinct layers are present: the first, in contact with TlCl, formed by a solid solution of TlI in TlCl, grows with a linear rate; the second, in contact with KI, formed by two solid solutions of TlCl in TlI and in KCl, respectively, grows according to the parabolic law. From marker experiments and X-ray analyses on product layer surfaces parallel to the original interface, along with a comparison of the rate constants and the diffusion coefficients, it was possible to deduce that the overall process is governed by diffusion of Tl⁺ and Cl^? in the iodide-rich solid solution Tl(I, Cl) and that the rate-determining step is the diffusion of Tl⁺.     

Spectral assignments of new diterpenes from Hyptis martiusii Benth

The structural characterization of two new abietanes and a new spiro-fused tricyclic diterpene isolated from the roots of Hyptis martiusii is described. The first member of a new class of rearranged abietane diterpenoids designated martiusane was characterized by the use of 1D NMR and several 2D shift correlated NMR pulse sequences (1H,1H-COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY). Unambiguous 1H and 13C chemical shift assignments for all compounds are reported.     

Analysis of methylglyoxal in water and biological matrices by capillary zone electrophoresis with diode array detection

We describe a new method for the determination of methylglyoxal in water and biological matrices, using o-phenylenediamine as derivatizing agent and solid-phase extraction followed by capillary zone electrophoresis with diode array detection. 25 mM sodium phosphate running buffers at pH 2.2, 30 kV, and 25 degrees C allowed the best instrumental conditions for the optimum separation of methylglyoxal in a suitable analytical time (< 10 min), using an uncoated fused-silica capillary of 75 microm inner diameter and an effective length of 45.1 cm with an extended light path and the wavelength set to 200 nm. Under optimized instrumental conditions, good reproducibility of the migration time (< 1.1%), precision (< 5%), an excellent linear dynamic range from 0.1 to 3.6 mg/L (r(2) = 0.9997), and low limits of detection (7.2 microg/L) were obtained for methylglyoxal measurements, using the internal standard methodology. Assays on laboratory-spiked tap and ground water samples allowed a remarkable accuracy, presenting yields of 95.0 +/- 4.3 and 94.0 +/- 1.1%, respectively, and good performance to determine methylglyoxal in beer and yeast cells suspensions matrices was also obtained at trace level. The present methodology is a cost-effective alternative for routine quality control analysis, showing to be reliable, sensitive, and with a low sample volume requirement to monitor methylglyoxal in water and biological matrices.     

Proximity-assisted cycloaddition reactions--facile Lewis acid-mediated synthesis of diversely functionalized bicyclic tetrazoles

Aliphatic azidonitriles separated by three or four carbon atoms undergo facile Lewis acid-induced cycloadditions to give bicyclic tetrazoles, even at 0 degrees C. Extension to 3-azido-2-aryl-1,3-dioxolanes and the corresponding 1,3-dioxanes in the presence of TMSCN and BF3.OEt2 leads to a series of diversely functionalized novel oxabicyclic tetrazoles. The reactions represent new aspects of proximity-assisted dipolar cycloadditions that afford thermodynamically controlled enantiopure products proceeding through discrete oxocarbenium ion intermediates.