Diastereoselective Spirocyclization of C-(Alkyloxycarbonyl)formimines of 2-Substituted 1HIndole-3-ethanamines (= Tryptamines): Basic Studies. 5th Communication on Indoles,Indolenines, and Indolines

C-(Alkoxycarbonyl)formimines of type 15–18 were derived from the 2-substituted tryptamines 2 , 9 , 10 , and 11 and transformed with tosyl chloride into tricyclic 3-spiroindoles of types 19–22 (Scheme 3). The influence of the homochiral alkoxy moieties A–D on the stereochemical outcome of this reaction was studied. Good-to-excellent diastereoselectivities were observed with the (?)-8-(phenylmenth-3-yl)oxy group ( B ) as homochiral auxiliary. The structures of the tricycles 4 , (2′R,3S)- 19B , and (2′S,3R) 20C were established by X-ray analysis, the structures of the others by NOE and CD studies, and by chemical correlation. Possibilities to explain the steric course of the spirocyclizations are discussed.     

The assemble,grow and lift-off (AGLO) strategy to construct complex gold nanostructures with pre-designed morphologies

The construction of metallic nanostructures with customizable morphologies and complex shapes has been an essential pursuit in nanoscience. DNA nanotechnology has enabled the fabrication of increasingly complex DNA nanostructures with unprecedented specificity, programmability and sub-nanometer precision, which makes it an ideal approach to rationally organize metallic nanostructures. Here we report an Assemble, Grow and Lift-Off (AGLO) strategy to construct robust standalone gold nanostructures with pre-designed customizable shapes in solution, using only a simple 2D DNA origami sheet as a versatile transient template. Gold nanoparticle (AuNP) seeds were firstly assembled onto the pre-designed binding sites of the DNA origami template and then additional gold was slowly deposited onto the AuNP seeds. The growing seed surfaces eventually merge with adjacent seeds to generate one continuous gold nanostructure in a pre-designed shape, which can then be lifted off the origami template. Diverse customized patterns of templated AuNP seeds were successfully transformed into corresponding gold nanostructures with the target structure transformation percentage over 80%. Moreover, the AGLO strategy can be incorporated with a magnetic bead separation platform to enable the easy recycling of the excess AuNP seeds and DNA components.

The AGLO strategy generates complex gold nanostructures with user-designed morphologies in solution, using only a simple 2D DNA origami sheet as a versatile transient template. The products are robust and stable as standalone gold nanostructures.     

Straightforward synthesis of sphinganines via a serine-derived Weinreb amide

Sphinganines can be synthesized in just three steps from easily prepared serine-derived Weinreb amide 4. Pre-deprotonation of the acidic (N-H and O-H) protons of 4 allows for its efficient conversion to amino ketones 5. Such ketones can be selectively reduced to either erythro- or threo-sphinganines. Partially protected sphinganines 11 are also readily accessible in five steps from 4. Thus, Weinreb amide 4 represents one of the most versatile templates described to date for sphinganine synthesis.     

Host-guest interactions template: the synthesis of a [3]catenane

Formation of a [3]catenane containing dibenzo-24-crown ether wheels and a large dipyridiniumethane ring is templated by formation of a host-guest adduct between the [3]catenane and the external crown ether.     

In situ studies of methanol decomposition and oxidation on Pd(111) by PM-IRAS and XPS spectroscopy

Methanol decomposition and oxidation on Pd(111) at millibar pressure were studied by in situ polarization-modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRAS), on-line gas chromatography and pre- and postreaction X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Various dehydrogenation products such as methoxy CH3O, formaldehyde CH2O, formyl CHO, and CO could be spectroscopically identified. Methanol oxidation proceeds via dehydrogenation to formaldehyde CH2O, which either desorbs or is further dehydrogenated to CO, which is subsequently oxidized to CO2. Carbonaceous overlayers that are present during the reaction may favorably affect the selectivity toward CH2O. The reaction takes place on metallic Pd, and no indications of an involvement of Pd surface oxide were observed.     

Building mass spectrometers and a philosophy of research

Development of the techniques of ion kinetic energy spectrometry and mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy spectrometry is described. The extension of these concepts to the method of tandem mass spectrometry for direct mixture analysis is traced, and a rationale for the construction of hybrid mass spectrometers is presented. Collisions of polyatomic ions with surfaces are discussed as an outgrowth of gaseous collisions. An attempt is made to describe a philosophy of research that guided the construction of a dozen mass spectrometers and the exploration of organic ion chemistry in as many contexts.     

On the separation of initial and final state effects in photoelectron spectroscopy using an extension of the auger-parameter concept

First, we show that the quantity Δβ(i) = ΔE_A(kii) + 2ΔE_B(i) — ΔE_B(k) is directly related to the final state relaxation contribution ΔE_R(i) of the binding energy shift ΔE_B(i). ΔE_A(kii) is the kinetic energy shift of the Auger transition which corresponds to the decay of a hole state with a hole in level k into a final state with two holes in level i. The shift parameter Δβ(i), which is based on information on two binding energies, is conceptually similar to Wagner's Auger parameter. To establish the relation between Δβ(i) and ΔR(i) one needs, however, less drastic approximations than in the case of Auger parameter shifts. The only approximation necessary is the assumption that ΔR(i) is determined by coulomb contributions.Secondly, we use Δβ (i) to analyse the experimental data of eighteen gaseous phosphorus-containing compounds obtained by Sodhi and Cavell¹. It is shown that ΔR(P_2p) is strongly related to changes in the polarizability of the ligands. The initial state effects derived from our study deviate from those expected on the basis of simple electronegativity considerations.