Nucleophilic Addition of CH, NH, and OH Bonds to the Phosphadiazonium Cation and Interpretation of (31)P Chemical Shifts at Dicoordinate Phosphorus Centers

The phosphadiazonium cation [MesNP](+) reacts quantitatively with the fluorenylide anion, MesNH(2), and MesOH (Mes = 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl), resulting in formal insertion of the N-P moiety into the H-Y (Y = C, N, O) bonds. Specifically, reaction of MesNPCl with fluorenyllithium gives the aminofluorenylidenephosphine [crystal data: C(31)H(38)NP, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 9.568(8) ?, b = 24.25(2) ?, c = 11.77(1) ?, beta = 101.38(8) degrees, Z = 4]. Similarly, reaction of [MesNP][GaCl(4)] with MesNH(2) gives the diaminophosphenium salt [MesN(H)PN(H)Mes][GaCl(4)] [crystal data: C(36)H(60)Cl(4)GaN(2)P, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 24.921(2) ?, b = 10.198(4) ?, c = 16.445(2) ?, beta = 93.32(1) degrees, Z = 4], and reaction with MesOH gives the first example of an aminooxyphosphenium salt [MesN(H)POMes][GaCl(4)]. It is proposed that the reactions involve nucleophilic attack at phosphorus followed by a 1,3-hydrogen migration from Y to N. Experimental evidence for the formation of sigma-complex intermediates is provided by the isolation of [MesNP-PPh(3)][SO(3)CF(3)] [crystal data: C(37)H(44)F(3)NO(3)P(2)S, triclinic, P&onemacr;, a = 10.663(1) ?, b = 19.439(1) ?, c = 10.502(1) ?, alpha = 103.100(7) degrees, beta = 113.311(7) degrees, gamma = 93.401(7) degrees, Z = 2]. As part of the unequivocal characterization of the aminooxyphosphenium salt, detailed solid-state (31)P NMR studies and GIAO calculations on the phosphenium cations have been performed. Contrary to popular belief, the phosphorus shielding in dicoordinate cations is not caused by the positive charge but results from efficient mixing between the phosphorus lone pair and pi orbitals.     

The oxidation of water by cerium(IV) catalysed by nanoparticulate RuO2 on mesoporous silica

Mesoporous silicates are prepared by templating on the hexagonal (H1) mesophase of surfactant bipyridine complexes of ruthenium(II) using a true liquid-crystal templating approach. On calcination, the surfactant template is removed except for the central metal ion that is oxidised, forming nanoparticles of RuO2 that deposit within the pores. RuO2 is a known oxidation catalyst and, despite its anhydrous nature in these silicates, is found to be very active in catalyzing the oxidation of water by acidic CeIV.     

Chemical synthesis of the first lignans to be found in humans and animals

$\text{Trans}$-2,3-$\text{bis}$-(3′-hydroxybenzyl)-butyrolactone (1) and 2,3-$\text{bis}$-(3′-hydroxybenzyl)-butane-1,4-diol (2), recently identified in urine, have been synthesised in racemic form.     

Eliminating positively charged lysine epsilon-NH3+ groups on the surface of carbonic anhydrase has no significant influence on its folding from sodium dodecyl sulfate

This study compares the folding of two polypeptides--bovine carbonic anhydrase (BCA) and peracetylated BCA (BCA-Ac(18))--having the same sequence of amino acids but differing by 18 formal units of charge, from a solution containing denaturing concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Acetylation of BCA with acetic anhydride converts all 18 lysine-epsilon-NH(3)(+) groups to lysine-epsilon-NHCOCH(3) groups and generates BCA-Ac(18). Both BCA and BCA-Ac(18) are catalytically active, and circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) suggests that they have similar secondary and tertiary structures. SDS at concentrations above approximately 10 mM denatured both proteins. When the SDS was removed by dialysis, both proteins were regenerated in native form. This study suggests that large differences in the net charge of the polypeptide have no significant influence on the structure, the ability to refold, or the rate of refolding of this protein from solutions containing SDS. This study reinforces the idea that charged residues on the surface of BCA do not guide protein folding and raises the broader question of why proteins have charged residues on their surface, outside of the region of the active site.     

Stereoselective nitrenium ion cyclizations: asymmetric synthesis of the (+)-Kishi lactam and an intermediate for the preparation of fasicularin

The asymmetric synthesis of the (+)-Kishi lactam and an intermediate for the preparation of the marine natural product fasicularin is reported. The keystone of this divergent synthesis is the diastereoselective azaspirocyclization of an N-methoxy γ-arylbutanoamide, which is believed to proceed through the intermediacy of an N-acylnitrenium ion.     

Iron(III) salen-type catalysts for the cross-coupling of aryl Grignards with alkyl halides bearing beta-hydrogens

Iron(III) salen and related complexes are active catalysts for the coupling, under mild and simple reaction conditions, of aryl Grignard reagents with primary and secondary alkyl halide substrates bearing beta-hydrogens.     

Uranium analysis in urine by inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometry

Urine uranium concentrations are the best biological indicator for identifying exposure to depleted uranium (DU). Internal exposure to DU causes an increased amount of urine uranium and a decreased ratio of ²³⁵U/²³⁸U in urine samples, resulting in measurements that vary between 0.00725 and 0.002 (i.e., natural and depleted uraniums ²³⁵U/²³⁸U ratios, respectively). A method based on inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometry (ICP-DRC-MS) was utilized to identify DU in urine by measuring the quantity of total U and the ²³⁵U/²³⁸U ratio. The quantitative analysis was achieved using ²³³U as an internal standard. The analysis was performed both with and without the reaction gas oxygen. The reaction gas converted ionized ²³⁵U⁺ and ²³⁸U⁺ into ²³⁵UO₂⁺ (m/z=267) and ²³⁸UO₂⁺ (m/z=270). This conversion was determined to be over 90% efficient. A polyatomic interference at m/z 234.8 was successfully removed from the ²³⁵U signal under either DRC operating conditions (with or without oxygen as a reaction gas). The method was validated with 15 urine samples of known uranium compositions. The method detection limit for quantification was determined to be 0.1 pg U mL^–1 urine and an average coefficient of variation (CV) of 1–2% within the sample measurements. The method detection limit for determining ²³⁵U/²³⁸U ratio was 3.0 pg U mL^–1 urine. An additional 21 patient samples were analyzed with no information about medical history. The measured ²³⁵U/²³⁸U ratio within the urine samples correctly identified the presence or absence of internal DU exposure in all 21 patients.The opinions and assertions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as representing the views of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, the Department of the Army, or the Department of Defense     

Rapid synthesis of pomalidomide-conjugates for the development of protein degrader libraries

Current methods for the preparation of heterobifunctional pomalidomide-conjugates rely on methods that are often low yielding and produce intractable byproducts. Herein we describe our strategy for the reliable and succinct preparation of pomalidomide-linkers which is essential to the formation of these conjugates. We present the preparation of 18 pomalidomide-linkers in high yield compared to current literature methods. Our findings show that secondary amines consistently afford greater yields than their primary counterparts, a trend that we were able to exploit in the synthesis of several new pomalidomide homo-dimers in enhanced yields compared to similar literature syntheses. This trend was further utilised to develop the first one-pot synthesis of JQ1-pomalidomide conjugates in yields up to 62%, providing a method that is suited to rapid preparation of conjugate libraries as is frequently required for the development of new protein degraders.

Current methods for the preparation of heterobifunctional pomalidomide-conjugates rely on methods that are often low yielding and produce intractable byproducts. Herein we describe our strategy for the succinct preparation of pomalidomide-linkers.     

Transport in ceria electrolytes modified with sintering aids: effects on oxygen reduction kinetics

Small (2 mol%) cobalt oxide additions to ceria-gadolinia (CGO) materials considerably improve sinterability, making it possible to obtain ceramics with 95–99% density and sub-micrometre grain sizes at 1,170–1,370 K. The addition of Co causes a significant shift of the electrolytic domain to lower pO₂. This modification to the minor electronic conductivity of the electrolyte material has influence on the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction. The impedance technique is shown to provide information not only about polarisation resistance, but also about the active electrode area from analysis of the current constriction resistance. It is demonstrated that this current constriction resistance can be related to the minor electronic contributions to total conductivity in these materials. A simple imbedded grid approach gives control of the contact area allowing the properties of the electrolyte materials to be studied. A much lower polarisation resistance for the Co-containing CGO electrolyte is observed, which can be clearly attributed to an increased three-phase reaction area in the Co-containing material, as a consequence of elevated p-type conductivity.     

Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of a Model for Galactose Oxidase

An active-site analog of the radical copper enzyme galactose oxidase has been prepared from a synthetic tripod chelate ((2-pyridylmethyl)[(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)methyl][(2-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-(methylthio)phenyl)methyl]amine, duncamine (dnc)) that binds a single Cu(II) ion through phenolate, thioether-substituted phenolate, and pyridylamine arms. The Cu complex crystallizes as a dinucleated dimer bridged by phenolate oxygens, and the structure has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Addition of pyridine (or other coordinating bases) dissociates the complex into a monomeric derivative that has been characterized spectroscopically (optical absorption and EPR) and electrochemically. The model provides insight into the properties of a mutant form of galactose oxidase which retains the same copper ligand complement as the wild type protein but lacks catalytic activity.