Biosynthesis of pentangular polyphenols: deductions from the benastatin and griseorhodin pathways

The benastatins, pradimicins, fredericamycins, and members of the griseorhodin/rubromycin family represent a structurally and functionally diverse group of long-chain polyphenols from actinomycetes. Comparison of their biosynthetic gene clusters (ben, prm, fdm, grh, rub) revealed that all loci harbor genes coding for a similar, yet uncharacterized, type of ketoreductases. In a phylogenetic survey of representative KRs involved in type II PKS systems, we found that it is generally possible to deduce the KR regiospecificity (C-9, C-15, C17) from the amino acid sequence and thus to predict the nature of the aromatic polyketide (e.g., angucycline, anthracycline, benzoisochromanequinones). We hypothezised that the new clade of KRs is characteristic for biosynthesis of polyphenols with an extended angular architecture we termed "pentangular". To test this hypothesis, we demonstrated the biogenetic relationship between benastatin and the structurally unrelated spiro ketal griseorhodin by generating a mutant producing collinone, a pentangular pathway intermediate. The benastatin pathway served as a model to characterize the KR. Gene inactivation of benL resulted in the formation of a series of 19-hydroxy benastatin and bequinostatin derivatives (e.g., benastatin K and benastatin L). These results clearly showed that BenL functions as a C-19 KR in pentangular pathways.     

Self-assembly of surfactant-like peptides

Inspired by recent work describing surfactant-like peptides, we have carried out a systematic study on peptides with the underlying composition of V6D2, altering the absolute sequence to determine the importance of the surfactant-like structure. All of the peptides examined here formed self-assembled structures in water. However, in contrast to other reports, we have found a surprising diversity of structures including fibers, tapes, and twisted ribbons but an absence of the vesicles and nanotubes described previously. Further investigations demonstrated that peptide purity plays a significant role in the outcome of the self-assembly. Different batches behave very differently, which can be linked to the compositions of these batches. This work shows that there is a need for not only rational design but also ease of synthesis of the building blocks for self-assembled structures.     

A convenient and general iron-catalyzed hydrosilylation of aldehydes

A general and highly chemoselective hydrosilylation of aldehydes using iron catalysts is reported. Fe(OAc)2 in the presence of tricyclohexylphosphine as ligand and polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) as an economical hydride source forms an efficient catalyst system for the hydrosilylation of a variety of aldehydes. Aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes are successfully reduced to the corresponding primary alcohols. Broad substrate scope and high tolerance against several functional groups make the process synthetically useful.     

Traceless and site-specific ubiquitination of recombinant proteins

Protein ubiquitination is a post-translational modification that regulates almost all aspects of eukaryotic biology. Here we discover the first routes for the efficient site-specific incorporation of δ-thiol-L-lysine (7) and δ-hydroxy-L-lysine (8) into recombinant proteins, via evolution of a pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA(CUA) pair. We combine the genetically directed incorporation of 7 with native chemical ligation and desulfurization to yield an entirely native isopeptide bond between substrate proteins and ubiquitin. We exemplify this approach by demonstrating the synthesis of a ubiquitin dimer and the first synthesis of ubiquitinated SUMO.     

Selective reduction of carboxylic acid derivatives by catalytic hydrosilylation

In the last decade, an increasing number of useful catalytic reductions of carboxylic acid derivatives with hydrosilanes have been developed. Notably, the combination of an appropriate silane and catalyst enables unprecedented chemoselectivity that is not possible with traditional organometallic hydrides or hydrogenation catalysts. For example, amides and esters can be reduced preferentially in the presence of ketones or even aldehydes. We believe that catalytic hydrosilylations will be used more often in the future in challenging organic syntheses, as the reaction procedures are straightforward, and the reactivity of the silane can be fine-tuned. So far, the synthetic potential of these processes has clearly been underestimated. They even hold promise for industrial applications, as inexpensive and readily available silanes, such as polymethylhydrosiloxane, offer useful possibilities on a larger scale.     

The preparation of HfC/C ceramics via molecular design

Polymer derived ceramics have received lots of attention throughout the last few decades. Unfortunately, only a few precursor systems have been developed, focusing on silicon based polymers and ceramics, respectively. Herein, the synthesis of novel hafnium containing organometallic polymers by two different approaches is reported. Dialkenyl substituted hafnocene monomers were synthesized and subsequently polymerized via a free radical mechanism. Salt metathesis reactions of hafnocene dichloride with bifunctional linkers led to the formation of polymeric materials. NMR spectroscopic methods--in solution as well as in the solid state--were used to characterize the organometallic polymers. Ceramics were finally obtained after cross-linking and thermal treatment under argon (T(max) = 1800 °C). SEM investigations, elemental analyses, Raman spectroscopy and XRD investigations identified the pyrolyzed products as partially crystalline HfC/C mixed phases.     

BINEPINES: chiral binaphthalene-core monophosphepine ligands for multipurpose asymmetric catalysis

The atropisomeric structure of 4,5-dihydro-3H-dinaphtho[2,1-c;1',2'-e]phosphepine is the common axially chiral scaffold of a library of monophosphine ligands nicknamed BINEPINES that have shown a quite remarkable stereoselection efficiency in a broad variety of enantioselective reactions involving the formation of new C-H or C-C or C-X bonds. In this critical review the properties and scope of this type of chiral ligands are illustrated (70 references).     

Efficient and highly selective iron-catalyzed reduction of nitroarenes

Pyrolysis of iron-phenanthroline complexes supported on carbon leads to highly selective catalysts for the reduction of structurally diverse nitroarenes to anilines in 90-99% yields. Excellent chemoselectivity for the nitro group reduction is demonstrated.     

The potassium hydride mediated trimerization of imines

A novel reaction, the potassium hydride mediated synthesis of fulvenes, is described. The synthesis utilizes N-aryl imines as an inexpensive starting material affording novel substituted aminofulvenes. It is proposed that the presence of the metalated enamine as well as the imine (ratio 2 : 1) leads to the formation of an initial dimerization and a transient trimerization product, which cyclizes, giving rise to the aminofulvene.