1H n.m.r. spectra of N-phenylmaleimide in isotropic and nematic phases

¹H n.m.r. spectra of N-phenylmaleimide have been investigated in isotropic as well as nematic phases; the chemical shifts, the direct dipolar and the indirect spin–spin coupling constants have been determined. The direct dipolar coupling constants are consistent with rapidly interconverting energetically equivalent twisted conformations of C₂ symmetry. Under the assumption that only two such conformers are predominantly present, the angle between the phenyl and the maleimide planes is determined as 52.9±0.9°.     

Synthesis and conformational studies of novel cyclic peptides constrained into a 3 10 helical structure by a heterochiral D-pro-L-pro dipeptide template

An acyclic tripeptide based on a heterochiral D-pro-L-pro template shows a propensity to exist as a 3(10) helical conformation and can be cyclized, via ring-closing metathesis, to the corresponding cyclic tetrapeptides without disrupting the helical conformations in CDCl(3) as well as in DMSO-d(6) solutions. The detailed conformational studies were carried out by using NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, molecular dynamic simulations, and circular dichroism spectroscopy.     

Unprecedented InCl3-catalyzed formation of cis-fused perhydrofuro[2,3-b]oxepines

2-Methylindole and its N-substituted derivatives react smoothly with 2,3-dihydrofuran (DHF) in the presence of a catalytic amount of InCl₃ under mild conditions to afford the corresponding 2-methyl-3-perhydrofuro[2,3-b]oxepin-4-yl-1H-indole derivatives in fairly good yields with high diastereoselectivity, while 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran (DHP) affords exclusively 5,5-di(1H-3-indolyl)-1-pentanol derivatives in high yields under similar reaction conditions.     

Photoionization of highly charged ions using an ECR ion source and undulator radiation

Photoionization of Xe4+ to Xe7+ ions was studied by combining an electron cyclotron resonance ion source with synchrotron radiation. Multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock calculations were performed to interpret the data. Many autoionization lines were measured and identified, resulting from excitation of a 4d electron into nf and np orbitals followed by Auger decay of the excited states. Continuum photoionization is negligible for the higher members of the isonuclear series.     

Design of a "new motif" with beta-amino acids and alpha-aminoxy acids: synthesis of hybrid peptides with 12/10-helix

Hybrid peptides are prepared from a C-linked carbo-beta-amino acid ester (R-beta-Caa) and an alpha-aminoxy acid (R-Ama) derived from S-lactic acid. Extensive NMR (in CDCl 3 solution), CD, and MD studies on the tetra- and hexapeptides led to identification of robust 12/10-mixed helices. The dipeptide repeat having an R-beta-Caa and an R-Ama thus provides a "new motif" to realize a 12/10-mixed helix, for the first time, in oligomers containing R-Ama. To understand the impact of side chains in the mixed helix formation, R-beta-Caa/Ama (with no substitution in Ama) and S-beta-hAla/R-Ama oligomers were investigated. NMR studies revealed the existence of 12/10-helices in these hybrid peptides, and the side chains of monomers were found to have a profound influence on their stabilities. These observations imply that the propensity of beta-amino acid to prefer a mixed 12/10-helix governs the structural behavior in these peptides. The structural consequences of the lone-pair repulsion between nitrogen and oxygen atoms result in a new and interesting structural motif which behaves like "pseudo" beta (3),beta(2)-peptides in generating 12/10-mixed helices.     

Heteropoly acid-catalyzed highly efficient alkylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with benzylic and propargylic alcohols

Various 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds reacted readily with benzylic and propargylic alcohols in the presence of 10 mol % of phosphomolybdic acid supported on silica gel (PMA/SiO₂) under mild reaction conditions to produce 2-benzylic- and 2-propargylic-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in excellent yields and with high selectivity.     

Indium-mediated alkynylation of Baylis-Hillman acetates: a novel route to 1,4-enynes

Baylis-Hillman acetates undergo smooth alkynylation with aryl-susbstituted iodoalkynes in the presence of indium metal in refluxing dichloromethane to furnish 1,4-enynes in high yields with (E)-stereoselectivity. In the absence of Lewis acid, the reaction follows both S_N2 and S_N2′ pathways affording 1:1 mixtures of 1,4-enynes. Upon addition of 10 mol % of InBr₃, the reaction proceeds preferably in the S_N2′ manner. In the case of adducts derived from acrylonitrile, the corresponding products are obtained in fairly good yields and with (Z)-stereoselectivity.