Highly diastereo- and enantioselective catalytic synthesis of the bis-tetrahydrofuran alcohol of Brecanavir and Darunavir

An efficient highly diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of the bis-tetrahydrofuran (bis-THF) alcohol of several HIV protease inhibitors, including Brecanavir and Darunavir, has been achieved utilizing an Evans Mukaiyama aldol reaction of (benzyloxy)acetaldehyde and a silyl ketene acetal. The lactone alcohol intermediate from the catalytic aldol reaction was reduced to a lactol. Palladium catalyzed hydrogenolysis removed the benzyl protection and promoted an in situ cyclization to form the epimer of the bis-THF alcohol in a 98:2 diastereomeric ratio and 97:3 enantiomeric ratio. The alcohol epimer was readily converted to the target in two steps by oxidation to a ketone followed by highly selective reduction to the bis-THF alcohol.     

Ion-Molecule reaction in the gas phase part VI Regioselective SN2 reaction from terpenoid diastereoisomeric diols using CI/NH

A stereospecific and regioselective S_N2 mechanism (Walden inversion) is observed during studies involving modified terpenoid epimeric diols in a high-pressure ion source using ammonia as a reagent gas.     

Calibration of gamma-ray spectrometers coupled to Compton suppression and fast pneumatic systems for the k<Subscript>0</Subscript>-standardized NAA method

A new Compton suppression system (CSS) for the gamma-ray spectrometer portion of the neutron activation analysis (NAA) was set up at the RPI/ITN. The pneumatic transfer system, SIPRA, for short-lived nuclides and cyclic irradiations was improved. A full calibration procedure of the CSS and SIPRA systems was performed. Two certified reference materials, NIST-SRM-1572 (Citrus Leaves) and NIST-SRM-1633a (Coal Fly Ash) were analyzed using the calibration factors. The CSS was instrumental in lowering the detection limits of Cr, Fe, Hg, Rb, Sr, Th and Zn by reducing background and/or spectral interference considerably. The analytical results were evaluated by comparison to the NIST certified values with deviations ranging from 2% to 8% for the above mentioned elements, except Zn ranging from 10% to 15% for biological and environmental samples, respectively.     

Straightforward access to new vinca-alkaloids via selective reduction of a nitrile containing anhydrovinblastine derivative

A procedure to exclusively obtain 3′S-cyanoanhydrovinblastine 12 from two naturally occurring vinca-alkaloids (catharanthine and vindoline) in one step with good yield is described. Stereoselective reductions of 12, providing straightforward access to three new vinca-alkaloids, including two diastereomers 3′S-cyano-(4′R,5′-dihydro)-anhydrovinblastine and 3′S-cyano-(4′S,5′-dihydro)-anhydrovinblastine as well as (3′S-aminomethyl)-(4′S,5′-dihydro)-anhydrovinblastine in good yields is also reported.     

Copper ferrite superparamagnetic nanoparticles as a heterogeneous catalyst for directed phenol/formamide coupling

The copper ferrite-catalyzed, directed coupling of ortho-arylated phenols and dialkylformamides in the presence of a peroxide oxidant is described. Acyclic and cyclic amides were compatible with the reaction conditions. The copper ferrite catalyst is heterogeneous since substantial leaching was not detected and re-use of the catalyst for 9 consecutive reactions proceeded without a significant decrease in yield. To the best of our knowledge, this transformation has not been previously performed under heterogeneous catalysis conditions.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and IR Spectra of Complexes of Mn(II) by Indole-2-Carboxylic or Isoquinoline-1-Carboxylic Acids and 1,10-Phenanthroline

Abstract  

Two ternary complexes of manganese(II) indole-2-carboxylate (2-IC⁻) or isoquinolinecarboxylate (IQC⁻) with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) in methanol or in dimethylacetamide (DMA) were synthesized and studied by X-ray diffraction and IR spectra. [Mn(C₉H₆NO₂)₂(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂]·CH₄O (1) crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 with cell parameters of a = 10.548(2) ?, b = 14.168(3) ?, c = 14.580(3) ?, α = 62.35(2)°, β = 69.16(2)°, γ = 78.61(2)°, V = 1802.4(6) ?³ and Z = 2; [Mn(C₁₀H₆NO₂)₂(C₁₂H₈N₂)].C₄H₉NO (2) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/a with cell parameters of a = 15.304(5) ?, b = 12.871(5) ?, c = 17.421(5) ?, β = 114.39(1), V = 3125(2) ?³ and Z = 4. In 1, Mn is six-coordinate by two bidentate phen ligands and two 2-IC⁻ ligands and exhibits a very distorted octahedral geometry. This complex is solvated by methanol involved in hydrogen bonding. In 2, Mn atom is surrounded by one bidentate phen ligand and two bidentate IQC⁻ ligands. The complex exhibits a distorted octahedral geometry around the Mn^II atom. The crystal structure is completed by a disordered DMA solvate molecule. The IR spectra of both compounds are slightly different in the range 4000–2400 cm⁻¹ which may be attributed to hydrogen bond lack in 2.     

Combining steady-state and dynamic methods for determining absolute signs of hyperfine interactions: pulsed ENDOR Saturation and Recovery (PESTRE)

The underlying causes of asymmetric intensities in Davies pulsed ENDOR spectra that are associated with the signs of the hyperfine interaction are reinvestigated. The intensity variations in these asymmetric ENDOR patterns are best described as shifts in an apparent baseline intensity that occurs dynamically following on-resonance ENDOR transitions. We have developed an extremely straightforward multi-sequence protocol that is capable of giving the sign of the hyperfine interaction by probing a single ENDOR transition, without reference to its partner transition. This technique, Pulsed ENDOR Saturation and Recovery (PESTRE) monitors dynamic shifts in the 'baseline' following measurements at a single RF frequency (single ENDOR peak), rather than observing anomalous ENDOR intensity differences between the two branches of an ENDOR response. These baseline shifts, referred to as dynamic reference levels (DRLs), can be directly tied to the electron-spin manifold from which that ENDOR transition arises. The application of this protocol is demonstrated on (57)Fe ENDOR of a 2Fe-2S ferredoxin. We use the (14)N ENDOR transitions of the S = 3/2[Fe(II)NO](2+) center of the non-heme iron enzyme, anthranilate dioxygenase (AntDO) to examine the details of the relaxation model using PESTRE.     

TEM characterization of chemically synthesized copper–gold nanoparticles

Dodecanethiol-capped Cu–Au nanoparticles, synthesized via a successive two-phase (water/toluene) and galvanic-exchange procedure, were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The size range of the particles is around 1–7 nm. Electron-induced morphological evolution was observed under high resolution (HR) TEM. Cuboctahedral morphology was found to be thermodynamically stable. Electron-induced aggregation of two particles was also observed. Chemical ordering of cuboctahedral particles was studied by atomic-resolution high angle annular dark field (HAADF) imaging in scanning TEM (STEM) mode and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) element mapping using a silicon drift detector (SDD). The particles were found to be Cu–Au mixed, and to be stable in air. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR), which is dependent on local structure and morphology, was investigated by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS).