Recent Advances in Asymmetric Catalysis Using p-Block Elements

The development of new methods for enantioselective reactions that generate stereogenic centres within molecules are a cornerstone of organic synthesis. Typically, metal catalysts bearing chiral ligands as well as chiral organocatalysts have been employed for the enantioselective synthesis of organic compounds. In this review, we highlight the recent advances in main group catalysis for enantioselective reactions using the p-block elements (boron, aluminium, phosphorus, bismuth) as a complementary and sustainable approach to generate chiral molecules. Several of these catalysts benefit in terms of high abundance, low toxicity, high selectivity, and excellent reactivity. This minireview summarises the utilisation of chiral p-block element catalysts for asymmetric reactions to generate value-added compounds.     

Gas-phase and solution conformations of the alpha-L-iduronic acid structural unit of heparin

The IdoA2S structural unit of heparin (subunit G) may oscillate among the three conformations (4C1, 1C4, and 2So). Only the twisted boat conformation allowed the biologically active pentasaccharide unit of heparin (DEFGH) to bind to antithrombin. Our work reports, in detail, the results of systematic large-scale theoretical investigations of the three basic conformations (4C1, 1C4, and 2So) of the IdoA2S structural unit of heparin, its anionic forms, and its sodium salt using the B3LYP/6-311++G(d, p) and B3LYP/6-31+G(d) model chemistries. According to our calculations, the most stable structure of these molecules corresponds to the 2So skew-boat conformation. This form is also the most stable in a water solution. The 2So conformation of neutral molecules is not maintained in the anionic species. With anions, both 1C4 and 4C1 conformations are present. The relative stability of individual species of the substituted iduronic acid affects extra stabilization by means of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The calculated macroscopic pKa of 1,4-DiOMe IdoA2S are as follows: pKa = 0.25 for the terminal C(2)-OSO3H group, pKa = 3.67 for the terminal C(5)-CO2H group, and pKa = 14.00 for the C(3)-OH hydroxyl group. The computed Gibbs interaction energies, DeltaGdegrees , for the reaction 1,4-DiOMe IdoA2S(2-) + 2Na+ <==> 1,4-DiOMe IdoA2SNa2 (4C1, 1C4, and 2So conformations) are negative and span a rather small energy interval (from -1244 to -1290 kJ mol(-1)).     

Development of metallocomplex amino acids synthons for the asymmetric preparation of α-amino acids by stereoselective introduction of a side chain. Evaluation of the model asymmetric preparation of alanine and β-13C monolabelled α-aminoisobutyric acid

In this communication the evaluation of eleven new metallocomplex alanine synthons bearing C₂-symmetric benzyl groups with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents is described. α-Methylated glycine synthons (alanine complexes) were evaluated alongside alanine synthons in order to obtain a deeper understanding of the relationship between their structures and stereochemistry of monoalkylated products and to choose several candidates for their further tests for stereospecific preparation of 6-[¹⁸F]FDOPA. Glycine-derived analogues of the complexes 3–5 are the best candidates for the development of a 6-[¹⁸F]FDOPA preparation procedure. In the model epimerisation reaction they demonstrated the best performance, much better compared to the previously described compound 2. Complexes 3, 5 and 8 are the best in asymmetric preparation of β-¹³C monolabelled α-aminoisobutyric acid. They have to be tested in the preparation of α-methyl amino acids like 6-[¹⁸F]-α-methylDOPA and 2-[¹⁸F]-α-methyltyrosine.     

Stimulatory action of cyclooxygenase inhibitors on hematopoiesis: a review

The presented review summarizes experimental data obtained with a mouse model when investigating the relationship between inhibition of prostaglandin production and hematopoiesis. While prostaglandin E₂ acts in a negative feedback control of myelopoiesis, inhibition of cyclooxygenases, responsible for its production, shifts the feedback to positive control. Based on these relationships, agents inhibiting cyclo-oxygenases, known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can activate hematopoiesis and be protective or curative under myelosuppressive states. The effectiveness of therapeutic use of NSAIDs in these situations is expressive especially under the selective inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), when undesirable side effects of cyclooxygenase-1 inhibition, like gastrointestinal damage, are absent. The effects of the clinically approved selective COX-2 inhibitor, meloxicam, were investigated and demonstrated significant hematopoiesis-stimulating and survival-enhancing actions of this drug in sublethally or lethally γ-irradiated mice. These effects were connected with the ability of meloxicam to increase serum levels of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. It can be inferred from these findings that selective COX-2 inhibitors might find their use in the treatment of myelosuppressions of various etiologies.     

The electrodeless discharge lamp: a prospective tool for photochemistry: Part 3. The microwave photochemistry reactor

A simple and original microwave photochemical reactor is described in detail. It consists of an electrodeless discharge lamp placed into the reaction vessel in a modified domestic microwave oven. The microwave field generates ultraviolet radiation by the lamp at the same time when it interacts with the reaction mixture. The construction, experimental set-ups, applications, and safety precautions are discussed.     

The conformation of epinephrine in polar solvents: an NMR study

Structural Chemistry - Epinephrine (Epi) is a physiologically important catecholamine. Molecular conformation of Epi controls the interactions with other molecules and its biological effects. There...     

Perimidine-based synthetic receptors for determination of copper(II) in water solution

Perimidine-based chelators 1 and 2 were prepared, and their structures were confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, MS spectroscopy and elemental analysis. These compounds were studied as specific synthetic receptors for the recognition of transition metal ions. They exhibited high affinity and selectivity towards Cu(II) ions. The conditional binding constants, linear dynamic range and detection limit were determined by UV–vis spectroscopy. These parameters demonstrated high potential of the prepared synthetic receptors for the recognition and determination of Cu(II) ions. The minimum detectable concentrations of Cu(II) ions for the synthetic receptors 1 and 2 were 270 and 75 nM (R ² = 0.9915 and 0.9964) in aqueous medium (water/DMSO; 99:1 (v/v)), respectively.     

Thallium fractionation in polluted environmental samples using a modified BCR three-step sequential extraction procedure and its determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Determination of thallium in polluted environmental samples and their extracts obtained by a modified BCR three-step sequential extraction procedure was used to study thallium distribution and mobility in the monitored polluted area affected by acidification (Šobov, Central Slovakia). The results of fractionation applied to 5 soil certified reference materials and 14 environmental samples show that the vast majority of thallium occurred in the residual fraction. This means that highly toxic thallium is strongly entrapped in the parent rock materials remains immobile and its environmental toxicity is therefore reduced. The limit of detection for thallium in the studied fractions was lower than 0.050 mg kg⁻¹, the precision (RSD) of the ultratrace determination of thallium in the studied fractions was better than 17 % and the accuracy of the used method was verified by analyzing certified reference materials. Presented at the XVIIIth Slovak Spectroscopic Conference, Spišská Nová Ves, 15–18 October 2006.     

From a point-like to an arbitrarily shaped sample: A survey of equations for electron paramagnetic resonance signal intensity calculations

A set of original, analytical equations useful for theoretical calculation of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal intensity are presented for the multitude of sample shapes, which range from point-like, line-like, planar, rectangular, cubical, circular, cylindrical, spherical to an irregularly shaped sample. The samples can be situated at any available position within the prescribed part of the microwave cavity (a central cylinder of diameter 11 mm and length 23.5 mm, in either a Bruker single TE₁₀₂ or double TE₁₀₄ rectangular cavity, with the modulation coils situated in the left and right side cavity walls, which is connected to a X-band, field-modulated CW Bruker EPR spectrometer). The theoretical computations of EPR signal intensity can be used in the computer simulations in which: (i) the EPR signal intensity profiles are constructed; (ii) the optimal sample positions in the cavity to give a maximum value of signal intensity are found; (iii) the errors associated with sample positioning within the cavity when compared to a second sample of a different size, shape or position are studied.     

Alkali hydrolysis of trinitrotoluene

Data for alkali hydrolysis of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in aqueous solution at pH 12.0 under static (pH-controlled) as well as dynamic (pH-uncontrolled) conditions are reported. The experiments were conducted at two different molar ratios of TNT to hydroxyl ions at room temperature. The TNT disappeared rapidly from the solution as a first-order reaction. The complete disappearance of aromatic structure from the aqueous solution within 24 h was confirmed by the ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectra of the samples. Cuvet experiments in a UV-VIS spectrophotometer demonstrated the formation of Meisenheimer complex, which slowly disappeared via formation of aromatic compounds with fewer nitro groups. The known metabolites of TNT were found to accumulate only in very small quantities in the liquid phase.