Chemoenzymatic synthesis of the trans-dihydrodiol isomers of monosubstituted benzenes via anti-benzene dioxides

Enantiopure cis-2,3-dihydrodiols, available from dioxygenase-catalysed cis-dihydroxylation of monosubstituted benzene substrates, have been used as synthetic precursors of the corresponding trans-3,4-dihydrodiols. The six-step chemoenzymatic route from cis-dihydrodiol precursors, involving acetonide, tetraol, dibromodiacetate and diepoxide intermediates, and substitution of vinyl bromide and iodide atoms, has been used in the synthesis of ten trans-dihydrododiol derivatives of substituted benzenes. The general applicability of the method has been demonstrated by its use in the synthesis of both enantiomers of the trans-1,2-and 3,4-dihydrodiol derivatives of toluene.     

Chiral separation of diastereomeric flavanone-7-O-glycosides in citrus by capillary electrophoresis

The 2S- and 2R-diastereomers of major flavanone-7-O-glycosides found in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), mandarine (Citrus deliciosa), grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), lemon (Citrus limon), and sour or bitter orange juice (Citrus aurantium) were separated for the first time by chiral capillary electrophoresis (CE) employing various buffers with combined chiral selectors. Native cyclodextrins (CDs), neutral and charged CD derivatives were examined as chiral additives to the background electrolyte (BGE). Separation efficiency has not proved satisfactory with one single CD as chiral selector in the buffer, a full and simultaneous separation could often be achieved only by using combined buffer with two different CDs. Chiral separation of major flavanones in sweet orange, mandarine and grapefruit juices raised more difficulties than in lemon and sour orange juices as narirutin will not readily build complexes with most CDs. Diastereomeric flavanones of mature and immature grapefruits were compared and some differences were found: naringin showed different diastereomeric ratio and 2S-prunin appeared only in immature grapefruit. Marmalade was also examined by chiral CE. Its major flavanones corresponded to flavanone pattern of mixed sour and sweet oranges.     

New insights into the multiple minima problem

Minima distribution of thorough conformational searches of three peptides of different length ranging from five to nine residues, were compared with the density of states of a flexible molecule derived from the rotational isomeric approximation. It is observed that minima distributions generated from the conformational searches exhibit the same characteristics as the density of states derived from the rotational isomeric model: an asymmetric distribution with a maximum. These results together with a more profound understanding of the characteristics of the energy landscapes of polypeptides, provide new insights into the multiple minima problem. The implications in devising more robust conformational search strategies are discussed.     

Regioselective enzymatic acylation of methyl shikimate. Influence of acyl chain length and solvent polarity on enzyme specificity

Candida antarctica lipase A (CAL-A) selectively catalyzes the acylation at the secondary C-4 hydroxyl group of methyl shikimate (2), which possesses three secondary hydroxyl groups, the C-3 allylic one being chemically more reactive. The effect both of the acyl group of the acylating agents and of the solvent polarity has been studied. The selectivity of CAL-A is almost complete with acyl donors that possess short chains. However, when acyl donors have longer chains, better results are obtained by C. antarctica lipase B (CAL-B).     

First synthesis of beta-keto sulfoxides by a palladium-catalyzed carbonylative Suzuki reaction

[reaction: see text] An unprecedented palladium-catalyzed three-component cross-coupling reaction between alpha-bromo sulfoxide, carbon monoxide, and aromatic boronic acids provides a new and efficient approach to the synthesis of beta-ketosulfoxides. The reaction takes place under mild conditions with a wide range of variously substituted aryl and heteroaryl boronic acids. The carbonylative cross-coupling reaction is strongly favored over competing direct cross-coupling and homocoupling processes, except with boronic acids carrying strong electron-withdrawing substituents.     

Novel fused D-A dyad and A-D-A triad incorporating tetrathiafulvalene and p-benzoquinone

Novel fused donor-acceptor dyad (TTF-Q or D-A) and acceptor-donor-acceptor triad (Q-TTF-Q or A-D-A) incorporating the donor tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and the acceptor p-benzoquinone (Q) have been synthesized. The solution UV-vis spectra of these molecules display a low-energy absorption band that is attributed to an intramolecular charge transfer between both antagonistic units. The presence of reversible oxidation and reduction waves for the donor and acceptor moieties was shown by cyclic voltammetry, in agreement with the ratio TTF/quinone(s) units. The successive generation from these compounds of the cation radical and anion radical obtained upon (electro)chemical oxidation and reduction, respectively, was monitored by optical and ESR spectroscopies. The anion radical Q-TTF-Q(-.) triad was demonstrated to be a class II mixed-valence system with the existence of a temperature-dependent intramolecular electron transfer. The crystallographic tendency of these fused systems to overlap in mixed stacks of alternating A-D-A units is also discussed.     

Methylmercury and dimethylthallium complexes of 5-(4′-dimethylaminobenzylidene)-2-thiohydantoin (HDABTd): The crystal and molecular structures of HDABTd and [TlMe2(DABTd)(DMSO)]

The ligand 5-(4′-dimethylaminobenzylidene)-2-thiohydantoin (HDABTd) was prepared and its structure determined by X-ray diffraction. In the crystal, ligand molecules are linked in chains along the [110] direction by intermolecular N(3)–H(3)O(1)^I and N(1)–H(1)Sⁱⁱ hydrogen bonds. The complexes [HgMe(DABTd)] and [TlMe₂(DABTd)] were prepared by reaction of the ligand with methylmercury acetate or dimethylthallium hydroxide, and were characterized in the solid state by IR spectroscopy and in solution by conductivity measurements and ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹⁹Hg and ²⁰⁵Tl NMR spectroscopy. The dimethylthallium complex crystallized in DMSO solution as [TlMe₂(DABTd)(DMSO)], an X-ray diffraction study of which showed its thallium atoms to be coordinated to the two methyl C atoms, the oxygen atom of a DMSO molecule, the S and N(1) atoms of one DABTd ligand and, more weakly, to the oxygen atom of a neighbouring DABTd. This last interaction links the molecules of the complex in chains parallel to the b axis. Crystals of the methylmercury(II) complex contain three [HgMe(DABTd)]·DMSO structures per asymmetric unit, but poor data quality prevented complete refinement.     

Facile solid-phase synthesis of biotinylated alkyl thiols

Biotinylated alkyl thiols with the capacity to graft avidin proteins are in increasing demand for the development of self-assembled monolayers on gold. Here we propose 2-Chlorotrityl Chloride solid-phase resin as a new platform to produce these functionalized alkyl thiols. Biotinylated alkyl thiols of non-obvious solution synthesis were obtained rapidly using this method and without previous purification steps.     

Electrochemical synthesis and crystal structure of cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II), zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes with 2-pyridinecarbaldehyde-(2′-aminosulfonylbenzoyl)hydrazone

A new hydrazonic Schiff base ligand, 2-pyridinecarbaldehyde-(2′-aminosulfonylbenzoyl)hydrazone (HL), has been prepared and characterized, and its coordinative properties were studied. [ML₂] complexes, M = Co, Ni, Cu, Zn or Cd have been synthesised by electrochemical oxidation of the anodic metal in a cell containing an acetonitrile solution of the ligand. The compounds obtained have been characterized by microanalysis, IR, NMR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and also by X-ray diffraction. The structural studies show that the metal is in a distorted octahedral environment with the monoanionic ligand acting as a meridional tridentate (N,N,O) chelate system.