Molecular‐Dynamics Studies of Single‐Stranded Hexitol,Altritol, Mannitol,and Ribose Nucleic Acids (HNA,MNA, ANA,and RNA,Resp.) and of the Stability of HNA⋅RNA,ANA⋅RNA,and MNA⋅RNA Duplexes

The influence of the orientation of a 3′‐OH group on the conformation and stability of hexitol oligonucleotides in complexes with RNA and as single strands in aqueous solution was investigated by molecular‐dynamics (MD) simulations with AMBER 4.1. The particle mesh Ewald (PME) method was used for the treatment of long‐range electrostatic interactions. An equatorial orientation of the 3′‐OH group in the single‐stranded D ‐mannitol nucleic acid (MNA) m(GCGTAGCG) and in the complex with the RNA r(CGCAUCGC) has an unfavorable influence on the helical stability. Frequent H‐bonds between the 3′‐OH group and the O−C(6′) of the phosphate backbone of the following nucleotide explain the distorted conformation of the MNA⋅RNA complex as well as that of the single MNA strand. This is consistent with experimental results that show lowered hybridization potentials for MNA⋅RNA complexes. An axial orientation of the 3′‐OH group in the D ‐altritol nucleic acid (ANA) a(GCGTAGCG) leads to a stable complex with the complementary RNA r(CGCAUCGC), as well as to a more highly preorganized single‐stranded ANA chain. The averaged conformation of the ANA⋅RNA complex is similar to that of A‐RNA, with only minor changes in groove width, helical curvature, and H‐bonding pattern. The relative stabilities of ANA⋅RNA vs. HNA⋅RNA (HNA=D ‐hexitol nucleic acid without 3′‐OH group) can be explained by differences in restricted movements, H‐bonds, and solvation effects.     

Hydroformylation of Internal Olefins to Linear Aldehydes with Novel Rhodium Catalysts

Unprecedented high activities and selectivities were observed in the hydroformylation of internal octenes to linear products using rhodium catalysts with rigid diphosphane ligands. Dibenzophosphole 1 and a phenoxaphosphane analogue with bite angles of 120 and 119°, respectively, are suited for this.     

Selective Alkene Oxidation with H2O2 and a Heterogenized Mn Catalyst: Epoxidation and a New Entry to Vicinal cis-Diols

Covalent anchoring of 1,4-dimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane on silica gel is the first step in the preparation of a heterogenized Mn catalyst. When H₂O₂ is used as the oxidant, this material can catalyze the vicinal cis-dihydroxylation of disubstituted olefins, as shown schematically here. Both enantiomers of the product are obtained.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of α-Altropyranosyluridine Starting from Glucose

α-Nucleoside is a kind of potential antiviral and antitumor agent, and of great interest in antisense and template directed reaction. β-Altropyranosyl-nucleosides have been synthesized and the properties of their oligo-nucleotides have been studied by Eshenmoser^[1]. But it is very difficult to synthesize the α-anomer, because the direct coupling reaction leads to the β-anomer and the cyanamide route is not suitable due to the trans-configuration of 1,2-dihydroxyl groups in α-altrose. In order to resolve this problem, α-2, 1'-anhydroglucopyranosyluridine was synthesized by cyanamide route and it was hydrolyzed to title compound in good yield with 2',3'-configuration reversion.     

Versatile Ligands for Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation

Palladium complexes of the chiral diphosphanes 1 and 2 which possess a rigid backbone and a large bite angle catalyze the alkylation of allyl compounds with both high enantioselectivities and reaction rates, particularly with less sterically demanding substrates. 1 : R=Me, X=S; 2 : R=H, X=C(CH₃)₂.